x

Fauci accepts to be Biden’s Chief Medical Adviser On COVID-19 Team

US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday said he had asked the government’s top infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci to remain in his post and join his COVID-19 team after he takes office.

“I asked him to stay on in the exact same role he’s had for the past several presidents,” Biden said in an interview with CNN, referring to the expert who outgoing President Donald Trump had suggested he would fire after the election.

“And I asked him to be chief medical adviser for me as well and to be part of the COVID team.”

READ ALSO: Religious studies graduates are being employed in Space agency, Senate committee raises alarm

On Friday, Fauci told NBC’s “Today” he accepted the position.

“Oh, absolutely. I said yes right on the spot,” Fauci said when asked if he’d taken the role.

Biden also said that on his first day in office he would ask Americans to wear masks for 100 days to help reduce transmission of the virus that is again surging in a country with the world’s highest number of deaths and infections.

“I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask. Just 100 days to mask — not forever,” Biden said in the interview excerpts, broadcast ahead of the full interview later Thursday.

Biden’s approach to the virus stands in sharp contrast to that of Trump, who has downplayed its seriousness, mocked mask-wearing and called for reopenings despite having been hospitalized with Covid-19 himself.

The president-elect said he planned to use government authority where possible to issue a “standing order” for masking in federal buildings as well as for interstate transportation, including on airplanes and buses.

To build trust in vaccines after they are approved, Biden said he was willing to be vaccinated in public.

The United States has surpassed 14 million Covid-19 infections, with more than 275,000 deaths.

Hot this week

KSADP Invests N800 Million in Capacity Building to Boost Livestock Development in Kano

By Jabiru HassanThe Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP)...

FCT Minister, Flags-off Abuja Light Up Project

HE Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister on Thursday, called...

Gov Sule Flags Off Bursary Disbursement, Reiterates Commitment to Education

By Abel Leonard, LafiaGovernor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State...

Amnesty International Urges FG to Cut Political Spending, Prioritize Economic Diversification

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaAmnesty International has called on the...

Minister Nnaji’s Certificate Scandal: CACOL Demands Immediate Sack and Prosecution

***By Jabiru Hassan**The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership...

CSO Calls for Abolition of CBN’s 2% Service Charge on Hajj Fare

**By Jabiru Hassan**The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil...

Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf Deserves Royal Treatment

**By Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai**When a leader restores hope and...

Ogwashi-Uku Union Accuses ODA of Attempting to Incite Unrest

*...Says Allegations Against Monarch Baseless***By Anne Azuka**The Ogwashi-Uku Town...

Interfaith Mediation Centre to Host October 2025 Climate Hangout in Kaduna

**By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna**The Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) is...

LAND USE CHARGE: KGIRS Offers Rebates, Urges Property Owners to Pay Voluntarily

**By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja**The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service...

APC National Chairman Nentawe Launches 14-Day Free Medical Outreach in Plateau

**By Israel Adamu, Jos**The National Chairman of the All...

Ododo Storms Isanlu-Esa, Vows to Crush Criminality in Kogi

**By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja**Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman...

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img