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Biden Says Battle Against Coronavirus Needs Commander in Chief

Steve Herman

   WHITE HOUSE - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday declared that
   the battle against COVID-19 "is like going to war. You need a commander
   in chief."

   Biden is to be sworn in as the 46th president, succeeding Donald Trump,
   on January 20.

   During a virtual roundtable discussion with front-line health care
   workers, whom he hailed as heroes fighting the coronavirus, Biden
   predicted: "I'll make mistakes. But I promise you I'll acknowledge them
   when I make them, as well as I'll take responsibility."

   Biden said when he gets into office, he will urge state governors to
   order mandatory masking, testing, tracing and social distancing.

   "I will be using the Defense Authorization Act. I will be using the
   bully pulpit," the president-elect said. "The words of a president
   matter."

   Biden also said it is important to find a way to get children back to
   school, as "they're going to be behind the curve," missing so much
   classroom time due to the pandemic.

   As the discussion was under way, New York City announced its public
   schools district, the largest in the country, would close to in-person
   learning, due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.

   The city reached the 3% positive testing threshold over a week,
   triggering the change, said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

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