Biden would require face masks in public
Former Vice President Joe Biden says that he would use federal power to require Americans to wear face masks in public.
“The one thing we do know, these masks make a gigantic difference. I would insist that everybody in public be wearing that mask,” Biden said. “Anyone to reopen, it would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks.”
The comments came during an interview with a local CBS affiliate, where Biden was discussing how he thinks the country could better reopen after the coronavirus shutdown. When asked if he would use federal power to require mask-wearing he said yes.
“Yes, I would from an executive standpoint, yes I would,” he said. “I would do everything possible to make it required the people had to wear masks in public.”
Right now, only a handful of states require a face mask in public and even there many law enforcement agencies are not enforcing the requirement. The majority of states simply recommend wearing a mask when other social distancing measures are not possible.
The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings such as grocery stores and pharmacies.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) also recently told reporters that he supports mask wearing in public.
“Everyone should just wear a damn mask,” said Rubio while leaving a GOP luncheon this week.
Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine (R) is supportive of wearing face masks. He released a commercial this week promoting the issue.
“Face masks make a difference in reducing the spread of #COVID19. Take it from the people who see it, treat it, and know it. #InThisTogetherOhio #StaySafeOhio #ResponsibleRestartOhio,” Dewine tweeted with the video.
President Donald Trump believes that mask wearing is more harmful than helpful. He has only been seen wearing a mask in public on one occasion.
“They put their finger on the mask, and they take them off, and then they start touching their eyes and touching their nose and their mouth,” Trump said. “And then they don’t know how they caught it?”
Requiring face masks in public by federal mandate would no doubt be met with large pushback considering the current opposition at the state level.
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