Biden says he would use executive authority to force 'everybody out in public' to wear a mask

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Friday said if elected he would use his authority as president to force every American to wear a mask while out in public. 

The candidate made that declaration in an interview with local Pennsylvania news station KDKA 2 Pittsburgh, during which he remained eight feet apart from reporter Ken Rice while wearing a mask himself. 

"The one thing we do know is these masks make a gigantic difference. I would insist that everybody out in public be wearing [a] mask," he said. 

Asked by Rice if Biden would use his "federal leverage" to mandate masks nationwide, Biden said: "Yes, I would. From an executive standpoint, yes I would."

"I would do everything possible to make it required that people had to wear masks in public," he added. 

It is unclear if American presidents have the authority to order roughly 330 million Americans to wear face coverings while out in public. Numerous state governors have in recent weeks unilaterally imposed such requirements on state residents, while some local governments have undertaken similar measures.

The effectiveness of face masks in countering the spread of the coronavirus is contested by scientists. Highly influential coronavirus modeler Christopher Murray said last month that masks are only about 50% effective at stopping coronavirus transmission. 

Retired University of Chicago professor Lisa Brosseau also told Just the News last month that cloth masks "stop about 50 percent of particles," though she noted that that ultimately makes very little difference as far as transmission is concerned. 

"If it takes you two or three minutes to get an infectious dose, the mask may move the infection time up a little bit longer," she said.