Biden to call for 100 days of universal mask wearing on Inauguration Day

Pulling back just slightly from his proposed nationwide mask mandate, Democrat Joe Biden now says that one of his first moves if certified president would be to call for 100 days of universal mask wearing.

Biden has discussed the possibility of implementing a mandate to control the spread of the coronavirus, but he has also questioned if he actually would have the authority to enforce such a mandate. Instead, Biden has called mask wearing a "patriotic duty," repeatedly saying that wearing one protect not only protects oneself but those around you, too. 

"On the first day I’m inaugurated, I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask," Biden said Thursday. "Just 100 days to mask _ not forever, just 100 days. And I think we’ll see a significant reduction" in the virus.

Biden told CNN that he would ask the public for their cooperation on Inauguration Day in January. 

He also expressed his approval for the $900 billion bipartisan coronavirus aid bill.

"That would be a good start," he said. "It’s not enough."