U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Monday made preparations toward the transfer of power in January as he communicated with the public about the need to wear masks to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and spoke with the Canadian prime minister.
"We are ready to get to work, addressing the needs of the American people. Today that work begins," the 77-year-old former vice president said from his home state of Delaware two days after declaring victory in Tuesday's presidential election. Republican incumbent Donald Trump, 74, has so far refused to concede.
Biden's transition office announced the same day the formation of a team of public health experts who will advise him and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to help shape their approach to managing the health crisis, with a goal of ensuring safe vaccines are distributed efficiently and free of charge after they are sworn into office on Jan. 20.
"I won't be president until Jan. 20. But my message today to everyone is this. It doesn't matter who you voted for, where you stood before election day...we can save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months," he said.
"Please, I implore you, wear a mask," he added. "A mask is not a political statement, but it is a good way to start pulling the country together."
His remarks came as the United States is seeing another surge in daily coronavirus cases, with the figure topping 120,000 on multiple days last week. Trump has often belittled the use of masks and his campaign rallies have brought together large crowds of his supporters, most of whom choose not to wear facial coverings.
Democrat Biden has accused the Republican president of failed leadership amid the country's inability to contain the pandemic, and has made it a top priority to bring it under control once he takes office.
On the official website for the transition, Biden has pledged to implement mask mandates nationwide by working with governors and mayors. He also said his other key priorities are achieving a recovery of the pandemic-hit economy as well as addressing racial inequality and climate change.
Although Trump continues to contest the election outcome by baselessly claiming the race was rigged against him, Biden also seems to have made a "diplomatic debut" as president-elect.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had already congratulated Biden and Harris through a tweet shortly after U.S. media projected the winner on Saturday, said Monday that he spoke with Biden apparently over the phone.
Noting that he congratulated Biden again, Trudeau said, "We've worked with each other before, and we're ready to pick up on that work and tackle the challenges and opportunities facing our two countries -- including climate change and COVID-19."
The talks covered issues including trade, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and China's detention of two Canadians in what is believed to be retaliation for Canada's arrest of a top executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co., Trudeau said in a pair of tweets.
Biden, the former vice president under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, is expected to place more emphasis on multilateralism, as he has criticized the incumbent's "America First" policy for having isolated the United States and undermined U.S. allies.
Biden has also pledged to restore U.S. leadership on the global stage, vowing to rejoin the Paris climate accord from which Trump withdrew the United States.
Related coverage:
FOCUS: Biden eyes undoing Trump's legacy of reduced U.S. role, fraying ties
PROFILE: Biden seen as steady hand with vast political experience, empathy
PROFILE: Harris known as trailblazer during her career as prosecutor, senator
