Biden tells U.S. to step up, calls for mask mandate

WILMINGTON, Del. — Joe Biden is calling for a nationwide protective mask mandate, citing health experts’ predictions that it could save 40,000 lives from coronavirus over the next three months.

“Wearing the mask is less about you contracting the virus,” Biden said. “It’s about preventing other people from getting sick.”

The Democratic presidential candidate also responded to those who push back against such mandates.

“This is America. Be a patriot. Protect your fellow citizens. Step up, do the right thing.”

“Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum — every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing,” Biden said.

President Donald Trump on Thursday attacked Biden for calling on governors to mandate the wearing of masks, accusing the Democratic presidential candidate of politicizing the issue.

Trump claimed Biden has been wrong about the coronavirus pandemic at every turn, “ignoring the scientific evidence and putting left-wing politics before facts and evidence.” Trump went on to falsely say that Biden was advocating for the president to use executive power to institute a nationwide mask mandate.

“To Joe, I would say stop playing politics with the virus,” Trump said at the White House press briefing.

Trump on Wednesday said that his administration was sending

125 million reusable masks to school districts across the nation.