U.S. President Joe Biden signs executive orders as part of his COVID-19 response as Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and Director of NIAID Anthony Fauci look on in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 21, 2021. (Photo: AFP-Yonhap News)
In his first full day in office, U.S. President Joe Biden has asserted full control of all aspects against the fight against the coronavirus.
He unveiled his action plan to defeat the disease during a press conference Thursday at the White House, describing it as a "wartime undertaking."
Biden also renewed his pledge to vaccinate 100 million people in his first 100 days on the job, and promised to be transparent and allow medical experts and scientists, including the nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, do the work needed to restore public trust.
The BBC's Barbara Plett-Usher has this report.
[Reporter]
Joe Biden outlined a strategy to take control of the pandemic in a way that President Trump did not by putting the full weight of the federal government into defeating it.
"This is a national emergency," he said. "It's time to start treating it like one."
His plan also includes more funding, more masks, more testing, data and help for schools.
And he imposed new restrictions on international travelers -- a test before they get on the plane and a quarantine when they arrive in the U.S.
The new administration also confirmed that it would resume its funding to the World Health Organization and support the international COVID-19 response.
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