Biden calls for nationwide mask requirements in the fight against Corona

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Presidential candidate Joe Biden, exemplary as always with a mask

The Democratic US presidential candidate Joe Biden has called for a nationwide mask requirement in the fight against the corona pandemic. "Every American should wear a mask for at least the next three months when they are outside," Biden said Thursday. "Every governor should make it mandatory to wear masks." According to experts, 40,000 lives could be saved in the next three months, said the former vice president.

"It has nothing to do with Democrats, Republicans or independents," said Biden, referring to the politically heated debate over protective masks in the US. "It's not about your rights, it's your responsibility as an American." People should be "patriots" and protect their fellow citizens. "This is America."

The 77-year-old and his runner-up candidate Kamala Harris held a video conference with experts on the corona crisis on Thursday in Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Both had sharply criticized President Donald Trump's handling of the pandemic the day before and accused the Republican of political failure.

• You can read a detailed report about the first joint appearance by Biden and Harris and about their attacks against Trump here: "America is crying out for leadership"

More than 5.2 million corona cases have already been registered in the USA, and more than 166,000 people have died as a result of an infection - more than in any other country worldwide. Currently, more people have died with the coronavirus in one day in the US than since the end of May. Within 24 hours there were around 55,900 known new infections and around 1,500 deaths, according to figures from the University of Johns Hopkins in Baltimore on Thursday morning (CEST). On May 27, 1522 corona deaths were reported, the highest level in absolute numbers was in mid-April with 2666 deaths.

Critics blame Trump for the devastating numbers. The president had downplayed the danger posed by the virus for a long time and later insisted on a rapid relaxation of the corona restrictions. For a long time, it also undermined recommendations from health authorities on the wearing of protective masks. When the CDC recommended the use of face masks, Trump made it clear that he would not wear one: "Somehow I can't imagine doing that for myself." He held out this line for a long time. If there is one constant in Trump's corona policy, it is the rejection of the mask.

• An analysis of Trump's mask policy can be found here: Battle for the Mask

oka / AFP / dpa