Fury over Joe Biden’s plan to ask Americans to wear masks for first 100 days he’s in office

On the very first day he becomes President, Joe Biden will ask Americans to wear masks for 100 days, and they are not happy about it.

Americans are lashing out en masse over plans from Joe Biden to ask Americans to wear face masks for 100 days he’s in office.

The President-elect told CNN today he believes the move will help reduce transmission of the coronavirus that is again surging in the country with the world’s highest number of deaths and infections.

“I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask. Just 100 days to mask. not forever,” he said.

He said that where he has authority, like in federal buildings or in interstate transportation on aeroplanes and buses, he will issue a standing order that masks must be worn.

It’s a notable shift from President Donald Trump’s position, whose own scepticism of mask-wearing has created a polarised view on mask wearing in the US.

Public health experts say is one of the easiest ways to manage the pandemic, which has killed more than 275,000 Americans, but Mr Trump’s supporters have raised questions about whether they work and whether they infringe on their sacred freedoms.

Wearing a mask has become a polarising issue in America. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP

Conversely, Mr Biden has emphasised mask-wearing as a “patriotic duty” and during his campaign even floated the idea of instituting a nationwide mask mandate.

However, since then he has faced up to the reality that he would not be able to enforce it.

Now his new idea is to ask Americans to wear one for 100 days and, even though he is just asking, the plan has not gone down well with many.

Reacting to the news on social media, many Americans said they simply wouldn’t be following Mr Biden’s request.

“I won’t be doing that. Thanks though,” said one.

RELATED: America’s looming disaster in one image

“I see we’re back to asking instead of threatening executive action,” said another. “Either way, the answer is no.”

Other appeared even more defiant — seeing the request as the start of a massive crackdown on American freedoms.

“THOSE WHO VOTED FOR HIM NOW ITS (sic) GOING TO START,” screeched one. “INFRINGEMENT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN.”

“If masks work … why aren’t they working? Are you really gonna let Biden and the anti-American liberals take your freedom?” asked another.

“He can kiss my arse,” a third chimed in, charmingly.

Nope!

— PollWatch (@PollWatch2020) December 4, 2020

JUST IN: I won’t be doing that. Thanks though.

— Babe Truth (@BabeTruth13) December 4, 2020

I see we're back to asking instead of threatening executive action.

Either way, the answer is no.

— Guy "South Pole Elf" Faux (@Faux_Guy_) December 4, 2020

Others, like Scott Morefield, a reporter at The Daily Caller, argued that Americans have already been wearing masks for months on end, and raised questions about why they hadn’t seemed to drive down infections.

“Joe Biden asks everyone in America to wear a mask for his first 100 days like most people haven’t been wearing them FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS,” he said.

“Just more proof that face masks are a religious cult at this point. No amount of data will ever change the minds of these fanatics.”

Former CIA Operations Officer and political strategist Bryan Dean Wright called the move “meaningless”.

“Most Americans are already wearing masks, and have for months. And yet here we are with COVID spikes,” he said. “His call to action is meaningless.”

Joe Biden has just announced he plans to order people to wear masks until April 29, 2021.

That is more than 400 days after we started “15 Days To Flatten The Curve”.

— Dr. David Samadi, MD (@drdavidsamadi) December 3, 2020

Joe Biden’s Mask Theater is silly.

Most Americans are already wearing masks, and have for months. And yet here we are with COVID spikes.

His call to action is meaningless. https://t.co/jjIihcoyPO

— BDW (@BryanDeanWright) December 4, 2020

If masks work... why aren't they working? Are you really gonna let Biden and the anti-American liberals take your freedom?

— Cory Reynolds🟢 (@OfWaterville) December 3, 2020

Biden is brain-dead.

Americans have been wearing masks for almost a year!! Where has he been!?!

If you still think masks can "drive down" COVID numbers, you haven't been paying attention over the last year. https://t.co/3htSbCRw6F

— Andrea Katherine (@stl_blonde) December 4, 2020

Some have argued the move is pointless because Americans who didn’t wear a mask beforehand will just continue to do so, unless they are forced to by law.

Others say the move is unconstitutional and should ultimately be a state and local issue.

Everyday American critics said that if Mr Biden tried to mandate masks it would lead to a civil war.

“If they even attempted to do something like that you will see our government destroyed right in front of your very own eyes,” warned one.

The news comes as the US posted an all-time high of more than 210,000 new cases in a 24-hour stretch to Thursday, meanwhile notching more than 2900 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The daily death toll hasn’t hit a peak this high since April 15, when 2752 fatalities were recorded.

However, the surge in cases and deaths comes amid more positive news about a vaccine was announced, with the Moderna candidate showing it confers immunity for at least three months.

To build trust in the vaccines after they are approved, 78-year-old Mr Biden said he was willing to be vaccinated in public — following up on similar commitments from former US presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci has been asked to join Mr Biden’s Covid team. Picture: AFP

“People have lost faith in the ability of the vaccine to work,” Biden said, adding that “it matters what a president and the vice president do.”

Mr Biden also used his CNN interview to say he had asked the government’s top infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci to join his Covid team and serve as a chief medical adviser.

But in a sign of the difficult work ahead, California announced new statewide bans on gatherings and non-essential activities, as hospitals in the nation’s most populous state face being overwhelmed.

Director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Robert Redfield, predicted the nation’s total deaths could jump from 273,000 to 450,000 by February — reporting at least 2760 in the last 24 hours and some 200,000 new COVID-19 infections.

“The reality is, December and January and February are going to be rough times,” Dr Redfield said.

RELATED: Virus expert debunks biggest COVID-19 vaccination myth

“I actually believe they’re going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.

“We’re in that range potentially now, starting to see 1500 to 2000 to 2500 deaths a day from this virus. The mortality concerns are real, and I do think, unfortunately, because we see February, we could be close to 450,000 Americans that have died from this virus.”