Yesterday, President-elect Joe Biden announced his COVID-19 task force and seven-point plan for getting the surging pandemic under control. Although he won’t become president until Jan. 20, he has demonstrated he’s taking the virus seriously and will be leading with evidence. Biden’s task force is composed entirely of doctors and health experts, and his plan includes measures physicians have long been calling for, including more testing, more PPE, and a comprehensive plan for distributing a vaccine at no cost to every American. At the same time, the Trump Administration is trying to sabotage these efforts by refusing to acknowledge Biden’s electoral victory and let his transition team meet with Trump Administration officials who are in charge of federal COVID-19 efforts. In response, Dr. Rebecca Beach, MD, a family physician in Richland Center, WI, released the following statement:
“As a physician, I was heartened to see President-elect Joe Biden release a real plan based on science for getting our hands around this pandemic. It’s long past time we have a leader who listens to scientists and medical professionals to implement solutions that will reduce COVID-19 rates, hospitalizations, and deaths, and better protect my fellow health care workers and myself. The Trump Administration should immediately take the steps necessary to let Biden’s transition team start reducing COVID-19 spread and saving lives. Trump and his team have demonstrated they’re unwilling to make tough decisions on this pandemic, so it’s time for them to step aside.”
