Joe Biden to ask Americans to wear masks for 100 days

As he prepares to take office, US President-elect Joe Biden has said that he will ask Americans to wear masks for his first 100 days in the White House.

As part of efforts to curb infections, he will also order them to be worn in all government buildings.

Speaking with CNN, Mr Biden said he believed there would a “significant reduction” in cases if face masks were implemented.

Constitutional experts say a US president has no legal authority to give such an order. But Mr Biden said he and his Vice-President Kamala Harris plan to set an example by donning face coverings.

Face masks have become a political issue in the US – even though face coverings are recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and even as attitudes to face masks around the world have changed.

Mr Biden’s latest remarks come as America continued to grapple with the world’s largest outbreak – more than 14.1 million cases and 276,000 deaths.