Joe Biden will today begin recruiting a new coronavirus-response team as he begins preparations to enter the White House.
The US President-elect put the pandemic front and centre during his victory-speech at a drive-rally in Delaware on Saturday night.
The US still has the highest cases numbers in the world, having reported nearly 10 million coronavirus patients since the outbreak began.
Nearly 240,000 deaths have been reported.
Transition
Mr Biden will not officially enter the White House until January 20th, 2021; however, he has already established a ‘transition team’ along with vice-President-elect Kamala Harris to ensure officials are ready to hit the ground running when the time comes.
During his victory speech, he said a group of leading scientists and experts would be recruited to “help take the Biden-Harris COVID plan and convert it into an action blueprint.”
“We cannot repair the economy, restore our vitality, or relish life's most precious moments - hugging a grandchild, birthdays, weddings, graduations, all the moments that matter most to us - until we get this virus under control," he said.
He pledged: “That plan will be built on a bedrock of science. It will be constructed out of compassion, empathy, and concern.
“I will spare no effort - or commitment - to turn this pandemic around.”
Meanwhile, the former US President George W. Bush has joined calls for Donald Trump to concede the election to Joe Biden.
President Trump reiterated his unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud on Twitter before being pictured travelling to his golf course in Sterling Virginia.
Since when does the Lamestream Media call who our next president will be? We have all learned a lot in the last two weeks!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 8, 2020
In a statement, Mr Bush said the American people “can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear.”
He offered his "warm congratulations" to Mr Biden and Ms Harris and congratulated Donald Trump on a "hard-fought" campaign.”
He said President Trump has the right to “request recounts and pursue legal challenges” however, he said, Mr Biden had “won his opportunity to lead and unify our country.”
US President Donald Trump gives two thumbs up to supporters as he departs after playing golf at the Trump National Golf Club, 08-11-2020. Image: AP Photo/Steve HelberOn Breakfast Briefing this morning Carla Marinucci, Senior Political Writer with Politico said Donald Trump appears to be doubling down on his claims of voter fraud.
“There are reports tonight that Trump plans to go back out on the campaign trail and hold campaign-style rallies in an effort to prolong his fight, even though experts say it is a lost cause.
“Reportedly he is going to show up obituaries of dead people who supposedly voted.”
Mr Biden is expected to reverse several of President Trump’s key policies with days of taking office next year.
He is reportedly planning executive orders that will take the US back towards the Paris Climate Agreement and membership of the World Health Organisation.
Election
With the final election results yet to be declared, Mr Biden has already won at least 75 million votes, the most for a presidential candidate in history.
President Trump also won more votes than he did the last time out.
Mr Biden will take the White House with 279 Electoral College Votes to President Trump’s 214.
