Biden suggests many COVID-19 deaths were avoidable but for Trump's 'lack of attention and ego'

Former Vice President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that President Trump is "supposed to lead by example" when it comes to wearing a mask and social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, but has failed at that and also keeping the death toll down.

The U.S. is close to reaching the grim milestone of 100,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths. In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Biden said it is as important as ever to stay safe by social distancing and wearing a face covering, as the COVID-19 threat is "not over."

Biden then appeared to reference a recent report by Columbia University researchers who found that enacting federal social distancing measures nationwide just one week earlier in March would have prevented about 36,000 coronavirus deaths, with thousands more deaths averted under earlier closures. The first imported case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was reported on Jan. 20, with community transmission following a few weeks later.

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"One hundred thousand deaths and at least 35,000 to 50,000 were avoidable, but for a lack of attention and ego," Biden said. Catherine Garcia

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.