Biden says he'd require masks to be worn in public as president

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden would require Americans to wear face masks in public during the coronavirus pandemic as president, he said this week.

Biden in an interview with KDKA spoke about the importance of wearing masks or face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19, saying, when asked how he would handle the coronavirus crisis if he became president tomorrow, "I would insist that everybody out in public be wearing" a mask and "would do everything possible to make it required that people have to wear masks in public."

Asked if he would use his federal leverage to mandate the wearing of face masks, he said, "Yes, I would. From an executive standpoint, yes I would."

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Biden, who wore a mask during the interview, pointed to the fact that the evidence shows wearing masks makes a "gigantic difference." CBS News notes that President Trump has typically not been seen wearing a mask in public and has made numerous appearances recently in which many attendees didn't wear masks. Trump also suggested in a recent interview that some Americans are wearing masks to show their disapproval of him.