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| PHOTO via Reuters |
Experts Predict Major Changes in COVID-19 Management Under Biden
Public health experts foresee a significant shift in the United States' approach to tackling the coronavirus pandemic with the election of former Vice President Joe Biden. The new administration is expected to prioritize science-based policies, streamlined organization, and improved communication.
“It's likely to be well organized, it's likely to have better communication, and it's likely to be based on science. Those are three major and very promising changes,” said Thomas Frieden, former head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and president of the health nonprofit Resolve to Save Lives.
Biden's Transition Plan Focuses on Public Health
Despite ongoing legal challenges from the Trump campaign, Biden is moving forward with transition plans and policy outlines. While President Trump and many Republican leaders have not conceded, Republican lawmakers who won seats in the election have accepted their results.
With nearly 240,000 deaths, the United States has one of the highest COVID-19 mortality rates per capita, according to Johns Hopkins University. Public health experts have criticized Trump's handling of the pandemic, citing misinformation, resistance to mask mandates, and promotion of unproven treatments.
“The challenge we've had is that the administration in many ways has been very anti-science,” said Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “And now you're going to have a response driven by science.”
Trump’s Pandemic Narrative vs. Biden’s Science-Driven Approach
Throughout his presidency, Trump downplayed the severity of COVID-19, frequently stating that the U.S. was “rounding the turn” in overcoming the crisis. At a campaign rally in Florida, he claimed, “Under my leadership, we’re delivering a safe vaccine and a rapid recovery like no one can even believe.” However, infection rates surged dramatically across the country, contradicting his optimism.
In contrast, Biden has made the pandemic a top priority, alongside economic recovery, racial equity, and climate change. His transition team is preparing a coordinated response focused on public health measures and vaccine distribution.
Public Health Experts Welcome Biden’s Proactive Strategy
Biden’s early emphasis on pandemic control is a stark contrast to what experts viewed as the Trump administration's evasive approach.
“The fact that this is something that is being taken seriously is very different than what we saw during the Trump administration, where this was something that was evaded, where it was thought not to be a major problem,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
As the U.S. faces rising case numbers, Biden’s administration is expected to prioritize transparent communication, scientific research, and a structured response to COVID-19, bringing renewed hope to public health officials and citizens alike.
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