Biden Doesn’t Plan on Nationwide Shutdown
The Claim
Once in office, President-Elect Joe Biden plans on implementing a new set of restrictions enforced by the federal government. This would be a major reversal in the US’s approach to the pandemic, which has largely left it up to individual state choice.
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Emerging story
After the projected results of the U.S. presidential election, users on social media began expressing concern that Biden would establish a nationwide shutdown.
Misbar’s Analysis
Biden has always been critical of President Donald Trump’s approach to the pandemic. Biden has advocated more extensive and cohesive measures. He wears masks in public, a stark contrast from Trump’s general refusal to do so. Biden is also a Democrat; the Democratic party have by and large taken the pandemic more seriously than their conservative counterparts. They have often ordered statewide shutdowns and, after a brief reversal of these restrictions, just reimplemented them. This comes to concern to some people, who worry that Biden will push these measures nationwide.
However, while Biden has said he will take a more hands-on approach, he hasn’t yet said anything about a nationwide shutdown. His website states that his main priority will be alleviating the damage from the pandemic, such as providing government assistance to businesses and individuals affected by shutdowns.
Biden has already met with experts to develop a more coherent policy, but it's currently unknown what that will consist of.
