Biden announces coronavirus task force members

(Patria) - President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced the composition of a task force of health experts who will plan his administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Tackling the coronavirus pandemic is one of the biggest challenges our administration will face, and I will listen to science and experts," Biden said.

"The task force will help shape my approach to managing the rise in new infections, ensuring that vaccines are safe, effective, efficient, equitably distributed and free, and protecting high-risk groups," the new president added.

The group will be co-chaired by Vivek Murthy, the US Public Health Service Chief during Barack Obama's term, who was dismissed by Donald Trump, and former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) head David Kessler.

Murthy was among the first critics of Trump's approach to the pandemic.

The current head of the coronavirus task force, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has not yet been appointed to Biden's body.

The US is the country with the highest number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic – 10.2 million. With 243,000 victims, the US also has the highest number of deaths, Hina reports.

Biden has often criticized Republican President Donald Trump's approach to managing the pandemic.

Trump continues to refuse to concede defeat in the election and has filed a series of lawsuits to challenge the results in several states. Analysts believe these legal processes cannot change the outcome of the election.