Jan. 21, 2021 -- On his first full day in office, President Joe Biden continued to move quickly, issuing a new raft of executive orders and directives aimed at stopping the coronavirus pandemic.
His first executive order, signed Wednesday, requires everyone on federal land or property, including office buildings, to wear masks and to practice social distancing. The order applies to visitors, federal employees, and federal contractors.
"This executive action will direct the agencies to take action to require compliance with CDC guidance on mask wearing and physical distancing in federal buildings, on federal lands, and by federal employees and contractors," Jeff Zients, who will be the Biden administration's COVID-19 response coordinator, told CNN.
"And the president will call on governors, public health officials, mayors, business leaders, and others to implement masking, physical distancing, and other public measures to control COVID-19," he said.
Today, Biden will order federal agencies to use the Defense Production Act to speed the manufacturing and delivery of equipment and supplies, including N95 masks, gowns, gloves, testing equipment, and other equipment.