Biden Says He’ll Ask Americans to Wear Masks for 100 Days After He Takes Office

President-elect Joe Biden said he would ask Americans to wear masks for the first 100 days after he takes office, as he sets up his administration’s coronavirus response.

“I’m going to ask the public for 100 days to mask, just 100 days to mask, not forever,” Mr. Biden told CNN Thursday. “And I think we’ll see a significant reduction.”

Mr. Biden is also expected to tap Jeffrey Zients, a former Obama administration economic adviser, for a senior White House role overseeing the administration’s coronavirus response, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr. Zients is expected to work with senior officials across multiple agencies to coordinate pandemic response efforts, the people said. It couldn’t be learned when Mr. Biden would make the announcement.

Mr. Biden’s transition team declined to comment, and Mr. Zients didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The Democratic president-elect is planning to announce several health-related positions in his administration in the coming weeks, transition officials said, as coronavirus cases continue to surge across the country. The number of Covid-19-related deaths reported in a day hit a record in the U.S. this week, and newly reported infections were at their second highest level, surpassing 200,000 for the second time in less than a week.

Mr. Biden said on CNN Thursday that he has asked Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to remain in his role and to serve as a chief medical officer in his administration and as part of his Covid-19 response team. Mr. Biden also said his incoming chief of staff Ron Klain had been in regular contact with Dr. Fauci.