Biden’s transition adds new members to coronavirus task force

President elect Joe bidenJoe BidenBiden Adds to Trump Voting Margin After Milwaukee County Recount Krebs Says Allegations of Foreign Interference in 2020 Election ‘Ridiculous’ New DOJ rule could allow executions by electrocution, a firing squad PLUS announced on Saturday it was adding three new members to its transition team’s coronavirus task force as the new administration focuses on preparedness to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Transition said in a statement that Jane Hopkins, Jill Jim and David Michaels are joining the team, which is co-chaired by David Kessler, former surgeon general. Vivek MurthyVivek Hallegere MurthyBiden’s team to start receiving briefings on COVID-19 Five House Democrats who could join Biden Fauci cabinet says he hasn’t spoken to Biden: he doesn’t want to ‘put me in a compromised position ” MORE and Marcella Nunez-Smith. The task force is tasked with helping Biden, vice president-elect Kamala harrisKamala Harris Kamala Harris Calls Nurse on Thanksgiving to Express Gratitude in Fight Against COVID-19 Trump Campaign Loses Appeal in Pennsylvania Race The Memo: Biden Faces Tough Road on Commitment to Heal the Nation MORE and the transition concocts a “robust and aggressive response to contain the virus”.

“As COVID-19 spreads across the country, I need a team to advise me and a transition that offers diverse perspectives and points of view. Ms Hopkins, Dr Jim and Dr Michaels will strengthen the work of the council and help ensure that our COVID-19 planning addresses health and workforce inequalities, ”Biden said.

Hopkins, a Sierra Leonean immigrant, worked for more than 20 years as a staff nurse and has a long history of union work, a choice that seems to reflect Biden’s emphasis on attracting workers’ groups. She also received the Black Lives Matter Award from the SEIU Washington State AFRAM Caucus.

Jim is the executive director of the Navajo Nation Department of Health and has worked for 18 years in nonprofit, state and federal organizations and tribal governments, where she has largely focused on chronic disease prevention and the fight against health inequalities between Amerindians and Alaska Natives.

Michaels is an epidemiologist and professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. He was also Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health under the Obama administration.

The task force was first deployed earlier this month and took the lead in Biden’s transition to develop a plan to tackle a range of issues regarding the pandemic, including stepping up testing and contact tracing and distribution of a potential vaccine.

The additions to the team come amid an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases across the country. There have been more than 12.9 million confirmed cases in the United States since the start of the pandemic, and cases are increasing by more than 100,000 per day.

Almost 256,000 people in the United States have died.