President-elect Joe Biden had the first meeting with his new coronavirus advisory board Monday. He said together the team is putting together “a blueprint that we can put in place as soon as Kamala and I are sworn into office on January 20, 2021.”

“We’re ready to get to work addressing the needs of the American people. Today that work begins.”

Politico writes:

The 10-minute speech offered the best glimpse yet at how Biden — newly addressing Americans as their next commander in chief — will guide the country through a historic health crisis poised to hit its peak as he prepares to assume office. He struck a tone resembling that of a wartime president, speaking of the pandemic’s threat in dire terms and setting public expectations for a drawn-out, monthslong campaign to crush the outbreak in the U.S. 

While there was positive news today concerning a vaccine from Pfizer, Biden cautioned that the vaccine “will not be widely available for many months yet to come.” So he urged people to still exercise social distancing and wear a mask:

“The single most effective thing we can do to stop the spread of COVID is to wear a mask… I won’t be president until January 20th. It doesn’t matter who you voted for, where you stood before Election Day. It doesn’t matter your party, your point of view. We can save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months. Not Democrat or Republican lives, American lives.

Maybe we saved the life of a person who stocks the shelf at your local grocery store. Maybe saves the life of a member of your place of worship. Maybe it saves the lives of one of your children’s teachers. Maybe it saves your life. So please, I implore you, wear a mask. Do it for yourself. Do it for your neighbor. A mask is not a political statement but it is a good way to start pulling the country together.”

Watch the speech above.