President-elect Joe Biden and his transition team are reportedly already making plans to ensure that the White House, which has been plagued with a series of COVID-19 infections thanks to President Donald Trump’s disregard for protective measures against the virus, is safe enough for the 78-year-old Biden to move in come January 20.
According to Politico, Biden’s transition team will have the White House fully cleaned by General Services Administration (GSA) staffers hours after Trump leaves the building.
A spokesperson for the GSA told Politico that the staffers will “thoroughly clean and disinfect” every area of the East and West Wings that people have touched, including furniture and doorknobs.
A private contractor will also reportedly provide “disinfectant misting services.”
Nicole Lurie, one of Biden’s COVID-19 advisers, told Politico that the operation will be “the polar opposite of what you’re seeing now.”
“I think the social penalties for non-mask wearing will be great,” said Lurie. “Instead of people being ridiculed for wearing masks, they’ll be pressured in the other direction.”
Trump and many current White House officials have persistently refused to wear masks, with the President flatly politicizing the importance of wearing facial coverings that prevent the spread of COVID-19. Upon returning the White House after he was hospitalized over the virus, Trump immediately took off his mask in front of the public. Additionally, the White House has held a host of crowded indoor events.
godfetish on December 10th, 2020 at 13:22 UTC »
Biden should be the first president since it was built to wait 72 hours before walking into the white house.
wendycity21 on December 10th, 2020 at 13:20 UTC »
And then they'll clean it for covid.
oh_shit_a_ninja on December 10th, 2020 at 13:17 UTC »
Supposing we hit the White House with a tremendous — whether it's ultraviolet or just a very powerful light — , supposing you brought the light inside the White House. Shouldn't we test that too? Asking for a friend.