Joe Biden pled with the governors of states who lifted COVID restrictions like mask mandates to reimpose them on citizens.
During a brief COVID-19 presser on Monday, Biden called for the governors of states who lifted mask mandates and capacity restrictions to reimpose them due to a national uptick in COVID cases.
“I’m reiterating my call for every governor, mayor and local leader to maintain and reinstate the mask mandate,” Biden recited from the teleprompter. “Please, this is not politics. Reinstate the mandate if you let it down.”
Biden then criticized “reckless” Republican leaders like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for lifting all COVID restrictions, and urged for them to be reinstated.
“With cases rising again, variants are spreading, and sadly, some of the reckless behavior we’ve seen on television over the past few weeks means that more cases are to come in the weeks ahead,” Biden said.
“With vaccines there’s hope – which a very good thing to state the obvious – but people are letting up on precautions,” he added.
As he attempted to leave without answering questions, Biden reiterated his position when goaded by a reporter asking if governors should “pause their reopening efforts.”
“Yes,” Biden said before doddering off.
Watch Biden’s full presser: