Biden Campaign Urges People to Wear Masks, Social Distance Amid Packed Celebrations

Supporters of Democratic candidate Joe Biden watch a broadcast in the West Village in New York on Nov. 7, 2020. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

The Biden campaign is imploring people to wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines due to the pandemic amid packed celebrations for Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

Biden campaign senior adviser Symone Sanders, in an interview on CNN on Nov. 8, was asked by Jake Tapper about people seen not wearing masks as they celebrated what many media outlets have called a Biden win.

“New coronavirus cases are soaring,” Tapper said. “We have just had some of the worst days for new infections of the entire pandemic. Is it incumbent upon president-elect Biden to make it clear to his supporters that crowds are a bad idea during this pandemic, even if people are wearing masks, and he understands that they want to celebrate, but they shouldn’t be filling the streets like that?”

Sanders responded by saying that “we have made it clear” that guidelines on precautions to curb the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus should be followed.

“I know folks are excited,” Sanders said. “There are many people who are looking forward to a new day, actually turning the corner and getting this virus under control. But we are imploring folks across the country to be safe, wear your mask, social distance. This virus is very real, and it’s deadly.”

Supporters of Democratic candidate Joe Biden celebrate in Philadelphia, Pa., on Nov. 7, 2020. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Biden was declared by a number of media outlets as president-elect on Saturday after projected victories in Pennsylvania and Nevada put him over the 270 electoral vote threshold. President Donald Trump has alleged voter fraud and said any declarations of victory are premature, with his campaign announcing a raft of legal challenges.

“The simple fact is this election is far from over,” Trump said in a statement. “Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor.”

“Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media,” Trump added.

Biden has claimed victory in the presidential race, changing his Twitter handle to read “president-elect,” while many media outlets have begun referring to him as such.

The former vice president’s declaration of victory prompted pushback from Trump, who said in a statement: “We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: They don’t want the truth to be exposed.”

“The American people are entitled to an honest election: That means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election,” Trump said.

After Biden’s win was announced by many media outlets on Saturday, multiple video clips were shared on social media showing thousands of people celebrating in major cities across the country, with some not wearing masks and not observing social distancing guidelines.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), in a tweet, called out media outlets for not reporting on the celebrations from the perspective of an elevated risk to virus spread.

“And suddenly people gathering in large crowds and not social distancing is no longer considered irresponsible by the media,” the Florida Republican wrote.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany similarly suggested media hypocrisy in their coverage of large pro-Biden crowds after earlier labeling Trump’s campaign rallies “super-spreader” events.

“Where is @JoeBiden calling on the massive Super Spreader events held in his name to end?” McEnany wrote in a tweet, reacting to a tightly-packed crowd outside the White House singing “YMCA.”