COVID-19 Advisory Board
The COVID-19 Advisory Board was announced in November 2020 by President of the United States Joe Biden as part of his presidential transition. The board became the successor of the White House Coronavirus Task Force when the Biden administration took over on January 20, 2021. It was co-chaired by physicians David A. Kessler, Marcella Nunez-Smith, and Vivek Murthy and comprises 13 health experts.
Seal of the President of the United States Joe Biden | |
Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | November 2020 |
Dissolved | January 20, 2021[1][2] |
Type | Advisory board |
Jurisdiction | United States |
Agency executives | |
Website | buildbackbetter |
Background
Before naming any White House staff or cabinet appointments, Biden announced that he will appoint a COVID-19 task force, co-chaired by former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler and Yale University epidemiologist Professor Marcella Nunez-Smith.[3][4] In November 2020, he announced the names of 13 health experts to serve on the COVID-19 Advisory Board.[5] Biden pledged a more and larger federal government response to the pandemic than Donald Trump, akin to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal during the Great Depression.[6] This would include increased testing for SARS-CoV-2, a steady supply of personal protective equipment, distributing a vaccine and securing money from Congress for schools and hospitals under the aegis of a national "supply chain commander" who would coordinate the logistics of manufacturing and distributing protective gear and test kits. This would be distributed by a "Pandemic Testing Board", also similar to Roosevelt's War Production Board during World War II.[6] Biden also pledged to invoke the Defense Production Act more aggressively than Trump in order to build up supplies, as well as the mobilization of up to 100,000 Americans for a "public health jobs corps" of contact tracers to help track and prevent outbreaks.[6]
Jeffrey Zients will work with the advisory board as the incoming White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator (czar).[7][8] Civil servant and political advisor, Natalie Quillian, will serve as Deputy Coronavirus Response Coordinator.[9]
Dissolution
The board was dissolved on January 20, 2021, after President Biden was sworn in.[1][2] The reason for the dissolution is unknown.
Members
There were 16 members of the COVID-19 advisory board, appointed by President of the United States Joe Biden. Three of the members, David A. Kessler, Vivek Murthy and Marcella Nunez-Smith, served as co-chairs.
References
- Facher, Lev (January 20, 2021). "Biden dissolves Covid-19 panel that advised his transition". STAT. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- Pettypiece, Shannon (January 20, 2021). "Biden's Covid advisory board disbanded". NBC News. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- Feuer, Will (November 7, 2020). "President-elect Joe Biden to announce Covid task force on Monday". CNBC. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- Mercia, Dan; Zeleny, Jeff (November 7, 2020). "Biden to announce coronavirus task force as part of presidential transition". CNN. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- "Biden Names 13 Health Experts To COVID-19 Transition Advisory Board". NPR.org. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- Goodnough, Abby; Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (October 15, 2020). "Biden's Covid Response Plan Draws From F.D.R.'s New Deal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- MJ Lee and Kate Sullivan. "Jeffrey Zients is expected to be named Biden's coronavirus coordinator". CNN. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
- "Zients, Murthy tapped to head up Biden's Covid-19 response". POLITICO. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
- "President-elect Joe Biden Announces Key Members of Health Team". Insider NJ. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- "Biden transition team unveils members of Covid-19 task force". STAT. November 9, 2020. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- Landers, Jamie. "Navajo Nation's Jill Jim named to President-elect Joe Biden's COVID-19 Advisory Board". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
- Bunin, Steve (December 3, 2020). "Meet the Seattle nurse appointed to Biden's COVID-19 advisory board". King5. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- Landers, Jamie (November 28, 2020). "Navajo Nation's Jill Jim named to President-elect Joe Biden's COVID-19 Advisory Board". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.