Biden COVID-19 task force says transition delay could be compromising U.S. virus response

Medical experts advising President-elect Joe Biden on the COVID-19 pandemic fear that the federal government's delay in recognizing Biden's election victory could be compromising the U.S. response to the virus, the experts said on Tuesday.

Dr. David Kessler, co-chair of Biden's COVID-19 task force, said the experts had not been able to discuss the pandemic with current administration officials or access real-time data, including on hospital bed capacity and stockpiled equipment. General Services Administrator Emily Murphy has not yet recognized Biden as the "apparent winner" of the Nov. 3 election, which is needed to release government funding for the transition.