Risk of more Covid deaths if Trump delays handover, says Biden

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday ratcheted up pressure on the Trump administration to engage in a transition of power, mincing no words on the dire consequences if his incoming team faces further delays in working with federal agencies."More people may die if we don't coordinate," Biden said during a news conference in Wilmington, Del., following remarks on the economic impact of the coronavirus in which he warned of a "very dark winter" where "things are going to get much tougher before they get easier."

He also pointed out the absurdity that Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., the vice president-elect, still has access to classified intelligence briefings because she is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. But Biden himself is not able to get those briefings because Trump's administration has yet to acknowledge that Biden won the election. "I find this more embarrassing for the country than debilitating for my ability to get started," he said.

"A vaccine is important. It's of little use until you're vaccinated. So how do we get over 300 million Americans vaccinated?" Biden said. "What's the game plan? It's a huge, huge, huge undertaking to get it done."Biden also said that Trump's lack of cooperation had not stopped foreign leaders from calling to congratulate him.