WASHINGTON (AP) - Test bracelets are ready. The use of masks is mandatory. Desks are socially estranged.
The clearest sign that there is a new boss in the White House is the deference paid to the coronavirus public health guidelines.
It's a striking contrast to the Donald Trump White House, which was the epicenter of no fewer than three separate COVID-19 outbreaks, its true scale not fully known because attendees refused to discuss the cases publicly.
While the Trump administration was notorious for disobeying safety recommendations, Biden's team has struggled to adhere to the same strict guidelines that urge Americans to follow to stop the spread of the virus.
It is part of an overall effort by President Joe Biden to lead by example on the coronavirus pandemic, a spirit inherited from the campaign and transition from him.
"One of the great tragedies of the Trump administration was the refusal to acknowledge that many Americans shape the behavior of our leadership," said Ben LaBolt, a former press secretary to President Barack Obama who worked on the Biden transition.
"The Biden administration understands the powerful message of adhering to your own guidelines and modeling the best public health behavior, and they know that's the best way out of this until we can get an injection in the arm of every American. ".
To that end, the majority of Biden's White House staff work from home, coordinating with colleagues by email or phone. While the White House is aiming to have more people working at the site next week, officials intend to operate with substantially reduced staff for the duration of the pandemic.
When Biden swore in hundreds of administration employees Wednesday, the ceremony was virtual, and the president watched team members display themselves in squares on video screens.
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