Washington - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden spoke of a “very dark winter” ahead as the country continues to lead the world in coronavirus infections and deaths.

Biden was asked what will happen if President Trump continues to prevent Biden’s transition team from coordinating with the outgoing administration.  He responded: "More people may die, if we don’t coordinate.”

Biden called on Senate Republicans to pass a COVID relief package like the $3 trillion HEROES Act approved by House Democrats last May.  Vice President-elect Kamala Harris noted the pandemic has had a far greater impact on communities of color.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said: “Black Americans and Latinos are three times as likely to contract COVID as others and more likely to die.  Native Americans are more than four times as likely to be hospitalized as others.  And last month the unemployment rate for Black Americans was almost twice the rate of others.”