Video: How world leaders are reacting to Joe Biden’s inauguration

Washington - Biden will order that all federal employees wear masks and make face coverings mandatory on federal property.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday will immediately reset the nation’s response to the Covid-19 crisis when he heads to the Oval Office after being sworn in to lead a country reeling from its worst public health crisis in more than a century.

As part of a first sweep of executive actions, Biden will order that all federal employees wear masks and make face coverings mandatory on federal property.

He will establish a new White House office to coordinate the coronavirus response and halt the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization, a process initiated by the outgoing president, Donald Trump.

The orders signal that Biden aims to fulfill his campaign promise to make COVID-19 relief a top priority and will mark a sharp divergence from the Trump administration’s pandemic response, which critics say was ineffectual, uncoordinated and at least partly responsible for the death of more than 400,000 Americans.

Here’s how world leaders are reacting to US President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday, replacing Donald Trump.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON, SPEAKING IN PARLIAMENT

“I look forward to working with him (Biden), and with his new administration, strengthening the partnership between our countries and working on our shared priorities: from tackling climate change, building back better from the pandemic and strengthening our transatlantic security.”

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN, IN A TWEET

“The United States is back. And Europe stands ready. To reconnect with an old and trusted partner, to breathe new life into our cherished alliance. I look forward to working together with @JoeBiden.”

GERMAN PRESIDENT FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, IN A VIDEO STATEMENT

“Today is a good day for democracy. In the United States of America, it has faced tremendous challenges — and endured. Despite the attempts to tear at America’s institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress, have proven strong. I am greatly relieved that, today, Joe Biden is being sworn in as president and will be moving into the White House. I know many people in Germany share this feeling.”