President- Elect Joe Biden said Thursday that he will ask Americans to commit to 100 days of wearing masks as one of his first acts as president, stopping just short of the nationwide mandate he’s pushed before to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The move marks a notable shift from President Donald Trump, whose own skepticism of mask-wearing has contributed to a politicization of the issue. That’s made many people reluctant to embrace a practice that public health experts say is one of the easiest ways to manage the pandemic, which has killed more than 275,000 Americans.

America’s employers sharply scaled back their hiring last month as the viral pandemic accelerated across the country, adding 245,000 jobs, the fewest since April and the fifth straight monthly slowdown.

At the same time, the unemployment rate fell to a still-high 6.7%, from 6.9% in October as many people stopped looking for work and were no longer counted as unemployed, the Labor Department said. November’s job gain was down from 610,000 in October.

The 33rd annual St. Thomas Christmas Concert will be released online on Dec. 18 after being recorded in November at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Brady Education Center auditorium.

“A St. Thomas Christmas: Respite and Grace” will showcase over 300 student performers in six groups: Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Donne Unite, Liturgical Choir, String Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the traditional concert, which is typically held at a sold-out Orchestra Hall with thousands of audience members.

Sarah McCarthy can be reached at mcca9221@stthomas.edu.