Trump refuses to wear face mask despite CDC advice saying he 'greets presidents, prime ministers, dictators'
President Donald Trump is known to be a nonconformist and even in the times of a pandemic, there is no exception to the rule. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised the people to voluntarily wear face coverings in some public spaces to spread the outbreak and the president has decided against wearing one himself because of the requirements of his top-profile job.
On Friday, April 3, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said individuals who are asymptomatic can still affect ones and simple cloth coverings on the face along with social-distancing measures can help curb the spread. The president, however, said the recommendation was only an advice to which he would not pay any heed.
“I just don't want to wear one myself,” he told reporters. “It's a recommendation, they recommend it. I'm feeling good.”
The Republican leader, who is seeking a second term in office this year, said he did not want to wear the gear while greeting high-profile visitors in the form of presidents, prime ministers, dictators, and others.
“Somehow, sitting in the Oval Office behind that beautiful resolute desk, the great resolute desk, I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens, I don't know,” Trump, who recently tested negative for the coronavirus for the second time, said. “Somehow, I don't see it for myself. I just don't.”
Trump says may be he will change his mind
“Maybe I'll change my mind,” the president added. “But this will pass and hopefully it will pass very quickly.”
With the US turning home to the most number of people affected by the virus (nearly 278,000), the Trump administration has come to face challenges on different fronts. While it has been accused of doing too little too late in dealing with the crisis despite early warnings, the crashing economy in the country has also multiplied the difficulties. Ten million Americans have lost their jobs in the last two weeks and even though the government has released a massive economic relief package to arrest the collapse, it has miles to go before things return to normalcy.
Adams, meanwhile, said personal protective gear like N95 respirators are not involved in the CDC’s recommendation since they need to be saved for healthcare workers. The World Health Organization has also recommended individuals to wear face masks while taking care of a person suspected of carrying coronavirus or for those who are exhibiting symptoms of the virus, like coughing or sneezing.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti advised residents of his city to start wearing masks while venturing out in public spaces and it came a day before the CDC’s advice. “Early data suggests many who are infected are not symptomatic, which is why we are recommending you use cloth face coverings plus physical distancing for essential activities," he tweeted. “Do not use surgical and N95 masks, which are reserved for first responders and medical workers.”
Nearly 1.1 million people have been affected by the virus globally. The death rate is nearing 59,000. In the US, over 7,100 people have died so far.