As Wuhan coronavirus continues to be a challenge for states across the country, masks have become a point of contention after months of mixed messages from top health officials about whether the general public should wear them.
Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!
— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) February 29, 2020
They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
https://t.co/UxZRwxxKL9
Surgeon General Adams makes plea to Fox News viewers to wear masks in public:
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 20, 2020
"We're not trying to take away your ability to go out when we say keep restaurant capacity under 50%. We're saying if we do these things, we can actually open and stay open.” https://t.co/GLQrIqop7H
But today President Trump, who has resisted calls to move forward with some kind of national mask mandate, implied it is patriotic to wear one when individuals can't social distance.
We are United in our effort to defeat the Invisible China Virus, and many people say that it is Patriotic to wear a face mask when you can’t socially distance. There is nobody more Patriotic than me, your favorite President! pic.twitter.com/iQOd1whktN
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2020
During an interview with Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace over the weekend, Trump said while he encourages people to wear masks where they feel necessary, he has no plans to force the issue.
"I want people to have a certain freedom," Trump said. "I don't agree with the statement that if everybody wears a mask it disappears."
"With that being said, I'm believer in masks, I think masks are good. I leave it up to the governors," he continued.
