Pence’s mask-free visit to the Mayo Clinic speaks volumes about Trump’s coronavirus stance

Washington Post logoSince mid-March, President Trump has adjusted his tone about the threat of the coronavirus — but only so much. Trump has continued to optimistically suggest that the virus might disappear sooner than experts say it could, and has played down the potential death toll and the severity of the situation, all in the service of praising the federal (and his own) response.

On Tuesday, his approach seemed to bleed over in a way that prompted one of the country’s top hospitals to rebuke the White House.

Vice President Pence visited the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota on Tuesday. But conspicuously absent from his visit was a mask. While pictures and video show plenty of people around Pence all using masks, he wasn’t wearing one. Continue reading.

Mike Pence refuses to wear mask at health clinic

AlterNet logoVice President Mike Pence visited the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota on Tuesday as it works on expanding the state’s capacity to test for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But in an apparently brazen act of defiance, Pence didn’t wear a mask during his visit to the facility, despite the clinic’s own rules.

“Beginning today (Monday, April 13), Mayo Clinic is requiring all patients and visitors to wear a face covering or mask to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” the facility explained in a recent news bulletin. “Patients and visitors are asked to bring their own face covering or mask to wear. If a patient or visitor does not have a mask, Mayo Clinic will provide one. This updated masking guidance is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Mayo Clinic experts. Mayo Clinic continues to assess and prioritize personal protective equipment needs to ensure the safety of its staff, patients and visitors.”

During the visit, Pence met with officials and subjects at the facility. In video clips, everyone but the vice president could be seen wearing a mask: Continue reading.