Melania Trump took to her Twitter handle to remind everyone about taking social distancing seriously and wear a mask or a face covering in a bid to slow down the spread of the deadly virus. The FLOTUS also reminded everyone that COVID-19 is a virus that can infect anyone, but it can be stopped if we all take CDC's recommendations seriously.
The advice follows the release of updated guidance from the CDC and various other agencies, on the significance of wearing a non-medical cloth to cover your face in public. The Trump administration initially deemed this advice as inessential amid a nation-wide shortage of essential medical equipment, including face masks.
The shortage of vital medical equipment in the United States was likely to unnerve healthcare providers that were already dealing with a lack of supplies. It looks like Melania is bent on getting messaging about using face masks to the Americans, with multiple reminders about protecting themselves as the virus continues to rampage.
While Melania seems to be leaving no stone unturned in her attempt to promote the use of face masks following CDC’s recommendations, and a recently published medical literature that suggests wearing a face mask can help slow down the rate of the coronavirus transmission, her husband, Donald Trump insists on not wearing a face mask - not anytime soon.
"I don't think I'm going to be doing it," the PLOTUS said on Friday during a press conference, CNN Politics reported. According to Trump, greeting other presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens with a face mask on doesn't seem feasible. While Trump appreciated his wife's efforts to put a lid on the pandemic, he isn't keen on following the guidelines.
The president suggests wearing the mask will be a voluntary thing, which means, you can do it but you don't have to do it. Furthermore, he added that he is opting not to do it. He said it is OK for people to wear it, but given that it is a recommendation, it is voluntary.
The diverse messaging is yet another example of Trump disregarding federal agencies' advice about the best way to protect against the virus. During an earlier press briefing, Trump was seen clapping speakers on the back, shaking hands, and touching the podium microphone that several other people had spoken into.
This was just days after it was revealed that the president had met at least one person who had tested positive for the coronavirus recently.