The president wants “people to
have a certain freedom” despite calls from health officials for the public
to wear face coverings.
have a certain freedom” despite calls from health officials for the public
to wear face coverings.
Donald Trump has said he will not
consider a national mandate requiring people to wear masks to combat the spread
of coronavirus.
consider a national mandate requiring people to wear masks to combat the spread
of coronavirus.
Asked in an interview on Fox News to
be broadcast on Sunday if he would consider the move, the US president said:
“No, I want people to have a certain freedom, and I don’t believe in
that.”
be broadcast on Sunday if he would consider the move, the US president said:
“No, I want people to have a certain freedom, and I don’t believe in
that.”
It comes nearly a week after Mr. Trump
was seen wearing a mask at a military hospital in Washington after previously
appearing reluctant to endorse their use.
was seen wearing a mask at a military hospital in Washington after previously
appearing reluctant to endorse their use.
Public health experts pleaded with
people to cover their mouths and noses as Americans remained divided over mask
mandates on Friday.
people to cover their mouths and noses as Americans remained divided over mask
mandates on Friday.
States and localities have been
choosing conflicting strategies in the face of surging coronavirus cases.
choosing conflicting strategies in the face of surging coronavirus cases.
Top infectious disease doctor Anthony
Fauci said he “would urge the leaders – the local political leaders in
states and cities and towns – to be as forceful as possible in getting your
citizenry to wear masks”.
Fauci said he “would urge the leaders – the local political leaders in
states and cities and towns – to be as forceful as possible in getting your
citizenry to wear masks”.
Governor Brian Kemp in the state of
Georgia sued Atlanta’s mayor to prevent her from mandating masks.
Georgia sued Atlanta’s mayor to prevent her from mandating masks.
Mr Kemp, a Republican and Trump
supporter, urged all Georgians to wear masks for at least four weeks but said
mandates were unenforceable and suggested they would hobble the economy.
supporter, urged all Georgians to wear masks for at least four weeks but said
mandates were unenforceable and suggested they would hobble the economy.
Atlanta’s Democratic Mayor Keisha
Lance Bottoms, who has tested positive for the coronavirus, told CNN on Friday:
“Brian Kemp does the bidding of President Trump.
Lance Bottoms, who has tested positive for the coronavirus, told CNN on Friday:
“Brian Kemp does the bidding of President Trump.
“Over 130,000 people in our state
have tested positive for COVID-19… and this governor is taking taxpayer money
to sue me personally.”
have tested positive for COVID-19… and this governor is taking taxpayer money
to sue me personally.”
Louis Charles, 68, of Atlanta, sided
with the mayor on Friday as he wore a mask, all alone, sorting through his mail
outside a post office.
with the mayor on Friday as he wore a mask, all alone, sorting through his mail
outside a post office.
Mr Charles said: “It’s wrong. The mayor is trying to help
people. This is a pandemic. How much worse does he want it?”
people. This is a pandemic. How much worse does he want it?”
Oklahoma City’s council voted in
favour of an indoor mask requirement in the absence of a statewide
face-covering mandate.
favour of an indoor mask requirement in the absence of a statewide
face-covering mandate.
Republican Mayor David Holt said:
“This ordinance is our best chance right now to protect our healthcare
system from collapse.”
“This ordinance is our best chance right now to protect our healthcare
system from collapse.”
Mask defiance has touched a nerve
among medical professionals in the US.
among medical professionals in the US.
More than 1,200 of them, including 161
nurses, have died from the coronavirus in the US, according to the National
Nurses United union.
nurses, have died from the coronavirus in the US, according to the National
Nurses United union.
Sharon Taylor, 48, a cardiothoracic
nurse in Atlanta, said: “Everybody saying that (wearing a mask) is a
violation of their freedom – no, it’s not because a seatbelt is mandated and
that’s to save your life.”
nurse in Atlanta, said: “Everybody saying that (wearing a mask) is a
violation of their freedom – no, it’s not because a seatbelt is mandated and
that’s to save your life.”
The US has been averaging about 60,000
coronavirus cases a day in July with cases rising in 41 states on Friday, based
on a Reuters analysis of cases over the past two weeks compared with the prior
two weeks.
coronavirus cases a day in July with cases rising in 41 states on Friday, based
on a Reuters analysis of cases over the past two weeks compared with the prior
two weeks.
Texas and Arkansas reported a record
number of deaths on Friday as Kansas, Ohio, North Dakota and Puerto Rico
reported record case numbers.
number of deaths on Friday as Kansas, Ohio, North Dakota and Puerto Rico
reported record case numbers.
