07/23/2020 / By Ethan Huff
After previously resisting their use, President Donald Trump is now saying that cloth face masks “have an impact” and “have an effect,” and that “we need everything we can get.”
Speaking during a recent White House news briefing, Trump seemed to be asking Americans who are not able to “socially distance” to “wear a mask” if they are able to in an effort to help stymie the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).
For months, Trump had indicated his opposition to masks, especially when they are illegally mandated by city councils, mayors, and other government officials. Anthony Fauci has likewise been pushing their use for months, even after previously stating that face masks are not really effective, and are more “symbolic” than anything else.
In recent weeks, face masks have really started to be aggressively pushed by many entrenched government officials such as Fauci, who now claim that they prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). And Trump has seemingly switched his tune to support this concept.
“I have no problem with the masks,” Trump stated, appearing to affirm the idea that covering one’s nose and mouth with a piece of cloth might help to prevent the spread of microscopic viruses.
“I view it this way: Anything that potentially can help … is a good thing,” Trump added. “I have no problem. I carry it. I wear it. You saw me wearing it a number of times and I’ll continue.”
At the same time, Trump is not supportive of folks being told they have to wear masks under threat of punishment, especially since the coverings can impede oxygen uptake and potentially cause other health problems.
“I don’t agree with the statement that if everybody wears a mask, everything disappears,” Trump stated during a recent Fox News interview, responding to comments made earlier in the week by Robert Redfield about how forced mask-wearing would supposedly eliminate the plandemic in as little as a month.
Trump also emphasized how public health entities such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) had initially not recommended the use of masks, only to switch their tunes when it seemed politically expedient to do so.
These agencies are now claiming that they discouraged mask-wearing early on because they were supposedly concerned about how the public’s use of personal protective equipment (PPE) might put undue strain on the supply chain.
“We’ve had experts in the recent past say that masks aren’t necessarily good to wear,” Trump noted, adding, “but now they’ve changed their mind. If they’ve changed their mind, that’s good enough for me.”
Interestingly, Trump did not invite Fauci to the recent White House press briefing, and has not engaged in daily briefings with Fauci for quite some time now.
“I was not invited up to this point and I’m assuming I’m not going to be there,” Fauci reportedly told CNN in a separate interview that took place just an hour before Trump was set to speak at the press briefing.
Despite now appearing to support the use of masks, Trump has made it clear that he does not intend to mandate them, as attempting to do so would not even pass constitutional muster.
“Wash your hands every chance you get, while sheltering high-risk populations,” Trump further stated. “We are imploring young Americans to avoid packed bars and other crowded indoor gatherings,” he added. “Be safe and be smart.”
For more related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), be sure to check out Pandemic.news.
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