Donald Trump says he will never make Americans wear masks to protect against coronavirus | London Evening Standard

Donald Trump says he will never make Americans wear masks to protect against coronavirusDonald Trump wearing a face maskREUTERS

Donald Trump has vowed never to make Americans wear face masks in public to slow the spread of coronavirus, in a move that puts him at odds with the US' top infectious diseases expert.

The US president told Fox News on Friday that he didn't agree with a blanket nationwide rule, adding that people should have "a certain freedom" to make their own choices.

His comments came after Dr Anthony Fauci urged leaders at state and local level to be "as forceful as possible" to make people wear masks in public.

Dr Fauci added that it is "really important" to wear face masks and "we should be using them, everyone".

Dr Anthony Fauci last month AFP via Getty Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also released a statement encouraging everyone to wear masks.

CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield said: "We are not defenceless against Covid-19. Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus - particularly when used universally within a community setting."

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Many governors of US states have ordered people to wear masks outdoors, including Republican governors like Kay Ivey of Alabama.

Masks have become very politicised in the US, as in several other countries. President Trump himself has been sceptical of mask-wearing and even mocked those who do. But he was seen wearing a mask himself last week.

A bartender mixes a drink while wearing a mask and face shield at a bar in CaliforniaAP

The US is continuing to see a surge in new coronavirus infections, mostly in the south of the country.

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The chief executive of one of the largest healthcare companies in Florida, where hospitals have reported that they are overwhelmed with coronavirus patients, said that people not wearing masks was the biggest factor.

Carlos Migoya told CNN: “The biggest issue is that we have a lot of aggressive non-compliant people, people that just do not believe that masking is the right thing to do. A lot of the young people are saying, ‘So what if I get it? If I get it, it doesn’t mean anything.’ ”