CDC Recommends Face Masks for All Americans, Trump Undermines Message While Announcing It

Addy Baird and Miriam Elder, reporting for BuzzFeed News:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called for all Americans to wear face coverings in public to help stop the spread of the coronavirus Friday, pushing for people to wear cloth coverings like a bandana or a scarf.

Announcing the move at his daily briefing, President Trump undermined the recommendation of his experts by emphasizing that it was voluntary and he would not be wearing one.

“So it’s voluntary, you don’t have to do it,” he said. “They suggest it for a period of time. This is voluntary, I don’t think I’m gonna be doing it.”

This fucking guy.

In the recommendation published online Friday, the CDC said that because the virus can “spread between people interacting in close proximity,” they would recommend “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”

I implore all of you, get on board with Team Face Mask. Stay at home, wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, keep your distance from others when out, and, when out, wear a face mask. Every thing we can do helps, and wearing a mask helps.

★ Friday, 3 April 2020