Vice President Mike Pence said Sunday that the Trump administration is letting states decide whether face masks should be mandatory to protect against the coronavirus, while Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said a nationwide mandate on facial coatings it is “way behind.”
When asked about an increase in coronavirus cases in the south, and after Texas Governor Greg Abbott pleaded with residents to wear masks amid an increase in cases there, Pence said each state is find yourself in a “unique situation”.
“One of the elements of America’s genius is the principle of federalism, of state and local control. We have made it clear that we want to defer governors. We want to defer local officials, “Pence said on CBS News'” Face the Nation “on Sunday.
But host John Dickerson said the coronavirus, which has killed more than 127,000 Americans, “doesn’t know about federalism,” and questioned why there was no coordinated national response.
“If we had taken that approach, we would never have had the success we had in the New York City metro area. We would never have been successful in Michigan or New Orleans, because from the beginning, we worked closely with the governors to make sure they had what they needed when they needed it, tailored to the unique circumstances of their states, “Pence said.
Meanwhile, Pelosi, in an interview on ABC News “This Week,” noted that the United States has 4 percent of the world’s population, but accounts for 25 percent of cases worldwide.
“This is life and death. … We don’t have a vaccine, and we don’t have a cure. If God wants and allows science, we will do it soon, ”he said, adding that there are tools to combat the spread.
Asked if the use of masks should be mandatory across the country, the California Democrat said, “Oh, I’ve definitely been missing for a long time.”
“And I understand that the Centers for Disease Control has recommended wearing masks, but not requiring them because they don’t want to offend the president,” Pelosi said.
“And the president should be an example. You know, real men wear masks. Be an example for the country and wear the mask. It is not about protecting yourself. It’s about protecting others and their families. “
Florida has more than 141,000 COVID-19 cases and has recorded record numbers in recent days, including 9,585 on Saturday and 8,530 on Sunday.
Texas reported a daily record number of 5,996 cases on Thursday, with 5,707 on Friday and 5,747 on Saturday.
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