To Wear Or Not To Wear A Mask? Mitch McConnell Says It’s Single Most Important Thing Americans Can Do

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Thursday that wearing a face mask is the single most important thing Americans can do to stop the spread of the coronavirus and help the U.S. economy move forward.

McConnell made the comments on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” on Thursday after he was asked whether state governors should reopen state economies and schools with the requirement that face masks be required.

“I’ve been promoting mask-wearing, we’ve been doing it in the Senate since the first of May when we resumed in-person sessions. It’s the single most significant thing everybody in the country can do to help prevent the spread,” McConnell said.

“Wear a mask, practice social distancing,” he added.

This is not the first time that McConnell has emphasized wearing a face mask as he said at a public appearance in Kentucky in July while holding up a face mask, “Until we find a vaccine, these are really important.”

“I see various events on television on which people are clearly not wearing masks, not taking this seriously and not doing others a favor. We need to get past that,” he said.

McConnell’s stance on face masks contrasts that of President Trump’s, who has rarely been seen wearing a mask. Trump has also said that it is up to Americans whether or not to wear a face mask.

“I just don’t want to wear one myself. They recommend it. I’m feeling good. I just don’t want to do be doing it. I think sitting behind that great resolute desk, wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, king, queens, I don’t see it for myself,” Trump told reporters during a White House coronavirus taskforce press briefing in April.

“Maybe I’ll change my mind, this will pass and hopefully it’ll pass very quickly but with that being said, if somebody wants to, most people can just make something. So it’s very well designated and very simple to do. I won’t be doing it personally, it’s a recommendation.”

McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected an offer from the Trump administration for rapid coronavirus testing in May, saying the testing resources should be sent elsewhere. Last week they said their position has not changed on the testing.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s up to the Capitol physician,” Pelosi told reporters Friday. “There are about 20,000 people who make the Capitol run. And the Capitol physician has not said yet that he thinks we should be tested. But it’s not just us; it’s others as well.”