Vice President Mike Pence has said “it’s time to get our children back to school.” During Wednesday’s coronavirus task force briefing, he stated reopening schools is not only essential for students’ learning, but also their mental and physical health.
While speaking to reporters Monday, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he doesn’t think a federal mandate on masks is necessary. He noted that a national mandate is “not in order,” adding that it’s up to local governments to determine that.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams has changed his story yet again in the latest attempt to impose the mandatory use of face masks. On Tuesday, he said the U.S. economy will not fully reopen unless all Americans wear face masks in public.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the true number of Americans who have been infected with coronavirus is more than 20 million. During Thursday’s press briefing, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield confirmed there are actually 10 other infections for every case reported.
Recent data on the coronavirus reveals younger adults appear to be more likely to contract the virus. The latest numbers issued by the CDC show nearly 70 percent of patients who tested positive by the end of May were younger than 60.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom believes it “shouldn’t surprise anyone” the state is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases. During a press briefing Wednesday, Newsom encouraged California residents to continue following CDC guidelines. This includes wearing masks in public as well as practicing social distancing.
Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway recently weighed in on the possibility of states enacting new lockdowns amid a surge in U.S. coronavirus cases.