Nancy Pelosi Calls For Mandatory Face Mask Policy: 'It's Long Overdue’
House Speaker in favour of mandatory masking
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for a “long overdue” mandatory face mask requirement to implemented across the US.
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week," Pelosi claimed the current non-mandatory requirement by the Centers for Disease Control was to avoid "offending" President Donald Trump.
The majority of Democrats are in favor of mandatory masking, while Republicans have argued that policy is "unenforceable" and an overreach regarding the spread of the coronavirus.
As Neon Nettle reported last week, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden promised to make face mask mandatory for all Americans if is he's elected president.
Biden vowed to used federal powers to force the public to wear masks.
When asked if he would use “federal leverage” to mandate mask-wearing, Biden said, “Yes, I would from an executive standpoint, yes I would."
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But an intervention like forced mask-wearing could cause significant pushback from states, many have argued.
Pelosi was asked by ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos if it was time to mandate face masks.
The House speaker responded:
“Oh, it’s definitely long overdue for that."
“And my understanding is that the Centers for Disease Control has recommended the use of masks but not required it because they don’t want offend the president," Pelosi claimed.
“The president should be an example,” Pelosi added.
WATCH:
The face masks guidance by the CDC has altered frequently since the coronavirus pandemic.
The agency advised at the beginning of the pandemic that wearing a face mask would make little difference.
Another reason was down to a shortage of N95 respirators and face masks among health care workers.
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But months later, it began recommending that face masks should be worn outside of the home when 6 feet of social distance cannot be maintained.
"Cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms," the CDC said.
According to the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, wearing face masks could prevent 33,000 deaths by October 1, CNN reported.
In June, The WHO also reversed its guidance.
The global body urged countries to wear fabric masks where there's an extensive transmission of the virus.
DR. Fauci said he did not regret not telling Americans to wear masks at the begging of the pandemic.
"At that time, there was a paucity of equipment that our health care providers needed -- who put themselves daily in harm's way of taking care of people who are ill," Fauci said.
Earlier this month, Pelosi said she was concerned about people not wearing masks as America prepares to reopen for business.
“Sadly, in terms of people wanting to get out, and not doing so with a mask," Pelosi said.
"Real men wear masks, we always say,” Pelosi added.
