Coronavirus: Pence Ignores Face Mask Policy, Says He’s ‘Regularly Tested’ And Doesn’t Have COVID-19

Vice President Mike Pence toured the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on Tuesday without any face mask on, despite reportedly being informed of the hospital's policy for visitors to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

The press pool video of the hospital tour showed that Pence was the only visitor who ignored the face mask policy.

A now-deleted tweet from Mayo Clinic stated that the Vice President was informed of the rule before he arrived. When asked about the tweet, a spokesperson for Mayo Clinic reiterated that the VP's office was told of the masking policy.

Since April 13, Mayo Clinic has required its visitors to wear a face covering. The U.S. government has also advised the public to wear face masks in settings where social distancing is expected.

President Donald Trump, however, said in a press briefing in early April that he doesn't follow the government's face mask guideline because it is "only a recommendation."

"Somehow sitting in the Oval Office behind that beautiful Resolute Desk, the great Resolute Desk, I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, dictators, kings, queens, I don’t know, I don’t see it for myself," Trump said.

Despite regularly calling on the public to follow the guidelines, Pence issued a reply to those who were critical of his refusal to comply with face mask policy.

"As Vice President of the United States, I'm tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus," Pence said. Since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers, these incredible health care personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you."

Pence's spokesperson Katie Miller also told the New York Times that the face-covering guidelines were issued to protect people from the asymptomatic spread. But since Pence is regularly tested as negative, Miller said that the vice president is not asymptomatic; thus, he does not pose any risks.

However, any person can still contract the virus despite taking a number of tests as tests are not error-free.

The vice president's tour came on the day the U.S. breached one million coronavirus cases and over 58,000 deaths as of April 28.