US President Donald Trump   |  Photo Credit: AP

Washington: US President Donald Trump, who was recently seen wearing a mask in public for the first time during the COVID-19 crisis, has said that he was not in favour of issuing a national mandate, requiring Americans to wear masks to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Speaking to an Americal news channel, the US President said that he does not agree with the statement that if everyone wears a mask, everything disappears, adding that people should have certain freedom.

I want people to have a certain freedom and I dont believe in that, no... I dont agree with the statement that if everyone wore a mask, everything disappears, he said in an interview to Fox News on Sunday.

Trump was referring to the statement of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US public health body that urged everyone to wear masks to combat COVID-19 that hasinfected more than 3.6million and killed at least 1,39,000 in the country.

In April, CDC director Dr Robert R Redfield had said that the country could get the virus under control in four to six weeks if everyone wore a mask.

Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus - particularly when used universally within a community setting, Redfield had said.

Trump, who had previously appeared reluctant to wear a face covering, wore a mask in public for the first time last Saturday as recommended by health officials to prevent the coronavirus infection.

He wore the mask during a visit to a military hospital in suburban Washington to meet wounded servicemembers and health care workers looking after COVID-19 patients.

When you're in a hospital, especially ... I think it's a great thing to wear a mask, he had told reporter as he left the White House.

The US President had earlierresisted wearing a mask duringnews conferences, rallies and other public events.

US top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci had recently urged the state and local leaders to be as forceful as possible in getting people to wear masks.

Wearing face coverings, Fauci also said that it is "really important" and "we should be using them, everyone".

Referring to Faucis comments, Trump said, Dr (Anthony) Fauci said dont wear a mask, our surgeon general terrific guy said dont wear a mask. Everybody was saying dont wear a mask, all of a sudden everybodys got to wear a mask.

The rest is here:

'Want people to have freedom': Donald Trump not to issue national mandate requiring Americans to wear masks - Times Now