Congressional Republicans push to wear masks amid coronavirus cases spike

[babylonsister]

omg, they need protecting but many of their constituents don't?


https://www.axios.com/congress-republicans-mask-coronavirus-cases-surge-f4df2909-51f1-4169-9742-e2333b885a77.html

Congressional Republicans push to wear masks amid coronavirus cases spike
Rebecca Falconer


More congressional Republicans are advocating for face coverings and rigorous testing for the novel coronavirus, per the Wall Street Journal.

Why it matters: Cases are surging in several Republican-led states, notably in Florida, Arizona and Texas, and scientific evidence shows face coverings can help control the spread of COVID-19.

But President Trump told Axios last week masks are "a double-edged sword." He's called testing "overrated" and said Tuesday he stands by comments he made at his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last weekend that he told officials to "slow the testing down," adding: "I don't kid."

snip//

Yes, but: Some congressional Republicans have continued to push back on face coverings, with lawmakers including Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Mark Green (R-Tenn.) seen without masks in recent weeks.

Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), a physicians said Friday he could "cite many other professionals" who do not recommend masks, per Yahoo News

The Hill reports that House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), chair of the select committee overseeing the federal response to the pandemic, said Friday to Scalise, the panel's ranking Republican: "If you wish to continue having these meetings in person, you're going to have to adhere to the attending physician [guidance to wear masks] or I will not have the meetings in person."

[Thekaspervote]

1. Yet just the other day several republicans were refusing to wear a mask. Despite Speaker Pelosi

Calling for it to be the rule

[babylonsister]

3. Exactly. From the article...

Yes, but: Some congressional Republicans have continued to push back on face coverings, with lawmakers including Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Mark Green (R-Tenn.) seen without masks in recent weeks.

[captain queeg]

2. Maybe the dam is starting to crack

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. The Republicans know that masks help THEM too?!

We already know that they're self-centered, so it might be a mistake to keep saying that masks are just to help others?

They DO help the wearer too! It's more helpful if everyone wears them, but a mask could block droplets from others or at least reduce the viral load.

[Midnight Writer]

5. Plus masks would help them politically. There is no way to control the pandemic without masks.

It could reduce new infections by maybe 70% and give us some time to find effective treatments for this disease.

As long as we don't wear masks, we will have this pandemic.

As long as we have this pandemic, we are going to have a crap economy.

As long as we have this crap economy, Republican brand is screwed.