President Trump Announces New Face Mask Recommendations

President Trump said Friday that his administration is now recommending Americans wear “non-medical cloth” face coverings, according to CNN. This is a reversal of his administration’s previous suggestion that masks…

Brian Ives // Managing Editor, Beasley Media

Updated Apr 4, 2020 7:05 PM EDT

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

President Trump said Friday that his administration is now recommending Americans wear "non-medical cloth" face coverings, according to CNN. This is a reversal of his administration's previous suggestion that masks are not necessary for people who weren't sick.

"The CDC is advising the use of non-medical cloth face coverings as an additional voluntary public health measure," Trump said, according to Fox News. "So it’s voluntary. You don’t have to do it."

He added, "I don't think I'm going to be doing it. Wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens — I just don't see it."

Trump stressed that medical masks should be reserved for health care workers and that masks are not a substitute for social distancing, according to The New York Times.

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Brian Ives // Managing Editor, Beasley MediaWriter

Brian has been working in pop culture and media for about three decades: he’s worked at MTV, VH1, SiriusXM, CBS and Loudwire. Besides working as a writer and an editor-in-chief, he’s also appeared on air as a pundit, guested on radio shows and hosted podcasts. Over the years, he’s interviewed the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, the members of U2, Beyonce, Pink, Usher, Stevie Nicks, Lorde… and is grateful to have had the chance to interview Joe Strummer of the Clash and Tom Petty.