Mike Pence struts around Covid-19 ward bare-faced after ignoring its compulsory masks rule

Vice President Pence ignored a mandatory face mask order while visiting the famous Mayo Clinic on Tuesday

US Vice President and coronavirus tsar Mike Pence raised eyebrows after marching around a coronavirus ward while ignoring its compulsory face masks rule. The second most powerful man in the US flouted the rule – which comes from advice issued by his own administration – while visiting the famous Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday.

He chatted with staff and even Covid-19 patients, all of whom were masked-up, during his trip. Pence was seen surrounded up to 10 aides, Mayo Clinic staff members and patients, all of whom were wearing masks.

The Mayo Clinic itself chastised Vice President Pence on its official Twitter account, writing that it ‘had informed @VP of the masking policy prior to his arrival today.’ That tweet was deleted 30 minutes after it was posted.

Pence appears to be following in the footsteps of Donald Trump, who first announced the new Centers for Disease Control guidance urging Americans to wear a mask or face covering while in public in a bit to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Trump himself has indicated that he has no plans to do so. Seven US states, including New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania have now made it compulsory to wear face masks while using essential businesses such as supermarkets and banks, or traveling on public transport.

Pence has yet to comment on why he chose not to wear a mask. The United States has by far the most confirmed coronavirus cases of any country on Earth, with more than 1.02million cases as of Tuesday afternoon. More than 58,000 people have so far died while battling Covid-19.