Minneapolis, April 29 (RHC)-- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House coronavirus task force, refused to wear a mask as he met with doctors and patients at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.  

After the tour, Pence was asked by reporters why he violated a Mayo Clinic policy requiring everyone in the hospital to wear a face covering or mask.  Pence said: “Let me say, 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. … And 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 healthcare personnel, and look them in the eye and say thank you.”  

One political observer noted that the face mask normally does not cover ones' eyes, but the nose and mouth.

On Tuesday, the Mayo Clinic tweeted that it had informed Vice President Pence of the masking policy prior to his arrival.  Later in the day, the tweet was deleted without explanation.