The attraction's visitor numbers in 2024 are set to surpass last year’s record figures
uae1 hour ago
President Donald Trump wore a mask during a visit to a military hospital on Saturday, the first time the president has been seen in public with the type of facial covering recommended by health officials as a precaution against spreading or becoming infected by the novel coronavirus.
Trump flew by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in suburban Washington to meet wounded service members and healthcare providers caring for Covid-19 patients. As he left the White House, he told reporters: "When you're in a hospital, especially ... I think it's a great thing to wear a mask."
Trump was wearing a mask in Walter Reed's hallway as he began his visit. He was not wearing one when he stepped off the helicopter at the facility.
The president was a latecomer to wearing a mask during the pandemic, which has raged across the US since March and infected more than 3.2 million and killed at least 134,000. Most prominent Republicans, including Vice-President Mike Pence, endorsed wearing masks as the coronavirus gained ground this summer. Republican governors have been moving toward requiring or encouraging the use of masks as the pandemic has grown more serious in some states in the South and West.
Trump, however, has declined to wear a mask at news conferences, coronavirus task force updates, rallies and other public events. People close to him have said that the president feared a mask would make him look weak and was concerned that it shifted focus to the public health crisis rather than the economic recovery. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private matters.
While not wearing one himself, Trump has sent mixed signals about masks, acknowledging that they would be appropriate if worn in an indoor setting where people were close together. But he has accused reporters of wearing them to be politically correct and has retweeted messages making fun of Democrat Joe Biden for wearing a mask and implying that Biden looks weak.
Questions remain whether Trump will wear a mask with any regularity.
The wearing of masks became another political dividing line, with Republicans more resistant to wearing them than Democrats. Few masks were seen at recent Trump campaign events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Phoenix and South Dakota's Mount Rushmore.
The only time Trump has been known to wear a mask was during a private part of a tour of a Ford plant in Michigan.
On its website, Walter Reed carries this recommendation: "Whenever you're out in public, like at your local grocery store or pharmacy, where it's difficult to maintain 6 feet of social distance, you should wear a cloth face covering." The facility also notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the coronavirus."
The attraction's visitor numbers in 2024 are set to surpass last year’s record figures
uae1 hour ago
He pointed out that the ongoing Israel-Gaza war will have economic implications affecting the region
uae1 hour ago
The world's most populous nation began voting on April 19 in a seven-phase election in which nearly one billion people are eligible to vote
asia1 hour ago
Exploring the city is all fun and games until you realise you left your purse, wallet, or phone in a cab
life and living2 hours ago
More than 968 million people are eligible to vote this year, and electoral laws demand that each voter is no more than 2km away from a polling booth
asia2 hours ago
Ras Al Khaimah tourism has signed an agreement with Skyports Infrastructure to introduce air taxis in the emirate
transport2 hours ago
Embark on an exciting adventure this summer with your little ones
entertainment2 hours ago
A guide on the types of student visas, documents required and process to apply
life and living2 hours ago