This archive report was first published on 28 June 2020.
Published on June 28, 2020, the US was already struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, with over 2.5 million declared cases and a death toll of over 125,000.
As the situation worsened, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar warned that the window for taking action was closing, saying, "This is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control," in an interview with CNN.
Despite the growing calls for tougher measures, President Trump has refused to set an example by wearing a protective mask in public, even when standing next to mask-wearing health advisors.
However, several high-profile Republicans have broken with the president, calling for mask-wearing and urging a clearer example from the nation's leader.
"If wearing masks is important, and all the health experts tell us that it is... it would help if from time to time the president would wear one to help us get rid of this political debate that says if you're for Trump, you don't wear a mask, if you're against Trump, you do," Republican Senator Lamar Alexander said on CNN.
Other Republicans, including Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Senate leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Governor Greg Abbott of Texas, have also called for mask-wearing.
