Coronavirus: VP Mike Pence Disregards Mayo Clinic Mask Policy

ROCHESTER, MN — Vice President Mike Pence did not wear a mask Tuesday when he visited the Mayo Clinic, according to photos from the visit. The Mayo Clinic said it told Pence about its mandatory masking policy before he arrived at the medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, but later deleted a tweet in which it made that statement.

Since April 13, the Mayo Clinic has required all patients and visitors to wear a mask to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

"Patients and visitors are asked to bring their own face covering or mask to wear," Mayo announced earlier this month. "If a patient or visitor does not have a mask, Mayo Clinic will provide one."

The hospital said its mask guidance is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Mayo Clinic experts.

In a now deleted tweet, the Mayo Clinic said it told Pence about its mandatory mask policy before he arrived Tuesday.

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The Mayo Clinic did not respond to a detailed set of questions from Patch asking whether Pence was asked to wear a mask at any point during the visit and why it deleted the tweet off social media.

The hospital shared the following statement with Patch: "Mayo shared the masking policy with the VP’s office."

Pence told media that he felt he didn't need to wear a mask, according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman.

Pence visited Mayo on Tuesday as the clinic works to provide rapid, widespread testing for the COVID-19 virus. Last week, Minnesota state health officials, Mayo and the University of Minnesota announced a major breakthrough for widespread testing.

The partners have a goal of testing 20,000 Minnesotans per day. State health officials say the increased testing and tracing will help support the safe reopening of society.