Arkansas GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday he doesn’t believe in a national mandate for face masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus — but urged an “example be set by our national leadership” on wearing them.
In an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” Hutchinson praised President Donald Trump for wearing a mask during a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center earlier this month.
“I don't support a national mask mandate,” he declared, but insisted, “It is important that they set a national example, the president says he wears them, that’s important.”
“We need to wear a mask and an example needs to be set by by our national leadership,” he emphasized. And he said Congress has to come together to help the states with reopening schools and COVID-19 testing.
”It’s not a time to be critical it’s time to work together,” he said of Congress.
He also said handling the coronavirus pandemic shouldn’t be a partisan issue.
“Mask mandates” are “not popular,” he noted.
“But it is one that when the data says it’s necessary to do it,” he said, adding: “We’re asking [people] this is one thing they can do [to help businesses and schools]…and we’re putting up the mandate to accomplish it.”
“It shouldn’t be about politics,” he said.
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