Trump Vows Not to Impose Nationwide Mask Order

By Staff, Agencies

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is not planning to impose a nationwide order for Americans to wear masks to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

"No, I want people to have a certain degree of freedom," Trump replied in an interview with Fox News set to air on Sunday.

At least 77,638 new coronavirus cases were recorded in the United States on Friday bringing to the total to 3.64 million US citizens testing positive for the deadly infection, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The death rate, which plummeted in May and June, has been rising since last week, with the country’s overall death toll at some 141,000 citizens.

According to AFP, the crisis has taken a toll on Trump’s approval rating since the start of the pandemic.

Only 38 percent of Americans approve of his handling of the crisis, against 51 percent in March, according to a Washington Post poll published Friday.