Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic lawmaker, tweeted: "When I warned everyone in *February* that Pence doesn’t believe in science and shouldn’t be in charge of COVID response, I meant it. But I admit I did not have 'VP visits COVID patients without wearing a mask' on my bingo board."

Craig Spencer, the director of the Global Health in Emergency Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, called Pence's decision "dangerous & disrespectful" in a tweet last Tuesday after Pence's visit to the Minnesota clinic.

"But it represents something more concerning," Spencer wrote. "It highlights a lack of understanding or respect of even the most basic principles of public health."

At least 67,700 people have died from the coronavirus in the United States as of Monday morning, according to a New York Times tracker. More than a million people in the U.S. have contracted the virus so far.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments. To help provide doctors and nurses on the front lines with life-saving medical resources, donate to Direct Relief here.

Source: Read Full Article