Coronavirus pandemic

Trump wears mask, voices hope over virus vaccine in N. Carolina

President Donald Trump touring the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies' Innovation Centre on Monday. The pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina is working on a potential coronavirus vaccine. PHOTO: REUTERS
President Donald Trump touring the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies' Innovation Centre on Monday. The pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina is working on a potential coronavirus vaccine. PHOTO: REUTERS

MORRISVILLE (North Carolina) • US President Donald Trump wore a mask and talked up the possibility of a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year as he looked to show voters in the battleground state of North Carolina that he is responding to the pandemic.

Mr Trump, whose job approval ratings have fallen as many Americans believe he has handled the coronavirus situation badly, sought for the second week to look in command after setting aside his hands-off approach.

"I trust all Americans to do the right thing but we strongly advise everyone to especially, especially focus on maintaining a social distance, maintain a rigorous hygiene, avoid crowded gatherings and indoor bars and wear masks when appropriate," Mr Trump said on Monday, during a visit to a Fujifilm plant in Morrisville, North Carolina, where work on a vaccine is being carried out.

During a tour of the facility, he wore a mask publicly for a second time, the first being on a trip to Walter Reed Medical Centre near Washington earlier this month.

"I heard very positive things, but by the end of the year, we think we're in very good shape to be doing that," Mr Trump, a Republican, said of a potential vaccine.

He also expressed confidence in an economic recovery and said: "A lot of governors should be opening up states that they're not opening."

Coronavirus infection rates have climbed since June in the United States, which leads the world in the total number of deaths and cases.

National security adviser Robert O'Brien became the most senior official in Mr Trump's inner circle to test positive for the coronavirus, the White House said on Monday.

Mr Trump, who is seeking re-election on Nov 3, has his work cut out for him in North Carolina, a state he won narrowly in 2016 and where he had originally hoped to accept his nomination for a second term.

A new NBC News/Marist poll shows Democrat Joe Biden to be leading Mr Trump by 7 points in North Carolina. It also shows respondents by a 2-to-1 margin favouring Democratic Governor Roy Cooper's opposition to a large Republican nominating convention event in Charlotte, North Carolina, late next month.

Mr Cooper's opposition prompted Mr Trump to try to arrange a big event in Jacksonville, Florida, but that plan fell apart last week and now it is unclear where Mr Trump will give his acceptance speech.

However, Republican delegates are still expected to meet in Charlotte late next month to conduct some convention business.

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 29, 2020, with the headline Trump wears mask, voices hope over virus vaccine in N. Carolina. Subscribe