A US governor who attended an indoor campaign rally but resisted measures to wear face masks in his state has tested positive for coronavirus.
Oklahoma's Kevin Stitt said he had been diagnosed for the deadly disease as new infections in his state and neighbouring Texas surged by record numbers for a second straight day.
But the 48-year-old Republican - who has backed one of the country's most aggressive re-opening plans following lockdown - said he still respects "people's rights...to not wear a mask".
Speaking via video link from his home, where he is isolating, he made the bizarre claims that forcing people to wear masks would be difficult because they can easily slip down below your nose.