US Vice President Mike Pence has chosen not to wear a face mask during a visit to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, violating the prestigious medical centre's policy and despite his team being warned in advance.
Video showed Mr Pence visiting staff and a patient in a crowded hospital room without wearing a mask and he appeared to be the only person present not wearing one.
The centre's policy states: "Part of our protocol for ensuring your safety is to require all patients, visitors and staff to wear a face covering or mask while at Mayo Clinic to guard against transmission of Covid-19." The clinic said in a statement that it had "shared the masking policy with the VP's office." Mr Pence leads the US government's coronavirus taskforce.