Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
Photos show how Trump and the White House coronavirus task force started taking their own social distancing advice at press conferences
Photos show how Trump and the White House coronavirus task force started taking their own social distancing advice at press conferences
Natalie ColarossiMar 20, 2020, 05:23 IST
Shealah Craighead/White HouseOn March 13, President Trump stood shoulder-to-shoulder with 18 people during a White House press conference to discuss the coronavirus.
President Donald Trump has been sending mixed messages about the severity of the novel coronavirus since the outbreak began.
While he has urged Americans to maintain "social distancing," the president and his coronavirus task force have been seen shaking hands, touching their faces, and gathering in crowds.
But as US cases surge over 13,000, the president seems to be taking his own advice.
At Thursday's press conference, there were far fewer people on stage.
From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, the CDC has been issuing guidelines on the importance of avoiding close contact with others and frequently washing hands. On Monday, President Donald Trump advised Americans to maintain "social distancing" by avoiding gatherings of 10 people or more.
But during his COVID-19 press conferences, he and other officials haven't always followed their own advice.
The president and his coronavirus task force team have gathered in large groups, shaken hands, and been spotted touching their faces. Over time, the White House has limited the number of reporters allowed in the briefing room and is taking temperatures of people present, but there are still a large number of people in the room.
Advertisement
When asked whether they would limit the number of people at the press conferences going forward, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham told Business Insider, "We have limited them."
These photos show what White House press conferences have looked like from February to present, as the novel coronavirus has infected more than 13,000 people and killed 176 in the US, and the CDC guidelines have gotten stricter and stricter.
On February 26, Trump held a crowded press conference to discuss the novel coronavirus and to announce that Vice President Mike Pence would lead his administration's efforts against the disease.
Trump encouraged Americans to treat the coronavirus like the flu, said he had ordered "a lot" of masks to combat the virus, and that the US was "really prepared" to halt the spread.
Pence was captured touching his face — one of the main things the CDC recommends avoiding to prevent the spread of the virus, in addition to washing your hands and staying inside.
Two days later, Trump held another closely packed White House press conference. The same day, he attended the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he was seen shaking hands with multiple people. A person who attended CPAC later tested positive for the virus.
By March 5, the coronavirus had infected more than 95,000 people and killed 3,000 worldwide. By this point it had been known for weeks that the virus could spread from person-to-person contact.
On March 9, 10 other people stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Trump and Pence as they addressed the media on the coronavirus spread. That same day, Trump downplayed the virus by blaming Democrats and saying the flu was more dangerous.
You can see the full crowd in this wide shot from official White House photographer Tia Dufour.
During that same press conference, Trump shook hands with multiple people, including the president of Walgreens ...
... and the executive vice President of CVS ....
... and the president and CEO of Walmart.
On the morning of March 14, Trump tweeted "SOCIAL DISTANCING", then held another crowded press conference. The White House started taking people's temperatures before they met with Trump or Pence on this day, including reporters'.
On March 15, two days after Trump declared the virus a national emergency, the CDC recommended limiting gatherings to 50 or less people. At least 14 people stood behind Trump in front of a crowd of reporters in the White House briefing room.
On March 16, the Trump administration recommended Americans avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, and the White House cut the number of reporter seats in the briefing room in half. But there were still more than 10 people gathered in the room.
By March 18, the conferences seemed to become more "socially distant" as fewer people took the stage.
During Thursday's briefing, it seemed like the president had finally started taking his own advice. Reporters were sat in every other seat, and Trump had a buffer of space around him.
This time, only four people took the stage with Trump.
