Thread by @weareoversight

New: Records we obtained show that in March 2020, the Trump administration planned to mail postcards to Americans with Covid-19 guidance, including mask-wearing for people with symptoms. The Trump White House eventually removed the mask guidance.
americanoversight.org/the-trump-admi…

On March 14, 2020, a White House staff secretary sent an email with a “draft mass-mailing postcard from the President with information on how to protect yourself from COVID-19 and what to do if you have symptoms.”

The recommendations included:
-“WASH HANDS and use hand sanitizer frequently”
-”Ensure SAFE DISTANCES between yourself and others while in public”
-”WEAR A MASK if you have any respiratory symptoms”

The secretary requested comments by that evening to “meet the USPS deadline.” Later that day, the secretary sent an email with an updated postcard reflecting the comments received, and specifically requested feedback from Anthony Fauci, Deborah Birx, and the CDC.

The secretary flagged two specific concerns:

“Are there concerns about retaining the language about hand sanitizer because some companies may have been spiking the prices?”

Second: “Are we being consistent with the ‘wear mask’ message? We (and task force members) have been saying only medical professionals should wear masks, so just want to be sure we’re being consistent.”

The Trump administration did end up sending postcards, but they did not include mask-wearing guidance.
cnbc.com/2020/03/16/tru…

Opposition to mask-wearing in the early months of the pandemic worsened the impacts of Covid-19 across the country. Multiple studies have shown that masks are effective in helping prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

For more on American Oversight’s investigation into the Trump administration’s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis as well as its contacts with the private sector during the early months of the pandemic, visit our Covid-19 Oversight Hub.
americanoversight.org/areas_of_inves…