No face mask for Pence as he tours Mayo Clinic’s virus testing labs

MINNEAPOLIS — Vice President Mike Pence returned to Minnesota on Tuesday to highlight the Mayo Clinic’s coronavirus research and testing efforts, calling them a “whole of Minnesota approach.”

But even as he praised Mayo’s efforts to combat COVID-19, Pence ignored the clinic’s request that all visitors don face masks to prevent transmission, including Gov. Tim Walz and others on the tour. In the face of growing commentary on television and social media as the tour was underway, Mayo officials responded with a tweet:

“Mayo Clinic had informed @VP of the masking policy prior to his arrival today.” The tweet was later deleted without explanation.

Pence told reporters afterward that the precaution wasn’t needed.

“As vice president of the United States I’m tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus,” he said, noting that federal guidelines indicate that the mask is good for preventing the spread of the virus by those who have it. “And since I don’t have the coronavirus, I thought it’d be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers these incredible health care personnel and look them in the eye and say thank you.”

Pence’s visit followed

Walz’s announced “moon shot” plan to partner with Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota to ramp up virus testing in the state. Mayo’s national reference laboratory has already conducted 150,000 molecular diagnostic tests for COVID-19 nationwide.

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party governor greeted Pence after Air Force Two landed at the Rochester airport shortly before noon. They were joined by the governor’s daughter, Hope Linn, and U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, a Republican who represents southern Minnesota.

At the first stop inside Mayo Clinic, Pence talked to Dr. Michael Joyner, who was with Dennis Nelson, a clinic employee who said he had recovered from a “mild” case of COVID-19 and decided to donate plasma for therapy treatment to help other patients with the virus. Pence thanked the employee and elbow bumped him on his way out.

Dr. Matthew J. Binnicker walked Pence through the Mayo Clinic lab and gave a brief overview of how the clinic developed its diagnostic testing and their partnership with the University of Minnesota to ramp up to testing “anyone who needs one” soon.

“The president and I often talk about a whole of America approach, this is a whole of Minnesota approach,” Pence said after being briefed. Pence said they are “very excited” about the prospect of antibody testing, which tells doctors if a patient already had the virus and has since recovered.