President Donald Trump put a positive spin on the fallout from the coronavirus, saying a lot of people are staying in the United States and they’re shopping and staying in the hotels.
He also stressed the need for good hygiene during the crisis — noting that he's carefully following directions to avoid touching the face.
“I haven’t touched my face in weeks,” Trump said. “It’s been weeks! I miss it.”
Trump spoke with leaders of the airline industry Wednesday at the White House. The executives spoke of steps they’ve taken to confront the spread of the new virus.
“I think it’s safe to fly,” Trump said during the meeting. “We have closed down certain sections of the world, frankly… Yes, it’s safe.”
Southwest Airlines CEO and board chairman Gary Kelly said employees have stepped up efforts to make sure airplanes are clean and disinfected.
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said workers are doing what he called the “corona bump,” where they bump elbows as part of their greeting.
Trump thanked the airlines and said they’ve “stepped up” to stem the spread of the virus.
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.