"I was concerned for the safety of everyone in that building and everyone in the county because precautions that the CDC and guidelines that the CDC has been telling us for months now, weren't being followed," Watters told CNN, after her photo drew national attention. Perhaps the fact that the President hasn't personally suffered thus far has played a part in this. As Trump has continued to hold rallies in defiance of social distancing advice, and ridiculed mask-wearers -- including his presidential opponent Joe Biden -- an opposition to social distancing has become synonymous not only with Covid-skepticism, but with partisan politics. Trump's example has also been followed by other leaders -- and applied whatever sphere of public life most suits them. Looking from across the pond, the politicization of the pandemic in the US appears to have added an extra dimension to the animosity over social distancing among the population.

Source: CNN August 13, 2020 20:15 UTC