Rick Scott says it’s Trump rallygoers’ ‘responsibility’ to decide whether to social distance and wear masks

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said Sunday that it’s the responsibility of President Trump’s rallygoers’ to decide for themselves whether to socially distance and wear masks. 

“All of us, all of us need to wear a mask, we need to social distance,” Scott said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” 

{mosads}CNN’s Jake Tapper asked the Florida senator if it bothers him that President Trump holds rallies in his state during which attendees do not wear masks or social distance.

“These are your own constituents, your own citizens who are not abiding by health protocols,” Tapper said.

“Jake, everybody’s gotta take this seriously,” Scott answered. “You should wear your mask. You should social distance. But it’s your responsibility to make these decisions for yourself.” 

“And there’s a way to do these things safely and that’s what my expectation is that every American does that,” he added. 

“We haven’t beaten it. I think let’s all agree on that,” GOP Sen. Rick Scott says on Covid-19. “All of us need to wear a mask, we need to social distance. … We still have a lot of work to do. Especially work to do on testing” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/0AQH3rDqC1

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) November 1, 2020

Scott emphasized that although the country has made progress on testing and therapeutics, “we’re still not where we need to be yet.”

Trump has held many in-person rallies in the past month as Election Day now looms two days away. Public health officials have criticized the president’s rallies as many attendees do not wear masks and social distance. 

The U.S. is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases as the election approaches, recording almost 100,000 cases in one day on Friday.