A visit by a mask-less US President Donald Trump to a COVID-19 swab-making factory in Maine has forced the disposal of a number of swabs manufactured during his tour of the factory.
An image of Trump pretending to insert a swab into his nose during his visit on Friday went viral on social media.
US Already Facing Shortage of Swabs for Testing COVID-19
In the wake of Trump's scheduled visit to the production facility, the Guilford-based Puritan Medical Products was already running to limited production capacity.
Speaking to USA Today, company marketing manager Virginia Templet said: "The running of the factory machines is very limited today and will only occur when the president is touring the facility floor. Swabs produced during that time will be discarded."
A quick tour of the â¦@PuritanUSAâ© production lines before coming to warehouse to speak to workers. #mepolitics â¦@newscentermaineâ© â¦@realDonaldTrumpâ© pic.twitter.com/iZRtrmOnsD
— Pat Callaghan (@PatCallaghan6) June 5, 2020
However, the company officials neither disclosed the reasons for discarding the swabs nor the quantity being disposed. Public health officials in Maine and other states have complained that shortage of swabs has hampered their ability to massively scale up coronavirus testing.
During the visit to the factory, Trump walked through the facility and spoke to the workers. He said: "Made in the USA. I've been saying it for a long time."
Under the Korean War-era Defense Production Act activated by the Trump administration, Puritan received millions of dollars from the federal government to double production. It is one of only two companies that make the kind of swabs needed in coronavirus testing.
Twitter Slams Mask-less Trump For Photo-Op at Factory
Despite health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control, stressing on the need to wear a face mask in public, Trump has never been seen wearing one during his appearances.
Because @realDonaldTrump wore no mask, no protective gear and put one of their products near his nose, the Maine swab manufacturer that Trump visited today, must throw out all product manufactured during his visit.https://t.co/5Z5RsJl14M
— Rosalind Garcia (@GarciaRosalind) June 6, 2020
Twitter was ablaze with the news of swabs being thrown out following Trump's visit to the factory. "Daddy Trump made a visit to a COVID nasal swab plant the other day & didn't bother to wear a mask. They had to throw out the entire day's production. Didn't seem to bother him at all. The Trump family doesn't know or care about the discomfort & uncertainty they impose on others," wrote a user.
Friday 6/5/20 Trump flew to Maine to visit Puritan Medical a COVID-19 nasal swab manufacturer. THE CATCH: the company had to slow production and throw out the swabs made for lack of sterile conditions due to Trump’s presence. Swabs are in short supply BUT Trump got his photo op!
— NEZDave (@nezdave) June 7, 2020
"I despise @realDonaldTrump more each day. There is a shortage of nasal swabs all over the country. He has a swab pep rally while the rest of us are screwed," said another user.
After your visit to the nasal swab factory line in Maine, the whole day's output had to be scrapped because you walked around without a mask, hairnet, foot booties which are required when on the factory floor. Good job moron.
— ReallyNiceGuy (@ReallyNiceGuy9) June 6, 2020
"If Trump shoved that swab up his drug-altered nasal passages, he would probably give himself a prefrontal lobotomy. I am so offended by this. I had to wait a month to get tested for #COVID19 due to a shortage of test kits. After Positive, had to wait again to be cleared," tweeted another.
