Biden Holds Meeting with Belarus Opposition Leader While Wearing Mask

CDC, "Vaccinated Individuals Should Also Wear Masks Indoors" Guideline Change Applied
"Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Belarus"... Remarks to Check Putin

[Image source=Official Twitter account of President Biden, White House]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A photo has been released showing U.S. President Joe Biden meeting with Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya at the White House while wearing masks. This is interpreted as the resumption of mask-wearing indoors after about two months, following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changing its guidelines the day before to require mask-wearing indoors even for vaccinated individuals.

According to foreign media including CNN on the 28th (local time), President Biden posted a photo on his Twitter account showing him meeting with Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya at the White House while wearing masks. Since the CDC relaxed mask-wearing guidelines on May 13, President Biden had not worn a mask indoors at the White House, but he resumed wearing one after about two months.

Previously, during a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel on the 15th, both leaders met without masks, but after the CDC issued a recommendation the day before that vaccinated individuals should also wear masks indoors, President Biden was reported to have resumed mask-wearing. The CDC has recommended that vaccinated individuals wear masks indoors where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is high.

Meanwhile, during the meeting with Tikhanovskaya, President Biden said, "It is an honor to meet you," and stated, "The United States supports the Belarusian people's demand for democracy and universal human rights." This meeting is interpreted as a warning message to Belarusian dictator President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who supports him.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.