Mike Pence draws criticism for praying during coronavirus strategy meeting

The image of the US coronavirus task force with heads bowed in prayer went viral on social media

Mike Pence prays with the coronavirus task force. Critics noted that prayer would not stop the virus and the only effective defence strategy requires scientific and medical expertise.

As America grapples with a worsening coronavirus outbreak, the task force headed by US Vice President Mike Pence that is leading the country's efforts to contain the contagious disease, was photographed praying during a February 26 meeting.

The image of the team with heads bowed and hands together in prayer drew sharp criticism as it went viral on social media.

With the US death toll climbing to six, critics noted that prayer would not stop the virus and the only effective coronavirus defence strategy required scientific and medical expertise at the forefront.

Mr Pence was assigned to lead the US charge against coronavirus in late February by US President Donald Trump. He is overseeing and co-ordinating the federal government's response to the respiratory virus, officially named Covid-19.

Mr Trump has spent the last two years slashing funding for federal programmes designed to protect Americans during pandemics, which were introduced by former president Barack Obama in response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak that killed two Americans.

But under Mr Trump's administration, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has been forced to cut its efforts to prevent global disease outbreaks by 80 per cent.

As a result, the Trump administration has found itself strapped for resources in its coronavirus prevention effort, and has requested $2.5 billion in emergency funding.

Mr Pence has a history of turning to religious gestures during public health emergencies, rather than scientifically proven solutions.

In 2015, while serving as Indiana’s governor, he faced an extensive outbreak of HIV in his state, fuelled by unsanitary needle usage.

In response to the growing health crisis, he said he would “go home and pray on it”.

He made the comment despite public health experts and community activists pressing him to institute a clean needle exchange, which research shows can limit HIV transmission.

While Mr Pence did eventually allow a temporary clean needle exchange, public health experts said his delayed response only worsened the outbreak.