Trump advises voluntary mask use against coronavirus but won't wear one himself

The US now has the most confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the world

The US government is now recommending Americans wear cloth face-coverings on a voluntary basis to stem the spread of the coronavirus, President Donald Trump said on Friday, although he said he himself would not use one.

In a daily briefing with reporters, Mr Trump stressed that the recommendation should not be seen as replacing social-distancing measures considered key to slowing the outbreak, which has now claimed more lives in New York state than the September 11, 2001, attacks.

"With the masks, it's going to be really a voluntary thing. You can do it, you don't have to do it. I'm choosing not to do it, but some people may want to do it and that's OK," Mr Trump said.

Asked about the reasoning behind his decision, Mr Trump cited his high-profile meetings. "As I greet presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings, queens ... I don't see it for myself, I just don't," Mr Trump said.

Trump on Friday signed an order directing his administration to stop the export to other countries of N-95 face masks and other personal protective equipment needed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

An empty downtown street is seen in an aerial view taken with a drone in Los Angeles, California, USA. EPA

A volunteer carries a tea distribution machine in the "Aurore" centre for homeless and migrants in Paris. AP Photo

Children gather near a US military vehicle on patrol along the M4 motorway near Hasakah in the countryside of Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah. AFP

A resident presents flowers during a silent tribute to "martyrs" who died in the fight against the coronavirus disease outbreak and compatriots who died of the disease in Wuhan, China. Getty Images

A Chinese woman wears a protective mask as she waits at a bus stop before three minutes of silence to mark the country's national day of mourning for Covid-19 near Beijing Railway Station. Getty Images

People form a queue at the weekly market in Hanau, Germany. Reuters

French firefighters from Marin unit of Marseille wearing protective equipment as they working at the PCR machine which can detect the presence of Covid-19 in the environment. AFP

Window lights spell out "We Love Las Vegas" at the Flamingo hotel-casino during the shutdown of all casinos and nonessential businesses, an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. Reuters

A medical staff member wearing a protective mask walks past the empty British Airways' check-in area of Geneva Airport. AFP

Westhaven Marina is noticeably quieter in New Zealand. Getty Images

A man wearing a facemask feeds pigeons during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19. AFP

Portuguese nationals prepare to fly to Lisbon at Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, East Timor. According to media reports, more than 200 Portuguese working in East Timor, will depart for Lisbon. EPA

A Montenegrian Red Cross volunteer carries a bag of flour over a suspension bridge in the village of Dromira, 25km north of Podgorica, as Montenegro remains on lockdown. Reuters

The Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship departs Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

In a statement, Mr Trump said his order under the Defense Production Act "is another step in our ongoing fight to prevent hoarding, price gouging, and profiteering by preventing the harmful export of critically needed PPE."

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told Fox News the measure aims at cracking down on "brokers operating in shady black markets that have been vacuuming up masks and other protective gear here and exporting," and distributors who make money by sending the equipment abroad instead of filling domestic orders.

The decision to promote mask use comes as state governors and hospitals clamor for scarce supplies of medical-grade masks for first responders. Experts had questioned the administration's decision not to urge widespread mask use, in contrast to other countries hit by the virus.

"What has changed in our recommendation? Well, it's important to know that we now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms," Surgeon General Jerome Adams said, noting that new evidence points to viral transmission via speaking, in addition to coughing and sneezing. "Even those who eventually become pre-symptomatic, meaning they will develop symptoms in the future, can transmit the virus to others before they show symptoms," he said.

More than 57,000 people have died from Covid-19 since it was first detected late last year.

Worse may be coming as a quarter of global infections are in the United States, where Mr Trump has warned of a "very, very painful" first two weeks of April.

Europe reached the dark milestone of 40,000 dead, with Spain on Friday reporting more than 900 deaths in the past 24 hours.

Spaniard Javier Lara survived after being put on oxygen in an overcrowded intensive care unit - a shock to a 29-year-old who was athletic and doesn't smoke.

"I was panicking that my daughter would get infected," he said, describing facing death with an eight-week-old as the "worst moment" in his life.

But there were also signs the peak may be passing in Europe.

Hardest-hit Italy recorded 766 new deaths but its infections rose by just four percent, the lowest yet, according to the civil protection service.

"It's true that the latest figures, as high as they are, give us a little bit of hope," said Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.

"But it is definitely much too early to see a clear trend in that, and it is certainly too early to think in any way about relaxing the strict rules we have given ourselves," she added.