Mike Pence Adopts Elbow Bump Greeting Amid Coronavirus Concerns

The vice president elbow-bumped state officials as he landed in Washington to address the outbreak.
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Vice President Mike Pence has jumped aboard the elbow bump train.

Pence, who is spearheading the Trump administration’s coronavirus response, landed in Washington on Thursday to meet with state officials about the outbreak. As he greeted Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) and members of Congress on the tarmac, they all exchanged elbow bumps ― a greeting proposed by medical professionals as a low-contact alternative to handshaking.

Pence greeted other officials similarly throughout his visit, including at the state’s emergency operations center in Tacoma. He also adopted the greeting in Minnesota earlier in the day when he met with 3M executives to discuss the production of masks and other medical materials.

Though Pres Trump says he's still shaking people's hands, VP Pence is giving elbow bumps as he greets personnel at Emergency Ops Center in Tacoma, WA. pic.twitter.com/JpJoYPHR3q

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 6, 2020
As Vice President Mike Pence offers a handshake at the end of their meeting, Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm offers a virus-free elbow bump instead.
As Vice President Mike Pence offers a handshake at the end of their meeting, Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm offers a virus-free elbow bump instead.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington has at least 70 cases of the virus, and of the 12 deaths recorded from COVID-19 infection nationwide, 11 were in the state. One other person has died from the sickness in California.

The elbow bump greeting has been endorsed by several politicians and health officials, including Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) and Dr. Sylvie Briand, the World Health Organization’s director of pandemics.

Honored to greet guests leaving the National Quarantine Unit at @unmc this morning as Nebraska’s world-class medical professionals continue to step up to help protect Americans and keep people healthy. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/ebVopVZUb2

— Gov. Pete Ricketts (@GovRicketts) March 2, 2020

Briand also proposed other greeting alternatives, including waving, a slight bow or a “footshake.”

We need to adapt to this new disease #COVID19 https://t.co/SiCL6dX2dQ

— Dr Sylvie Briand (@SCBriand) March 1, 2020

Around the world, officials are advising people to limit personal contact. In Australia, New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard told people to cut back on kissing and handshaking and opt for a pat on the back instead. And in France, the treasured two-cheek kiss tradition is now a no-no following advice from Health Minister Olivier Veran.

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