ROCHESTER, Minn. — Vice-President Mike Pence was in Minnesota Tuesday to visit a Mayo Clinic facility where they are developing tests for coronavirus.
The visit was intended for the vice president, who heads up the White House coronavirus response task force, to learn more about doctors and physicians are supporting research and treatment surrounding the pandemic.
“Testing continues to be a priority and focus of the president’s White House task force,” Pence said in a round table discussion with Mayo Clinic leaders.
“It’s been the collaboration with of Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota that has really opened doors for an opportunity for testing not only in Minnesota but new testing platforms that can be applied around the country,” he added.
The Mayo Clinic is developing a new test called “Moonshot” in collaboration with the University of Minnesota. The goal is to expand Minnesota’s testing capability to 20,000 people a day. Pence believes with enough backing this can be taken nationwide.
Pence took a tour of the Mayo Clinic facility in Rochester where workers and visitors are required to wear a mask. Pence did not wear a mask during the tour.
