Like the prestigious Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the G.M. plant in Kokomo has protocols in place requiring workers to wear “medical grade protective masks.”

Pence, who’s the head of the White House coronavirus task force, thanked workers at the plant for their “critical help” in fighting the virus. He said the re-purposed plant has already made over 600 ventilators. “I just wanted to thank you,” the former Indiana governor said. “It’s an honor to be among the heroes in the Hoosier State.”

He later took off the mask during a round table discussion at the plant, where participants, including Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, appeared to be sitting several feet apart. None of the attendees at the panel, including administration officials and GM executives, wore a mask.