House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is speaking out about the importance of masks while urging everyone, including his Republican colleagues, to wear one.

McConnell addressed the mounting stigma of wearing masks during the coronavirus pandemic

“We must have no stigma — none — about wearing masks when we leave our homes and come near other people,” McConnell said. “Wearing simple face coverings is not about protecting ourselves. It is about protecting everyone we encounter.”

McConnell also encouraged his Republican colleagues to consider adopting “new routines” as the country continues to battle the accelerated spread of the coronavirus.

“Our ordinary life from before all this. In short, we cannot go back to April and we cannot go right back to normal,” McConnell said.

“We need new routines, new rhythms, and new strategies for this new middle ground in between. It’s the task of each family, each small business, each employer and all levels of government to apply common sense and make this happen.”

See McConnell’s remarks below:

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The Kentucky lawmaker also tweeted his remarks as he encouraged his Twitter followers to take masks seriously.

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McConnell’s latest remarks come amid split views on masks.

On Monday, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) penned a letter addressing House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) where he encouraged those who refuse masks to only participate in meetings remotely, as previously reported on IJR.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, President Donald Trump has dismissed wearing masks in public despite the (CDC) outlining effectiveness. And some Americans appeared to have followed suit making it more difficult for cities, states, and businesses to enforce mask mandates.

In fact, some have even protested against wearing masks as they have argued that mask mandates are non-Constitutional. However, more than 35 states are now seeing day-to-day increases in cases which has led to multiple governors halting phased reopenings.

As of Tuesday morning, there are more than 2.6 million known coronavirus cases in the United States as the death toll is over 128,000.