Photos: Masked messaging at the US election campaign trail

A supporter waits for President Trump’s arrival for a rally in Sanford, Fla., his first return to the campaign trail after his recent hospitalization. Joe Biden was in Florida the following day. But Trump’s illness has put the focus of the campaign’s closing stretch squarely on his response to the coronavirus, with Biden repeatedly criticizing Trump’s handling of the pandemic, which has infected more than 7.8 million people in the United States, killed more than 214,000 and put millions out of work.

Supporters listen as Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden speaks during a drive in rally in Miramar, Florida. Joe Biden headed for Florida to court elderly Americans who helped elect Donald Trump four years ago but appear to be swinging to the Democratic candidate for the White House this time around amid the coronavirus pandemic. Few people in the crowd were seen wearing masks or adhering to public health guidelines to keep at least 6ft (2m) apart to reduce the risk of transmitting Covid-19.

A supporter of President Donald Trump waits to enter a campaign rally at John P. Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pa. At his airport rally in Johnstown, some of Trump’s supporters in the front rows wore red-and-blue masks sporting the president’s “MAGA” slogan, but many other attendees wore no masks at all.

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) wears a mask depicting Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden as he speaks during a drive in rally in Miramar, Florida. Biden told a group of seniors at a community center that Trump had recklessly dismissed the threat that the virus had posed to their at-risk population.

U.S. President Donald Trump throws a face mask from the stage during a campaign rally, his first since being treated for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida. Trump tossed packaged face masks into the crowd as he walked to the podium. Trump was not wearing a mask. Most of the supporters directly behind him were wearing masks but most attendees at the venue were not wearing masks.

A supporter of President Donald Trump smiles before a campaign rally featuring Vice President Mike Pence at Savko and Sons in Columbus, Ohio. The Trump campaign said it would conduct temperature checks and hand out masks at his rallies, but not require attendees to wear them.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden poses with supporters after speaking at the East Las Vegas Community Center about the effects of Covid-19 on Latinos, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump wearing face masks attend a campaign rally at Duluth International Airport in Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.

A supporter of Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden listens during a Biden campaign stop at Jose Marti Gym in Miami, Florida.

A little girl wearing a Trump's protective face mask stands with supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump during a rally outside of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he is being treated for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. October 4, 2020.

A supporter wears her mask around her neck as she rallies with President Trump in Freeland, Michigan.

A woman arrives at the elections office to cast a ballot as a parade of over 300 golf carts supporting Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden caravanned to the Sumter County Elections office to cast their ballots during early voting in The Villages, Fla.

Dancers from a local Mexican dance company wear Biden/Harris face masks during a drive-in campaign event for Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden at the Southeast Career Technical Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

A supporter of President Trump arrives at the White House during the Republican National Convention.

An attendee wears a face mask in support of U.S. President Donald Trump as he listens during a campaign event with White House Senior Adviser Ivanka Trump at the Citrus Club in Orlando, Florida.

Cheryl Greenberg takes a photo of friends before the start of a parade of over 300 golf carts supporting Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden caravanned to the Sumter County Elections office to cast their ballots in The Villages, Fla.

A woman wears a 'VOTE' face mask in Powder Springs, Georgia, U.S.

A woman wears a face mask as people take part in the pro-police "Back the Blue" and support U.S. President Trump rally in Hauppauge, New York.

Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump wearing masks watch the president's speech projected on a giant screen outside an election campaign rally at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida.

A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump wearing a protective mask attends a gathering outside Perez Art Museum, before the arrival of Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden for a town hall event in Miami, Florida.