VP Mike Pence urges Texas residents to 'wear masks'

US Vice President Mike Pence is asking residents in Texas, especially younger Americans, to wear their masks as coronavirus cases in the state spike.

Pence spent his Sunday in Dallas alongside the state's governor and other officials.

Speaking to reporters, Pence urged residents to wear a face covering in locations where it was unable to "maintain social distancing" to help "slow the spread of the coronavirus."

He added that the recent spike was being linked to young Americans who don't appear to be following the rules.

At the same news conference, Governor Greg Abbott said that the daily number of cases have "gone from an average of about 2,000 to more than 5,000 per day" in recent weeks.

Earlier in the day, Pence attended the Celebrate Freedom Rally held at the First Baptist Church Dallas, where he and his team were seen wearing their masks.

Speaking to a packed house, there was little to no social distancing in the audience although many had their masks on.