Shortly after a speech announcing a series of measures undertaken by the US government to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Donald Trump took the unusual step of shaking the hands of several American CEOs as he invited them to talk about how their corporations are pitching in to combat the crisis that has sent markets spiralling and workers into self-isolation.

The president said that he was declaring a national emergency, which includes a lift on regulations and the establishment of drive-through testing centres in the parking lots of big box stores like Walmart and Target.

And then, while praising the work of the private sector to bring a coronavirus test to market weeks after other countries implemented widespread testing, Mr Trump disregarded basic health guidelines that urge people to avoid personal contact, including handshakes.

“Why is Trump shaking all the CEOs hands?” wrote Anthony Wright, the director of Health Access California, on Twitter, mirroring a question posed by countless others as they watched Mr Trump glad hand with the CEOs of Target, Walmart, and Roche, the company that recently received Food and Drug Administration approval to bring a coronavirus test to market.

US health officials have urged Americans to avoid large gatherings, and to self-isolate when possible.

Why is Trump shaking all the CEOs hands? — Anthony Wright (@aewright) March 13, 2020

Why. So. Many. Handshakes. At. A. Coronavirus. Press. Conference. — James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) March 13, 2020 Doctors have also said that people should avoid handshakes when possible, and to wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Read more Pelosi introduces ‘evidence based’ coronavirus response plan

The president’s announcement, in the White House Rose Garden, also drew outrage from critics who claimed that his inclusion of several business leaders who he praised at length amounted to the use of a presidential platform to advertise American corporations during an address that was sure to be played on televisions across the country.

“Donald Trump has turned the announcement of a national emergency into a corporate infomercial,” wrote Matt McDermott, a pollster in Washington, DC. “This is truly insane.”

Donald Trump has turned the announcement of a national emergency into a corporate infomercial. This is truly insane. — Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) March 13, 2020

Trump just turned a press conference declaring a national emergency into an infomercial for corporations. Amazing. — Shawn Fluharty (@WVUFLU) March 13, 2020

The United States has tested just over 11,000 samples for coronavirus since January, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, in spite of the growing concern that the outbreak is spreading at the community level across the country. That’s in comparison to other countries that have reported testing nearly that much on a daily basis.