President Donald Trump has been criticized online for not adhering to social distancing guidelines while signing a coronavirus relief bill.

He signed the CARES relief bill on Friday in the Oval Office, with 15 Republican lawmakers huddled around his desk.

This is in spite of the fact that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises people to "put distance between yourself and other people" and to keep at least 6 feet away.

Related - This is the moment Donald Trump shouts "Oh f***, I got a pen mark" moments before his coronavirus address:

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"The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus," the CDC says. "The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).

"Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs."

Aside from the fact that the 16 politicians were all in close contact with each other in the Oval Office, critics were particularly concerned about the fact that Trump was seen handing out pens to the lawmakers - despite advice on avoiding the spread of the virus from person to person.

Furthermore, CNN reports that the average age of those in the Oval Office was 65.8 - meaning, according to the CDC, they "are at higher risk for severe illness".

The president has since come under fire on social media, with one Twitter user writing, "Did anyone else see Pence wipe the pen off after Trump handed it to him? And why is he handing out pens? Doesn’t the idiot know that he could be spreading the virus?"

"If he gets away with never getting sick or testing positive after the way he's been flouting all recommendations, I'll be so surprised," another wrote.

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This comes as cases of the disease continue to rise in many parts of the world. According to stats from John Hopkins University, there are currently 143,055 cases of coronavirus in the US, with at least 2,489 having died from the disease.

Donald Trump slammed for ignoring social distancing advice while signing coronavirus relief bill