Despite clear guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention about the risk of holding large gatherings, Trump is proceeding with his reckless plan to hold a 20,000 person indoor campaign rally in Tulsa where no mask wearing or social distancing is required. While the Trump campaign brags about holding a “packed rally”, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention warns that this type of event poses a high risk of infecting attendees, causing “explosive spread” and accelerating the coronavirus outbreak.
The Trump Campaign Will Not Require Tulsa Rally Attendees To Wear A Mask Or Practice Social Distancing
-
Attendees Of Trump’s June 20th Rally In Tulsa Will Not Be Required To Maintain Social Distancing Or Wear Masks Despite Top Public Health Officials Warning Of These Measures To Stop The Spread Of Coronavirus. “Attendees at President Donald Trump’s rally scheduled for Saturday will not be required to maintain social distance or wear masks, even as the administration’s top public health officials continue to stress the importance of both measures in preventing the spread of coronavirus.” [CNN, 6/15/20]
-
Trump’s Communications Director: “It Is A Trump Rally, The Arena Will Be Packed.” “Trump is set to hold his first rally on Saturday since March, when the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to all in-person campaign events. The rally will take place at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which has a capacity of just under 20,000. The campaign says it is expecting a full house. ‘It is a Trump rally, the arena will be packed,’ said Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign. The BOK Center has canceled or postponed every other scheduled event through the end of July.” [CNN, 6/15/20]
Trump’s Planned Rally Falls Into The CDC’s “Highest Risk” Event Category
-
According The CDC’s Guidelines, Trump’s June 20th Rally Would Fall Into The “Highest Risk” Category Of In-Person Gatherings. “The event would fall into the ‘highest risk’ category, according to the CDC’s own new guidelines issued on Friday, which characterizes those as ‘large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.’” [NBC News, 6/13/20]
-
The CDC Describes “Highest Risk” Events As “Large In-person Gatherings Where It Is Difficult For Individuals To Remain Spaced At Least 6 Feet Apart And Attendees Travel From Outside The Local Area.” “The risk of COVID-19 spreading at events and gatherings increases as follows:… Highest risk: Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.” [Centers for Disease Control, 6/12/20]
-
May 2020 CDC Guidelines Warned Against Events “With The Potential For ‘Explosive Spread’ (E.G. Mass Gatherings)” And Suggested They May Warrant Adjustment Of Community Mitigation Measures. “Infections in high-risk settings and populations can disproportionately impact localized transmission and the ability of public health capacity to keep pace with follow up needs such as contract tracing and screening. Efforts should be taken to monitor infections in some specific populations and settings, including but not limited to healthcare personnel, patients in healthcare facilities (e.g., nursing homes, dialysis centers, long term care facilities), and residents of congregate living settings (e.g., prisons, youth homes, shelters). In addition, identification of illnesses at work places (e.g., meat and poultry processing facilities) or events with the potential for ‘explosive spread’ (e.g., mass gatherings) may warrant adjustment of community mitigation measures in the absence of community-wide changes in the disease occurrence gating indicators.” [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2020]
The CDC’s Own Guidelines Recommend Limiting Event Attendance To Allow For Social Distancing And “Strongly Encourages” The Use Of Face Masks
-
The CDC “Strongly Encourages” People Attending Large Gatherings That Involve Shouting, Chanting Or Singing To Use Face Coverings To Reduce The Risk Of Spreading Coronavirus. “Federal health officials on Friday urged organizers of large gatherings that involve shouting, chanting or singing to ‘strongly encourage’ attendees use cloth face coverings to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.” [Washington Post, 6/12/20]
-
CDC Guidelines Released On June 12th Recommend Limiting Attendance Or Seating Capacity To Allow For Social Distancing And For Arranging Seating At Least 6 Feet Apart. “Limit attendance or seating capacity to allow for social distancing, or host smaller events in larger rooms. Use multiple entrances and exits, and discourage crowded waiting areas. Block off rows or sections of seating in order to space people at least 6 feet apart.” [Center For Disease Control and Prevention, 6/12/20]
-
CDC Guidelines Recommends That For Gatherings All Staff Should Be Required To Use Cloth Face Coverings While Attendees Should Be Encouraged To Bring And Use Cloth Face Coverings At The Event. “Require the use of cloth face coverings among staff. Cloth face coverings are most essential in times when physical distancing is difficult (e.g., when moving within a crowd or audience). Provide all staff with information on proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings. Advise staff that cloth face coverings should not be placed on: – Babies or children younger than 2 years old. – Anyone who has trouble breathing. – Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance. – Encourage attendees ahead of the event to bring and use cloth face coverings at the event.” [Center For Disease Control and Prevention, 6/12/20]
CDC Director Robert Redfield: “The Pandemic Has Not Ended”
-
CDC Director Robert Redfield On June 12th: “The Pandemic Has Not Ended.” “At the CDC briefing — the agency’s first full-fledged one in more than three months — Director Robert Redfield acknowledged Americans are eager to return to normal activities. But it’s important for them to remember ‘this situation is unprecedented and that the pandemic has not ended,’ he said.” [Washington Post, 6/12/20]