President Trump’s campaign acknowledged that six staff members who were working on a rally in Tulsa had tested positive for the virus during routine screening.
“Six members of the advance team tested positive out of hundreds of tests performed, and quarantine procedures were immediately implemented,” said a campaign spokesman, Tim Murtaugh. “No COVID-positive staffers or anyone in immediate contact will be at today’s rally or near attendees and elected officials.”
“As previously announced, all rally attendees are given temperature checks before going through security, at which point they are given wristbands, facemasks and hand sanitizer.”
Trump, made aware of the sick campaign aides before departing for the rally, was incensed the news was made public, according to two people familiar with his reaction.
In the hours before the rally, cloth masks were being handed out to supporters as they filed into a designated area, but wearing them was not enforced.
Some people threw masks out immediately after being handed to them, and few wore them at the outdoor concert happening next to the arena.
Upon being handed a mask, attendees were also given temperature checks before going through security.
According to the event’s staff, if a person failed the temperature check — they would be placed in a cooling room and given a second test, to account for the hot weather.
If they failed that test, the staff member said, they would not be allowed entry.
Rallies have been a hallmark of Trump’s entire brand, and his campaign is eager to get him back in front of a boisterous crowd of thousands of supporters.
But this rally will take place during a pandemic that has killed nearly 120,000 Americans and counting.
Public health experts warn it is dangerous to group thousands of people together indoors and professional sports leagues are preparing to return in “bubbles.”
The rally also comes amid nationwide protests over police violence against African Americans.
Trump was initially to hold the rally on Juneteenth, a holiday that marks the end of slavery.
He shifted it to Saturday in response to criticism, but reignited controversy a few days later by claiming he made the annual celebration recognized by millions of people “very famous.”
Tulsa, Okla., is the site of a terrible tragedy where hundreds of African Americans were killed in 1921.
The Tulsa World editorial board wrote this week that it was the wrong place and wrong time for Trump to be holding a rally.
Trump inflamed already simmering tensions Friday when he appeared to threaten protesters considering gathering to oppose his presence.
The White House later said Trump was only speaking about violent protesters.
Some Republicans say that the campaign is risking too much by holding the rally in the middle of a pandemic because it could result in blowback if subsequent cases in Oklahoma are tied to the event.
“I understand the president’s desire to get back out there, he likes doing events, and wouldn’t be critical of that at all. We have a very unique set of challenges right now that should suggest that this is not the best time to be doing so,” said Doug Heye, former Republican National Committee communications director.
“The risk versus reward here doesn’t appear to be a strong one for the campaign,” he added.
The rally comes as Oklahoma sees a spike in Covid-19 cases, with 352 new cases in the state on Friday alone — the second-largest one-day jump during the crisis.
The Trump campaign has sent mixed messages about whether the rally would be safe for attendees.
Trump has told reporters “everybody is going to be safe” while the registration for tickets came with an acknowledgement “any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19,” and that they couldn’t hold the campaign or the center liable.
Most voters think large political rallies are a bad idea amid the coronavirus, according to a Fox News poll released today.
Voters are overwhelmingly against large political rallies, with 59 percent saying they think crowded campaign events are a bad idea, according to the poll.
About a quarter of respondents supported rallies, while 16 percent said it depended on the situation.
About 80 percent of respondents had a favorable view of masks, according to the poll. Just under 70 percent of Republicans approved of mask-wearing, compared to 89 percent of Democrats, according to the poll.
And of those that “strongly approve of Trump,” 61 percent approved of face coverings.