Trump rally called ‘dangerous move’ in age of coronavirus

After months away from campaign trail, President Donald Trump plans to rally his supporters this coming Saturday for first time since most of country was shuttered by coronavirus. Trump will he to Tulsa, Oklahoma — a state that has seen relatively few COVID-19 cases.

But health experts question decision, citing danger of infection spreing among crowd and sparking outbreaks when people return to ir homes. Trump campaign itself ackwledges risk in a waiver attendees must agree to absolving m of any responsibility should people get sick.

WHAT MAKES RALLY HIGH RISK?

Trump’s rally will be held indoors, at a 19,000-seat arena that has canceled all or events through end of July. Scientists believe virus spres far more easily in crowded enclosed s than it does outdoors, where circulating air has a better chance of dispersing virus particles.

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines highest risk events for transmission of coronavirus this way: “Large in-person garings where it is difficult for individuals to remain d at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside local area.”  CDC recommends cloth masks in places where people might shout or chant.

Trump’s rallies typically draw tens of thousands of supporters. y usually stand outside in line for hours before passing through airport-style security and cramming into an arena, where y sit side by side or stand shoulder to shoulder. rallies are typically raucous, with much shouting, cheering and chanting. Some people dance and jeer at reporters. Sometimes protesters are met with violence before y are removed by security.

Many attendees are older, which would put m at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19. It’s t unusual for several individuals in crowd to require medical attention when temperature rises.

rallies also typically draw supporters from surrounding towns and states. Some die-hard fans travel across country from rally to rally like groupies for a band.

Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvard’s Global Health Institute, called upcoming Trump rally “an extraordinarily dangerous move for people participating and people who may kw m and love m and see m afterward.”

Trump supporters coming from neighboring cities and states could carry virus back home, Jha said. “I’d feel same way if Joe Biden were holding a rally.”

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OKLAHOMA CASES LOW BUT RISING

In its final phase of reopening, Oklahoma w allows public garings of any size as long as organizers consider social distancing. Participants at any large garing should stay 6 feet (1.8 meters) apart and wear a cloth face covering when distancing is a challenge, state health department said.

state has a relatively low death rate compared with rest of nation, but new cases are rising. In Tulsa, cases are increasing, with 71 new cases reported Friday. Tulsa Health Department alrey was investigating an outbreak linked to an indoor garing of a large group of people.

“I have concerns about large groups of people garing indoors for prolonged lengths of time,” Bruce Dart, executive director of Tulsa Health Department, said in a statement Friday. “It is imperative that anyone who chooses to host or attend a garing take steps to stay safe.”

Dart said risk of spreing virus increases with higher numbers of people congregating for longer periods of time.

Oklahoma health authorities said that anyone who attends a large public event should get tested for COVID-19 shortly afterward.

Shelley Payne, director of LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease at University of Texas at Austin, said Trump rally meets every criteria for riskiest of event.

“I would certainly recommend that people wear masks and try to keep as much distance as possible,” Payne said.

Julie Fischer, an associate research professor of microbiology and immulogy at Georgetown University, said event could have wide repercussions for country.

“With a little b luck, that scenario could end in seeding of community outbreaks of COVID-19 across U.S.,” she said.

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MASKS AND PRECAUTIONS

Trump campaign has declined to respond to repeated questions about wher it will require attendees to wear masks, socially distance or take or measures to reduce risk of virus transmission.

Trump has me clear that he believes empty seats are b optics. “I can’t imagine a rally where you have every fourth seat full. Every — every six seats are empty for every one that you have full. That wouldn’t look too good,” he said in April.

Trump also insisted that marquee event of Republican National Convention — his acceptance of his party’s mination for reelection — be moved from Charlotte, rth Carolina, to Jacksonville, Florida, after rth Carolina’s Democratic goverr refused to promise he would t impose restrictions.

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WHY W?

Trump has been er to resume rallies that are centerpiece of his campaign. president revels in his large crowds. events let him vent and gauge kind of rhetoric that will appeal to his ardent political base. y also help his campaign expand its voter databases and will serve as a contrast to Democratic challenger Biden, who has suspended campaign events because of virus and hasn’t attracted same size of crowds.

But decision to pull trigger w was driven, in large part, by mass anti-racism protests that have taken place across country in wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. Campaign and White House officials say protests — and limited public health outcry y generated — gave m cover. If it was OK for tens of thousands of people to march through streets, demanding racial justice, why can’t Trump rally his supporters, too?

Of course, protests were held outside, with many participants wearing masks.

“Any large garing, wher of protesters or ralliers, is dangerous,” Jha said. But infection is less likely at an outdoors moving march than at a crowded event in an enclosed , he said, citing air flow.

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WAIVER

Trump campaign, in recognition of risk, has tried to protect itself from lawsuits with waiver langu on its registration website.

“By ing register below, you are ackwledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present,” campaign vised those signing up for rally. “By attending Rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree t to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.” liable for illness or injury.