- During the final night of the Republican National Convention Thursday, a crowd formed on the White House South Lawn to hear President Donald Trump speak, with little social distancing or mask wearing.
- With a crowd estimated at around 1,500, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said “a number of people” on site would be tested for COVID-19, according to Bloomberg News.
- An official release from the Trump campaign did not specifically mention masks or testing, saying that the company Patronus Medical is conducting “strict protocols” that will be “in full compliance with multiple guidelines.”
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On the final night of the Republican National Convention, about 1,500 people gathered on the South Lawn of the White House to hear President Donald Trump speak. The crowd didn’t appear to observe social distancing and few people in attendance wore masks. The Trump campaign issued a vague statement ahead of the speech that didn’t specify any testing protocols.
Chairs being assembled on the lawn in the late afternoon drew initial concern for their lack of spacing, with most of the spots sitting only inches apart.
Guests start taking their seats 3 1/2 hours before the 1030pm speech by Pres Trump. His campaign says a leading medical firm was hired to ensure that "certain proper protocols" are in place for the health and safety of GOP convention venues. pic.twitter.com/5fDRMJ62Dp
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 27, 2020
Then, once the crowd began forming around sunset, a lack of mask wearing became apparent to reporters and photographers on the scene.
In fact, few guests seen wearing a mask during the pre-show entertainment. pic.twitter.com/6ZBX6F6VjM
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 28, 2020
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said "a number of people" at the event will be tested, according to Bloomberg News.
The Trump campaign's statement on coronavirus protocols for the final night of the convention was vague, and did not specify what the testing situation would be or whether masks would be mandatory.
"Patronus Medical, a leading medical, safety, and health company, has worked in partnership with the Republican National Committee to make certain proper protocols are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals at convention venues." "These strict protocols are in full compliance with multiple guidelines set forth by the United States Centers for Disease Control, the District of Columbia Department of Public Health, and other leading authorities on health safety."
Even though coronavirus research has found far fewer outdoor transmissions, packed areas like stadiums have been traced to "superspreader events."
A prominent Harvard Medical School professor tweeted his concerns.
I admit I said this. Because it's true. This is irresponsible. Yes it's outdoors. But these folks are together for an extended period of time without masks.
It's utterly irresponsible. https://t.co/Se3j5q2TPV
— Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) August 28, 2020
Like other Trump campaign events, mask wearing was scant as attendees waited for the president to speak.
Mask wearing at Trump rallies has been a lingering issue of the 2020 campaign since the debacle in Tulsa back in June.
While it is unknown precisely where he contracted the virus, former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain died from COVID-19 a little more than a month after the Trump Tulsa Rally, where he was in attendance. He was hospitalized with the virus two weeks later.
Herman Cain died today after a long fight with coronavirus.
Below is a photo of Cain in a crowd of people without a mask at Trump's Oklahoma rally last month. pic.twitter.com/5mDe9mznID
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) July 30, 2020
Two days after Cain announced positive test result, he expressed support for the Trump campaign's decision not to require masks at the Mount Rushmore Fourth of July rally.
Some attendees did wear masks
Several notable Republicans were spotted on the South Lawn
Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a staunch Trump defender in Congress, has flouted mask wearing mandates on the floor and was not wearing one Thursday night
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, on the other hand, masked up and posed for the camera
