Experts decry Trump’s’ shunning of protocols to slow spread of virus

Publichealth WASHINGTON— experts expressed concern Friday about PresidentDonaldTrump’slargelymask-free, socially un-distancedRepublicanconventioneventonthe White House lawn, saying some ofhis 1,500guestsmay have inadvertently brought and spread the coronavirus to others.

“There almost certainly were individuals there who were infectedwithCOVID-19 but don’t know it,” said Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor atGeorgeWashington University.

“I worry about these individuals infectingoneanother andmostcertainlygoingback to their home,” said Wen.

Trumpdeliveredhisspeech accepting theGOP presidentialnomination at the Thursday night event, which continued a pattern of flflouting coronavirussafetyguidelines.

Fewin the audience wore maskswhenvirtuallyall leading public health professionals, including the administration’s, say face coverings play a big part in slowing virus transmission.

Chairswere placed inches apart instead of the recommended6feet, leavingattendees little room to practice social distancing.

Only those guests the White House expected to be in “close proximity” to Trump and Vice President Mike Pencewere to be tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

Though public health offifficials have said outdoors is safer than indoors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also puts the risk of COVID-19 spreading at its highest at large outdoor events and in-person gatherings where people cannot stay 6 feet apart and attendees come fromout of town.

Trump’s campaign issued a statement from Dr. Robert Darling, chief medical offifficer of Patronus Medical Corp., who said the Republican National Committee’s protocols are in “full compliance” withmultiple guidelines issued by the CDC, the District of Columbia health department and other leadinghealthauthorities. Heprovided no details.

ThecampaignsaidDarling, a former White House physician to President Bill Clinton, worked with the RNC to make sure proper protocolswere in place at convention sites.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, where delegates met Monday to nominate Trumpfor reelection, thecity required a process to be put inplacetotracepeople’s contacts in the event of an outbreak, including requiring attendees to wear trackers.

Masks and social distancing requirements were also in place, and attendees were required to complete a daily temperature screening and wellnessquestionnaire. They were tested beforedeparting for Charlotte and retested upon arrival.

Out of nearly 800 coronavirus tests administered, two attendees and two people supporting the Charlotte event tested positive after they arrived, the county health department said. The four individuals were instructedto isolate, andany known close contacts were notifified and given instructions on quarantining.

Public health offifficials also expressed concern over a march inWashington on Friday to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The size of the event had been scaled back because of coronavirus concerns.