A top Tulsa city and county health official is pointing to President Trump’s recent rally as a source behind a surge in coronavirus cases in the area.
Tulsa City-County Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Dart said on Wednesday that the events surrounding Trump’s visit, including protests, “more than likely” contributed to more people contracting COVID-19, according to the Associated Press.
“In the past few days, we’ve seen almost 500 new cases, and we had several large events just over two weeks ago, so I guess we just connect the dots,” Dart said.
When asked about Dart’s comments at a press conference, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany pushed back on his claim.
“I would just say I have no data to indicate that on my end. It is the decision of individuals whether they go. We encourage the wearing of masks,” she said.
Tulsa County reported 261 new cases on Monday, a single-day record high, and another 206 new cases on Tuesday.
Several people who attended the rally on June 20 later tested positive for the coronavirus, including a reporter in attendance, several of Trump’s campaign staffers, and two members of the Secret Service.
Oklahoma as a whole has seen over 17,000 cases and over 400 deaths.
