Several staffers on the Trump campaign have tested positive for the coronavirus only hours before the president is set to appear at his first campaign rally since March.
In a statement released by the Trump campaign team, officials say that they recorded six positive coronavirus tests out of hundreds performed on staffers who are organizing the Tulsa rally.
“Per safety protocols, campaign staff are tested for COVID-19 before events,” wrote Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh. “Six members of the advance team tested positive out of hundreds of tests, performed, and quarantine procedures were immediately implement. No COVID-positive staffers or anyone in immediate contact will be at today’s rally or near attendees and elected officials.”
Full statement from the Trump campaign’s @TimMurtaugh on the six advance staffers that tested positive ahead of tonight’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/SIQnPrvIb0
— Monica Alba (@albamonica) June 20, 2020
Trump and his campaign team have been criticized for their decision to go ahead with a rally in spite of the coronavirus pandemic, but Murtaugh defended the measures taken to organize tonight’s event safely.
“As previously announced, all rally attendees are given temperature checks before going through security, at which point they are given wristbands, face masks, and hand sanitizer,” he said.
