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4 people at RNC in Charlotte test positive for COVID, as GOP defends safety measures

"Multiple states report COVID-19 cases linked to Sturgis rally"

By Alison Kuznitz and

Austin Weinstein
August 28, 2020 09:42 AM , Updated August 28, 2020 03:09 PM

[...]

Ultimately, infections were to be expected when bring that many people together from across the country, according to Dana Rice, a public health professor at UNC Chapel Hill.

“I’m not sure it could’ve been avoided, unless you didn’t bring people together in a room,” she said. “That was a decision that the RNC made not taking into consideration all of the public health warnings and messaging that has been out there.”

[...]

Officials concern

The RNC agreed to enforce mask-wearing at the event, but even before the convention happened, officials were concerned about the enforcement of the mandate.

Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, the state’s public health director, sent a letter to the RNC on Aug. 6 asking who would enforce the mask mandate. The RNC replied the next day that staff and private security would be responsible.

“It was disappointing to see reports that the RNC failed to follow through on their plan, potentially putting attendees and North Carolinians at risk,” said a spokeswoman for Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, on Friday.

The positive tests from the RNC add to ongoing concern about the safety of Republican campaign events nationwide.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article245322115.html