RALEIGH, N.C. – The Secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is responding to organizers of the Republican National Convention after receiving a letter outlining its safety plans to hold the event in Charlotte later this year.
The letter reads in part, “the CDC currently has interim guidance regarding mass gatherings which details a number of safety protocols that organizers of major events should utilize amid this pandemic. We would ask that the RNC further elaborate on its plans to protect convention participants and the people of Charlotte in accordance with the CDC guidance.”
In particular, the state says it would like to know:
- How many delegates, alternates, elected officials, guests, and media do you expect to be in attendance inside the Spectrum Center for each night of the convention? How does the RNC plan to have participants social distance while in the Spectrum Center?
- How will the RNC implement health screenings, social distancing, face coverings, hand hygiene, and other cleaning protocols at all RNC sanctioned events in the Charlotte area, including welcome parties, state party events, media events, finance events, caucus meetings, committee meetings, receptions and other party business meetings and gatherings?
- During our phone conversation on Tuesday, May 26, you indicated a desire from President Trump to hold Thursday’s nomination event with “people together in a crowdlike setting” and without social distancing or face coverings for attendees. While the letter did not address this specifically, is this still the intent? You also mentioned testing for all participants before they enter the Spectrum Center for the Thursday event. Is this still a consideration? Would this be limited to Thursday night or would it apply to the other nights of the convention?
- How will the RNC isolate individuals who do not pass the thermal and health screenings outlined in the letter? How will contact tracing be conducted for others with whom they may have come in contact?
- Given the evidence of asymptomatic spread of COVID-19, what additional precautions will the RNC take to prevent spread of the virus?
The RNC committee sent over its initial plan Thursday asking that Gov. Cooper respond by Wednesday. Here is what they proposed:
- All mandatory attendees would have to get thermal scans and be taken to and from the convention using pre-arranged transportation.
- Everyone attending must have a health screening.
- Public areas would be sanitized.
- The plan does not mention any crowd limitations.
"We still do not have solid guidelines from the state and cannot in good faith ask thousands of visitors to begin paying deposits and making travel plans without knowing the full commitment of the governor, elected officials, and other stakeholders in supporting the convention,” RNC Chairwoman Rona McDaniel wrote in a letter.