Six Trump campaign staff test positive for coronavirus ahead of 10,000 person rally

20 June 2020, 20:07

People wait at a security checkpoint to attend a rally with US President Donald Trump
People wait at a security checkpoint to attend a rally with US President Donald Trump. Picture: Getty

By Matt Drake

Six members of Donald Trump's campaign staff have tested positive for coronavirus before a 10,000 person rally in Tulsa.

The campaign's communications director Tim Murtaugh said "quarantine procedures" were immediately initiated and no staff member who tested positive would attend the event.

He said no-one who had immediate contact with those staff members would attend either.

Mr Murtaugh said campaign staff members are tested for Covid-19 as part of the campaign's safety protocols.

Campaign officials said everyone who is attending the rally will be given temperature checks before they pass through security.

LBC's Washington Correspondent Simon Marks said: "This is the exact sort of thing public health officials in Oaklahoma feared, six members of President Trump's team in Tulsa testing positive for coronavirus even before the rally begins.

"They're all now in quarantine. None of them, the campaign says, will be anywhere near the rally tonight.

"The President says his insistence of filling the arena to the rafters with his supporters is not a threat to public health. A claim that is increasingly skating on thin ice."

Tulsa has seen cases of Covid-19 spike in the past week
Tulsa has seen cases of Covid-19 spike in the past week. Picture: PA

The rally is expected to be the biggest indoor event the country has seen since restrictions to prevent coronavirus from spreading began in March.

Tulsa has seen cases of Covid-19 spike in the past week, and the local health department director asked that the rally be postponed.

But Republican governor Kevin Stitt said it would be safe.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday denied a request that everyone attending the indoor rally wear a mask, and few in the crowd outside on Saturday were wearing them.

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Former President Trump and Vice President Harris make final pitches

Road to the White House: The key swing states that will decide the 2024 US Election

Conor McGregor has been accused of raping and choking a woman in a Dublin hotel

Conor McGregor accused of raping and choking woman after snorting cocaine

Playa de los Pocillos puerto del carmen Lanzarote, Canary Islands, spain

British tourist, 34, found dead on beach in Lanzarote

Trump and Harris go head to head

US Election night guide: What time do polls close and who is favourite to win?

Rubert Gispin was visiting flood-hit parts of his native Valencia

Spanish influencer defends ‘shameful’ decision to deliberately cover himself in mud in Valencia’s flood damaged streets

Hundreds of people died in the devastating flooding in Spain

British man who survived Valencia floods describes hearing his neighbours’ horrifying final screams before they died

Live
Millions of Americans are voting for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris

US election 2024 LIVE: First exit polls published as Trump and Harris make final push for White House

Kris Finney has been missing since Thursday

British man missing in Tenerife not seen for three days as Foreign Office issues statement

Barcelona issued with 'extreme danger' flood warning - as fresh rain leaves airport submerged and flights cancelled

Barcelona issued with 'extreme danger' flood warning - as fresh rain leaves airport submerged and flights cancelled

Coco Gauff performs in front of a small crowd at the WTA finals in Saudia Arabia

Tim Henman hits out at ‘disappointing’ crowd after 400 watch women’s finals in Saudi Arabia

Dr Florian Willet, president of Sarco operator The Last Resort, and the suicide pod

First person to use Sarco 'suicide pod' heard three chilling words before death

A British couple were found dead in their car as floods devastated parts of Spain

British couple missing in Spain floods found dead in car after 'popping out' to buy gas

Meredith Kercher's family blast 'lack of sensitivity' over Disney-backed Amanda Knox drama

Amanda Knox accused of 'profiting from murder' by Meredith Kercher's family over Disney-backed trial drama

Kamala Harris moves key rally over Secret Service safety concerns as White House race enters final 24 hours

Kamala Harris moves key rally over Secret Service safety concerns as White House race enters final 24 hours

Former President Trump and Vice President Harris make final pitches

Harris and Trump make closing pitches with two days to election

The Israeli military has said it carried out its first ground operation into Syria - as it announced it had captured a man who has links to Iran (stock images)

IDF confirms first ground operation into Syria of war - and says it has seized a man 'with links to Iran'