Coronavirus: masks ‘strongly encouraged’ at next Donald Trump rally, after staff at Tulsa event test positive
- President’s campaign says there will be ‘ample access’ to hand sanitiser and all attendees will be given face coverings at New Hampshire event on Saturday
- Change comes after previous Trump events drew criticism for lack of measures against Covid-19
Donald Trump’s re-election campaign made the decision to “strongly encourage” masks at the Republican president’s next rally as a precautionary measure, the White House chief of staff said on Monday.
The Trump campaign plans an outdoor rally on Saturday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
“Obviously we’re looking forward to being in the Granite State and back with the folks up in New Hampshire, and as we look at that it’s more a factor of precaution,” Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said in an interview with Fox News.
In announcing Saturday’s rally in Portsmouth, the campaign said: “There will be ample access to hand sanitiser and all attendees will be provided a face mask that they are strongly encouraged to wear.”
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US should 'slow the testing’ for ‘kung flu’, says Trump in rally remarks on Covid-19
The change comes after Trump’s indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last month drew widespread attention for not imposing coronavirus restrictions, including social distancing and masks.