#Oklahoma venue asks Trump campaign for health plan before rally

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Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum
Matt Barnard/Tulsa World via AP

The Oklahoma venue where President Trump is holding his first rally in months has requested that his campaign provide a plan for “health and safety measures” amid the coronavirus pandemic — just two days before he is set to take the stage, according to a report.

Meghan Blood, director of marketing for the Bank of Oklahoma (BOK) Center in Tulsa, cited the city Health Department’s recent reports of spikes in COVID-19 cases and the state’s “encouragement for event organizers to follow CDC guidelines,” CNN reported.

“We have requested that the Trump campaign, as the event organizer, provide BOK Center with a written plan detailing the steps the event will institute for health and safety, including those related to social distancing,” Blood said.

“Once received, we will share the plan with local health officials,” she added.

Trump campaign communications chief Tim Murtaugh said the request was being reviewed, according to the network.

“We take safety seriously, which is why we’re doing temperature checks for everyone attending and providing masks and hand sanitizer. This will be a Trump rally, which means a big, boisterous, excited crowd,” Murtaugh said.

There are no plans to implement social-distancing guidelines during the event, which is set to be held Saturday evening.

Blood said the 19,000-seat BOK Center “will encourage all attendees to remain masked throughout the duration of the event until they exit the building. Signage reminding attendees of precautions will be placed throughout the building.”

She added that all venue workers will be tested for coronavirus, have their temperatures taken, and be given personal protection equipment, CNN reported.

The site will be cleaned and “disinfected repeatedly throughout the event, with special emphasis on high touch areas,” Blood said, adding that 400 hand sanitizing stations have been placed throughout the site and that protective barriers will be erected at all concession locations.

On Wednesday, Tulsa Health Department Director Bruce Dart and Mayor G.T. Bynum said that anyone attending large gatherings could be at risk of contracting the illness, The Hill reported.

“We want to keep people safe. … If you are part of a vulnerable population, please stay at home,” said Dart, who has recommended that the rally be postponed.

A Tulsa judge earlier this week blocked a lawsuit by city residents and business owners to stop the indoor rally amid the pandemic, but an appeal has been filed with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, The Washington Post reported.

The court is expected to render a decision Friday, according to the newspaper.