ASM Global, which manages the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has asked for a written plan “detailing the steps the event will institute for health and safety, including those related to social distancing.”
Officials with the arena hosting President Donald Trump‘s reelection rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday are requesting his campaign supply a health and safety plan in advance of the event.
ASM Global, which manages the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has asked for a written plan “detailing the steps the event will institute for health and safety, including those related to social distancing” after the Oklahoma Department of Health posted record increases in COVID-19 numbers in the state. On Wednesday, 259 new cases were reported — the highest single-day number of positive tests Oklahoma has seen so far — while Tulsa County officials reported 96 new cases.
“I’m extremely concerned,” Tulsa City-County Health Department director told school officials Monday night, according to the Tulsa World newspaper. “I think we have the responsibility to stand up when things are happening that I think are going to be dangerous for our community, which it will be. It hurts my heart to think about the aftermath of what’s going to happen.”
The Trump campaign has asked individuals attending the event to sign a waiver acknowledging the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus at the event. Campaign officials released a statement earlier this week that more than 1 million tried to get tickets for the “Make American Great Again” rally, with Trump supporters already lining up around the block to attend.
ASM Global officials said the campaign has agreed to conduct temperature checks and provide attendees with a mask and hand sanitizer upon entering the building.
“The BOK Center will encourage all attendees to remain masked throughout the duration of the event until they exit the building,” the ASM Global statement reads.
“Among the many other safeguards, all building staff will be tested, temperature checked and provided with personal protection equipment. The venue will be cleaned and disinfected repeatedly throughout the event, with special emphasis on high touch areas,” it continues. “Plexiglass partitions will be placed at all concession locations. Four hundred hand sanitizing stations have been placed throughout the building for attendee and employee use.”
The Oklahoma Supreme Court will rule Friday whether the event would need to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing, which would significantly lower the capacity.
