US CDC: "Pence Has Not Had Close Contact with Trump... Eligible to Participate in TV Debate"

CDC Announces After Consultation with White House Medical Team
Transparent Barriers Installed and 12-Foot Distancing at Forum

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on the 7th (local time) that Vice President Mike Pence, ahead of the vice presidential candidate TV debate, has not had recent close contact with White House COVID-19 confirmed cases, including President Donald Trump, and that it is safe for him to participate in the TV debate. Following safety concerns raised by the Democratic Party, a transparent barrier will be installed between Pence and his opponent, Senator Kamala Harris, during the debate, and the distance between the two candidates will be extended to 12 feet (approximately 3.6 meters), twice the CDC’s social distancing guideline.

According to foreign media such as CNBC on the 6th (local time), CDC Director Robert Redfield addressed safety concerns regarding Vice President Pence’s participation in the vice presidential TV debate, stating, "After consulting with White House medical staff, it was determined that Vice President Pence has not had recent close contact with COVID-19 infected individuals within the White House, including President Trump." He added, "Considering that Pence has consistently tested negative for COVID-19 since the confirmation of the President’s infection, we concluded that it is safe for Vice President Pence to attend the TV debate."

According to CDC public health guidelines, a close contact is defined as a person who has been within 6 feet of a COVID-19 confirmed case for at least 15 minutes starting from two days before the onset of symptoms. Currently, the White House is in a state of emergency as many aides and staff who had close contact with President Trump have tested positive for COVID-19. According to Bloomberg News, two additional White House staff tested positive for COVID-19 on this day, including Jaina McCarron, a Coast Guard aide responsible for the nuclear football in the White House Military Office (WHMO). Previously, White House staff including aide Hope Hicks, aide Nick Luna, spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany, and two other spokesperson office staff members were infected. Vice President Pence is reported not to have had close contact with President Trump in the past two days.

However, Pence attended President Trump’s first presidential debate on the 29th of last month and was criticized for not wearing a mask at that time. Ahead of the vice presidential candidate TV debate on the 7th, the Democratic Party requested the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), which organizes the debate, to strengthen safety measures, and the CPD accepted the request. Accordingly, the seating distance between Vice President Pence and Senator Harris was extended to 12 feet, twice the CDC guideline, and a transparent barrier will be installed between the two candidates’ seats. The CPD emphasized, "Mask-wearing will be mandatory for everyone attending the debate venue, and anyone refusing to wear a mask will be removed from the debate venue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.