RNC 2020 to test every guest, worker for COVID-19. But results won’t be public right away
The public likely won’t know right away if delegates or other guests of the Republican National Convention furthered spread of COVID-19 in Charlotte.
Quick-turnaround testing for coronavirus is in place for the convention but results won’t be immediately publicly-disclosed, officials said Friday. After the event is over, an “after-action” report will be released but the timing of that is unclear.
County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said Friday: “Hopefully it won’t take terribly long” to release the report. Additionally, the county’s regular release of COVID-19 case data may later show whether the large event affected Mecklenburg’s recent positive trends. Health leaders have said it can take up to two weeks for local data to reflect such an impact.
Still, Harris said the health department will issue immediate notification publicly if there’s a greater public health risk.
If there’s a possible COVID-19 exposure at a restaurant or venue, for example, where health officials are unable to detect the person’s contacts, that may trigger a public warning.
“That’s just an example of what we might end up needing to do,” Harris said during a news conference Friday. “We’ll use whatever method is best in the situation.”
However, Harris said, the health department has been able to use contact tracing in the past to alert individuals of exposure without needing a wider warning sent publicly.
Workers for the RNC have already been tested for COVID-19 by Atrium Health. As of Friday, none have tested positive, Harris said.
Before entering any convention space or event, the health director said, RNC attendees must have negative test results.
Anyone who tests positive at the RNC, according to Harris, will be isolated and then quarantined locally for some length of time, under orders of the Mecklenburg County Health Department.
A number of health protocols are in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at the convention — the largest sanctioned event in Charlotte since the onset of the pandemic.
”No gathering is risk free, but we have multiple layers of risk reduction that will bring the risk level into hopefully an acceptable level,” Harris told reporters. “The top priority of public health and the convention planners is the safety and health of all attendees, all support staff and the surrounding community.”
All attendees have been tested for COVID-19 seven days before attending the convention and asked to observe “enhanced social distancing” for two weeks before traveling to Mecklenburg, Harris said.
RNC officials said they anticipate between 400 and 500 total attendees for an event once anticipated to bring 50,000 visitors to the Queen City. But the dramatically scaled-down convention still poses a “high risk,” with more than 300 delegates traveling from all across the country, according to RNC’s senior advisor for health and safety planning.
At a recent Charlotte City Council meeting, Dr. Jeffrey Runge outlined sweeping coronavirus protocols that are intended to insulate delegates and support staff from the pandemic.
The safeguards, coordinated with Mecklenburg County, Atrium Health and Novant Health, include:
▪ COVID-19 testing, before and after arriving in Charlotte
▪ Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
▪ Mandatory mask wearing and social distancing
▪ Boxed lunches, with individual breakfasts encouraged in hotel rooms
COVID-19 safety at RNC
“All positive test results will be reported directly to (Mecklenburg County) and we will follow up with the individuals and the RNC, isolating that individual for the appropriate amount of time,” county spokeswoman Carter said in a statement.
RNC delegates will be tested through Novant Health. Novant uses an in-house testing procedure, so the turnaround time is “fairly quick,” Harris said Friday.
RNC testing will not impact the availability, or turnaround time, of tests for Mecklenburg County residents, Harris said.
Through a sophisticated contact tracing approach, delegates will also wear special badges that record who they come into contact with and for how long — making it easier for health officials to quell possible outbreaks if someone tests positive for COVID-19, Runge said. Mecklenburg County is responsible for contact tracing efforts, a county spokeswoman said.
The RNC will follow up with attendees after the convention, on the 5th, 14th and 21st day after the event, Harris said Friday.
In a letter to RNC leaders after reviewing the convention’s health protocols earlier this month, State Health Director Elizabeth Tilson said the state is willing to “flexibly enforce” some COVID-19 restrictions, like allowing more than 10 people to gather indoors for official convention business.
But Tilson added: “In consideration of the high transmission rate and damaging effects of COVID-19, the State and Mecklenburg County reserve the right to take appropriate actions to respond to any especially serious risks to public health.”
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 11:44 AM.
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