Raleigh -- Press Release North Carolina Governor Cooper's Office May 29, 2020

Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, shared the following letter in response to Republican National Convention organizers. 

Governor's Office spokesperson Sadie Weiner shared the following statement:

"North Carolina will continue working with the RNC to ensure the convention can be held safely."

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*Below is a letter in part to the RNC sent by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services 

Dear Chairwoman McDaniel and President Kelly:
Thank you for your letter to Governor Cooper yesterday outlining the steps you intend to take to
ensure a safe 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte. We have appreciated our
conversations with you and the Convention Committee staff, and your acknowledgement that a
successful convention this August will need to be scaled-back and require significant measures
to protect the health and safety of delegates and participants, as well as the health of the people
of North Carolina.
The CDC currently has interim guidance regarding mass gatherings which details a number of
safety protocols that organizers of major events should utilize amid this pandemic. We would
ask that the RNC further elaborate on its plans to protect convention participants and the people
of Charlotte in accordance with the CDC guidance. Specifically:
• How many delegates, alternates, elected officials, guests and media do you expect to be
in attendance inside the Spectrum Center for each night of the Convention? How does the
RNC plan to have participants social distance while in the Spectrum Center?
• How will the RNC implement health screenings, social distancing, face coverings, hand
hygiene and other cleaning protocols at all RNC sanctioned events in the Charlotte area,
including welcome parties, state party events, media events, finance events, caucus meetings, committee meetings, receptions and other party business meetings and
gatherings?
• During our phone conversation on Tuesday, May 26, you indicated a desire from
President Trump to hold Thursday’s nomination event with “people together in a crowdlike setting” and without social distancing or face coverings for attendees. While the
letter did not address this specifically, is this still the intent? You also mentioned testing
for all participants before they enter the Spectrum Center for the Thursday event. Is this
still a consideration? Would this be limited to Thursday night or would it apply to the
other nights of the Convention?
• How will the RNC isolate individuals who do not pass the thermal and health screenings
outlined in the letter? How will contact tracing be conducted for others with whom they
may have come in contact?
• Given the evidence of asymptomatic spread of COVID-19, what additional precautions
will the RNC take to prevent spread of the virus?

Read full letter: https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/RNC-5_29.pdf