Plexiglass Barriers At Harris-Pence Debate 'Are A Joke,' Won't Stop Coronavirus, Medical Experts Say
Last edited Wed Oct 7, 2020, 09:14 PM - Edit history (2)
Source: CNBC
The Commission on Presidential Debates is taking extra precautions at Wednesday night's vice presidential debate given the coronavirus outbreak in the White House, but pictures of two curved plexiglass barriers they plan to use has some epidemiologists and airborne pathogen specialists scratching their heads.
Vice President Mike Pence, a Republican, and Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democrat, will be seated more than 12 feet apart and separated by two plexiglass barriers. But those barriers are "entirely symbolic," according to Dr. Bill Schaffner, an epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University.
The commission became worried after President Donald Trump and several White House staff contracted Covid-19 shortly after last Tuesday's presidential debate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Pence was not in "close contact" with Trump, who announced that he was infected with the virus early Friday morning.
Nonetheless, a person familiar with the debate planning told NBC News that Harris' campaign asked for the plexiglass to be used at the event at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The plexiglass is "minimal protection," Schaffner said in a phone interview, adding that the barriers are mostly "cosmetic."...
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/07/plexiglass-barriers-at-pence-harris-debate-are-a-joke-wont-stop-coronavirus-medical-experts-say.html
He added added that barriers are one part of a "layered approach" that includes testing and distancing of everyone on stage. Attendees are required to wear a mask and there will be no handshake or physical greeting between Pence and Harris. Combined, the steps have likely reduced the risk of spread occurring.
- Workers make adjustments to newly installed plexiglass barriers on the stage ahead of the vice presidential debate in Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah on Oct. 06, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
*NYT, 'Plexiglass Barriers Won't Stop the Virus At the Debate, Experts Warn'
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/plexiglass-barriers-won-t-stop-the-virus-at-the-debate-experts-warn/ar-BB19NESX
..Linsey Marr, an expert on airborne viruses at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., laughed outright when she saw a picture of the debate setup. Its absurd, she said. When she first heard there would be plexiglass barriers, Dr. Marr said, she had imagined an enclosure with an open back or top: But these are even smaller and less adequate than I imagined.
Other experts said the barriers might have made some sense if the debaters were to be seated close together. Those plexiglass barriers are really only going to be effective if the vice president or Kamala Harris are spitting at each other, said Ellie Murray, an epidemiologist at Boston University. Those are really just splatter shields....
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- 3rd Presidential Debate, 1960, Nixon in LA, JFK in NY: Remote, split screen.
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)regnaD kciN
(26,045 posts)If so, anyone care to bet how long it will take Pence to remove his?
appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)NorthOf270
(290 posts)That's not enough? What does that say about this virus?
Kashkakat v.2.0
(1,752 posts)these people that they cant figure this out??? Its not rocket science.
appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)Kashkakat v.2.0
(1,752 posts)they have in grocery stores - and in a grocery store you are not there for 90 minutes and you have a mask on.
appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)Kashkakat v.2.0
(1,752 posts)surmise that obstinate death cult republicans objected.
appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)and days of follow up like Joe.
appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)large droplets from spitting or shouting, but does nothing about smaller particles in the direct area or ventilation system as brought up by experts in the NYT article posted above.
Rebl2
(13,544 posts)Biden trump debate remotely. They can cut trump off when he goes over time or doesnt let Biden get a word edgewise.
uppityperson
(115,678 posts)I thought they'd be boxes with tops, not just these.
drray23
(7,637 posts)if anything, those screens seem to be positioned such that they would focus droplets and airflow from the candidates to the moderator.
reACTIONary
(5,771 posts)... thanks for pointing that out. Seems like it could help with interruption and overtime problems also.
ancianita
(36,132 posts)So, so wrong.
appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)BainsBane
(53,056 posts)I thought there would be a sealed barrier. Now I'm worried for Kamala.
appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)Response to appalachiablue (Original post)
catrose This message was self-deleted by its author.
appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)they had time to consult plenty. This is nothing, like a couple garment bags; a plastic shower curtain would be better!
Read what the experts say in the the times piece..
Evolve Dammit
(16,760 posts)Steelrolled
(2,022 posts)Medical experts views are kinda interesting, but not really relevant.
Nitram
(22,861 posts)appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)area51
(11,919 posts)BHDem53
(1,061 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,317 posts)next to each other, there was no need for them to be seated so close to each other.
appalachiablue
(41,170 posts)pansypoo53219
(20,993 posts)AllaN01Bear
(18,359 posts)yuiyoshida
(41,853 posts)she doesn't need to catch that virus. As for Pence.... whatever.