Day 1,266: Trump rally ‘more than likely’ contributed to Tulsa’s COVID-19 surge

Donald Trump’s campaign touted interest from over one million people in the run-up to his June 20 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the end, just 6,200 mostly maskless attendees showed up at the arena that holds more than 19,000.

The ramifications are still rolling in just over two weeks later.

As expert predicted, effects related to the spread of COVID-19 wouldn’t be seen for a few weeks. Positive tests are coming in and Tulsa’s top health official concluded that Trump’s rally was the source.

“We do have the highest number of cases, and we’ve had the significant events in the past few weeks that more than likely contributed to that,” Tulsa Health Department Director Bruce Dart said Wednesday at a news conference.

Tulsa, a city with 10% of the state’s population, now has 26% of Oklahoma’s positive cases.

Nearly 132,000 people have died from the disease in the U.S. as Trump is swearing that the country is in a “good place,” despite the virus raging from coast-to-coast. His leadership failures have undoubtedly driven that number up. Now his decision to hold rallies has too, as he readies for his next one on Saturday.

1,266 days in, 196 to go

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