Former Vice President Joe Biden will accept the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination at a near-virtual convention in Milwaukee this August, but delegates were told to stay home due to health problems, the Democratic National Committee said Wednesday.
“After consulting with public health officials about the COVID-19 pandemic, convention organizers today announced that they have determined that state delegations should not plan to travel to Milwaukee and should plan to conduct their official convention business. remotely, “the DNC said in a statement. .
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, had already pointed out in May that the party would likely host a virtual convention amid the coronavirus pandemic so as not to put “stress on the public health system, or put delegates and others who they come to the convention in the form of harm. “
The United States broke its record for the highest number of coronavirus cases recorded in a single day, with 36,358 new positives reported across the country on Wednesday, according to data tracking by NBC News.
In Wisconsin, recent data from the state Department of Health suggests a steady increase in cases. The department reported 25,763 coronavirus cases as of June 24.
It also contrasts with the Republican National Committee convention this August, to be held in Jacksonville, Florida, in late August, which has plans to do temperature controls, implement social distance stations, and disinfection for attendees. President Donald Trump will accept the party’s nomination in person.
The DNC initially planned to have the nomination convention in July in Milwaukee, but it was postponed until August due to COVID-19 to give planners more time to determine the best structure for the event.
Wisconsin is a key state on the battlefield for Democrats to win in the 2020 election, which Trump narrowly won in 2016. At the convention, Democrats will officially nominate Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate.
The committee said in its statement that convention planners said Milwaukee “will host” four events for the convention week, which is scheduled for August 17-20. It will include live virtual broadcasts from Milwaukee and other satellite locations across the country.
The DNC said it is developing a process for most of the convention’s business to be conducted remotely, including all voting delegates and committee meetings in the summer leading up to the convention.
The committee said it also turned to infectious disease experts for advice on health and safety protocols.
The committee has significantly reduced the event, moving it from the 17,000-seat Fiserv Forum to the Wisconsin Center, which has a 4,500-seat theater and 12,000-seat arena.
The committee said it is eliminating several large-scale events it has held in the past, such as a welcome reception for the media and delegates and volunteer events. The DNC also said it is evaluating how it will determine how many people may be on the convention floor, but plans are still being finalized.
