Florida doctors penned a letter to Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and city officials warning them that bringing the Republican National Convention to the city could cause coronavirus to spiral out of control unless the event is “very significantly reduced in numbers” or pushed back, First Coast News reports.
The letter, signed by about 200 doctors, states that Florida is already considered a hot spot for the virus. The doctors recommend scaling the event back to reduce the chances of the virus spreading and to require attendees to wear masks.
"The Republican National Convention (RNC) is scheduled in Jacksonville for late August. It is estimated that more than 40,000 people, including the press and protesters, will attend from all over the U.S.," the letter states. "Allowing this number of people to descend on Jacksonville is unequivocally provocative of disease, predictably harmful, and medically disrespectful to the citizens of this city, much less the rest of the country."
The doctors warned of increased hospitalizations and deaths if the event takes place as planned.
"It is extremely dangerous and contrary to current public health recommendations to stage a large event in an area where the number of cases is surging," the doctors wrote. "The RNC should be postponed or very significantly reduced in numbers because of these risks."
The RNC is scheduled to take place from Aug. 24-27. Jacksonville will host the celebratory part of the event, while the nomination process will take place in Charlotte, NC.
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