CLEVELAND, Ohio — Election season 2020 is in full swing with both presidential candidates on the campaign trail. Now preparations are underway for the presidential debate that will take place in Ohio. It is hosted by the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University.
“The commission was looking for someone to give them background information on how to think about, you know, keeping people safe during COVID. Not only their team, but also for the debates,” said Dr. James Merlino.
Dr. James Merlino is the chief clinical transformation officer at the Cleveland Clinic. He’s leading a team of around 20 doctors to come up with a plan to keep the debate COVID safe.
“Well, the debates going to look very different than they’ve looked in the past. The footprint will be much smaller. There will be many less people. You won’t see 1,000 people in the audience. But we’re confident that it will be a live debate at this point.”
Dr. Merlino said temperature checks will take place and masks will be required. Social distancing measures will also be in place. The Cleveland Clinic is the health security advisor for the Commission on Presidential Debates, which will produce the three presidential debates, as well as the vice presidential debate. The clinic provides consultation to the commission on health safety measures for all of the debates.
“The health protocols continue to evolve and are specifically tailored to each of the specific considerations and circumstances of the four sites where the debates will be held,” said Peter Eyre, the senior advisor for the Commission on Presidential Debates.
While the Cleveland Clinic is the health advisor for the debates, the team will not be traveling to the other three debates.
“Each debate site has a medical team from a local provider on site that we’re working with, and they’ll be the ones responsible for the COVID response,” said Dr. Merlino.
Dr. Merlino said it’s an honor for Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic to be involved with the debate.
“I know that Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University see this as part of their community responsibility to host this debate.”
The debate will take place Tuesday, September 29 at 9:00 p.m. Spectrum News One will provide full coverage of the event.
