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ELECTIONS

Commission agrees to 12 feet between candidates at VP debate in Utah

UPDATED: OCTOBER 3, 2020 AT 1:45 PM
BY
Digital Content Producer

SALT LAKE CITY — The Commission on Presidential Debates has heard the concerns of the Biden campaign, and has agreed to have 12 feet in-between Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence at the vice presidential debate that will take place at the University of Utah campus on Oct. 7.

Politico reports the Biden campaign had previously objected to the original suggestion of spacing the candidates seven feet apart.

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There was no change, however, to the requirement that the candidates stand during the debate, as the Biden campaign had requested. As of this writing, Sen. Harris and Vice Pres. Biden will stand.

The concern for candidate health has been highlighted since a dozen new cases of COVID-19 were reported among those who attended the Rose Garden announcement of Judge Amy Coney Barrett as Pres. Trump’s latest nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

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Those COVID-19 cases include Pres. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Utah Sen. Mike Lee.

RELATED: Trump joins growing list of virus-infected world leaders


How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronavirus is transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Local resources

KSL Coronavirus Q&A

Utah’s Coronavirus Information

UtahState Board of Education

Utah Hospital Association

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707

National Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization

Cases in the United States