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| US election 2020: Biden and Harris to debate behind plexiglass | US election 2020: Biden and Harris to debate behind plexiglass |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| US Vice-President Mike Pence and his Democratic challenger Kamala Harris will be separated by plexiglass during their head-to-head debate this week. | US Vice-President Mike Pence and his Democratic challenger Kamala Harris will be separated by plexiglass during their head-to-head debate this week. |
| The candidates will also be seated at least 12ft (3.6m) apart for Wednesday's event in Salt Lake City, Utah, to help limit the risk of Covid transmission. | The candidates will also be seated at least 12ft (3.6m) apart for Wednesday's event in Salt Lake City, Utah, to help limit the risk of Covid transmission. |
| It comes after President Donald Trump and several others close to him tested positive for coronavirus. | It comes after President Donald Trump and several others close to him tested positive for coronavirus. |
| Both vice-presidential candidates have recently tested negative. | Both vice-presidential candidates have recently tested negative. |
| Information about the event released by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) on Monday said "plexiglass will be used as part of the CPD's overall approach to health and safety". | Information about the event released by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) on Monday said "plexiglass will be used as part of the CPD's overall approach to health and safety". |
| The request was put forward by Ms Harris' team, according to US media reports. | The request was put forward by Ms Harris' team, according to US media reports. |
| In response to the announcement, Mr Pence's spokeswoman, Katie Miller, said: "If Senator Harris wants to use a fortress around herself, have at it." | In response to the announcement, Mr Pence's spokeswoman, Katie Miller, said: "If Senator Harris wants to use a fortress around herself, have at it." |
| Ms Harris's press secretary, Sabrina Singh, later tweeted that it was "interesting that Katie Miller mocks our wanting a plexiglass barrier on the debate stage", adding that Mr Pence was "supposedly in charge of the Covid-19 task force and should be advocating for this too". | Ms Harris's press secretary, Sabrina Singh, later tweeted that it was "interesting that Katie Miller mocks our wanting a plexiglass barrier on the debate stage", adding that Mr Pence was "supposedly in charge of the Covid-19 task force and should be advocating for this too". |
| It will not be the first time that plexiglass will have made an appearance at a debate. At the weekend, Democratic Senate candidate in South Carolina Jaime Harrison brought his own plexiglass screen to debate Republican rival Lindsey Graham. | |
| Other measures outlined by the CPD include a requirement for audience members to undergo Covid tests and to wear masks throughout the debate. Anyone refusing to wear a mask would be "escorted out", the commission added. | Other measures outlined by the CPD include a requirement for audience members to undergo Covid tests and to wear masks throughout the debate. Anyone refusing to wear a mask would be "escorted out", the commission added. |
| Last Tuesday, Mr Trump and his challenger Joe Biden fiercely clashed over 90 minutes in one of the most chaotic and bitter White House debates in US history. | Last Tuesday, Mr Trump and his challenger Joe Biden fiercely clashed over 90 minutes in one of the most chaotic and bitter White House debates in US history. |
| The local rules in Cleveland, Ohio, required everyone in the room to wear masks - but of the president's family members present, only US First Lady Melania Trump donned a face covering during the debate. | The local rules in Cleveland, Ohio, required everyone in the room to wear masks - but of the president's family members present, only US First Lady Melania Trump donned a face covering during the debate. |
| Ivanka, Donald Trump Jr, Eric and Tiffany Trump were all seen with their masks off for much of the evening. | Ivanka, Donald Trump Jr, Eric and Tiffany Trump were all seen with their masks off for much of the evening. |
| The second presidential debate is currently scheduled to take place on 15 October, with the third due to take place on 22 October. | The second presidential debate is currently scheduled to take place on 15 October, with the third due to take place on 22 October. |