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Should VP debate be canceled? Pence will not quarantine, Internet says Harris should avoid him like ‘plague’

The Commission on Presidential Debates had to introduce few changes ahead of the Wednesday, October 7, debate between Kamala Harris and Pence in Salt Lake City

With the surge in the positive Covid-19 cases within the administration of President Donald Trump, following the diagnosis of the POTUS himself, people are concerned about the condition of those who have been in close contact with him. In the wake of the increased cases of coronavirus, vice-president Mike Pence underwent multiple tests that have resulted negative.

The Commission on Presidential Debates had to introduce few changes ahead of the Wednesday, October 7, debate between Kamala Harris and Pence in Salt Lake City to ensure the candidates do not spread or contract the virus. Therefore, plexiglass dividers were announced by the Commission on Monday, October 5, while settling the last minute details surrounding the debate. However, the commission has now confirmed that Pence is not required to wear the shield if he doesn’t want. According to CNN, one of the members of the Commission on Presidential Debate said Harris "is the one who wanted plexiglass, so if she has plexiglass surrounding her so she is cut off from everyone else, that is fine. If (Pence) doesn't want plexiglass, that is up to him".

Meanwhile, aides to Pence have expressed a similar opinion regarding the VP’s choice to wear plexiglass during the debate. Pence’s chief of staff Marc Short reportedly told CNN, “We have yet to hear medical evidence what the plexiglass is for." Furthermore, Pence’s physician Jesse Schonau released a memo on Tuesday, October 6, stating that the VP doesn’t need to quarantine himself, following notes by the director of Disease Control and Prevention saying Pence was not in “close contact” with anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus. “Vice President Mike Pence is encouraged to go about his normal activities” Schonau’s memo states further.

Harris’s campaign spokesperson, Sabrina Singh, hit back at the Trump administration and Pence saying, "Senator Harris will be at the debate, respecting the protections that the Cleveland Clinic has put in place to promote safety for all concerned. If the Trump administration's war on masks has now become a war on safety shields, that tells you everything you need to know about why their Covid response is a failure.” While Pence has received a green signal from the Commission on Presidential Debate to appear at the forthcoming event without plexiglass and his doctors have noted that he doesn't need to quarantine, people have expressed concerns about him putting Harris's life at risk by compromising on the safety protocol.

One tweeted, "In truth, @VP should have been in quarantine all this last week & the week ahead! Just b/c he's supposedly tested negative thus far, it doesn't mean anything. You can shed the virus to others even while testing negative. Pence is being totally irresponsible!" Another added, "Why the hell isn't Mike Pence in quarantine? He's been around so many others who have tested positive for COVID. It would not surprise me if he has COVID just like his psycho boss and is hiding it. Kamala should avoid him like the plague." One argued, "No Way Pence (@VP) escaped Covid. HE WAS EXPOSED AND SHOULD BE IN QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS. Either he wants to give it to @KamalaHarris, OR he tested positive and is trying to get out of the debate without admitting a positive test. Debate Commission....VIRTUAL DEBATE ONLY"