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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican National Committee is sharply restricting attendance on three of the four nights of its convention in Jacksonville, Florida, next month as coronavirus cases are spiking in the state.
RNC chair Ronna McDaniel says only the roughly 2,500 regular delegates to the convention will be permitted to attend the opening three nights.
Delegates, their guests and alternate delegates will be permitted to attend the final night, Aug. 27, when President Donald Trump is set to deliver his acceptance speech.
The Washington Post obtained a letter sent to delegates about scaling back the convention. In the letter, McDaniel reportedly says attendees will be offered coronavirus testing, temperature checks and PPE, and aggressive sanitizing protocols will be in effect.
McDaniel says the party hoped to be able to plan a traditional convention, but adjustments have to be made to comply with state and local health guidelines.
The GOP moved the convention from Charlotte, after officials in the North Carolina city ruled out a full-capacity crowd because of the pandemic.
