Joe Biden Will Host 'Virtual Events' as Coronavirus Fears Heat Up.

[elleng]

'The Biden campaign’s move to limit in-person campaigning marked the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter in an already tumultuous presidential race: campaigning amid a pandemic.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. is drastically modifying his campaign schedule in the coming days in response to mounting anxieties about the coronavirus, trading traditional get-out-the-vote-style gatherings for “virtual events,” his campaign announced Wednesday.

The move marked the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter in an already tumultuous presidential race: campaigning amid a pandemic.

Mr. Biden’s campaign had previously canceled an event slated for Thursday in Tampa, Fla., as well as a Cleveland rally on Tuesday night. Now, a Friday event in Chicago and a Monday stop in Miami will be turned into “virtual events,” the former vice president’s team said in a statement, hours after rolling out a “Public Health Advisory Committee” to guide the campaign that included several prominent former Obama administration officials.

“We have been and will continue to consult with relevant officials, including our recently announced Public Health Advisory Committee, regarding steps the campaign should take to minimize health risks for staff and supporters,” the statement said. “As a result of those conversations and at the request of elected officials in Illinois and Florida, we will no longer hold large crowd events on Friday and Monday in those states.” . .

The announcement of his new advisory committee — with members including Vivek Murthy, a former Surgeon General of the United States, and Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a prominent oncologist and a vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania — also seemed designed to project calm and competence amid great national uncertainty.'

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/us/politics/biden-coronavirus-campaign-events.html?

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. Voters will understand.....

That keeping in touch via technology like this will suffice given the crisis we are experiencing. There is no need for large crowds of people getting together in close proximity and spreading this lIke the Black Plague.

[elleng]

2. Yes, they/we will understand.

Hope those not 'hooked up' won't lose too much info.

[ThisIsNotPossible]

3. I hope his staff are being tested constantly

and not making unnecessary excursions. I know you can’t shut yourself off completely, and I know Presidential candidates will have the very finest healthcare, but minimising exposure is still wise.

[elleng]

4. Yes, and very difficult,

what's an 'unnecessary excursion?'

And think about tr's 'go anywhere, say anything' attitude.

[ThisIsNotPossible]

5. Minimising use of public transport and eating out, for instance. No Starbucks!

If I’m a candidate of any sort, I have the luxury to have an inner sanctum of sorts, so I’m keeping that as tight as I can at the moment. None of us know how this is going to end up as the full-campaign kicks in to gear; there’s no guarantee that infections are going to wain anytime soon. I think we could be looking at very peculiar conventions and general election campaigns and although there’s a part of me that expects Trump to hold his ridiculous rallies regardless, the fact that he’s a hardcore germaphobe might mean that his overriding sense of self-preservation kicks.

[elleng]

6. Right, no Starbucks! Will see

if my friend, who uses it as a reading room, complies. It's a small one, not much traffic, and near the grocery store.

And Dunkin' Donuts!