Three things for October 16
1. US defense study finds COVID risk is low on airplanes
On Thursday, the United States Transportation Command released a study on COVID-19 exposure on airplanes.
According to USTRANSCOM, the Commercial Aircraft Cabin Aerosol Dispersion Test found the risk of exposure to aerosolized pathogens, like COVID-19, is low on airplanes.
The study, conducted aboard United Airlines Boeing 777 and 767 aircraft, determined 99.99% of particles were filtered out of the cabin within 6 minutes due to the aircraft’s effective filtration systems.
“Our mission here at the U.S. Transportation Command is to conduct global logistics operations on behalf of the Department of Defense. Part of this mission involves moving military personnel, civilians and families around the globe,” said Vice Adm. Dee Mewbourne, deputy commander of USTRANSCOM. “We invested in a study to inform us if our mitigation measures are providing the safest possible means of transportation.”
2. Trump, Biden host virtual town halls
President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden hosted their own respective town halls on Thursday in place of a presidential debate.
Trump defended his administration’s handling of the pandemic, evading questions about whether he took a required COVID-19 test before his first debate with Biden.
During his town hall, Biden criticized the White House’s handling of the coronavirus, claiming the White House was at fault for closing a pandemic response office established by the Obama administration.
The presidential candidates hosted their town halls in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia.
According to the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, the second presidential debate was canceled after Trump refused to attend a virtual debate.
The two candidates are still scheduled to debate for a second and final time on Oct. 22 in Nashville.
3. Harris halts in-person campaigning through the weekend
Joe Biden’s campaign is halting the travel of his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, through this weekend after two staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Harris’ communications director, Liz Allen, tested positive alongside a flight crew member.
“The campaign has begun the contact tracing process to notify everyone who came into contact with the individuals during the potential infection window,” Biden’s campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said in a statement.
In response to the positive tests, Harris' planned trip to North Carolina on Thursday was canceled, and she will remain off the road until Monday.
“From the outset of this pandemic, the Biden-Harris campaign has taken every precaution to limit the spread of COVID-19. Today’s exceedingly cautious steps are part of that commitment,” Dillon stated.
