The working paper, released late Friday, examined the impact of 18 rallies held between June 20 and Sept. 30.
President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies between June and September may have caused some 30,000 coronavirus infections and more than 700 deaths, according to a new study by Stanford University economists.
The working paper, released late Friday, examined the impact of 18 rallies held between June 20 and Sept. 30 by comparing spread of the virus after each event to parts of the country that didn’t host rallies. The findings illustrate the risks of not heeding public health warnings to wear masks and avoid large gatherings to mitigate the risks of Covid-19, the authors — including B. Douglas Bernheim, the chair of Stanford’s economics department — wrote.
“The communities in which Trump rallies took place paid a high price in terms of disease and death,” they wrote. Fifteen of the 18 events studied were held outdoors.
Trump has drawn criticism for continuing to hold events with large, tightly packed crowds in states that are experiencing outbreaks. Many in attendance, including Trump, have not worn masks.
Bernheim told POLITICO he hopes the study will help inform policymakers understand the tradeoffs around holding large public gatherings during the pandemic.
“There’s currently this very important debate going on about the costs and benefits of lockdowns, restrictions and so forth,” Bernheim said. “It’s important that debate be informed by good information.”
Joe Biden’s campaign seized on the findings Saturday as evidence Trump hasn’t taken the ooronavirus pandemic seriously. “He’s even costing hundreds of lives and sparking thousands of cases with super spreader rallies that only serve his own ego,” Biden spokesperson Andrew Gates said.
Former President Barack Obama also cited the study on Saturday during an appearance with Biden in Michigan.
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President Trump's campaign rallies between June and September may have caused some 30,000 coronavirus infections and more than 700 deaths, according to a new study https://t.co/za0VyVo4EU
— POLITICO (@politico) October 31, 2020
Not that Trump really cares. And I’ll bet the real figures are even higher.
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