DES MOINES, Iowa - Des Moines mayor Frank Cownie says he's worried that President Trump's upcoming campaign rally could lead to the spread of COVID-19 in the city.
Cownie told the Des Moines Register that he's "absolutely" worried, and is asking anyone who attends the rally to wear a mask and social distance.
"Absolutely I'm worried about the spread. We don't want a super-spread event here in Des Moines," Cownie told the newspaper. “We urge everyone who would attend this event to wear a mask and social distance as best they can, and to stay safe and healthy.”
President Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Des Moines International Airport.
The Trump campaign told The Hill that all attendees will be given temperature checks and masks that they will be instructed to wear.
“The event is at an open door airplane hangar where people will be expressing their First Amendment rights and hearing from the President of the United States. We will have safety protocols in place. All attendees will be given a temperature check, masks which they are instructed to wear, and access to hand sanitizer," Tim Murtaugh told The Hill.
The city of Des Moines adopted a mask order in August, but violations do not carry a penalty. The Trump rally is being held at the Iowa National Guard facility at the airport. The Register reports that Mayor Cownie says the facility is not under city control
Recent polling shows President Trump and Joe Biden locked in a tight race in Iowa. Trump won the state by almost 10 points in 2016.
Axios reported Sunday that President Trump has asked his campaign to put him on the road every single day from now until November 3.