Public health expert: ‘Large gatherings like rallies shouldn’t be happening at this point for any purpose’

The director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on Sunday said that the president’s diagnosis with coronavirus was further indication large public events should not be occurring.

“I think there is clear danger in having events where there are many people close together without wearing masks for a long period of time, especially where loud voices are used,” Tom Inglesby said on “Fox News Sunday,” adding “large gatherings like rallies shouldn’t be happening at this point for any purpose.”

Asked about future debates, Inglesby told Fox News’ Chris Wallace that “the vice presidential debates and if there are presidential debates should be virtual.”

While Vice President Pence has tested negative for the virus and is scheduled to continue publicly campaigning, Inglesby noted “by public accounts it looks like the vice president had a meeting with the president on Tuesday,” days before the president revealed his diagnosis.

“In my mind it seems like the vice president should be in quarantine,” Inglesby added. ”I don’t think it’s a proper risk to take to have him gathering with Sen. [Kamala] Harris [D-Calif.].”

Asked about the president’s own prognosis in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Inglesby said “I think the news we heard yesterday is largely encouraging” but noted mixed messages out of the White House.

“What we heard from the president’s chief of staff was concerning …  that he was requiring oxygen on Friday,” Inglesby noted. “Those are worrisome things, they suggest that the president does have pulmonary involvement from COVID if those things are correct.”

While at the hospital, Inglesby noted, Trump would likely have been subjected to tests such as CT scans and chest X-rays.

“It would be useful to be able to judge his risk going forward to know what the results of those tests were,” Inglesby said.