Fearing coronavirus, AFL-CIO cancels Florida forum with Biden and Sanders
The AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the United States, has canceled its presidential forum set to take place in Orlando next week “due to the coronavirus outbreak,” the group said in a statement on Saturday night.
The two leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for president — former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders — had been scheduled to attend.
The event cancellation comes as presidential candidates — including the Republican incumbent President Donald Trump — face questions about their own personal safety during a growing public health crisis and the protocol going forward as they gather large crowds for campaign events.
Florida officials have been increasingly wary of large gatherings as COVID-19 cases have been identified across the state. Residents have been diagnosed with the coronavirus across Florida, from Sarasota to Broward County.
“We must cancel Thursday’s AFL-CIO presidential forum in Orlando,” the group said in an emailed statement to journalists. “We will keep you posted on any events going forward.”
At the White House on Saturday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar told reporters that the federal government would advise senior citizens — who are most at risk of the virus — to reconsider attending large events.
President Donald Trump was in Florida on Saturday night staying at his private residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.
He has said that he is unconcerned with his personal safety. But the president has not said whether he would reconsider his rally schedule as the 2020 campaign proceeds.
This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 7:39 PM.
