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Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum has said he feels anxiety over President Donald Trump's upcoming rally in the city, amid concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19.
Bynum, a Republican, expressed the reservations as he distanced himself from any decision-making surrounding the event.
The rally is due to be held at the BOK Center, which has a capacity of around 19,000. However, there have been suggestions it could be moved to a larger venue.
Trump previously said nearly 1 million people had requested tickets.
A failed lawsuit had attempted to enforce attendees to wear face masks and adhere to social distancing. Tulsa Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Dart previously said he wished the rally had been postponed.
In a statement shared to Facebook, Bynum acknowledged concerns, but said he would not block the event.
"Was the nation's first large campaign rally after the arrival of COVID-19 my idea? No. I didn't even know the invitation had been extended until BOK Center management contacted the City regarding Police support for the event," he wrote.
"Do I share anxiety about having a full house at the BOK Center? Of course. As someone who is cautious by nature, I don't like to be the first to try anything. I would have loved some other city to have proven the safety of such an event already."
However, he said Oklahoma had been reopening following lockdown measures implemented amid the coronavirus crisis following state guidelines, which he added the Trump campaign has agreed to follow.
He said: "Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans go to work every day in buildings that have adjusted their operations along these guidelines.
"The Trump campaign has agreed to follow those guidelines as well, and will be utilizing safety precautions at the event. Every attendee will have to pass a temperature check before they can enter the facility. Every attendee will be provided with a mask. Every attendee will have access to hand sanitizer stations. We are not going to suddenly abandon the state's plan, to be either more lenient or more severe."
Bynum makes no mention of social distancing in his statement, with guidance for venues in Oklahoma being that it is "at the discretion of business owners or local officials to determine when and if social distancing measures should be applied."
Entertainment venues reopened in Oklahoma on May 1, with guidance including measures to ensure access to handwashing facilities and encouraging people to "observe respiratory etiquette."
However, Phase 3 of Oklahoma's "Open Up and Recover Safely" plan, implemented at the start of this month, states: "Citizens should minimize time spent in crowded environments and continue following CDC guidelines regarding social distancing."
CDC guidelines suggest that to "practice social or physical distancing stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms' length) from other people."
Oklahoma State Department of Health Commissioner Lance Frye has issued guidance on the event, encouraging those attending to be tested before and after.
"We appreciate the President and his team of advisors for preparing temperature checks, face coverings, and hand sanitizers for Saturday's event, and we encourage the public to closely follow all public health guidance and procedures established for the event in order to protect yourself and loved ones," he said in a statement.
"As outlined by the CDC, individuals looking to attend Saturday's event, or any other large-scale gathering, will face an increased risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and becoming a transmitter of this novel virus."
The guidance also encourages people to wear a cloth face covering and "do your best to keep six feet of physical distance from others."
Newsweek has contacted Mayor Bynum and the Trump campaign for further comment.
Coronavirus figures continue to rise in Oklahoma, with 228 newly confirmed cases reported Tuesday, the state's highest daily rise since COVID-19 was first detected there.
On Monday, Tulsa County saw its highest daily rise with 89 new cases confirmed.
It saw a further 76 confirmed on Tuesday, taking the total confirmed since the outbreak began to 1,729.
The graphic below, provided by Statista, shows the states across the U.S. with the highest confirmed coronavirus cases as of June 17.
