The first presidential debate between incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden was a heated affair as they traded barbs. However, days after the debate, Trump tested positive for coronavirus, putting the damper on the event. Hence, ahead of the first vice-presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence, it was announced that they will be separated by plexiglass. The shield will help to protect the spread of the virus.
Given Trump’s diagnosis, Wednesday’s event has undergone changes, with organisers agreeing to allow Harris to be separated from Pence by plexiglass. Both participants have tested negative for coronavirus, and Pence reportedly opposes the use of a barrier.
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The two will be seated more than 12 feet apart from each other during the debate.
“If the Trump administration’s war on masks has now become a war on safety shields, that tells you everything you need to know about why their COVID response is a failure,” Harris’ press secretary Sabrina Singh said.
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The 90-minute debate will be divided into nine segments of approximately 10 minutes each, said the Commission on Presidential Debate. The moderator will ask an opening question after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond.
The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a deeper discussion of the topic, it said.
