Transcript
There have been daily global protests since George Floyd died on May 25.
Now health officials fear the mass gatherings could result in a spike in coronavirus cases.
People who have protested within the last two weeks are advised to get tested for Covid-19.
Dr. Robert Redfield, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the risk of getting infected is more likely in larger cities that haven’t controlled virus outbreaks.
Redfield says Minneapolis happens to be one of those cities still having significant virus transmission.
Washington DC is the other.
Although many protesters are wearing masks, there is minimal social distancing within the crowds.
And teargas used occasionally by law enforcement can make people cough and increase the likelihood of spreading the virus.
The CDC published a forecast Thursday that predicts more than 127,000 deaths in the US by June 27.
Researchers say the data projects a decline in weekly coronavirus deaths but that could change if the coronavirus thrives among protesters.
Posted – 6.5.20