Covid-19

Protests Across the U.S. are Becoming a Health Concern
as the Covid-19 Pandemic Continues to Loom

 

On the heels of the Covid-19 global pandemic another, yet not a new, situation has arisen. When Minneapolis local, George Floyd, was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin earlier this month protests in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement sprung up across the United States. 

With several states in the early stages of reopening and New York scheduled to begin phase one in just a few days health experts are worried that mass gatherings as a result of the protests may lead to further spread of the virus and say a second wave is now inevitable. 

For many involved in the protests, Covid-19 is over. According to an article from The Atlantic the virus will spread significantly faster as a result of the protests. The virus is transferred when people yell or chant slogans, when they sneeze, which is happening more and more with the attempt to expel pepper spray and when they cough, a release after inhaling tear gas. It only takes a few contagious people to infect hundreds which we have seen happen first hand around the world over the past few months. Protesters are being advised to get Covid-19 tests in an effort to minimize the risk of spread. 

Words: Alice I’Anson 2020
Cover Image: Getty Images

 

According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, “any congregation of crowds clearly increases the risk of transmissibility”. He said that particularly when that congregation of crowds is due to social disruption, where people don’t wear their masks, this increases the magnitude of the spread and a resurface if the the virus is likely. 

While the protests are primarily focusing on the senseless death of Floyd, the rate of Covid-19 infections within Black and minority communities are also causing reason to protest, again against the injustices experienced by Black Americans. 

In the U.S. protesting is protected by both constitutional and international law, however, right now it’s explicitly dangerous to the health of those involved. And, in a country that does not provide universal healthcare the disproportionate spread will only increase.