'We encourage all those protesting around the world to do so safely,' said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. 'Clean your hands, cover your cough and wear a mask if you attend a protest.'
But it's clear that a key ingredient for transmission is present at many of these rallies: close contact. The images of protesters standing shoulder to shoulder — some wearing face masks, others not — raise concerns, especially in cities with higher rates of infection.
"The riskiest situation to be in is to be in close proximity to a case, particularly a symptomatic case, of COVID-19," said Michael Ryan, director of WHO's health emergencies program at the Local officials have expressed similar worries about the interplay of the protests and the pandemic. Last week Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was concerned about what mass gatherings in the streets"could mean for spikes in our coronavirus cases later." She urged protesters to consider their exposure and consider being tested.
"Testing everyone that participated in demonstrations would be useful in communities where many new cases are being reported every day. These new cases indicate that transmission is occurring at a high rate in the communities," said Bill Miller, an epidemiologist and physician at Ohio State University.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
George Floyd protests reach even small cities as America confronts systemic racismWhat does protesting look like near and far, when a sudden seismic upheaval sends tremors throughout an entire nation? USA TODAY Network journalists spoke to people across the nation to better understand the situation on the ground. Here's what we heard:
Read more »
‘The Help’ Goes #1 on Netflix, Even Though Viola Davis Regrets Starring in the MovieViola Davis Explains Why She Regrets Starring in 'The Help' – See What She Said(via JustJared)
Read more »
Covid-19 Stalks Crowded Households, Even in Rural AmericaSparsely populated regions where extended families live under the same roof have turned deadlier during the pandemic than some of the densest city blocks, a Wall Street Journal analysis shows.
Read more »
Even Recent Quitters Improve Lung Cancer SurvivalQuitting smoking before a lung cancer diagnosis may help your survival, even if you recently quit, a new study finds.
Read more »