New Research Suggests Racial Justice Protests Have Not Led to Covid-19
Transmission Spike
A new study offers evidence that widespread wearing of masks at outdoor
demonstrations may be limiting Covid-19 transmission, while indoor
gatherings are linked to spreading the disease.
byJulia Conley, staff writer
Protesters with the Unite NY Juneteenth 2020 organization hold up their
fists and wear protective face masks as they walk a banner with thousands of
protesters behind them in a peaceful protest across the Brooklyn Bridge.
(Photo: Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
New research released Monday indicated that the nationwide anti-police
brutality demonstrations which erupted in the U.S. after the killing of
George Floyd have not led to widespread transmission of the coronavirus, as
some public experts feared they would.
The National Bureau of Economic Research used anonymous cell phone data and
local CDC information about Covid-19 infection rates since the protests
began in late May, to examine the growth in cases in 315 cities.
"We find no evidence that urban protests reignited COVID-19 case growth
during the more than two and a half weeks following protest onset," the
report said.
Protests are still continuing four weeks after Floyd's killing, as Americans
demand justice for Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other black
people who have been killed by police in recent years.
Public health experts have consistently cautioned that protesters should
wear protective face masks while at demonstrations and should try to stay
six feet away from others as much as possible to avoid spreading Covid-19.
Earlier this month, the nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony
Fauci, warned that rally-goers are "taking a risk."
However, public health experts have expressed support for the
demonstrations, with more than 1,000 doctors, nurses, and epidemiologists
saying in an open letter earlier this month that protesting racial injustice
is "vital to the national public health and to the threatened health
specifically of Black people in the United States."
The study released Monday follows local reports that have also suggested the
protests are not responsible for widespread transmission of the coronavirus.
At testing sites set up for protesters in Minneapolis in recent weeks, only
1.8% of people have tested positive so far.
Supporters of the demonstrations pointed to the new study as evidence that
diligent mask-wearing has worked in the favor of protesters and of public
health.
Epidemiologist Abdul El-Sayed called the study "more evidence" that
"reopening" state economies, allowing bars and restaurants to reopen in some
states, and the refusal by some-including President Donald Trump- to wear
face masks have done more harm to public health than the demonstrations.
Skyrocketing cases in recent days in Arizona, Florida, and other states have
been linked to officials' decisions to begin reopening early and to
patronage of bars and restaurants.
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