Early Data Show No Protest-Related Increases in COVID-19 Infections

FRIDAY, June 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Antiracism protests in the United States have not led to increases in new cases of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, early data show.

The findings from a handful of cities are encouraging, and the use of masks and the fact that protests are outdoors may have helped, public health experts say, The Wall Street Journal reported. However, the data are preliminary and protest-related infections could still rise, health officials caution.

As of Monday, 1.8 percent of tests among 3,200 protesters tested at community sites in Minnesota had come back positive, according to the state health department. The rate of positive tests was 0.99 percent among other protesters in Minnesota tested through health care providers or at other locations, WSJ reported.

In New York City, the seven-day rolling average of positive tests has been less than 3 percent and has been flat or in decline since June 5, city health department data show. Officials in Seattle and Chicago said no increases in COVID-19 cases related to protests have been detected, but the situation continues to be monitored, WSJ reported.

The Wall Street Journal Article