How to Protest During a Pandemic and Still Keep Everyone Safe From Coronavirus: 6 Questions Answered

Media outlets nationwide published an article by Thomas A. Russo, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, on how to safely protest while staying safe from coronavirus. Russo noted that while being outside is generally safer than inside, several factors specific to protests negate those benefits, such as large crowds in close proximity for a long time, chanting and shouting, which increases respiratory secretions and the lack of personal protective equipment. He concludes: “It’s hard to protest in an absolutely safe fashion, but if everyone was wearing masks and eye protection, that would significantly decrease risk.”