Preventing COVID-19 Transmission During Protests

Updated July 24, 2020

Protests over police brutality and racial inequality have erupted nationwide. Health experts say that crowds of people, some without masks and yelling, can pose a health risk to others in the midst of the pandemic. Thomas A. Russo, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, says there are certain precautions protesters should take in order to decrease their chances of getting infected and to keep others safe. “As a general rule, being outside is better than inside,” Russo says. “That’s because the larger air volume disperses the virus, and a larger space facilitates social distancing.”