Protesters should ‘highly consider’ seeking coronavirus testing, CDC says
Thousands of protesters have filled Kansas City’s streets over the past week, and now health officials say they should get tested for the coronavirus.
CDC director Robert Redfield told a U.S. House subcommittee protesters should “highly consider” getting a test three to seven days after attending public protests.
“I do think there is a potential unfortunately for this to be a seeding event, and the way to minimize that is to have each individual to recognize it’s to the advantage of them to protect their loved ones,” Redfield said. “In three, five, seven days, go get tested, make sure you’re not infected.”
Protests swept across the country in response to the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day. A video shows Floyd telling a Minneapolis police officer who was kneeling on his neck that he couldn’t breathe before appearing to lose consciousness.
Protesters in Kansas City have gathered for seven days at the County Club Plaza demanding an end to police brutality and changes within the police department.
An eighth day of protests continued Friday at City Hall.
Earlier this week, Police Chief Rick Smith announced the department had secured funding for body cameras and Mayor Quinton Lucas said police shootings would be investigated by outside agencies.
The large gatherings have provoked concern as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in Kansas City.
Social distancing wasn’t always possible and many people were yelling or chanting, actions which expel more respiratory droplets and increase the risk of spreading COVID-19. But many protesters wore face coverings.
“I see a lot of mask wearing, that’s great, not everybody, but mask wearing is important,” Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health System, said during a media briefing earlier this week.
He noted the phrase “I can’t breathe” — three words uttered by Floyd in his last moments that have become a rallying cry for protesters — is something he has heard as a lung doctor.
“It just feels so hauntingly similar to hear the words ‘I can’t breathe’ from patients and from individuals suffering in the streets,” Stites said.
“I think the key is that even exercising your right to freedom of speech and protesting injustice doesn’t keep you immune from spreading a disease like COVID-19. Don’t succumb to the disease trying to do something you think is right.”
A protester in Lawrence tested positive on Friday, the Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Department said, after he was tested Thursday.
He was not wearing a mask, the department said.
The number of cases in the Kansas City metropolitan area has risen sharply this week with three consecutive days of more than 100 new cases. Earlier this week, the health department said an outbreak at a paper company had infected more than 200 people, contributing to the spike in new cases.
The metro — including Kansas City and Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas — has recorded 4,686 coronavirus cases, including 195 deaths.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said testing is being offered to both symptomatic and asymptomatic people throughout the state.
“We would encourage any of those who have been part of large gatherings to be tested at one of these (testing) events,” department spokeswoman Lisa Cox said in an email. “Of course, if they knowingly have had close contact to a positive case or if they have symptoms, they should seek testing and quarantine.”
Information on local testing sites and availability can be found on the Kansas City Health Department’s website.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Protesters should ‘highly consider’ seeking coronavirus testing, CDC says."
