Public Health Officials Concerned Protests Will Cause a Spike in Coronavirus Cases

Public health officials voiced concern for a spike in COVID-19 coronavirus cases this week as protests against police brutality continued nationwide. Officials including Dr. Anthony Fauci and Center for Disease Control Director Robert Redfield urged caution among protesters and recommended the use of antibody tests. Some coverage from left-rated outlets acknowledged the risk of public gatherings, while comparing it to police brutality's effects on black Americans. Many also argued that there is a link between systemic racial inequality and marginalized communities’ tendency to have higher rates of mass incarceration, poverty and disease. Coverage from right-rated outlets generally also expressed caution over a potential second coronavirus wave, with some also pushing back against equating pandemics of "risky behavior" with true disease outbreaks. Some on the right accused the left of hypocrisy for being against large gatherings just two weeks ago, and now being favorable toward them in the face of a favored political cause.