There will likely be a new rush of coronavirus cases following widespread protests this weekend over racism and the death of George Floyd — but people’s concerns need to be heard, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said in an interview.
“I remain concerned about the public health consequences both of individual and institutional racism [and] people out protesting in a way that is harmful to themselves and to their communities,” Adams said in a phone call.
He was leaving a White House meeting with governors to discuss the protests that have rippled across the country after video footage showed a white Minneapolis police officer pinning Floyd, an African American, by his neck. Floyd died in police custody minutes later, after telling the officer that he could not breathe.
“Based on the way the disease spreads, there is every reason to expect that we will see new clusters and potentially new outbreaks moving forward,” Adams said.
While many protesters have worn masks and some have distributed hand sanitizer, hundreds and sometimes thousands of people have gathered in close proximity to protest police brutality over the past six days. It will be particularly important to double down on testing and personal protective gear across the states, said Adams, the onetime Indiana health commissioner, who is black.
The surgeon general has repeatedly raised the issue of racial disparities during the coronavirus outbreak. But he sparked controversy in April after a White House briefing where he urged communities of color to "step up" to fight the coronavirus "for your abuela" and "for your Big Mama." Critics said the remarks, which also included admonitions to avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs, as racially insensitive.
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