Prognosis
Will the Protests Spread Coronavirus? Experts Say It’s Too Soon to Tell
It may take weeks to know if the gatherings caused a spike in cases
People raise their hands and shout slogans as they protest at the makeshift memorial in honour of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 2.
Photographer: Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
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Public-health officials have been intently focused on how to re-open the U.S. economy after months-long lockdowns put in place to contain the coronavirus.
But none of them banked on having to contend with widespread social upheaval caused by the death of George Floyd, which has brought tens of thousands of people into the streets and into close contact in cities across the country to protest police violence.