LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has asked protesters to get tested for the coronavirus. With chants, crowds and limited face masks, COVID-19 could easily spread.
Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness recommends everyone follow CDC guidelines when protesting.
“We know it’s here in the community still. We know it’s still spreading. Our testing numbers are going up, and so it’s just really important that people wear a mask, keep their distance, and really stay home if they are sick,” Moyer said.190
Moyer says every protester should be tested, with and without symptoms. Beshear also encourages regular testing whether you’re eating out or attending a protest.
“We all want to know whether we have this so we don’t spread it to other people, and so if we do, we can prevent it from spreading further. This is a part of our world until there’s a vaccine,” Beshear said in his Monday update.
With 190 testing sites across Kentucky, it’s easy to find a drive-thru testing site. Beshear also talked about some people’s reluctance to get the test due to anxiety or fear of how the test is administered. Moyer said it’s uncomfortable but less so than contracting COVID-19.
“So best to know what your status is so you aren’t infecting others,” Moyer told Spectrum News 1.
Because the virus takes some time to incubate, Dr. Moyer recommends waiting five to 10 days after attending a protest to get tested. She also said if someone has COVID-19 symptoms then they need to stay home and quarantine until they get their test results back.
“So our goal is that nobody is out protesting if they are positive. Some people don’t know that and are asymptomatic. That’s why the masks, and distance, and hand-washing are so important,” Moyer said.
A civil right movement during a pandemic is tough, but Dr. Moyer also recognizes its significance.
“You’ve seen the data with the inequities between white and black Americans, and how they’ve had different responses to COVID and the death rate there. So, in a way, I think the movement is not just for civil liberties but also for health equity,” Dr. Moyer said. “So just, there’s both of them, are public health crises that are moving forward right now, which is exciting and hope to see lots of improvement and a lot of lives saved in years to come.”
Dr. Moyer also asks protesters to take the first and last names of people they protest with. That will help with contact tracing or contacting people a positive case has been around recently to alert them of possible exposure.