Across the country, hundreds of thousands of people continue to take to the streets to protest the death of George Floyd. 

While protesters gather for demonstrations, health experts are collectively cringing.

“I shudder both because of the tragedy of the murder of George Floyyd, but also, as a physician and an epidemiologist, I worry that we're in the midst of this terrible pandemic,” explains Dr. Howard Markel, Director of the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan. “I can't think of a better way to contract COVID-19 than being in a crowd with other people.”

The nature of these large gatherings makes them the perfect type of setting for coronavirus to spread. Close contact, physical touch, and loud and forceful yelling, are all factors that greatly contribute to the transmission of the virus. 

In addition to the risks inherent to the protests themselves, the tactics used by law enforcement agencies to break up the crowds in some parts of the country, may also increase the chances of the virus spreading. 

“It's also coupled to the fact that some of those protesters are being hit with tear gas, which makes them cough, that's also going to generate particles that could be infectious,” says Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security Senior Scholar Dr. Amesh Adalja. 

Health experts say the country has yet to reach the “post” phase of this pandemic. There’s  currently no herd immunity or a vaccine, no treatment for coronavirus, thousands are still being treated in hospital I-C-Us, and the death toll is still climbing.

Many of those protesting for greater protections, are Black and Hispanic Americans—the same  communities that have experienced the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 illness and death. Adalja says that a resurgence of the coronavirus may once again hit communities of color the hardest. “I suspect if they are among the most common individuals in these protests that are getting exposed, we're going to see more additive impact on that community,” he explains.

The 1918 flu pandemic has already shown us what can happen when society becomes less vigilant.

“We can look at the Philadelphia parades that occurred and led to more cases and more deaths in Philadelphia than in other states, than in other cities that had canceled parades after the end of World War One,” says Adalja.

The 1918 flu had a similar effect in St. Louis. As the pandemic hit, the city closed schools and banned public gatherings. Those measures were effective in reducing the spread of the illness,  but as the infection rate began to drop, the city lifted restrictions, resulting in a second wave —more lethal than the first.

 Experts say the conditions at these protests make it almost impossible to contact trace, and it's very likely in two to three weeks hospitals will see a surge of COVID-19 admissions once again.

Still, some protesters, like Jasmine Harris, say it’s worth the risk. 

“It’s still kind of hard trying to practice social distancing with this big crowd, but we’re trying our best. We just want peace,” she says.

Health experts recognize it is nearly impossible to keep people from protesting, but they’re asking those who do participate to wear a mask, carry hand sanitizer, carefully monitor symptoms and stay away from people who are at greatest risk for a severe COVID -19 illness.