Thousands of people took to the streets in the Twin Cities following George Floyd’s death in late May. While face masks were a regular sight amongst protesters, health experts warned that COVID-19 can spread easily and quickly in such large groups — close together for long periods of time.
In a recent press conference, Minnesota health officials said it’s encouraging to see that COVID-19 numbers haven’t spiked since the protests — or from the state’s gradual reopening — but that it’s still a bit too soon to make any conclusions.
“I will say, we’re learning from the experiences of other states. It might be prudent to give it a little bit longer window to see the effects of environmental changes whether that’s in reopening or protests,” said health commissioner Jan Malcolm.
Despite the low numbers being reported of COVID-19 cases linked to protests, health officials are still encouraging anyone who participated in any way to get tested. This includes anyone who attended a vigil, helped clean up, and so on.
Testing is being offered by the state on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June 24 in the Twin Cities area. To find a nearby location, visit the MN Department of Health’s website.
What is it like to get tested?
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