COVID-19 CHIEF: PROTESTS POSE WORRISOME RISK

Doctor Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force co-ordinator, said scenes of anti-lockdown protesters gathering without masks were “devastatingly worrisome” as governors come under increasing pressure to lift coronavirus restrictions.

Protests broke out last week across several American states, including Kentucky, Florida and Oregon, as people demanded the reopening of businesses and leisure facilities closed by governors in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In Michigan, hundreds of protesters stormed the state Capitol building, many without wearing masks or practising social distancing.

When asked about such scenes on Fox News on Sunday, Dr Birx said people risked infecting their loved ones. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a co-morbid condition, and they have a serious or unfortunate outcome, they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives,” said Dr Birx.

“So we need to protect each other at the same time we’re voicing our discontent.” Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan, hit out at protesters carrying weapons, confederate flags and, in at least one case a swastika, as representing the “worst racism and awful parts” of US history.

“We have to listen to the epidemiologist and health experts and displays like the one we saw at our capitol is not representative of who we are,” said Ms Whitmer, who has insisted lockdown conditions must stay in place for the time being.

The protests have continued amid diverging responses from local governments across the US, with some states extending lockdown conditions even as others ease restrictions and encourage a return to normality.