What protesters should know about coronavirus risks

Protests in Arizona and around the U.S. sent a historic message about police brutality but also may have put thousands of people at risk for COVID-19, experts say.

Some of the Arizonans protesting the deaths of George Floyd and other unarmed black men and women over the past two weeks have been wearing masks, but others have not.

In a crowded situation, it’s difficult

to stay six feet apart. Yelling, screaming or singing can project droplets that could spread the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 illness.

Mask-wearing and social distancing are not mandated in Arizona and demonstrators are exercising their constitutional rights. But for anyone who has been participating and is concerned about the novel virus, here are seven facts to know about COVID-19:

1. The time to get tested is three to seven days after exposure.

COVID-19 nasal swab tests indicate whether people have the virus at a point in time, and they may test negative and later test positive up to 14 days after their last exposure, Maricopa County spokesman Ron Coleman said. He suggested the best time to get a test was three to seven days after exposure.

Pima County Health Department spokesman Aaron Pacheco said attendance at a large gathering like a protest should not be the only reason someone should be tested, but rather symptoms should be present as well.

After a protest, people should thoroughly wash their hands and clothes when they get home, he said. They should monitor for symptoms and begin self-isolating and contacting their health care provider if they feel sick.

2. It helps that the protests are outside.

Since protests are outdoors, some droplets can be dispersed, said Dr. Michael Mina, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

In general, being outdoors puts people at lower risk for contracting the novel virus, public health experts say.

3. If you don’t have health insurance, there are ways to get tested for free.

People who believe they should be tested for COVID-19 should work with their health care provider, Maricopa County officials said.

Options are available for people who don’t have a health provider. One is calling the Arizona COVID-19 hotline at 844542-8201 for more information about testing options and availability.

Another is sites like CVS. The company has drive-thru test locations at CVS stores throughout Arizona. Tests are free for those with and without insurance.

In Phoenix, St. Vincent de Paul is partnering with CVS Health to offer COVID-19 testing at the Virginia G. Piper Medical & Dental Clinic for the uninsured.

Testing at the St. Vincent de Paul clinic, at 420 W. Watkins Road is free and open to the public, but appointments are mandatory.

Patients will need to register in advance by calling 602-850-6940 to schedule a same-day time slot for testing. A personal vehicle is not required for testing, and results will be provided on the spot.

Other test locations can be found at azhealth.gov/testingblitz.

4. People who contracted COVID-19 during the protests already could be showing up in state case data.

There is often a lag of seven to 10 days between when someone gets tested and the results are reported to public health officials.

So while it’s possible some people who contracted COVID-19 during the demonstrations could be showing up in current data, others could be reported in the coming one to two weeks, Maricopa County spokesman Ron Coleman wrote in an email.

“I would not be surprised to see that in the next couple of weeks we see increases in transmission that may be linked to the protests,” Mina said. “It’s going to be hard to say, because at the same time that these are happening, we’re also seeing businesses start to go back much more actively.”

Arizona has already been seeing unprecedented daily spikes in the number of new COVID-19 cases in recent days and is also seeing an increase in the percentage of positive test results.

It has been more than three weeks since Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s stay-athome order expired and nearly two weeks since the Memorial Day weekend, when there were reports of revelry around the state.

5. You can mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in crowds.

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Here is what the Maricopa County Department of Public Health says people should know to lessen their chances of catching COVID-19 and spreading it to others:

Keep at least six feet of distance between yourself and others whenever possible and if you can’t, please, wear a cloth face mask outside your home.

Bring hand sanitizer with you, so you can sanitize every time you touch your mask.

Being outdoors, particularly in the sun, reduces your chances of becoming infected, although six feet of distance is still recommended.

Avoid others who appear sick. Wash your hands after going out in public, and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently if hand-washing is not possible.

People who are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, such as those age 65 and over and with chronic medical conditions, absolutely should avoid being around others outside their household as much as possible.

“Along with avoiding people who are coughing or sneezing — avoid being close to people singing or yelling,” the Pima County Health Department’s Pacheco wrote.

Singing and yelling can cause more spit, mucus and droplets to leave someone’s mouth and nose and potentially infect others, he said.

6. Young people are not immune from COVID-19 and could be disease vectors.

Many of the demonstrators have been young. While younger people may not be getting as sick overall from COVID-19, they could transmit the virus to more vulnerable people, including people 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems from cancer treatments, organ transplants or other illness.

Young people are becoming infected with the new coronavirus in Arizona.

Statewide, there have been 37 people under the age of 20 who have been hospitalized for suspect and positive COVID-19 since April 9, data from the Arizona Department of Health Services shows, and 730 people between the ages of 20 and 44 have been hospitalized.

Two known deaths of people under the age of 20 have been reported, the Arizona COVID-19 data says, and there have been 52 COVID-related deaths of people in the 20 to 44 age demographic.

7. Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed should keep an eye out for the hallmark symptoms of COVID-19.

Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says:

Fever or chills.

Cough.

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Fatigue.

Muscle or body aches.

Headache.

New loss of taste or smell.

Sore throat.

Congestion or runny nose.

Nausea or vomiting.

Diarrhea.