Health & Fitness

Fearing Coronavirus Resurgence, NY Urges Protesters To Get Tested

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday urged all protest participants to get tested for the coronavirus, warning of a possible spike in cases.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday urged all protest participants to get tested for the coronavirus, warning of a possible spike in cases.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday urged all protest participants to get tested for the coronavirus, warning of a possible spike in cases. (Darren McGee/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)

NEW YORK CITY — Warning of a possible resurgence in cases of the new coronavirus, the state is making testing for the virus available to the tens of thousands of New Yorkers protesting police brutality and racism after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday urged all protest participants to get tested for the coronavirus, voicing concerns that the lack of social distancing could facilitate the spread of the virus and lead to a spike in cases over the coming days and weeks.

An estimated 30,000 people have joined protests across the state over the last 11 days, including 20,000 in New York City alone, according to Cuomo.

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"These are big numbers," he said during his daily news briefing Thursday in Albany. "You went to a protest? Get a test, tell people, act as if you may have been exposed."

Cuomo noted that many protesters are wearing masks or other face coverings, in accordance with state guidelines, but made no mention of the police officers at those same protests who are not.

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It takes an average of four to five days for someone infected with the coronavirus to start showing symptoms, though some people may never show symptoms, Cuomo said.

Given the lag, Cuomo warned protesters to assume they have been exposed and act accordingly.

"As fast as these numbers came down is as fast as these numbers can come up," Cuomo said.

While Cuomo's order makes coronavirus testing available to protesters statewide, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that New York City would expand its free testing program to all residents.


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