“I Can’t Breathe!” The Connection between Police Brutality & Covid-19

Some people are peacefully protesting; others are rioting; and still others come in from the suburbs for Instagram selfies.

This is already a tragic time, with more than 100,000 deaths from Covid-19 in the U.S.  And now we are witnessing what may retrospectively be considered viral genocide against protesters who march and gather in huge crowds. Their cause is just,  but the outcome may  be shattering.  Experts say it  will spread the virus, and they expect to see a spike  in the next two weeks.

If only our government leaders would  acknowledge the horror of the murder of George Floyd, talk with the protest leaders, and find a way to work together.  They could abate the violence and prevent a new wave of Covid-19.

Education about the transmission of the virus has failed among the majority of Americans, who were so eager to get back to the beach–some protested with guns– that lockdown was prematurely lifted.  Many of the protesters against the police killing of George Floyd  are wearing masks, but there is no possibility of social distancing. And  I hate the idea that thousands of protesters, black and white, may fall into the hands of white supremacists, who will certainly not lament their illness or deaths.

According to The Atlantic,:“The virus seems to spread the most when people yell (such as to chant a slogan), sneeze (to expel pepper spray), or cough (after inhaling tear gas). It is transmitted most efficiently in crowds and large gatherings, and research has found that just a few contagious people can infect hundreds of susceptible people around them. The virus can spread especially easily in small, cramped places, such as police vans and jails.”

Someone needs to intervene and help…