Officials warn U.S. protests could spark COVID-19 flare-up

After weeks and months of stay-at-home measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, mass protests are threatening to spark a flare-up of cases as large groups of people congregate, many of them without masks.

U.S. cities have erupted in anger and violence following the death last week of an African-American man, George Floyd, at the hands of a police officer.

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Minneapolis, Atlanta, Detroit, New York, Los Angeles and other major cities. Protesters have clashed with police, who have responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Shops have been looted, property has been set on fire and thousands have been arrested. There have been reports of several people being killed and states and cities have imposed curfews, while the National Guard has been called in.

But the already volatile situation is made worse by the raging COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed over 104,000 people in the U.S. so far, with close to 1.8 million confirmed cases.

The wearing of masks, orders to stay at home and bans on mass gatherings have been effective tools to contain the epidemic over the past few months, as the virus can be passed on even if a person does not exhibit symptoms.

But now large crowds mingling, shouting and clashing with law enforcement threaten to undo the progress that was made in flattening the curve. 

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