NASHVILLE, Tenn (WTVF) — Doctors are urging anyone who has taken part in a large protest to take a COVID-19 test. The advice comes after medical professionals learned that asymptomatic patients can spread the virus.
“What I’ve seen is about a 30 to 40% increase in our number as far as testing,” said Dr. Calvin Smith, Associate professor of Internal Medicine at Meharry Medical College.
“Most of the people that have been to our testing site said, they’ve done so because they were a participant in the various protest," he said.
Dr. Smith says you should wait three to four days after possible exposure to get a COVID-19 test.
But the message is even more important to those in the high risk category.
“A special word African Americans in the community who might be listening to me. Most of the people who participated in the rally’s who’ve come to get test are white,” said Dr. Hildreth, “We need everyone who has participated in the marches and the rally’s to get tested.
Despite being a much smaller percentage of the population, the latest numbers show 12.6% of the black population in the Metro area was infected with COVID-19 and more than 30 black people died from the virus compared to 41 white deaths.
Dr. Smith says it’s Meharry’s history to fight and march for civil rights, so he supports the recent movement.
“Part of service to mankind is making sure we bridge the health disparities and the inequities in our community,” Smith said.
Doctors are just asking, if you’re going to be out in the protest this weekend then be safe and wear mask.
Dr. Smith says if one person has COVID-19 and is around 10 people, there a chance nine of those people will be infected.
Doctors say if possible, as soon as you come home from large crowds; leave your shoes by the door, put your clothes in the washer and take a shower.
