NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Some people are worried there will be a spike in positive COVID-19 tests after people converged on downtown Nashville over the weekend.
In some instances during the peaceful rally and violent protest, social distancing rules went out the window.
“During this time of a pandemic it’s really important for people to do their part even when they’re in crowds to try to limit the risk of transmission of this virus," Dr. David Aronoff said.
Dr. Aronoff is the Director of the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He said doctors are concerned COVID-19 positive numbers will go up following the rally and protest. “And we’ll be monitoring our hospital's bed capacity and see if we start to see more patients coming to the hospital.”
He said if you were a protester, it wouldn’t hurt to go get a COVID-19 test.
“It does take a couple days for someone who does get infected to start shedding the virus for it to be detectable by current diagnostic tests,” Aronoff said.
If you plan on going to an upcoming rally or protest, Dr. Aronoff recommends taking measures to stay virus-free by wearing a cloth mask and bringing hand sanitizer.
Aronoff said, “I think if people are going to find themselves in crowds, they do the best that they can to maintain social distance.”
