American public health officials have been intently focused on how to reopen the U.S. economy after monthslong lockdowns put in place to contain the coronavirus.
But none of them banked on having to contend with widespread social upheaval caused by the death of George Floyd, which has brought tens of thousands of people into the streets and into close contact in cities across the country to protest police violence.
The demonstrations are a new challenge in health officials’ still-early efforts to test and trace new infections, a key step to swatting down new clusters of cases. And scientists aren't of one mind on the question of how well the virus could spread in protests, which are taking place in open air, with many — but not all — participants wearing masks.