Disclaimer: I know that I can't control what people post on this forum, but I'm asking that we keep the discussion as apolitical and health-centered as possible. I know there are a lot of strong opinions about police brutality, protests, and riots/vandalism/looting. If you're interested to hear people's thoughts on those topics, there's an interesting, non-healthcare discussion in the US Politics Club on AN:
Is anybody else seriously concerned that we might see a large surge in covid cases following all of these protests?
Last week, people were yelling on the TV about how irresponsible it was to begin Phases I/II and let people gather in groups of 10. Now, literally tens of thousands of people are gathering, and the media/public seem shockingly unconcerned. I feel like I'm getting social distancing policy whiplash.
Most of the protest pictures I've seen depict protesters wearing masks and attempting to follow covid guidelines. However, there are a ton of pics of people wearing masks incorrectly (under their noses or chins), and it's pretty much impossible to socially distance in protest/riot conditions. It seems like a nearly impossible environment to practice good hand hygiene. Plus, people are out yelling/chanting and projecting their droplets even further. I'm just so glad that they're outside instead of in a confined space.
I fully support peoples' right to demonstrate, and I generally support the protesters' rhetoric, but this seems like a recipe for disaster. With covid concerns still lingering, it seems like the worst possible time for people to be out congregating.
I'm especially worried about covid having a vastly disproportionate on black communities by the time this is all over. By now, we've probably all seen the data showing that African Americans are dying from covid at disproportionately higher rates than other races. Even if high-risk people are staying home from protests, I fear that protests could increase the spread through communities by contact with protesters. Of course, once it's out circulating in the community, the virus will be harmful to people of all races. To be perfectly honest, I also worry about huge outbreaks through the police force, too.
Even before all of this began, many states were starting Phase I/II despite an increasing numbers of cases. My state had the biggest spike we'd ever seen the day before Phase II started, and we went ahead with Phase II anyway (just before Memorial Day, when a ton of people were out socializing and ignoring distancing orders). It seems like the protests will fuel the spread of covid even further.
Outside of the big metro areas, most cities had relatively tiny covid surges since the stay at home orders were so effective. It seems like the smaller impact has lulled citizens of those cities/states into a false sense of security. I'm concerned that places like Minneapolis, which experienced a smaller impact the first go around, are going to see huge, unprecedented surges and start running out of beds/vents.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
3 minutes ago, A Hit With The Ladies said:
The Coronavirus takes a holiday off with one, and the ICUs don't fill up with patients and we don't have nurses and other hospital staff dying anymore? That's just splendid!
Not at all. I never said that nor did I imply that.
Since the Corona-obsessed have been parroting the mantra that "no social distancing = more mass deaths" line for months now, how many casualties are acceptable to them to supposedly stamp out police brutality (assuming the mass protests end up succeeding)?
If there's another 3-4 million Americans who get Corona, with an additional 200,000 deaths, will it have been worth it? If we all end up getting Corona thanks to these mass protests, with several million Americans dead, does that mean that mass casualties are a price worth paying for ending police brutality?
I'm just using the public health experts' own logic here.
There is a difference in protesting because you can't get your hair cut or nails done, and protesting systemic racism and police brutality that endangers the lives of many on a daily basis.
No difference to the virus and its effects on other people including those most at risk. That said, I think the reasons people were protesting go much much deeper than wanting their hair done.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
7 minutes ago, juniper222 said:
They were protesting because their lives were being ruined! Not really a difficult concept.
The protesters in Michigan were definitely protesting because they wanted to be allowed to be consumers. Their wants were amplified...they wanted a return to normal, not that a life was ruined by inability to get a haircut. They definitely fueled the economic anxiety that others were feeling.
That's a bit different than protesting about being killed disproportionately by covid AND the police.
The people in Michigan were protesting for the same reasons people in other states were protesting, although probably for other reasons also like the ridiculousness of some of that Governors restrictions.
Again, the virus and its effect are apolitical and either gathering (ie protesting) is a problem or it is not; either people who gather are selfish covidiots or they arent. It doesn't matter what the reason is/was the virus spreads the same way to protestors and then to others.
There is a difference in protesting because you can't get your hair cut or nails done, and protesting systemic racism and police brutality that endangers the lives of many on a daily basis.
But still, if the virus is dangerous for one, it's dangerous for all causes. We don't get to pick and choose
1 hour ago, JadedCPN said:
Not at all. I never said that nor did I imply that.
I took it as it was OK for one but not the other. Sorry if I misunderstood
That's a bit different than protesting about being killed disproportionately by covid AND the police.
Realistically, the disease is either deadly in largely populated gatherings, regardless of the reason, or it isn't. The government and the media can't have it both ways
And everyone was all up in arms because Trump was encouraging the lockdown protests over concern of spreading the virus while politicians are encouraging this protest. Just shows the hypocrisy.
Places where the virus was under some control will now get a spike because of all the out of town rioters who came in.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
33 minutes ago, Daisy4RN said:
The people in Michigan were protesting for the same reasons people in other states were protesting, although probably for other reasons also like the ridiculousness of some of that Governors restrictions.
Again, the virus and its effect are apolitical and either gathering (ie protesting) is a problem or it is not; either people who gather are selfish covidiots or they arent. It doesn't matter what the reason is/was the virus spreads the same way to protestors and then to others.
But people were protesting because of politically motivated and inspired concerns. Are we going to pretend already that it wasn't a partisan exercise?
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
25 minutes ago, Hoosier_RN said:
But still, if the virus is dangerous for one, it's dangerous for all causes. We don't get to pick and choose
I took it as it was OK for one but not the other. Sorry if I misunderstood
It is my opinion that one cause is far more important and significant than the other in regards to breaking the recommendations in order to protest. But no, the risk and consequences are definitely still the same regardless of the reasoning for each group/cause. The virus is indeed dangerous regardless.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Just now, juniper222 said:
And everyone was all up in arms because Trump was encouraging the lockdown protests over concern of spreading the virus while politicians are encouraging this protest. Just shows the hypocrisy.
LOL
Some people understand that racial injustice and police brutality are issues of greater import than whether or not hair salons and restaurants are open. The attempt to equate the clearly disparate value of the concerns is typical behavior from oppressors and those content with the world the oppressor maintains. But here we are...
JadedCPN, BSN, RN
1,476 Posts
Not at all. I never said that nor did I imply that.