Any uncertainty about venturing out during the coronavirus pandemic has been seemingly put aside by many to protest police brutality after watching video of George Floyd fatally pinned under an officer's knee in Minneapolis.
Protesters, often without masks, have shouted Floyd's name. And during arrests, police have loaded them into vehicles and holding cells, making it difficult to social distance.
Despite the sudden shift, coronavirus is still spreading. Since Sunday, 4,430 deaths in the US have been reported. Of those, 1,036 deaths were between Thursday morning and the same time Friday.And by early Friday, the virus had killed more than 108,000 people in the United States and infected over 1.8 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Officials fear those numbers will rise following the protests, and are urging those taking part to get tested.
"Based on the way the disease spreads, there is every reason to expect that we will see new clusters and potentially new outbreaks moving forward," US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams warned this week.
The effects of the protests on infection rates and hospitalizations will emerge in three to four weeks, CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, said. He noted factors, such as protests taking place outdoors, could mean a lower risk for transmission of the virus.