Abstract
This study describes the COVID-19 prevention practices and beliefs of Black Lives Matter protesters in the U.S. Participants completed a survey on following COVID-19 guidelines and answered interview questions. Twenty participants were enrolled. Mean age was 29 and most were female (80%) and black (75%). Participants almost always wore their masks (75%) and washed their hands (85%) while protesting. Most reported rarely social distancing (55%) and not being concerned about COVID-19 (55%). Themes included: 1) Fighting for social justice, 2) Protesting is more important than COVID-19, 3) Unable to social distance, 4) Masks mostly worn, 5) Protests sparked global movement, and 6) Increasing awareness of injustices. Our results suggest that protestors understand the importance of preventing the spread of COVID-19 and follow guidelines, but there are suggestions that some protestors do not consistently adhere to these guidelines. Results may contribute to policies that control the spread of COVID-19.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was first detected in December 2019, in Wuhan, China
We’re changing people’s opinions and lawmakers are listening." Female, 24 years old DISCUSSION This study reports on COVID-19 prevention practices and beliefs of individuals protesting during the COVID-19 pandemic
Our data suggests that protesters may consider the social justice related to addressing systemic racism more important than the COVID-19 pandemic, our data suggests that protesters understand the importance of COVID-19 and try to practice the recommended guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus
Summary
The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was first detected in December 2019, in Wuhan, China. It has rapidly spread throughout the globe, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic on March 11, 2020 (World Health Organization, 2020). Older age, smoking, and obesity have been identified as vulnerabilities for more severe COVID-19 outcomes (Garg et al, 2020). To combat this novel coronavirus, governments have recommended frequent hand washing, wearing masks in public spaces, and keeping six feet distance from others (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019)
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