Story at a glance
- A St. Paul newspaper reports that of the results that have come in, only about 1.4 percent tested positive for COVID-19.
- That is significantly lower than the 3.7 percent positivity rate of the more than 13,000 test results reported Friday across the state.
- But health officials warned it’s still too early to draw any firm conclusions about the effect the weeks of protests had on the coronavirus outbreak.
Early coronavirus testing results from protesters who attended demonstrations in Minnesota following the death of George Floyd show few positive cases so far, according to St. Paul Pioneer Press.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Saturday that more than 3,300 people who participated in protests and events following Floyd’s death were tested for COVID-19 last week at four community testing sites, and about 1,300 have received their results.
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The outlet reports of the results that have come in, only about 1.4 percent tested positive for COVID-19, significantly lower than the 3.7 percent positivity rate of the more than 13,000 test results reported Friday across the state. It is also lower than the state’s current seven-day average rate of positive tests, which also sits at 3.7 percent.
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But health officials warned there were not enough results to draw any firm conclusions about the effects the weeks of protests had on the coronavirus outbreak.
“Our testing is a bit pre-emptive, if you will,” Kris Ehresmann, state Department of Health director of infectious disease, told the outlet. “It’s a different situation.”
Public health officials have warned about a possible increase in cases due protests and other large-scale events. Demonstrations have broken out across the country in the wake of Floyd’s death on May 25, which attracted thousands of participants in several cities. Floyd died on Memorial Day after a now-former Minneapolis officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Minnesota officials are urging anyone who attended protests or other related events to get tested whether or not they are experiencing symptoms.
“If you were involved in any of the mass gatherings — the protests, the vigils, the neighborhood cleanups, providing food, water, etc. — we really encourage you to get free testing at one of these community sites,” state Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said.
Officials in several other states and cities have encouraged protestors in their regions to do the same.
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