1/ Many have asked me about the risk of #COVID #coronavirus at protests vs political rallies.
- The risk of transmission is lower outside (protests in the streets were safer than protests in statehouses).
- The risk of transmission is lower outside (protests in the streets were safer than protests in statehouses).
2/ Most of the #BLM protesters were wearing masks. Masks DRAMATICALLY cut the risk of #COVID #coronavirus transmission. So much so that @GoldmanSachs has said that a national mask MANDATE ould save the economy from a 5% hit to GDP: marketwatch.com/story/wearing-…
3/ If we care about the economy (not to mention public health & reducing #COVID #coronavirus transmission), we should be MANDATING masks, not discouraging their use. If you're looking to express your politics, find a safe way to do so, at the ballot box or through your speech.
4/ One way either political candidate could still have rallies is to organize outdoor marches where participants are required to wear masks. We haven't seen a spike in new #COVID #coronavirus cases following #BLM protests. The risk of moving, masked, outdoor rallies seems low.
5/ You can't have a sustainable economic recovery if you don't get the #COVID #coronavirus outbreak under control. The economy & public health go hand-in-hand. It's not either-or.
