Protests against police brutality and racism are taking place around the world. While these deep-rooted issues are important to protest, health care experts are concerned that the demonstrations may lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases. African Americans and other racial and ethnic minority groups are especially vulnerable because they can experience more serious illness and even death due to the disease.

Experts recommend taking measures while protesting to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, including remaining 6 feet away from others, wearing a face covering and bringing hand sanitizer.

Experts Sherita Hill Golden, M.D., M.H.S., vice president and chief diversity officer at Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Panagis Galiatsatos, M.D., M.H.S., co-chair of the Johns Hopkins Health Equity Steering Committee in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, are available to comment on the potential increase of COVID-19 cases and to offer tips on protesting safely.

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For information from Johns Hopkins Medicine about the coronavirus pandemic, visit hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus. For information on the coronavirus from throughout the Johns Hopkins enterprise, including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and The Johns Hopkins University, visit coronavirus.jhu.edu.