Maskless protester tests positive for coronavirus after large rally, KS officials say

A man who attended a large protest in Kansas without wearing a mask tested positive for coronavirus a few days later, health officials said.

The man attended the protest in downtown Lawrence on May 31, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health said in a news release. He was tested for coronavirus on June 4 and health officials received the positive result on June 5, according to the release.

As part of the contact tracing process, the man told officials he had not worn a mask at the protest, the release said.

Officials are asking those who attended the demonstration to keep close watch on their health.

“Similar to what we would ask anyone who goes out in public right now, we are asking anyone who attended the recent protest to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and isolate if they become sick as well as call their healthcare provider for next steps,” Informatics Director Sonia Jordan said in the release.

The coronavirus is believed to spread person-to-person when someone breathes in the respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the agency, and include fever, cough, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and loss of taste or smell, among others.

In an interview with radio station WTOP, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he was concerned about the large gatherings of people, adding that there is “certainly a risk” for coronavirus transmission.

“It’s a perfect setup for further spread of the virus in the sense of creating these blips which might turn into some surges,” Fauci told the station. “It’s a delicate balance, because the reasons for demonstrating are valid, and yet, the demonstration itself puts one at an additional risk.”

Health officials have also said tear gas may cause coronavirus to spread more easily since the chemical agents cause burning of the eyes, runny nose, drooling, coughing and vomiting resulting in increased emission of respiratory droplets, McClatchy News reported.

This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Maskless protester tests positive for coronavirus after large rally, KS officials say."