Pennsylvania health officials ask protesters to adhere to coronavirus safety guidelines

State health officials have no plans to alter the timeline of when counties will move to the next phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s phased reopening plan despite large-scale protests over the death of George Floyd not adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said health officials respect people’s right to protest but want them to be safe while doing so. There are concerns about the coronavirus being spread at demonstrations because people aren’t following safety guidelines outlined by health officials.

“Given that we still are in the middle of a global pandemic, we would want everyone to be wearing masks, we would want people to stay six feet or more apart, to not have personal contact with each other, and to use hand sanitizer as much as possible,” Levine said during a Tuesday press conference. “That might be challenging, but that’s what we want people to do if they exercise their rights.”

Allegheny County is set to move to the green phase of Wolf’s plan Friday. Pennsylvania Department of Health spokesman Nate Wardle confirmed that hasn’t changed.

“Generally speaking, that would be the same for all counties that have been announced to move from one phase to another already,” Wardle said. “Of course, if any major issues arise concerning the data, we would certainly evaluate them.”

Levine said it will be difficult to track whether someone contracted the virus from attending a protest or demonstration because health officials don’t know who the participants are and can’t do contact tracing. Some participants don’t even reside in the city where they’re protesting, Levine added.

“They’re protesting in Pittsburgh. They might not all be from Pittsburgh,” Levine said.

Levine encouraged anyone involved in a protest or demonstration who develops symptoms of covid-19 to get tested.