Following mass controversy over Black Lives Matter protests that happening across Australia during the coronavirus global pandemic, one attendee of the Melbourne protest that occurred over the weekend has tested positive for COVID-19.
The world is currently facing a predicament: many are wanting to protest for the sake of Black Lives Matter following the death of African American George Floyd who was killed by police late last month, while some say we should stay indoors and continue to decrease the spread of COVID-19.
With both matters being wholly important, many remain torn on what to do. This past weekend saw thousands of people band together to attend their local Black Lives Matter protests that occurred around Australia, many happening without the support of the government.
Officials were quick to step out and say that the protests shouldn’t occur due to the current pandemic. While NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian tried to take the protest to court to make it illegal, other governments around Australia encouraged people not to attend for the sake of health and getting our lives back to normal.
Attendees agreed that fighting for the rights of persons of colour was a much more important issue at hand, but it has sadly ended up that a protestor at the Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne has tested positive for the virus.
As reported by The Age in conjunction with Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, the 30-year-old man in question did wear a mask to the protest and developed symptoms only 24 hours after the protest.
While Professor Sutton reports that it is unlikely the protestor contracted the virus during the event, he could have been infectious, and that anyone who came in close contact with him for more than 15 minutes should place themselves in quarantine.
This new case of COVID-19 marks one of eight new cases recorded across Victoria overnight.
For more information on COVID-19, please refer to the Australian Government’s Department Of Health.
