Contact tracers in New York City reportedly cannot ask anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 whether they have attended any recent protests.
In recent weeks, both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have worried publicly that the widespread demonstrations in response to the death of George Floyd would transmit the coronavirus. But the hundreds of contact tracers working for the city have been instructed not to ask about attendance at a demonstration, according to the City.
Avery Cohen, a spokeswoman for de Blasio, confirmed the policy in an email to the City. “No person will be asked proactively if they attended a protest,” she wrote.
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Tracers are restricted to asking people who have tests positive for the coronavirus to recall recent individuals with whom they have had contact. They may also ask if the individual lives with anyone at home.
As recently as June 1, de Blasio expressed concern about the effects of demonstrations on coronavirus transmission. “For those who have already had their presence and made their voices heard, the safest thing to do is to stay home,” he said. “Obviously, we don’t want people in close proximity to each other. We don’t want people out there where they might catch this disease or spread this disease.”
Just last week, Cuomo stated, “That’s the one variable in this equation that we’re not sure of: We don’t know what the effect of those protests are.”
