Protestors in BC told to monitor themselves for coronavirus symptoms

Approximately 5,000 people came together outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery to protest the death of George Floyd. Floyd was killed in Minneapolis police custody on May 25 when an officer, Derek Chauvin, held his knee down on Floyd’s throat though he said he could not breathe. Chauvin has since been charged with murder and manslaughter.

Many of those at the BC protest on May 31 were wearing face masks, but health officials warned on Monday that people should look for possible coronavirus symptoms over the next two weeks.

"You may have put yourself at risk and you may bring that back to your home," said Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer in BC.

"If you have any symptoms at all, you need to self-isolate. You need to get tested. You need to be sure you’re not contributing to further transmission of this virus."

The warning is also for those who participated in the Monday afternoon demonstration in Victoria, which was also in support of George Floyd.

As people gathered at the BC legislature, most were wearing masks and practising physical distancing.

Waves of protests began all throughout the US after Floyd’s death, and have continued for eight nights. Protests have been seen in dozens of cities, and in all 50 states. Canada is among those nations where protestors have also taken up the cause, along with France, the UK, and the Netherlands.