Demonstration health and safety precautions from Dr. Neumann

(From Waco’s COVID-19 Community Newsletter)

As the Central Texas community participates in demonstrations and protests against the killing of George Floyd and continued racial injustice and inequity, community leaders encourage health and safety precautions for group gatherings. Dr. Iliana Neumann of Family Health Center shares a few health tips for community members participating in protests and demonstrations.   

We encourage organizers to provide masks and hand sanitizer to the extent they can and to model the use of such as well as practice physical distancing as much as possible. 

• Assembling does increase your risk of contracting COVID-19, but there are things you can do to lessen this risk.
• Gather outside rather than inside.
• Wear a cloth face covering.
• Physically distance as much as possible.
• Do not share signs or markers with anyone who is not a member of your household.
• Take hand sanitizer and gloves with you. Use hand sanitizer often.
• If distributing materials, encourage folks to take a picture of the materials with their phone instead of handing off paper or other items.
• Bring water and drink it often.
• Wear sunscreen.
• Reduce respiratory droplets by focusing on signs/posters and making noise with music, drums, etc. rather than loud talking.
• Carry identification and a list of emergency contacts.
• Go with a buddy and stay closer to them rather than new contacts.

Dr. Iliana Neumann is a family medicine specialist. She graduated with honors from East Carolina University School Of Medicine in 2009. She is a faculty physician with Waco’s Family Health Center.