Second Protestor From Melbourne Black Lives Matter Protest Tests Positive For Coronavirus

A second protestor, who attended a Black Lives Matter rally in Melbourne last weekend, has tested positive for coronavirus.

The person is one of 12 who have been recorded as returning positive test results in the last 24 hours.

Thankfully, the person was wearing protective equipment during the rally and didn't have any severe symptoms, meaning their risk of having passed on the virus to other demonstrators is low.

PA

Health authorities understand the person had the virus before going to the protest on Saturday (June 6) and didn't contract it at the event.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said: "He took a great deal of care in taking a distance from others. It's very unlikely he acquired [the virus] there, he could have acquired it in a number of places."

Thousands of people gathered to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in America but to also highlight Australia's issues with everyday racism and systemic issues that need to be fixed.

The first protestor who tested positive for Covid-19 was revealed last Thursday and brought to the forefront of health fears regarding large gatherings amid the pandemic.

PA

Anyone who attended one of the many rallies around the country has been urged to self-isolate for two weeks just as a precaution.

Australian Medical Association chief Dr Tony Bartone said: "We need to be very clear - we are still very much in the early phase of dealing with Covid-19. Mass gatherings are certainly the last gatherings on the list [of restrictions] and it was clearly against the advice of all the health authorities.

"[The] only safe way...of minimising any risk of it [coronavirus] spreading over the next 14 days is to ensure that we keep our distance from the rest of the community."

Pictures show the vast majority of people who attended the protest demonstrations in capital cities across the country wore face masks to avoid spreading the virus.

However, officials say we won't know whether the mass gatherings resulted in more coronavirus cases for a week or two.

Topics: News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie