Florida health officials had advice for first responders at protests. Then they deleted it.
As thousands of people continue protests throughout the nation over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the Florida Department of Health tweeted their take on the situation. It was quickly deleted.
On Thursday, the health department tweeted that first responders who are working the protests should get tested for the novel coronavirus. It did not, however, mention protesters getting tested who are seen in many forms of media packed closely together.
First reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the tweet stated: “Any first responder in Florida who has been to mass gatherings or protests is recommended to get tested for #COVID19.”
The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why the tweet was made and eventually deleted.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health are still advising people to avoid close contact by keeping at least a six-foot distance from each other, cover their mouths and noses, and wash hands frequently.
Some cities, like the Village of Key Biscayne, are urging residents to wear a facial covering and practice social distancing if they attend protests.
As of Thursday, Florida had 60,183 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 2,607 deaths.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 4:08 PM.
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