National Guard members who helped Nebraska police at protests test positive for COVID-19
Two members of the Nebraska National Guard who assisted police officers last week during George Floyd protests in Lincoln have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Lincoln Journal Star.
“They are isolating, and we are now going to test all the personnel still on duty for this mission in Lincoln or Omaha,” said Maj. Scott Ingalsbe, public affairs officer for the Nebraska National Guard, according to the Star.
Ingalsbe also told 1011.com that they were not testing those members who went home last week, but that they are “encouraging them to get a free test through TestNebraska.com.”
Sparked by the death of Floyd, a black man who died in custody of Minneapolis police on Memorial Day, protests against police brutality and racial injustice were held last week in Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska.
It’s not clear whether either of the two members contracted the virus before or after they were deployed to Lincoln, Ingalsbe told ABC 8.
Out of the 600 guard members who were deployed to help cities during the protests, only two thirds are still active, ABC 8 reports.
“We encourage everyone to continue social distancing, mask wearing and other health guidelines even if they test negative. A negative test result is only one point in time and shouldn’t give a false sense of security,” Ingalsbe said.
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird had voiced her concern about a potential spike in coronavirus cases among those who were protesting last week.
“Of course, public health officials are concerned; I’m concerned,” Gaylor Baird said, according to the Journal Star. “We have limitations on gatherings of people in confined indoor and outdoor spaces to try and protect people from close contact. We know as well that communities of color are being disproportionately impacted by this disease right here in Lincoln.”
This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 5:58 PM.