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People were pretty worried about this, but so far there isn't any evidence that protests caused spikes in case numbers. Obviously there's a lot about the virus we don't know or can't fully explain, but the prevailing explanation is that the combination of widespread mask usage by protesters, quarantining by would-be protesters who know they've been exposed, and being primarily outdoors prevented transmission.

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Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

PolitiFact tried to examine claims from the LA mayor and health director that: "it’s highly likely given the increased numbers that we’re seeing that some of this is in fact people who may have been in a crowded situation at one of the protests where there was spread."

They concluded:

> there’s not enough data to draw any definitive conclusions ...

> Medical experts say the protests likely contributed somewhat, but so did family gatherings [and] the reopening of businesses

https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/jul/21/how-much-did-...

Actually, the handful of half-competent governments who have handled the pandemic the best disagree: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-13/forced-is...

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