CDC Restates Importance Of Wearing Face Coverings To Large Gatherings

WFSU

Published June 15, 2020 at 12:21 AM EDT

People raise their fists during a protest over the death of George Floyd, Saturday, June 6, 2020, in Miami. Protests continue over the death of Floyd, a black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people participating in events involving shouting, chanting, or singing, to use cloth face coverings to lower the risk of spreading the coronavirus. This comes a day after nearly 1,700 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Florida Thursday. It marks the highest single-day count since the Florida Department of Health started keeping track in March.

CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield says people must make sure to continue following guidelines.

“I know that people are eager to return to normal activities and ways of life. However, it’s important to remember this situation is unprecedented and the pandemic has not ended," Redfield said. And as I said earlier it's going to be critical to embrace the principles of social distancing and hygiene and wearing a face-covering in public.”

The CDC also warned about additional challenges in the fall and winter when the seasonal flu could be circulating along with COVID-19.