Baker: Demonstrators Should Get Tested For Coronavirus This Week At Pop-Up Sites Set Up By State

Gov. Charlie Baker urged Massachusetts residents who took part in recent demonstrations against police brutality to get tested for the coronavirus at one of 52 "pop-up testing sites" across the state this week.

The pop-up sites will test protesters this Wednesday and Thursday. Those who want to get tested can find the site closest to them at mass.gov/gettested.

"If you're healthy and feeling fine, you should get tested anyway," Baker says, urging demonstrators to see this as another way they can continue to "do their part" to protect themselves and others from the spread of the virus.

Baker added that given the protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd coincided with moves by the state to reopen various sectors of the economy, his administration wants data related to the protests and the spread of the virus.

"Anytime large groups of people come together, there's a risk for transmission," Baker said. "We certainly support people's rights to express their views peacefully, but we need to keep up our fight to slow the spread of COVID-19 here in Massachusetts."

Sudders expressed hope that at least 10,000 people per day would take part in the testing over the two-day period. She said that many of the testing sites will open early and remain open late into the evening to better accommodate people's work schedules.

With additional reporting from the State House News Service