Many police departments across the country do not require officers to wear masks while they’re on protest duty. | Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

Many police departments nationwide allow officers to wear masks at their own discretion while on protest duty.

Over the past two weeks, tens of thousands of people have marched through American streets to protest over George Floyd’s death, police brutality, and systemic racism. While these stories have dominated news coverage, the coronavirus pandemic is still far from over. Public health experts have expressed their support for the demonstrations, but many are worried about the jump in Covid-19 cases, especially as outbreaks in states like Arizona, California, and Florida are on the rise. Mass gatherings are risky, even if they are outside, as the protests are.

This is why many protestors have arrived at these events masked, equipped with hand sanitizer,