[M T]

or perhaps the demonstrations (if the chain of cases could be traced back to that, but as I recall that was a verboten question).

Just to be clear, debating whether demonstrations led to a subsequent rise in cases is not verboten, as long as the discussion is in the context of an activity having potential to spread infections.  Debating the demonstrations themselves, outside that context, however, is probably closer to running afoul of the Terry rule.

I wasn't clear.  I mistakenly thought that California prohibited COVID-19 tracers from asking about participation in the protests.  The report I had heard was about NYC, and it was not fully correct.  Apparently NYC would ask if the person was in any large crowd or event, but wouldn't directly ask about the demonstrations.

No, I didn't think that we couldn't discuss here the impact of those events on the course of the epidemic.  (For SCC, it is unfortunate that the demonstrations began on May 29 and the county opened certain segments on June 1.  The two are almost too close together to distinguish whether one or the other had an impact.  However, I hope the contact tracers are getting clear evidence the exposures that led to the current spike in SCC and elsewhere.  Different regions may have different causes.)



A problem for tracking spread at the demonstrations is that individuals at those gatherings probably didn't know most of the people that were near them. The Apple/Google app would have been useful in that scenario, without giving anyone any information of who was there (as I understand it).



By the way, for anyone in Joe Simitian's SCC district, there is another telephone town hall this Sunday regarding COVID-19.  (These are available for replay a few days after the event.)

[M T]

or perhaps the demonstrations (if the chain of cases could be traced back to that, but as I recall that was a verboten question).

Just to be clear, debating whether demonstrations led to a subsequent rise in cases is not verboten, as long as the discussion is in the context of an activity having potential to spread infections.  Debating the demonstrations themselves, outside that context, however, is probably closer to running afoul of the Terry rule.

I wasn't clear.  I mistakenly thought that California prohibited COVID-19 tracers from asking about participation in the protests.  The report I had heard was about NYC, and it was not fully correct.  Apparently NYC would ask if the person was in any large crowd or event, but wouldn't directly ask about the demonstrations.

No, I didn't think that we couldn't discuss here the impact of those events on the course of the epidemic.  (For SCC, it is unfortunate that the demonstrations began on May 29 and the county opened certain segments on June 1.  The two are almost too close together to distinguish whether one or the other had an impact.  However, I hope the contact tracers are getting clear evidence the exposures that led to the current spike in SCC and elsewhere.  Different regions may have different causes.)



A problem for tracking spread at the demonstrations is that individuals at those gatherings probably didn't know most of the people that were near them. The Apple/Google app would have been useful in that scenario, without giving anyone any information of who was there (as I understand it).



By the way, for anyone in Joe Simitian's SCC district, there is another telephone town hall this Sunday regarding COVID-19.  (These are available for replay a few days after the event.)