There's a lot of protesting right now and no reason to think there’s not more on the way.

Still, we’re in the middle of a pandemic and the COVID-19 surge is roaring on. More than 350,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, and public health experts agree that we need to continue wearing face masks, staying 6 feet apart from each other and avoiding large crowds.

Still, protestors who have gathered in groups across the country, both last summer and today, have decided their cause is worth the risk.

Dr. John Card of Novant Health Adult Primary Care Harper Hill in Winston-Salem offers the following advice for protecting yourself and others at protests.

If you go to a protest

Should you choose to attend demonstrations and marches, follow these guidelines to minimize risk:

Wear a cloth mask over your nose and mouth. Consider wearing construction-grade goggles, too.

Make your point with signs, percussion instruments or other noisemakers. Don’t use noisemakers that you blow into. They spread respiratory droplets.

Bring your own water and hand sanitizer.

Ideally, you should self-quarantine for 14 days after being part of a crowd. Avoid contact with anyone in a high-risk group, such as people with compromised immune systems and seniors.