Doctors fear 4th of July gatherings could lead to explosion of COVID-19 cases

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ATLANTA — Some of the best doctors in metro Atlanta have an urgent warning just days before July 4.

People attending fireworks displays could lead to exponential growth of COVID-19 and if they are planning on going, they should wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Doctors say they’re expecting a surge in hospitalizations and possible deaths which is why it’s so important to wear a mask—to stop the spread.

Many fireworks shows have been cancelled. But health experts fear that’s not going to stop people from gathering on the fourth.

People like Ron Ricker told Channel 2′s Sophia Choi that he wears a mask indoors but not outside.

“We can social distance outside,” Ricker said.  

Emory University health experts say in or out, they want you to wear a mask on this Fourth of July holiday after witnessing the lack of social distancing amongst crowds on Memorial Day.

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“The increase we’re seeing nationally and particularly here in the south can really be traced to Memorial Day weekend,” said Emory epidemiologist Dr. Carlos del Rio.

So this holiday, they are issuing a warning.

“There’s a reason to go to the grocery store, there’s a reason why we may need to go to the hardware store, but there isn’t a reason to hold a large barbeque in the back yard,” said Emory Healthcare CEO Dr. Johnathan Lewin.

Doctors say they won’t get into the politics of mandating masks but say in states that do require it, they see much more compliance.

One woman told Choi that she’s OK with mandating masks indoors.

“But if it’s out in the open, you shouldn’t have to wear a mask,” the woman said.

Emory doctors say cases in Georgia are growing exponentially with more than 2,000 new cases a day.

“These new cases are not because of testing. Testing picks up cases. It’s because of transmission,” del Rio said.

To minimize that transmission, doctors say wear a mask.

“My mask protects you, your mask protects me, and our masks together help protect the economic recovery,” Lewin said.

Doctors say there’s some lag time with this virus, so they expect hospitalizations to rise in the coming weeks from Memorial Day infections.

And if cases keep going up, they say the state could roll back some of the reopenings.

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