Coronavirus US protest: Truth behind disputed nurse photo revealed

A photo of a healthcare worker standing up to an anti-lockdown protester was accused of being “fake” – now the nurse has spoken out.

It’s a powerful photo that has come to sum up the anti-lockdown protests happening across the United States this week; a young nurse standing with her arms folded staring down a protester.

Now the healthcare worker from the photo has spoken out, denying the picture is “fake” after those against strict coronavirus lockdown measures accused healthcare workers of staging their counter-protest and even exaggerating how bad the virus is.

Lauren Leander is a nurse who works in an ICU unit for coronavirus patients in Arizona.

On Monday – her day off – she joined other healthcare workers to face down those protesting the strict social distancing measures being enforced in Arizona.

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This photo of ICU nurse Lauren Leander facing off against a protester has gone around the world. Picture: Twitter/Claudia Rupcich

Ms Leander told CNN she stood with her arms folded, only responding to those who were yelling at her when they came too close.

“It was heated. People were very fired up about what they had to say,” she said.

“A lot of the top comments we got were about us being fake nurses. There was a huge majority of them that still believe this virus is fake; that it’s a hoax and not real at all.

“They were convinced that we’re fake nurses and that’s why we weren’t talking.”

Ms Leander said she decided to join the counter-protest after seeing healthcare workers take part in other states.

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Lauren Leander spent her day off staring down the anti-lockdown protesters.

She said her counter-protest wasn’t about politics but rather being a voice for her coronavirus patients and educating about the virus.

“Our main message was that we wanted healthcare workers’ voices to be heard louder than misinformation and fear,” Ms Leander said.

“There will be a calm and controlled manner to reopen our economy and our state. You don’t open the flood gates and release everyone at once.”

Ms Leander said she has not seen her family since she began working in her hospital’s coronavirus ward after volunteering to work full-time there a month ago.

‘ACTORS PLAYING PARTS’

Former Arizona state senator and one-time US president hopeful Dr Kelli Ward this week cast doubt on healthcare workers who were counter-protesting.

EVEN IF these “spontaneously” appearing ppl at protests against govt overreach (sporting the same outfits, postures, & facial expressions) ARE involved in healthcare - when they appeared at rallies, they were actors playing parts. #Propaganda #FakeOutrage https://t.co/PRh2FGjW2Y pic.twitter.com/7XwggmHM4s

— Dr. Kelli Ward 🇺🇸 (@kelliwardaz) April 21, 2020

In response to Dr Ward’s tweet, Ms Leander offered to take the politician on a tour of her ICU ward if she is able to.

The ex-politician is just one of countless people in the US who has joined calls for the country to be taken out of lockdown.

“Patriots rallies” have been taking place across country in states including Michigan, Pennsylvania, California and Ohio in response to the economic consequences of shutdowns, demanding that businesses reopen.

This is despite the US leading the global numbers for most coronavirus cases. At present, more than 887,000 people in the US have been confirmed to have COVID-19 and over 50,000 people have died from the disease.

Some governors have begun easing up despite warnings from health authorities that it may be too soon to do so without sparking a second wave of infections. In Georgia, gyms, hair salons and bowling alleys can reopen on Friday. Texas has reopened its state parks.

The protesters’ efforts have been cheered on by US President Donald Trump, who has tweeted messages of support for several states.

People across the United States have taken to the streets to protest lockdown.

Unemployment in the US is swelling to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with one in six American workers losing their job as a result of the virus, according to data released on Thursday.

In response to the deepening economic crisis, the House passed a nearly $US500 billion ($A786 billion) spending package to help businesses and hospitals.

More than 4.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, the government reported. In all, roughly 26 million people have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks.

In the hardest-hit corner of the US, evidence emerged that perhaps 2.7 million New York State residents have been infected by the virus – 10 times the number confirmed by lab tests.

– with AP