WASHINGTON, May 14 (WNM/ Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security) - Reports of violence associated with physical distancing policies continue, in the United States and elsewhere, as countries develop and implement plans to ease these restrictions while mitigating the risk of a resurgence in transmission.

In addition to high-profile protests over state social distancing requirements in the US, there have also been a number of incidents involving law enforcement (https://apnews.com/012f3c6a3706316776e2d7128531e68e) or members of the public violating or trying to enforce social distancing measures.

One major point of contention as state and local governments adjust social distancing measures is the use of face masks or coverings (https://abcnews.go.com/US/incomprehensible-confrontations-masks-erupt-amid-covid-19-crisis/story?id=70494577). Face coverings are mandatory in some parts of the country but not others, and some governments have maintained requirements for mask use in public as they ease other restrictions. In some states where mask use is not mandatory, individual businesses are permitted to set their own requirements, which can result in variations within the same community.

Confrontations between employees and patrons over mask requirements have resulted in multiple physical altercations (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-men-arrested-attack-target-security-guard-over-face-mask-n1205321) and at least one shooting in the United States (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/us/coronavirus-masks-dollar-store-shooting-flint-Michigan.html).

Other incidents involving violence related to enforcing physical distancing have been reported in other countries as well, including the United Kingdom (https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/woman-attacks-customer-social-distancing) and Germany (https://www.dw.com/en/germany-police-attacked-while-enforcing-social-distancing-measures/a-53098580).