HOUSTON – Marches and protests in Houston and across the country are putting a lot of people at risk of contracting the coronavirus. “The massive demonstrations taking place across the country are causing concern about a new explosion of cases in the next five to seven days,” said Dr. John Torres, NBC Medical Expert. For example, tear gas can cause people to remove their masks and have a physical reaction. “Tear gas used in violent protests makes people tear up and cough, dispersing respiratory droplets that can then travel further and infect more people,” Torres said. “Social distancing isn’t happening in crowds of people and close contact for a long period of time can cause a sea of spread that can be catastrophic,” said Torres.