It is “undoubtedly a risk" that coronavirus infections in the UK will surge following the Black Lives Matter protests, the Health Secretary has said.
Matt Hancock issued the warning after his plea for protesters to stick by lockdown rules was ignored on Saturday as thousands descended on Parliament Square.
Scores of anti-racist protesters defied the ban on mass gatherings and seemingly failed to socially distance as they marched through central London.
It was the third mass protest in the capital in a week following the death of unarmed African American George Floyd in US police custody.
Thousands more are set to flock to London’s US Embassy, in Vauxhall, and other demos later for another round of demonstrations.
Mr Hancock told the Sophy Ridge on Sunday show: "I support very strongly the argument that is being made by those who are protesting for more equality and against discrimination, but the virus itself doesn't discriminate.
"Gathering in large groups is temporarily against the rules precisely because it increases the risk of the spread of this virus.
London: Black Lives Matter George Floyd protest - In pictures
"So I would urge people to make their argument, and I will support you in making that argument, but please don't spread this virus which has already done so much damage and we are starting to get under control."
Mr Hancock had warned the protesters to stay away, pointing out “we’re still facing a health crisis and coronavirus remains a real threat”.
His message was echoed by Home Secretary Priti Patel in a last-ditch plea on Saturday morning asking people, “please don't” attend the rallies.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said 14 officers were injured during heated clashes with protesters in Whitehall last night, following a largely peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration.
She condemned the "shocking and completely unacceptable" assaults and said she was “deeply saddened and depressed” by the skirmishes, which also erupted after Wednesday’s BLM march.
Protesters also took to the streets in Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield on Saturday over Mr Floyd, 46, who died after a white officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes in Minneapolis on May 25. The officer has been charged with second-degree murder.
Mr Hancock insisted the British police are “not like” their American counterparts, contrary to some of the chants at Saturday’s protests.
He told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show: “I think the police did a fantastic job, and I’m very proud of the British police for their professionalism, their restraint in the face of the tiny amount of violence – and I would stress it was a very small amount of violence – later on in the day.
“And I think that we can all be proud that the British police are not like the American police in this way and I think that’s a very good thing.”
