70 coronavirus test sites were destroyed during the George Floyd protests, according to the US government. Officials worry it could lead to a spike of infections.

• Seventy coronavirus test sites have been destroyed during US protests against George Floyd's death, leaving White House officials fearing a spike in infections.
• In audio leaked to The Daily Beast, Dr Deborah Birx — the White House coronavirus task force chief — told state governors on Monday there had been a resultant drop in testing.
• "Scramble now to make sure there is testing available in urban areas," Birx said.
• Birx also said that relentless yelling by protesters may have outweighed the benefits of wearing masks.

Seventy coronavirus testing sites have been destroyed during George Floyd protests, leaving the top US COVID-19 official warning of a spike in infections, The Daily Beast reported.

In leaked audio, Dr Deborah Birx, the White House's coronavirus response coordinator, told Vice President Mike Pence and state governors that testing has subsequently dipped, The Daily Beast reported.

"Scramble now to make sure there is testing available in urban areas," Birx reportedly said on Monday.

The damage meant there was a drop in testing numbers, which Pence said "is a concern" and "an issue our team is following."

It is not clear which sites were destroyed and in which cities.

Birx expressed concern that because protesters were shouting so much, that could "negate the health benefits of wearing a mask," The Daily Beast also reported.

In a separate call with governors and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 3, Birx said protests would likely lead to a spike in infections.

"This could result in a fight over the next two weeks," she said, according to audio of that meeting, also leaked to The Daily Beast.

Birx also told governors it was "absolutely critical" that law enforcement who worked at the protests but did not wear masks get tested as well.

Protests against racism and police brutality that started on May 25 after the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer have entered their third week and spread around the globe.

Tens of thousands of people marched, close together and wearing masks, in hundreds of towns and cities across the US.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the US' top infectious disease expert, warned on Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak "isn't over."