We should have the right to protest peacefully (under the constitution). We should take reasonable precautions to prevent spread of diseases, and not just this coronavirus. Do you wish to go to a large gathering to contract tuberculosis instead? Or hepatitis C? Or typhoid? As for comparing to other dangerous lifestyles, we already have laws against drink driving. We have the right to drink, and I will not judge someone for drinking. But, drink driving--you do not have that right. Neither do we have the right to recklessly spread diseases in the name of protest.
And yes, having more signage and props allows more distance between protesters or between protesters and the public. Last I knew, you cannot spread diseases using bullhorns and picket signs--and it is possible to have a mask that encourages patriotism and adherence to the constitution. For instance, a mask that is red, white, and blue and that comes with a placard with your message--and a microphone connected to a bullhorn that broadcasts your speech. That would make more sense than deliberately and recklessly defying means to limit spread of disease.
On the other hand, I feel that it is worth some increase in disease transmission to prevent communism. Which will kill far more people than coronavirus, or even tuberculosis, can. And the risks of allowing communism are far worse. With coronavirus, there is a good chance of not even getting sick and another good chance that it will be just like a cold. Yes, you could transmit it to someone else that will die from it. But, if they use it as a blind to institute 5G, RFID chips, and total communism, there is no chance for anyone to have no or mild impact. Everyone will be seriously impacted, and most will die from it. Including those who would have died from the coronavirus, which means you protected no one.