America greets holiday weekend with virus caution

Many keep guard up as rules ease.

Associated Press
Sat, 23 May 2020 19:20:32 GMT

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WASHINGTON — President Trump played golf at one of his courses Saturday at the start of the Memorial Day weekend as he urged U.S. states to reopen after coronavirus-related lockdowns.

But many Americans remain cautious as the number of confirmed cases nationwide passed 1.6 million.

In California, where many businesses and recreational activities are reopening, officials in Los Angeles County said they will maintain tight restrictions until July 4.

Some religious leaders took issue with Mr. Trump’s declaration that houses of worship are “essential” and should resume in-person services this weekend.

“Being at the epicenter of this pandemic and in order to protect our flock, we advise that congregations remain closed until more accurate and uniform information is provided,” said Bishop Paul Egensteiner, who oversees the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s congregations in America’s congregations in the hard-hit New York City region.

Statewide, New York reported its lowest number of daily coronavirus deaths — 84 — in many weeks in what Gov. Andrew Cuomo described as a critical benchmark.

The daily death tally peaked at 799 on April 8.

“For me, it’s a sign that we’re making real progress,” Mr. Cuomo said.

He signed an order late Friday allowing people in New York to assemble in groups of as many as 10 as long as they stay at least six feet from other people and wear masks when they can’t maintain that distance.

The surprise order came hours after the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit challenging earlier rules allowing gatherings only for religious services and Memorial Day commemorations.

Mr. Cuomo’s move could clear the way for New Yorkers to picnic together in parks and backyards — if they don’t get too close to their friends.

They can also head to New York City beaches this weekend, but they shouldn’t expect to get in the water and they’d better be wearing a mask.

While beaches elsewhere in the region will be open for swimming, Mayor Bill de Blasio has said swimming is not allowed at the city’s beaches and may not be all summer.

“I’ve been really clear about the beaches; they are closed for swimming,” Mr. de Blasio said Friday. “There will not be lifeguards. People are not supposed to go to the beach to swim.”

Rain dampened the start of the holiday weekend in the Northeast, where newly reopened beaches had been expected to attract crowds of people and test the effectiveness of social distancing rules.

At Orchard Beach in the Bronx, which was crowded a weekend earlier, parking lots were mostly empty.

Farther south, Mr. Trump played golf at one of his private clubs for the first time during the pandemic — the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia.

He has been pushing for state and local leaders to fully reopen after months of closures and tight restrictions.

Parts of New Orleans were stirring to back life, with some restaurants and businesses opening their doors for the first time in more than two months.

Some remained closed, especially in the French Quarter, which relies largely on tourist dollars.

At least a few out-of-towners trickled in. Greer Falls of Augusta, Ga., wore a mask as he entered the Royal House restaurant for lunch.

After weeks at home, he said he was ready for a change of scenery and didn’t want to miss a birthday celebration with friends he’s known for decades.

Some amusement parks, such as Mt. Olympus in the Wisconsin Dells and Lagoon amusement park in Farmington, Utah, opened to visitors for the first time in months.

The Facebook sites for both parks were flooded with comments from visitors excited to ride go-karts or roller coasters, though some complained about Lagoon’s policy of requiring a mask for park entry.

The pandemic has killed at least 338,000 people worldwide and infected more than 5.2 million, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

The university says more than 96,000 people have died of the coronavirus in the United States.

Religious events helped spread the virus early in the pandemic; resuming gatherings of the faithful is an especially thorny issue.

Mindful of evangelical Christians who are key to his base of support ahead of November’s election, Mr. Trump on Friday labeled houses of worship as “essential” and urged governors to let them reopen this weekend.

Leaders of many denominations have said they plan to move gradually and cautiously.

In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz said he is scrapping his 10-person limit on group gatherings and allowing houses of worship to open at 25 percent occupancy if safety guidelines are met.

“Being at the epicenter of this pandemic and in order to protect our flock, we advise that congregations remain closed until more accurate and uniform information is provided,” said Bishop Paul Egensteiner, who oversees the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s congregations in the hard-hit New York City region.

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