Americans split on holidays amid COVID-19
Memorial Day weekend expected to test social distancing effectiveness
NEW YORK— U.S. President Donald Trump played golf at one of his courses Saturday during the Memorial Day weekend as he urged states to reopen after coronavirus-related lockdowns. Yet many Americans remained cautious as the number of confirmed cases across the country passed 1.6 million.
In California, where many businesses and recreational activities are reopening, officials in Los Angeles County said they would maintain tight restrictions until July 4. Some religious leaders took issue with Trump’s declaration that houses of worship are “essential” and should resume in-person services this weekend.
“Being at the epicentre 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.
Statewide, New York reported its lowest number of daily coronavirus deaths — 84 — in many weeks, which 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,” Cuomo said.
Rain dampened the start of the holiday weekend in the Northeastern U.S., where newly reopened beaches were expected to attract throngs 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 except for large puddles.
Farther south, 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 stirred back to life, with some restaurants and businesses opening 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.
Overseas, there was mixed news. New coronavirus cases in China fell to zero on Saturday for the first time since the outbreak began, but surged in India and overwhelmed hospitals across Latin America.
Many governments are easing restrictions as they face a political backlash and historic recessions. In just a few months, the pandemic has killed more than 340,000 people worldwide and infected more than 5.2 million, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. It says more than 96,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States.
Turkey, which has recorded more than 155,000 infections, imposed its toughest lockdown measures yet starting Saturday for the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan. Yemen’s Houthi rebels urged believers to use masks and stay inside, as authorities try to contain infections at a time usually marked by multi-generational feasting and collective prayer.