Out and about but still wary
Gorgeous spring weather across the United States and Europe on Saturday, local time, drew people cooped up inside for weeks outside to soak in the sun, even as additional coronavirus hot spots in Russia and Pakistan emerged.
Though grateful to be outdoors, people were still wary – masks were worn everywhere, even on southern US beaches and by some joggers in Spain. A New York City farmer’s market enforced the familiar 2 metres of space between people waiting to buy spring flowers. Mothers in Central Park reminded their kids to give people space. And small groups of picnickers kept their safe distances, while joggers moved past each other without a glance.
Retired New York attorney Stan Neustadter pulled down his mask to say it’s been important to his spirit to get out. ‘‘Why live like a rabbit? Plus I’m approaching 78, I’ve had a great run,’’ Neustadter said.
Police and park officials were spread out across New York City, which sent out 1000 officers to enforce social distancing on the warmest day since mid-March.
‘‘Go for a walk, but respect the social distancing and wear a mask,’’ New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said.
Meanwhile, fighter jets from the US Navy Blue Angels and US Air Force Thunderbirds drew people outside as they flew over Atlanta, Baltimore and Washington in honour of health care workers.
New Jersey reopened state parks Saturday. Limited to 50 per cent capacity in their parking areas, several had to turn away additional arrivals by the afternoon. But nearly everyone followed the rules on social distancing and Governor Phil Murphy said ‘‘so far, so good’’ at his daily briefing.
Margie Roebuck and her husband were among the first people on the sand at Island Beach State Park.
‘‘Forty-six days in the house was enough,’’ she said.
Elsewhere in the world, the pandemic’s danger was still evident. Russia and Pakistan reported their biggest one-day spikes in new infections.
Overall, Russia has reported around 125,000 cases and more than 1200 deaths. True numbers are believed to be much higher because not everyone is tested. In the far northeast, 3000 of 10,000 workers at a vast natural gas field tested positive, Russian news agencies reported.
Moscow’s mayor said this week that officials are considering establishing temporary hospitals at sports complexes and shopping malls to deal with the influx of patients. Infection cases have reached the highest levels of government, with both the prime minister and the construction minister contracting the virus.
Pakistan appears to be joining Russia with rapidly increasing case counts. On Saturday, Pakistan announced nearly 1300 new cases, raising the total in the country of 220 million people to about 18,000.
Newspaper photographs showed large numbers of the faithful at Pakistani mosques and only some practising social distancing.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government said it might ease controls, but doctors have pleaded for stricter lockdowns, warning an explosion of infections would overwhelm hospitals with only 3000 intensive care beds nationwide.
The virus has killed more than 238,000 people worldwide, including more than 65,000 in the United States and more than 24,000 each in Italy, Britain, France and Spain, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Health experts warn a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically.
In Spain, where Covid-19 has caused more than 25,100 deaths, people ventured out Saturday for the first time since a March 14 lockdown.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spaniards deserved relief after weeks of confinement, but he asked citizens to remain vigilant.
‘‘Until we have a vaccine, we are going to see more outbreaks,’’ Sanchez said. ‘‘What we need to guarantee is that these outbreaks do not put our national health system in danger.’’ –