Italy eases lockdown, U.S. lifts some restrictions
ROME ( AP) — Italy started stirring Monday, with millions of people allowed to return to work as Europe’s longest coronavirus lockdown started easing, while the U.S. took halting steps to lift some restrictions even as tens of thousands of new cases were reported every day.
In Washington, the Senate convened for the first time since March, while dozens of people in Florida waited before sunrise for the 7 a. m. opening of Clearwater Beach. A shuttered pork processing plant in South Dakota took its first steps toward reopening after more than 800 employees were infected with coronavirus.
Louisiana lawmakers were also restarting their legislature — even as they feuded over whether they should return at all.
Political battles have become increasingly embedded in U.S. coronavirus policy. In Louisiana, Republican legislators irritated by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ decision to extend the state’s stay-at-home order through May 15 were eager to return to work.
But Democrats saw things differently: “It could be a devastating blow to the strides made and to the safety of our residents, our staff and members if we returned to business as usual prematurely,” Democratic leaders wrote in a letter.
The moves to open U.S. states came even as the country’s one- day death toll stood at 1,313 on Sunday with more than 25,500 confirmed new infections, according the most recent Johns Hopkins University count. The real numbers are likely significantly higher.
Governments around the world have reported 3.5 million infections and more than 253,000 deaths, including more than 68,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. Deliberately concealed outbreaks, low testing rates and the severe strain the disease has placed on health care systems mean the true scale of the pandemic is undoubtedly much greater.
Italy, the first European country hit by the pandemic and a nation with one of the world’s highest death tolls, began opening up cautiously after its twomonth shutdown — allowing 4.4 million Italians to return to work.
Traffic in downtown Rome picked up, construction sites and manufacturing operations resumed, parks reopened and flower vendors returned to the Campo dei Fiori market for the first time since March 11.
“It’s something that brings happiness and joy, and people have been missing that these days,” vendor Stefano Fulvi said. He doesn’t expect to break even anytime soon, “but you have to take the risk at some point.”
But Europeans’ newfound freedoms are limited as o cials are wary of setting o a second wave of infections. In Italy, mourners were allowed to attend funerals, with services limited to 15 people. Restaurants scrubbed floors in preparation for take-out service. Sit-down service was several weeks away.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and one of the first U.S. governors to impose a statewide stay- home order, announced that some businesses in the state will receive permission to reopen as early as Friday, with restrictions.
Newsom’s phasedin plan allows clothing stores, sporting goods, florists and other retailers to resume operations with curbside pickup. Dining in at restaurants and office reopenings are still prohibited.
California’s state Assembly restarted its legislative session Monday, though the Senate will not bring members back until May 11.
California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said members must be at the Capitol to participate in committee hearings and floor sessions, based on legal advice that votes taken remotely “would likely be challenged in the courts and thrown out.”
He said uncomfortable state lawmakers are “encouraged to stay home. We are definitely not forcing anybody to come to work.”
Often, it was unclear just what would reopen.
Meanwhile, the city of Miami Beach closed seaside South Pointe Park after too many people refused to wear face masks or remain socially distanced over the weekend.
Carnival Cruise Line, meanwhile, which saw a series of high-profile outbreaks on its ships, announced Monday it will start cruises again in August, leaving from Florida and Texas. The Caribbean trips will be the company’s first since the pandemic forced a near-total pause in the global cruise industry.