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© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Memorial Day weekend draws crowds and triggers warnings
By CURT ANDERSON and BRIAN MAHONEY ST PETERSBURG, Fla©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
32 Comments
oldman_13
Amazing. People around the world have had it with this lockdown nonsense. They are openly defying stay at home, social distancing, and mask wearing orders. No uptick in coronavirus deaths or infections in general have been observed in these places.
Sure I can see precautions at first but no longer is it necessary.
PTownsend
Time will tell.
kurisupisu
More space on a big beach than inside a rush hour train...
Wolfpack
So many cancer, cardiac and other patients are not getting diagnosed and treated. There are millions of people without jobs. National governments are hugely in debt. There are no good options anymore. Things need to open up again - responsibly and by being careful with those who are at high risk. It is the sad reality that the world faces.
nostromo
The land of the free and the home of the brave (not to mention socially irresponsible)....
Yrral
American will have a bleak Christmas, no vaccine, just the pestilence of corinavirus spreading
The Avenger
IF these ***** were only going to make themselves sick and/or die, it wouldn't be too bad.
However, there's a good chance that they will infect some of their family members and people they encounter in other locations.
And worst of all, they'll eventually show up at a hospital emergency department looking for someone to help them, and they'll be putting all the healthcare workers at risk of illness and possible death.
These may be the people cutting your hair at the salon or working at the cash register when you go to the grocery store. They don't seem to realize that they're putting others in danger with this type of behavior.
And that's how clueless and selfish a lot of America has become.
bass4funk
I agree with you on everything except the mask part, I think for awhile we should be wearing masks, but we still need to remain vigilant, but other than that, it’s been long enough, time to live again.
ulysses
I feel for you Dr. Birx, the not so smart people are putting every else in danger without any fear of consequences.
When our beloved leader, trump doesn't wear a mask, it's not a surprise that the no so mart people will do the same.
bass4funk
Nonsense, people are not sheep. Trump supporters or Trump haters, some people can’t wear masks and some don’t want to depending on the situation, I don’t think you necessarily need to wear one in every situation, but for the time being you should, but that’s up to the individual and people can make up their minds, Trump has nothing to do with it.
ArtistAtLarge
New increase in infection coming next weekend.
1glenn
Restaurants opened this weekend over here in South Cal. In some places, people are crowded in, and not wearing masks. Expecting a big increase in hospitalizations in about 3 weeks. Darwinism at work.
PTownsend
If so, that's a reflection on the inadequacies of many health systems.
Why, for example, did the US decide to reduce programs related to healthcare, specifically those related to pandemics and viruses.
Why were medical systems at all levels so ill-prepared for a pandemic that had long been predicted.
Way passed time for a reconsideration of 'just in time' and other approaches when it comes to essential services, which healthcare should be.
The Avenger
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” – Charles Darwin
lesenfant
Expect a huge spike in 2 weeks then.
Serrano
I see problems in the top photo. Not so much in the bottom photo.
People still need to social distance but at the same time it is imperative to open up the economy to avoid a major depression that would kill more than this virus.
lincolnman
And as our Stable Genius President said to his evangelical faithful; "Let us be free....unlock these doors keeping our faithful from praying in their churches - open our houses of religion or I will use my authority to open them"....
Kinda sounds like Charlton Heston in the Ten Commandments, doesn't it. Ironic given Trump has broken all ten.
Meanwhile, in the real world;
Contact tracing found that an additional 26 people were infected after interacting with attendees of the church, and one person from that group died.
Most of the cases were aged 19 and older.
Both the pastor and his wife developed coronavirus symptoms
https://www.axios.com/cdc-arkansas-church-coronavirus-outbreak-fb265e5a-5db7-4ace-9bc4-098e0d09e7fd.html
And;
The prayer meeting kicked off the biggest cluster of COVID-19 in France - one of northern Europe’s hardest-hit countries - to date, local government said. Around 2,500 confirmed cases have been linked to it. Worshippers at the church have unwittingly taken the disease caused by the virus home to the West African state of Burkina Faso, to the Mediterranean island of Corsica, to Guyana in Latin America, to Switzerland, to a French nuclear power plant, and into the workshops of one of Europe’s biggest automakers.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-church-spec/special-report-five-days-of-worship-that-set-a-virus-time-bomb-in-france-idUSKBN21H0Q2
And there's lots more examples like this.
So the question has to be asked - is Trump trying to deliberately infect his supporters?
It is unfortunately for those involved, the way most cults come to an end...
Antiquesaving
After weeks on stay home here in Japan and the size, space available we are finally at the point we need to restock, so Sunday we thought we would go out masks, hand sanitizer very early to Costco before opening and then a few quick stops at other places to do so! Well, despite what was on their website it seemed they were back to regular hours and the number of people was off the charts long line of families kids parents, grandparents lined up to the 2nd floor parking all the way around it fee had masks, none socially distancing, we left didn't even try parking, but found the same thing repeated over and over in nearly every place we tried going. It seems even here people are at the point of they don't care anymore. We stopped at one place with few people got the minimum we can survive with and went home but how much longer can we keep this up, my wife is working from home, my business is shut down so no money, my 2 adult children only one has partial pay from working from home. ¥100,000 each is not going to make much difference.
ulysses
Our beloved president, trump and our even more beloved Vice President pence willfully do not wear masks in public.
So is it any surprise that the lambs, ones who have outsourced their thinking ability to their dear leaders, will follow them!!!
lincolnman
The headline ought to read - "Trump Tells Governors to Open Churches on Memorial Day Weekend Sunday - On Same Sunday Trump Plays Golf"....
Just one more example of our "Do As I Say, Not As I Do" President...
Don't hire illegal immigrants! Has long history of hiring illegal immigrants at his properties...
Don't do business with China - Hire Americans! Has extensive business contracts with China to make his clothing line...
Wear a Mask! Except me...
Open Churches so people can attend! Goes to play golf on same Sunday he demanded they be open...
Don The Con...conning all his supporters...
Goodlucktoyou
Just take malaria pills.
Joe Blow
I've been taking precautions seriously since February: wearing a mask at all times when I go outside, washing my hands with soap, using alcohol spray, keeping social distancing.
But at the same time I wonder if this pandemic is even real or if it's just another government power grab, the same way that the Patriot Act was.
Antiquesaving
Here is the problem I have. Corona is said to be dangerous to the ones that fall into the vulnerable category. Well what is that exactly? The west says elderly but Japan has the oldest population in the world and all figures (based on total deaths from all cause from January to the end of April) has not changed, spiked from previous years. So then we have those with category 1 heart/coronary problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc... and those with category 2 immuno compromised illnesses. The UK has at least 3 studies showing that 73% of all those seriously ill are obese/overweight that is because they are the ones with the problems of category 1. Only 26% are category 2 and other underlying problems. So in these 3 studies hold true for other developed countries the USA with nearly 40% obese and over 70% seriously overweight that means most of the population is in the high risk category 1. Seeing Japan has less than 5% obesity and heart/coronary disease is low even in the elderly population puts most of the Japanese population in the low risk category. So how is the USA ever going to be able to actually open up again if they are in such a high vulnerable position.
u_s__reamer
Here we go again...
Btw. I've just seen my shadow, so for me it'll be later rather than sooner, even if 6 more weeks seems like a stretch.
Serrano
Don The Con
He's been a total disaster and failure.
Biden 2020
What could go wrong?
Sneezy
Yes, it is.
TheLongTermer
Lincolnman did you get your check? I got mine, courtesy of our president, still havent got nothing from Abe though. Lot of people stranded in HK, probably here also, no job, working in hotels etc. I bet they would appreciate a check from their country.
TheLongTermer
Everything. You think things are bad now.....)
u_s__reamer
Biden's attack ad showing an out-of-shape Trump swinging his clubs and "setting an example" to the nation as the death toll mounts is already out! But no ad of Trump piously at prayer in a church (asking for forgiveness?) is a missed photo-op to counter the inevitable criticism.
Trump is gambling optimistically with his gut that there won't be a Memorial Day weekend second-wave. Only time will tell, but the optics of congregating crowds don't look good.
Blacklabel
again with the Arkansas church acting like it was last week. when it was really the first weekend in March.