npr--2020-06-28--In Colombia, Tax-Free Holidays Lead Critics To Decry 'COVID Friday'

After imposing one of the tightest coronavirus lockdowns in Latin America , Colombia is now searching for ways to jump-start its economy .
One experiment is a series of tax-free shopping days , but critics fear they could turn out to be super-spreader events .
At a time when the country is facing a spike in COVID-19 cases , urging Colombians to flock to stores and malls `` sends an erroneous message , '' said Bogotá Mayor Claudia López .
Sales tax in Colombia is a whopping 19 % , so it was a big deal when the government designated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The idea is to convince Colombians who had largely been confined to their homes for the past three months to venture out — and open up their wallets .
They did just that on Friday , June 19 , the first of the three tax holidays .
At many stores , mobs of shoppers turned out in a Black-Friday-like frenzy .
Retail sales jumped five-fold , according to the Colombian government , prompting President Iván Duque to declare the event a roaring success .
But the crowds were so large that social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to close down 86 stores nationwide .
Bogotá city official Luis Gomez went into one crowded electronics store and personally ordered customers to leave .
`` People need to understand that it 's not worth risking their lives for a discount , '' he told reporters .
Colombia has registered more than 2,500 deaths from COVID-19 , according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University .
That is far fewer than neighboring Brazil , Peru and Ecuador .
Still , the virus is surging in Latin America and health officials in Colombia say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Indeed , the shopping spree came just as Colombia registered its highest daily rate of new infections and deaths .
That prompted López , the Bogotá mayor , to label the spending free-for-all `` COVID Friday . ''
She suggested the tax holidays should be for online shopping only .
Guillermo García , a Bogotá lawyer who stayed home for the tax holiday , said it makes no sense for the government to first promote extreme caution through tight lockdown measures , only to then turn around and promote crowding in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think all the sacrifices we made over the past three months will be lost , '' he said .
So far , there are no plans to cancel the two remaining tax holidays scheduled for July 3 and July 19 .

In Colombia, Tax-Free Holidays Lead Critics To Decry 'COVID Friday'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nathalia Angarita /Bloomberg via Getty Images Nathalia Angarita /Bloomberg via Getty Images
After imposing one of the tightest coronavirus lockdowns in Latin America, Colombia is now searching for ways to jump-start its economy. One experiment is a series of tax-free shopping days, but critics fear they could turn out to be super-spreader events.
At a time when the country is facing a spike in COVID-19 cases, urging Colombians to flock to stores and malls "sends an erroneous message," said Bogotá Mayor Claudia López.
Sales tax in Colombia is a whopping 19%, so it was a big deal when the government designated three days this summer as tax holidays. The idea is to convince Colombians who had largely been confined to their homes for the past three months to venture out — and open up their wallets.
They did just that on Friday, June 19, the first of the three tax holidays. At many stores, mobs of shoppers turned out in a Black-Friday-like frenzy. Retail sales jumped five-fold, according to the Colombian government, prompting President Iván Duque to declare the event a roaring success.
But the crowds were so large that social distancing went out the window and officials had to close down 86 stores nationwide. Bogotá city official Luis Gomez went into one crowded electronics store and personally ordered customers to leave.
"People need to understand that it's not worth risking their lives for a discount," he told reporters.
Colombia has registered more than 2,500 deaths from COVID-19, according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University. That is far fewer than neighboring Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. Still, the virus is surging in Latin America and health officials in Colombia say it's no time to slack off.
Indeed, the shopping spree came just as Colombia registered its highest daily rate of new infections and deaths. That prompted López, the Bogotá mayor, to label the spending free-for-all "COVID Friday." She suggested the tax holidays should be for online shopping only.
Guillermo García, a Bogotá lawyer who stayed home for the tax holiday, said it makes no sense for the government to first promote extreme caution through tight lockdown measures, only to then turn around and promote crowding in the name of boosting the economy.
"I think all the sacrifices we made over the past three months will be lost," he said.
So far, there are no plans to cancel the two remaining tax holidays scheduled for July 3 and July 19.


npr--2020-06-28--Global Lives Lost: From A Wise And Wonderful Grandma To A Soccer Pioneer

Global Lives Lost : From A Wise And Wonderful Grandma To A Soccer Pioneer Our blog covers the globe .
And as we in the U.S. mourn the citizens who died of novel coronavirus , we also wanted to pay tribute to lives lost around the world .
Since the start of the pandemic , COVID-19 has claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 people worldwide .
We asked writers , activists and global development champions to share a tribute to someone in their country who has passed away from the disease .
They include famous people — a soccer trailblazer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , political leaders — and regular folks — a beloved grandmother , a single mom who reached out to help others during this crisis , the 8-year-old child of Mexican immigrants and others .
The indigenous actor who made it to the Oscars On May 1 , Antonio Bolívar , a tourist guide and part-time actor from the Amazon River port of Leticia , Colombia , died of COVID-19-related illness at the age of 75 .
He belonged to the small Ocaina indigenous tribe and was one of its few members who still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Embrace of the Serpent '' became the first Colombian film to be nominated for an Academy Award thanks , in large part , to his intense performance .
In the film , Bolívar plays Karamakate , a shaman and the last survivor of an Amazonian tribe who frets that he is losing touch with his culture .
He deals with rapacious rubber barons and religious fanatics as he guides an American botanist through the jungle to find a sacred healing plant .
In its glowing review of the film , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` no innocent , noble savage but an angry , morally complex individual with a heart full of grief . ''
Bolívar was in his 70s when he had his on-screen breakthrough – but because of COVID-19 , he had little time to enjoy his fame .
Eight-year-old Aurea Yolotzin Soto Morales was a playful , intelligent second grader .
Her family and friends called her Yoshi .
She died on June 1 , just four days after she tested positive for COVID-19 .
Born and raised in Durham , North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salvador Soto and Araceli Morales Martinez , both immigrants from Mexico .
The name Yoshi comes from her full name , Aurea Yolotzin .
Her mother chose the indigenous Nahuatl name .
She translates it into Spanish as `` corazoncito de oro , '' or `` little heart of gold . ''
`` She was a jokester , '' says her mother , Morales Martinez — the type of little girl who liked sneaking up behind her older sister , Jennifer , just to spook her and get a laugh .
She loved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hated wearing shoes and climbed on playground rocks barefoot to dance at the top .
The family took trips to Disney World every spring , where Yoshi and Jennifer celebrated their birthdays together , even though they were almost 10 years apart .
Yoshi loved these trips to visit her favorite princesses and feast on macarons .
Yoshi 's death marks the first and only pediatric death in North Carolina so far .
Latinos are disproportionately affected by the virus , making up 45 % of positive cases in the state , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Human Services .
Yoshi 's family urges their community to take the virus seriously .
`` It is very difficult not to cry when remembering our favorite star , '' says Morales Martinez of her daughter .
`` She gave us light and smiles at every moment . ''
Victoria Bouloubasis is an award-winning immigration journalist , food writer and documentary filmmaker based in Durham , N.C. 'Always in our hearts , Rocio is present' On June 23 , Rocio Choque died of complications due to COVID-19 in Buenos Aires .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three children .
At the beginning of the pandemic , economic necessity brought her to a soup kitchen in a slum called Villa 1-11-14 .
At first , she went to feed her family .
She decided to join the other essential workers who voluntarily provided services to their community with love and care .
`` She was very participative , she always collaborated in everything , '' said Nelly Quispe , one of her colleagues at the soup kitchen .
Choque 's death was not just the result of a pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal job opportunities are not offered to undocumented immigrants like Choque , who came to Argentina from Bolivia to live in one of the city 's most populated and impoverished neighborhoods .
Choque hesitated and waited to go to the hospital after showing symptoms of COVID-19 .
A couple days after Choque died , a volunteer at the soup kitchen took a photo of Choque to the nearby town square .
They hung her picture on a tree , facing the neighborhood .
On it they wrote : `` Always in our hearts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pouchard Serra is a photojournalist based in Argentina .
This story is part of project supported by the Pulitzer Center .
Dr. Pamphil Silayo was a dedicated colleague and mentor working as the immunization specialist for UNICEF Tanzania , where I am a member of the staff .
He was 60 years old when he passed away in Dar Es Salaam on April 25 after a short battle with COVID-19 .
Most of us junior employees called him our `` big brother . ''
He was known by everyone on our team as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked with UNICEF Tanzania for 13 years , ensuring that children receive the immunizations they need .
And he worked with Tanzania 's Ministry of Health to introduce new vaccines .
Toward the end of last year , we had a health retreat in a place called Bagamoyo .
We sat close and shared a lot of discussions through the meeting .
At the end of the retreat we spent time together and took a walk .
He shared with me a lot of good advice on excelling career-wise — but also on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the importance of family .
His kindness will forever remain in our memories .
Noor Ramadhani is an Aspen fellow and a staffer at UNICEF Tanzania .
'She left this world the way she wanted' Durdana Rizvi passed on to her next life on May 29 , exactly a week after her 68th birthday in Karachi , Pakistan .
Andaleeb Rizvi is her daughter .
She said she was loving , always cheerful and a strong and fiercely independent mother .
A virology graduate from the Illinois Institute of Technology , she worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Children 's Memorial Hospital Chicago before coming to Pakistan and setting up her own lab .
Her cousins lovingly called Rizvi `` Doctor Durdana . ''
Andaleeb 's friends even referred to her `` Amma , '' which means `` mother '' in Urdu .
Andaleeb says her mother was a great teacher who helped many students enroll for matriculation and higher studies .
`` Our family 's anchor , she was the one who everyone called if their child was choking on something or when their parent was refusing to see a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her beautiful smile and sense of humor will live with her four children forever . ''
The daughter shared a message that she wished she could tell her mom : `` I miss you a lot , but I 'm also content that you not only lived the way you wanted but even left this world the way you wanted : in the blink of an eye ; walking , talking — and gone . ''
Benazir Samad is a journalist from Pakistan currently in the U.S. as part of the Hubert H. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is sponsored by the U.S. State Department .
Remember for her altruism — and stir-fried noodles Yanti Hadinoto passed away from COVID-19 on March 28 , less than three weeks after Indonesia announced its first fatality from the virus .
Cooking was her strongest talent , so the stay-at-home mother spent most of her life serving her community through food .
Friends and family remember her not only for her stir fried noodles , grilled satay and Indonesian pastries but also her altruism and cheerful personality .
Hadinoto and her husband struggled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which devastated many businesses in Indonesia , but she never skimped on giving .
She volunteered to cook meals for events at her church , often paying for resources out of pocket .
Hadinoto 's youngest son , Samuel Kurniadjaja , recalls helping her drop off meals to the church 's ministers during Jakarta 's major flood in 2002 .
`` We had to spend quite a lot of money repairing the flooding damage to our car , '' says Kurniadjaja .
`` But even in difficult circumstances , she still wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hadinoto sang with the church choir and still cooked for many people , including people at senior homes .
Her family remembers her as a caring mother and a woman of unwavering faith .
`` She once told my sister , 'When someone you love passes , you 're allowed to grieve , but do n't forget the hope we have in God , ' '' says Kurniadjaja .
Stephanie Adeline is a former NPR intern and a journalist based in Jakarta , Indonesia .
While the March 31 passing of 68-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's first known COVID-19 fatality , the Senegalese sports journalist and football manager 's legacy will live on .
In 2004 , Diouf became the first Black manager of a major European soccer team , Olympique de Marseille in France .
Diouf was an inspiration not just to Senegalese athletes who were harboring dreams of soccer greatness but to the entire continent , says longtime friend and colleague Mamadou Koumé .
Diouf showed others the route to success — in spite of the racism often blocking his path .
`` He was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People said , 'Pape succeeded , why not me ? '
'' Diouf made soccer history , but he was also a beloved friend who cherished chatting for hours with his long-time buddies when he was back in the Senegalese capital of Dakar , where he had planned to spend much of his retirement .
`` He was extremely free with his time for you , generous to his friends , '' says Koumé .
`` For me there is now a big emptiness — to have lost a man so sincere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest .
He would tell you what he was thinking and you could also say what you were thinking . ''
Ricci Shryock is a freelance photographer and journalist based in Dakar , Senegal .
Neurosurgeon Dr. Simon Hercules , 55 , died of complications from COVID-19 on April 19 in the southern Indian city of Chennai .
He ran the New Hope Medical Center , which specialized in brain and spine surgeries .
His friends remember him as a man of few words .
But his actions , they say , always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hercules had started working on his dream project .
`` He would go to slums in Chennai and treat patients who needed his care , '' says Dr. Jason Alington , a general physician and a friend , who often accompanied him on these visits .
`` At first , he wanted to give all medicines at a subsidized cost of Rs 99 ( $ 1.31 ) , but when he saw the conditions there , he ended up providing the medications free of cost . ''
He held many free medical camps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floods that shook Chennai in 2015 and Cyclone Gaja in 2018 , treating hundreds of sick and injured people every day through his charity , the Antony Foundation .
In early April , Hercules contracted COVID-19 , presumably from one of his patients , says Dr. Pradeep Kumar , an orthopedic surgeon and colleague .
India was grappling with its first COVID-19 cases at the time , and stigma around the disease was rife .
Mobs blocked entry to the cemetery where the family intended to bury Hercules , because they were afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were wearing personal protective equipment in order to assist with the burial ) with stones .
`` I remember thinking , this is the kindest man I know .
He did not deserve this .
But then , the fear around the disease was intense , '' says Kumar , who considered Hercules a mentor .
Two hours later , with police protection , Hercules was laid to rest .
`` He made a difference , both as a skilled neurosurgeon and a compassionate human being , '' says Dr. Arun Mozhi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past decade , worked with Hercules on spinal surgeries .
`` He always found a way to ease suffering and pain around him . ''
Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai , India , who has written for The International New York Times , BBC Travel and Forbes India .
She taught me that 'us ' is more important than 'me' In an abrupt 3 a.m. call in late March , I was informed that my maternal grandmother — my Nanī , Biba Razzak — had passed away due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 took hold in Kashmir .
Since the testing criteria and capacity were limited in March in India , it is not clear if COVID-19 infection was the precipitating factor .
But the pandemic did delay her care and my family could n't access the resources they needed .
She was more than 80 years old ( I 'm not sure of the exact year of her birth ) .
She was raised in the old city of Srinagar in Kashmir and was one of the few girls who were educated at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an amazing cook , and it was hard to resist her signature lamb curry .
One of her characteristics was the ability to diffuse any tense situation : She could crack a joke no matter how serious everyone around her was , because she believed life was too short to be spent on anger .
There are innumerable lessons Nanī taught me — but probably the most important was about having a robust moral compass .
She taught me to fight injustice with kindness and compassion — even when opponents may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taught me about leadership and the importance of sharing — how `` us '' is always more important than `` me . ''
Junaid Nabi is a public health researcher at Brigham and Women 's Hospital .
Salman Tahir , a 22-year-old medical student , died from complications from COVID-19 on May 29 in Lahore , Pakistan .
Before he died , I was working with a health-care support group to arrange plasma for him , but we were too late .
A fourth-year student at Rashid Latif Medical College , Tahir had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His father is a prominent cardiologist and his mother is a gynecologist .
He understood , more than most , the sacrifices doctors make in a country with limited resources and a health care shortage .
Tahir was an enthusiastic member of his college 's drama society and had ambitious plans to pursue further medical specialization in the U.S. Tahir 's death shook the country .
The image of a healthy , vibrant young man , with his whole life ahead of him , is not one soon to be forgotten .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 50th anniversary of Earth Day – for the first time , without the usual street marches , press conferences , or tree planting events because of the pandemic .
But even if there were celebrations , Senator Heherson Alvarez , who legislated its yearly commemoration in the Philippines , would not make it to take part .
two days earlier , at age 80 , he succumbed to complications from COVID-19 .
Nicknamed `` Mr .
Environment , '' Alvarez was a tireless champion of environmental protection .
Starting his political career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alvarez would eventually help restore democracy and pioneer environmental legislation in his country 's congress .
Major environmental laws for cleaner air , proper waste management , protection of national parks , and energy management all bear his name .
In the early 1990s , Alvarez was one of the first Filipinos to sound the alarm on climate change when such advocates were ridiculed as hippies and naysayers .
Later , he would serve as inaugural head of the country 's Climate Change Commission , leading numerous delegations to the annual U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afar , in the halls of Congress or at the Paris negotiations , gave me tremendous inspiration and hope .
We may have failed to flatten the curve of COVID-19 fast enough to save Alvarez 's life , but flattening the curve of our carbon footprint to preserve the planet 's limits will aid in accomplishing his unfinished mission – and act as a fitting tribute to his life of service .
A Filipino physician and climate advocate , Renzo Guinto is a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute and a recent doctoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed away from complications of COVID-19 on April 17 .
He was 67 .
He was the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria .
Kyari was known for his loyalty to the president and love for his country .
He had traveled to Munich , Germany , on March 7 to sign an energy supply agreement on behalf of Nigeria and came back with symptoms of the virus .
Kyari inspired me with his confidence when he spoke to Nigerians after being confirmed positive of the virus .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will soon be back . ''
He never came back .
The legacy he left behind is his love for his country , care for the less-privileged and his support for the victims of Boko Haram .
I will always remember him for his patriotism .
Habiba Mohammed is director of the Center for Girls ' Education in Zaria , Nigeria .
The political prisoner who was 'more than a statistic' On June 24th , Zidane Shaltout , 64 , passed away from COVID-19 in Mahala City , Egypt , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A loving husband , father and son , Shaltout was detained by Egyptian security forces in December 2018 .
According to Committee for Justice , a Geneva-based human rights organization that has been following his case , it is unclear why he was arrested .
No charges were ever filed against him .
I could see how a disease like COVID-19 could have taken Shaltout 's life .
I was a political prisoner in Egypt , held for protesting against the 2013 coup d'etat by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and released after 22 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country are notoriously inhumane with a culture of systemic medical negligence .
Up to 30 detainees are crammed in a single 200-square-foot cell .
It would be near impossible to avoid contracting an infectious disease such as COVID-19 .
And if you do get sick and need serious medical attention , it is difficult to get help .
Shaltout was more than a statistic .
He served his community with compassion , love and peace in his capacity as an educator at the Abdul Hamid Ali High School in the Gharbia governate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he was promoted to principal and volunteered with Egypt 's Ministry of Education to assist with after school programs .
His legacy of community engagement should not go unheard .
May his memory shed light on the harsh reality that over 60,000 political prisoners in Egypt face — and we must not hesitate in ensuring they have a fair chance at life .
Rest in peace , Zidane .
Mohamed Soltan is an Egyptian American human rights advocate and president of The Freedom Initiative .
He was a political prisoner in Egypt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his role as a citizen journalist .

Global Lives Lost: From A Wise And Wonderful Grandma To A Soccer Pioneer
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eduardo Munoz/Reuters; Andaleeb Rizvi; Lucas Jackson/Reuters; Javaid Iqbal; Anita Pouchard Serra for NPR Eduardo Munoz/Reuters; Andaleeb Rizvi; Lucas Jackson/Reuters; Javaid Iqbal; Anita Pouchard Serra for NPR
Our blog covers the globe. And as we in the U.S. mourn the citizens who died of novel coronavirus, we also wanted to pay tribute to lives lost around the world. Since the start of the pandemic, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 people worldwide.
We asked writers, activists and global development champions to share a tribute to someone in their country who has passed away from the disease. They include famous people — a soccer trailblazer, an actor from an Amazonian tribe, political leaders — and regular folks — a beloved grandmother, a single mom who reached out to help others during this crisis, the 8-year-old child of Mexican immigrants and others.
The indigenous actor who made it to the Oscars
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lucas Jackson/Reuters Lucas Jackson/Reuters
On May 1, Antonio Bolívar, a tourist guide and part-time actor from the Amazon River port of Leticia, Colombia, died of COVID-19-related illness at the age of 75. He belonged to the small Ocaina indigenous tribe and was one of its few members who still spoke the Ocaina language.
In 2016, "Embrace of the Serpent" became the first Colombian film to be nominated for an Academy Award thanks, in large part, to his intense performance. In the film, Bolívar plays Karamakate, a shaman and the last survivor of an Amazonian tribe who frets that he is losing touch with his culture. He deals with rapacious rubber barons and religious fanatics as he guides an American botanist through the jungle to find a sacred healing plant.
In its glowing review of the film, The New York Times described Bolívar's character as "no innocent, noble savage but an angry, morally complex individual with a heart full of grief."
Bolívar was in his 70s when he had his on-screen breakthrough – but because of COVID-19, he had little time to enjoy his fame.
John Otis is a correspondent for NPR.
'Little heart of gold'
Eight-year-old Aurea Yolotzin Soto Morales was a playful, intelligent second grader. Her family and friends called her Yoshi. She died on June 1, just four days after she tested positive for COVID-19.
Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, Yoshi was the youngest daughter of Salvador Soto and Araceli Morales Martinez, both immigrants from Mexico.
The name Yoshi comes from her full name, Aurea Yolotzin. Her mother chose the indigenous Nahuatl name. She translates it into Spanish as "corazoncito de oro," or "little heart of gold."
"She was a jokester," says her mother, Morales Martinez — the type of little girl who liked sneaking up behind her older sister, Jennifer, just to spook her and get a laugh. She loved drawing. She relished tomatoes. She hated wearing shoes and climbed on playground rocks barefoot to dance at the top. The family took trips to Disney World every spring, where Yoshi and Jennifer celebrated their birthdays together, even though they were almost 10 years apart. Yoshi loved these trips to visit her favorite princesses and feast on macarons.
Yoshi's death marks the first and only pediatric death in North Carolina so far. Latinos are disproportionately affected by the virus, making up 45% of positive cases in the state, according to North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services. Yoshi's family urges their community to take the virus seriously.
"It is very difficult not to cry when remembering our favorite star," says Morales Martinez of her daughter. "She gave us light and smiles at every moment."
Victoria Bouloubasis is an award-winning immigration journalist, food writer and documentary filmmaker based in Durham, N.C.
'Always in our hearts, Rocio is present'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Anita Pouchard Serra for NPR Anita Pouchard Serra for NPR
On June 23, Rocio Choque died of complications due to COVID-19 in Buenos Aires. She was 38 and a single mother with three children. At the beginning of the pandemic, economic necessity brought her to a soup kitchen in a slum called Villa 1-11-14. At first, she went to feed her family. She decided to join the other essential workers who voluntarily provided services to their community with love and care.
"She was very participative, she always collaborated in everything," said Nelly Quispe, one of her colleagues at the soup kitchen.
Choque's death was not just the result of a pandemic. Basic public services, health care and legal job opportunities are not offered to undocumented immigrants like Choque, who came to Argentina from Bolivia to live in one of the city's most populated and impoverished neighborhoods. Choque hesitated and waited to go to the hospital after showing symptoms of COVID-19.
A couple days after Choque died, a volunteer at the soup kitchen took a photo of Choque to the nearby town square. They hung her picture on a tree, facing the neighborhood. On it they wrote: "Always in our hearts, Rocio is present."
Anita Pouchard Serra is a photojournalist based in Argentina. This story is part of project supported by the Pulitzer Center.
'Big brother'
Pamphil Silayo from @UNICEF in Dar es Salaam about measles and rubella vaccination campaigns.@ejcnet @journagrants pic.twitter.com/LuiTAj6zKz — Josephin Mosch (@josephinmosch) June 1, 2017
Dr. Pamphil Silayo was a dedicated colleague and mentor working as the immunization specialist for UNICEF Tanzania, where I am a member of the staff. He was 60 years old when he passed away in Dar Es Salaam on April 25 after a short battle with COVID-19. Most of us junior employees called him our "big brother." He was known by everyone on our team as friendly, passionate and dedicated. He worked with UNICEF Tanzania for 13 years, ensuring that children receive the immunizations they need. And he worked with Tanzania's Ministry of Health to introduce new vaccines.
Toward the end of last year, we had a health retreat in a place called Bagamoyo. We sat close and shared a lot of discussions through the meeting. At the end of the retreat we spent time together and took a walk. He shared with me a lot of good advice on excelling career-wise — but also on life overall and especially work-life balance and the importance of family.
His kindness will forever remain in our memories.
Noor Ramadhani is an Aspen fellow and a staffer at UNICEF Tanzania.
'She left this world the way she wanted'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andaleeb Rizvi Andaleeb Rizvi
Durdana Rizvi passed on to her next life on May 29, due to COVID-19, exactly a week after her 68th birthday in Karachi, Pakistan. Andaleeb Rizvi is her daughter. She said she was loving, always cheerful and a strong and fiercely independent mother.
A virology graduate from the Illinois Institute of Technology, she worked at the Rockford School of Medicine and Children's Memorial Hospital Chicago before coming to Pakistan and setting up her own lab. Her cousins lovingly called Rizvi "Doctor Durdana." Andaleeb's friends even referred to her "Amma," which means "mother" in Urdu.
Andaleeb says her mother was a great teacher who helped many students enroll for matriculation and higher studies. "Our family's anchor, she was the one who everyone called if their child was choking on something or when their parent was refusing to see a doctor," she adds. "Her beautiful smile and sense of humor will live with her four children forever."
The daughter shared a message that she wished she could tell her mom: "I miss you a lot, but I'm also content that you not only lived the way you wanted but even left this world the way you wanted: in the blink of an eye; walking, talking — and gone."
Benazir Samad is a lead multimedia journalist at Voice of America's Pakistan desk in Washington, D.C.
Remember for her altruism — and stir-fried noodles
Yanti Hadinoto passed away from COVID-19 on March 28, less than three weeks after Indonesia announced its first fatality from the virus. Cooking was her strongest talent, so the stay-at-home mother spent most of her life serving her community through food. Friends and family remember her not only for her stir fried noodles, grilled satay and Indonesian pastries but also her altruism and cheerful personality.
Hadinoto and her husband struggled after the Asian economic crisis in 1997-98, which devastated many businesses in Indonesia, but she never skimped on giving. She volunteered to cook meals for events at her church, often paying for resources out of pocket. Hadinoto's youngest son, Samuel Kurniadjaja, recalls helping her drop off meals to the church's ministers during Jakarta's major flood in 2002. "We had to spend quite a lot of money repairing the flooding damage to our car," says Kurniadjaja. "But even in difficult circumstances, she still wanted to give."
In recent years, Hadinoto sang with the church choir and still cooked for many people, including people at senior homes. Her family remembers her as a caring mother and a woman of unwavering faith. "She once told my sister, 'When someone you love passes, you're allowed to grieve, but don't forget the hope we have in God,'" says Kurniadjaja.
Stephanie Adeline is a former NPR intern and a journalist based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Soccer trailblazer
Enlarge this image toggle caption Martial Trezzini /AP Martial Trezzini /AP
While the March 31 passing of 68-year-old Madaba "Pape" Diouf marked Senegal's first known COVID-19 fatality, the Senegalese sports journalist and football manager's legacy will live on. In 2004, Diouf became the first Black manager of a major European soccer team, Olympique de Marseille in France.
Diouf was an inspiration not just to Senegalese athletes who were harboring dreams of soccer greatness but to the entire continent, says longtime friend and colleague Mamadou Koumé. Diouf showed others the route to success — in spite of the racism often blocking his path. "He was a pioneer," says Koumé. "People said, 'Pape succeeded, why not me?'"
Diouf made soccer history, but he was also a beloved friend who cherished chatting for hours with his long-time buddies when he was back in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, where he had planned to spend much of his retirement.
"He was extremely free with his time for you, generous to his friends," says Koumé. "For me there is now a big emptiness — to have lost a man so sincere, interesting and convivial — someone who was honest. He would tell you what he was thinking and you could also say what you were thinking."
Ricci Shryock is a freelance photographer and journalist based in Dakar, Senegal.
'He made a difference'
Neurosurgeon Dr. Simon Hercules, 55, died of complications from COVID-19 on April 19 in the southern Indian city of Chennai. He ran the New Hope Medical Center, which specialized in brain and spine surgeries. His friends remember him as a man of few words. But his actions, they say, always spoke louder.
Two years ago, Hercules had started working on his dream project. "He would go to slums in Chennai and treat patients who needed his care," says Dr. Jason Alington, a general physician and a friend, who often accompanied him on these visits. "At first, he wanted to give all medicines at a subsidized cost of Rs 99 ($1.31), but when he saw the conditions there, he ended up providing the medications free of cost."
He held many free medical camps, especially in the aftermath of heavy floods that shook Chennai in 2015 and Cyclone Gaja in 2018, treating hundreds of sick and injured people every day through his charity, the Antony Foundation.
In early April, Hercules contracted COVID-19, presumably from one of his patients, says Dr. Pradeep Kumar, an orthopedic surgeon and colleague. India was grappling with its first COVID-19 cases at the time, and stigma around the disease was rife. Mobs blocked entry to the cemetery where the family intended to bury Hercules, because they were afraid of infection and pelted ambulance staff (who were wearing personal protective equipment in order to assist with the burial) with stones.
"I remember thinking, this is the kindest man I know. He did not deserve this. But then, the fear around the disease was intense," says Kumar, who considered Hercules a mentor. Two hours later, with police protection, Hercules was laid to rest.
"He made a difference, both as a skilled neurosurgeon and a compassionate human being," says Dr. Arun Mozhi Rajan, an orthopedic surgeon who for the past decade, worked with Hercules on spinal surgeries. "He always found a way to ease suffering and pain around him."
Kamala Thiagarajan is a freelance journalist based in Madurai, India, who has written for The International New York Times, BBC Travel and Forbes India.
She taught me that 'us' is more important than 'me'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Javaid Iqbal Javaid Iqbal
In an abrupt 3 a.m. call in late March, I was informed that my maternal grandmother — my Nanī, Biba Razzak — had passed away due to underlying medical conditions, exacerbated when COVID-19 took hold in Kashmir. Since the testing criteria and capacity were limited in March in India, it is not clear if COVID-19 infection was the precipitating factor. But the pandemic did delay her care and my family couldn't access the resources they needed.
She was more than 80 years old (I'm not sure of the exact year of her birth). She was raised in the old city of Srinagar in Kashmir and was one of the few girls who were educated at the time she was growing up. She was an amazing cook, and it was hard to resist her signature lamb curry. One of her characteristics was the ability to diffuse any tense situation: She could crack a joke no matter how serious everyone around her was, because she believed life was too short to be spent on anger.
There are innumerable lessons Nanī taught me — but probably the most important was about having a robust moral compass. She taught me to fight injustice with kindness and compassion — even when opponents may be exploiting their power and privilege. She taught me about leadership and the importance of sharing — how "us" is always more important than "me."
Junaid Nabi is a senior fellow in global health at The Aspen Institute
A lifelong dream of becoming a doctor
Salman Tahir, a 22-year-old medical student, died from complications from COVID-19 on May 29 in Lahore, Pakistan. Before he died, I was working with a health-care support group to arrange plasma for him, but we were too late.
A fourth-year student at Rashid Latif Medical College, Tahir had a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. His father is a prominent cardiologist and his mother is a gynecologist. He understood, more than most, the sacrifices doctors make in a country with limited resources and a health care shortage.
Tahir was an enthusiastic member of his college's drama society and had ambitious plans to pursue further medical specialization in the U.S. Tahir's death shook the country. The image of a healthy, vibrant young man, with his whole life ahead of him, is not one soon to be forgotten.
Bilal Anwar is a journalist based in Pakistan.
'Mr. Environment'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Romeo Ranoco/Reuters Romeo Ranoco/Reuters
On April 22, the world marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day – for the first time, without the usual street marches, press conferences, or tree planting events because of the pandemic. But even if there were celebrations, Senator Heherson Alvarez, who legislated its yearly commemoration in the Philippines, would not make it to take part. two days earlier, at age 80, he succumbed to complications from COVID-19.
Nicknamed "Mr. Environment," Alvarez was a tireless champion of environmental protection. Starting his political career opposing the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos, Alvarez would eventually help restore democracy and pioneer environmental legislation in his country's congress. Major environmental laws for cleaner air, proper waste management, protection of national parks, and energy management all bear his name.
In the early 1990s, Alvarez was one of the first Filipinos to sound the alarm on climate change when such advocates were ridiculed as hippies and naysayers. Later, he would serve as inaugural head of the country's Climate Change Commission, leading numerous delegations to the annual U.N. climate negotiations.
Witnessing his courage from afar, in the halls of Congress or at the Paris negotiations, gave me tremendous inspiration and hope. We may have failed to flatten the curve of COVID-19 fast enough to save Alvarez's life, but flattening the curve of our carbon footprint to preserve the planet's limits will aid in accomplishing his unfinished mission – and act as a fitting tribute to his life of service.
A Filipino physician and climate advocate, Renzo Guinto is a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute and a recent doctoral graduate of Harvard University.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Philip Ojisua /AFP via Getty Images Philip Ojisua /AFP via Getty Images
The patriot
Abba Kyari passed away from complications of COVID-19 on April 17. He was 67. He was the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria. Kyari was known for his loyalty to the president and love for his country. He had traveled to Munich, Germany, on March 7 to sign an energy supply agreement on behalf of Nigeria and came back with symptoms of the virus.
Kyari inspired me with his confidence when he spoke to Nigerians after being confirmed positive of the virus. He said "I will go on self-isolation, I will soon be back." He never came back.
The legacy he left behind is his love for his country, care for the less-privileged and his support for the victims of Boko Haram. I will always remember him for his patriotism.
Habiba Mohammed is director of the Center for Girls' Education in Zaria, Nigeria.
The political prisoner who was 'more than a statistic'
On June 24th, Zidane Shaltout, 64, passed away from COVID-19 in Mahala City, Egypt, where he was incarcerated by the Egyptian government.
A loving husband, father and son, Shaltout was detained by Egyptian security forces in December 2018. According to Committee for Justice, a Geneva-based human rights organization that has been following his case, it is unclear why he was arrested. No charges were ever filed against him.
I could see how a disease like COVID-19 could have taken Shaltout's life. I was a political prisoner in Egypt, held for protesting against the 2013 coup d'etat by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and released after 22 months in 2015. Prison conditions in the country are notoriously inhumane with a culture of systemic medical negligence. Up to 30 detainees are crammed in a single 200-square-foot cell. It would be near impossible to avoid contracting an infectious disease such as COVID-19. And if you do get sick and need serious medical attention, it is difficult to get help.
Shaltout was more than a statistic. He served his community with compassion, love and peace in his capacity as an educator at the Abdul Hamid Ali High School in the Gharbia governate of Egypt. According to Committee to Justice, he was promoted to principal and volunteered with Egypt's Ministry of Education to assist with after school programs.
His legacy of community engagement should not go unheard. May his memory shed light on the harsh reality that over 60,000 political prisoners in Egypt face — and we must not hesitate in ensuring they have a fair chance at life. Rest in peace, Zidane.
Mohamed Soltan is an Egyptian American human rights advocate and president of The Freedom Initiative. He was a political prisoner in Egypt from August 2013 to May 2015 for his role as a citizen journalist.


npr--2020-06-28--Pandemic Causes China To Ban Breeding Of Bamboo Rats And Other Wild Animals

Pandemic Causes China To Ban Breeding Of Bamboo Rats And Other Wild Animals This year was supposed to be a good year for selling bamboo rats to eat .
Prices had been rising steadily as had their popularity as a delicacy when grilled .
`` People nowadays are always talking about poverty alleviation .
But now , I 'm close to being in extreme poverty , '' said Liu Ping , a breeder of bamboo rats — plump rodents known for their sharp , bamboo-gnawing incisors and ample flesh .
Days after a mysterious pneumonia-like illness in Wuhan was linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling exotic animals , authorities suspended the transportation and sales of terrestrial wild animals , including bamboo rats and badgers .
Chinese researchers have since theorized that wildlife species such as bamboo rats , pangolins and civet cats may have been intermediate hosts for the novel coronavirus before it infected humans .
On paper , China moved fast to close off wild animal consumption .
On February 24 , China 's national legislature suspended illegal wildlife trade to `` uproot the pernicious habit of eating wild animals . ''
Cities such as Shenzhen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies that also suspended the consumption of certain domesticated animals , notably dogs , a move animal activists have been lobbying for for years .
The general consensus is that the ban is a good step but needs to be made permanent – and to be more sweeping .
For example , the open-ended suspension still contains significant loopholes for animal breeders who supply zoos and makers of traditional medicines that incorporate animal parts .
The impact falls most heavily on rural communities , exacerbating historic resentments between China 's more prosperous urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since the early 2000s , rural development policies explicitly encouraged the breeding of captive animals such as rat snakes and pangolins , scaly mammals prized in traditional Chinese medicine .
Local officials trumpeted the wildlife trade as a way to close the rural-urban divide and to meet ambitious national targets to alleviate poverty .
Bamboo rats have been particularly popular among breeders .
The rats are a delicacy eaten in parts of southern China , popularized in part by internet celebrities like the Huanong brothers , whose earthy videos depicting them breeding and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views on social media .
Since the coronavirus pandemic , the brothers have quietly pivoted toward videos featuring them grilling vegetables .
Liu , a bamboo rat breeder from a small Guangdong village , took notice of the government support for raising rats .
Late last year , he took out 100,000 yuan ( $ 14,150 ) in loans to expand his bamboo rat operations .
Thanks to a local poverty alleviation program , his loan was interest-free for the first two years .
But less than two months after his investment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not earned a penny since the Chinese New Year in January , but I have elderly parents and young children to feed , '' Liu said .
Liu is especially infuriated by the seemingly arbitrary designations of which species are banned while others are permitted for consumption .
For example , China 's definition of what is a wild animal continues to change .
Last month , the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released an updated list of species permitted for breeding in captivity .
Bamboo rats did not make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zhong Nanshan , has said bamboo rats may be a vector for COVID-19 .
Seventeen traditional species such as chicken and rabbit as well as sixteen `` special '' species , including spotted deer and ostrich , did make it .
The ministry decided that such animals would now be considered `` livestock , '' meaning they can be commercially bred and traded .
`` Where exactly you draw the line between 'wildlife ' and what many perceive as domesticated species for consumption is a blurry one , '' said Leigh Henry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And while China has banned most consumption of certain wild animals , it continues to permit four broad categories of breeding activity .
Breeders are still allowed to raise certain wild animals in captivity for their fur , for research purposes and to supply zoos and circuses .
Breeders are also allowed to raise animals like black bears and pangolins for use in traditional Chinese medicine .
Heavily promoted for export , traditional Chinese medicine is worth 786.6 billion yuan ( $ 111 billion ) in annual revenue , or a third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to an industry association .
`` Business interests put a lot of pressure on the Chinese government , arguing that if you do n't include these animals , then we will be out of business , and we will lose money , '' said Peter K. Li , an associate professor at the University of Houston-Downtown and a China policy adviser for the Humane Society International .
Those interests may delay the implementation of a permanent ban on wildlife consumption .
China 's legislature , the National People 's Congress , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection law , which only protects rare and endangered animals .
Instead , the legislature concluded during its annual national meeting this May that it will look into drafting revisions , a lengthy process that can take years before amendments are approved .
Already , the suspension on wildlife trade has encountered particularly vociferous opposition from rural communities , some of which have become entirely economically reliant on wild animal breeding .
`` During the coronavirus epidemic , some individuals exaggerated the relationship between the virus and animals , leading to a near-obliteration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ran Jingcheng , an outspoken forestry official who regulates wildlife in Guizhou province , where Yao , the bamboo rat breeder also lives .
Yao Yuanchuan , a bamboo rat breeder based in Sansui , Guizhou , one of China 's poorest provinces , said dozens of farms in his small village reliant on bamboo rat breeding had already been shut down and forced to kill off their stock .
`` Only a few smaller breeders have yet to deal with their stocks , '' Yao told NPR .
He estimated that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) after he was forced to dispose of thousands of unsold rats .
Guangdong 's Liu Ping lobbied hard to have the rodents excluded from new animal consumption regulations , to no avail .
Local officials told him to kill his rats in exchange for up to 140 yuan ( $ 20 ) in state compensation per rat , only about a third of their market value , claims Liu .
He dug in his heels .
To cut costs , he began hand-cutting bamboo to feed his rats rather than buy food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liu finally gave in .
He dug a deep pit , put his hundreds of bamboo rats inside , and buried them alive .
Afterward , he liberally sprayed the ground with disinfectant .
`` I have no way of describing how bitter I feel inside , '' said Liu , `` I invested all I had into this business . ''

Pandemic Causes China To Ban Breeding Of Bamboo Rats And Other Wild Animals
Enlarge this image toggle caption Liu Ping Liu Ping
This year was supposed to be a good year for selling bamboo rats to eat. Prices had been rising steadily as had their popularity as a delicacy when grilled.
Then the coronavirus hit.
"People nowadays are always talking about poverty alleviation. But now, I'm close to being in extreme poverty," said Liu Ping, a breeder of bamboo rats — plump rodents known for their sharp, bamboo-gnawing incisors and ample flesh.
Days after a mysterious pneumonia-like illness in Wuhan was linked to a local wet market known for selling exotic animals, authorities suspended the transportation and sales of terrestrial wild animals, including bamboo rats and badgers.
Chinese researchers have since theorized that wildlife species such as bamboo rats, pangolins and civet cats may have been intermediate hosts for the novel coronavirus before it infected humans.
On paper, China moved fast to close off wild animal consumption. On February 24, China's national legislature suspended illegal wildlife trade to "uproot the pernicious habit of eating wild animals." Cities such as Shenzhen rolled out their own, more far-reaching policies that also suspended the consumption of certain domesticated animals, notably dogs, a move animal activists have been lobbying for for years.
The general consensus is that the ban is a good step but needs to be made permanent – and to be more sweeping.
For example, the open-ended suspension still contains significant loopholes for animal breeders who supply zoos and makers of traditional medicines that incorporate animal parts. The impact falls most heavily on rural communities, exacerbating historic resentments between China's more prosperous urban centers and its impoverished rural tracts.
Since the early 2000s, rural development policies explicitly encouraged the breeding of captive animals such as rat snakes and pangolins, scaly mammals prized in traditional Chinese medicine. Local officials trumpeted the wildlife trade as a way to close the rural-urban divide and to meet ambitious national targets to alleviate poverty.
Bamboo rats have been particularly popular among breeders. The rats are a delicacy eaten in parts of southern China, popularized in part by internet celebrities like the Huanong brothers, whose earthy videos depicting them breeding and grilling the rats have attracted millions of views on social media. Since the coronavirus pandemic, the brothers have quietly pivoted toward videos featuring them grilling vegetables.
Liu, a bamboo rat breeder from a small Guangdong village, took notice of the government support for raising rats. Late last year, he took out 100,000 yuan ($14,150) in loans to expand his bamboo rat operations. Thanks to a local poverty alleviation program, his loan was interest-free for the first two years.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Liu Ping Liu Ping
But less than two months after his investment, the coronavirus pandemic struck. "I have not earned a penny since the Chinese New Year in January, but I have elderly parents and young children to feed," Liu said.
Liu is especially infuriated by the seemingly arbitrary designations of which species are banned while others are permitted for consumption.
For example, China's definition of what is a wild animal continues to change. Last month, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released an updated list of species permitted for breeding in captivity. Bamboo rats did not make the cut. China's top scientist, Zhong Nanshan, has said bamboo rats may be a vector for COVID-19.
Seventeen traditional species such as chicken and rabbit as well as sixteen "special" species, including spotted deer and ostrich, did make it. The ministry decided that such animals would now be considered "livestock," meaning they can be commercially bred and traded.
"Where exactly you draw the line between 'wildlife' and what many perceive as domesticated species for consumption is a blurry one," said Leigh Henry, a policy director at World Wildlife Fund.
And while China has banned most consumption of certain wild animals, it continues to permit four broad categories of breeding activity. Breeders are still allowed to raise certain wild animals in captivity for their fur, for research purposes and to supply zoos and circuses.
Breeders are also allowed to raise animals like black bears and pangolins for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Heavily promoted for export, traditional Chinese medicine is worth 786.6 billion yuan ($111 billion) in annual revenue, or a third of the entire Chinese pharmaceutical market, according to an industry association.
"Business interests put a lot of pressure on the Chinese government, arguing that if you don't include these animals, then we will be out of business, and we will lose money," said Peter K. Li, an associate professor at the University of Houston-Downtown and a China policy adviser for the Humane Society International.
Those interests may delay the implementation of a permanent ban on wildlife consumption. China's legislature, the National People's Congress, has yet to update the country's wildlife protection law, which only protects rare and endangered animals. Instead, the legislature concluded during its annual national meeting this May that it will look into drafting revisions, a lengthy process that can take years before amendments are approved.
Already, the suspension on wildlife trade has encountered particularly vociferous opposition from rural communities, some of which have become entirely economically reliant on wild animal breeding.
"During the coronavirus epidemic, some individuals exaggerated the relationship between the virus and animals, leading to a near-obliteration of the breeding industry," wrote Ran Jingcheng, an outspoken forestry official who regulates wildlife in Guizhou province, one of China's poorest.
Yao Yuanchuan, a bamboo rat breeder based in Sansui County in Guizhou, said dozens of farms in his small village reliant on bamboo rat breeding had already been shut down and forced to kill off their stock.
"Only a few smaller breeders have yet to deal with their stocks," Yao told NPR. He estimated that he lost 3 million yuan ($420,000) after he was forced to dispose of thousands of unsold rats.
Guangdong's Liu Ping demanded more compensation money for his animals. Other breeders lobbied hard to have the rodents excluded from new animal consumption regulations, to no avail. Local officials told him to kill his rats in exchange for up to 140 yuan ($20) in state compensation per rat, only about a third of their market value, claims Liu. He dug in his heels. To cut costs, he began hand-cutting bamboo to feed his rats rather than buy food for them.
In late June, Liu finally gave in. He dug a deep pit, put his hundreds of bamboo rats inside, and buried them alive. Afterward, he liberally sprayed the ground with disinfectant.
"I have no way of describing how bitter I feel inside," said Liu, " I invested all I had into this business."


npr--2020-06-28--1 Fatally Shot, 1 Injured At Park Where Protesters Gathered For Breonna Taylor

1 Fatally Shot , 1 Injured At Park Where Protesters Gathered For Breonna Taylor One person has been killed and another injured after shots were fired in a Louisville , Ky. , park where demonstrators gathered to protest the police killing of Breonna Taylor .
The Louisville Metro Police Department said shots were fired shortly after 9:00 p.m .
ET in Jefferson Square Park .
The Sheriff 's Department arrived to perform life-saving measures on a man who died at the scene .
LMPD also received a call about another shooting victim at the Hall of Justice , across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was transported from the Hall of Justice to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries .
Jefferson Square Park has been at the center of protests in the city following the police killings of Taylor and George Floyd .
Taylor was at her Louisville apartment with her boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , on March 13 when police arrived to execute a warrant in the middle of the night .
Walker 's lawyer said he fired at police after mistaking them for robbers .
Officers returned fire and Taylor was shot multiple times and later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted unanimously to ban no-knock warrants following her death .
The legislation was named Breonna 's Law in the 26-year-old 's honor .
According to WFPL , a graphic video posted on Facebook appeared to show a man firing a pistol several times into the crowd of protesters .
The Saturday night shooting was not the first time protesters were injured in the city .
Seven people were shot on May 28 near the same area .
On Facebook , Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said he was `` deeply saddened '' by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information on the incident on Sunday .
`` It is a tragedy that this area of peaceful protest is now a crime scene , '' he wrote .
`` My thanks to the first responders who assisted at the scene . ''
LMPD said the park would remain closed for several hours as police investigate the incident .
An update is expected Sunday morning .

1 Person Dead, 1 In Custody After Shooting At Site Of Breonna Taylor Protests
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brett Carlsen/Getty Images Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
Updated at 6:00 p.m. ET
Authorities in Louisville, Ky., have identified the victim in a fatal Saturday night shooting in a park where demonstrators gathered to protest the police killing of Breonna Taylor.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said Sunday that 27-year-old Tyler Gerth died shortly after a shooter opened fire into a group of protesters in Jefferson Square Park.
"This is absolutely not what they wanted or any of us wanted. None of us want to see this area of peaceful protest become a crime scene," Fischer said during a press conference.
The apparent shooter was also wounded and taken to a nearby hospital where he was put under police custody. Louisville Metro Police Chief Robert Schroeder told reporters that the suspect had been participating in protests for weeks.
"He had been arrested a couple times over the past several weeks. He had been repeatedly asked by other members in the park to leave due to his disruptive behavior," Schroeder said.
Authorities say the gunman opened fire at the edge of the protest around 9 p.m. Surveillance video released by authorities shows an apparent confrontation between several individuals. Shortly after that people are shown running for cover.
According to member station WFPL, graphic video posted to Facebook also appeared to show a man firing a pistol several times into the crowd of protesters.
Authorities say other people at the scene were also armed and several other shots were fired. Schroeder said homicide investigators are working to determine who else fired shots during the incident.
Jefferson County sherriff's deputies arrived at the park after shooting began, with LMPD officers arriving four minutes later. Police had earlier tweeted that deputies had attempted to perform life-saving measures on Gerth, who died at the scene.
Jefferson Square Park has been at the center of protests in the city following the police killings of Taylor and George Floyd. Taylor was at her Louisville apartment with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, on March 13 when police arrived to execute a warrant in the middle of the night. Walker's lawyer said he fired at police after mistaking them for robbers. Officers returned fire and Taylor was shot multiple times and later died.
The city's Metro Council voted unanimously to ban no-knock warrants following her death. The legislation was named Breonna's Law in the 26-year-old's honor.
Police cleared out multiple tents that had been set up by protesters over the weekend. City officials said that following the shooting, they plan to enforce rules forbidding overnight camping in the park in the interest of public safety.
The Saturday night shooting was not the first time protesters were injured in the city. Seven people were shot on May 28 near the same area.
LMPD also received another call Saturday about another shooting victim at the Hall of Justice, across the street from the park. An individual was transported from the Hall of Justice to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.


npr--2020-06-28--Far-Right Group Pranked: 'Dude, Is This Like A Bad Impression Of Borat?'

Far-Right Group Pranked : 'Dude , Is This Like A Bad Impression Of Borat ? '
To put it plainly , Matt Marshall was duped .
`` Yeah .
I mean .
It was a miss , '' Marshall said by phone , with a sigh .
Marshall , 36 , is the founder and former leader of the Washington Three Percent , which is aligned with the far-right Patriot and militia movement .
On Saturday , he was the emcee at a rally in Olympia called March for Our Rights 3 , a gathering of `` constitutionalist '' factions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ category .
The event 's disastrous ending — a racist singalong seemingly staged by prankster Sacha Baron Cohen — went viral over the weekend .
The apparent infiltration was the latest salvo in the culture war , one of the endless `` owns '' of the other side .
Leftists in Seattle trolled with glee ; they 've never bought into the militia makeover .
The Western States Center , an Oregon-based watchdog that repeatedly has warned of the anti-government threat , said it had no information on the stunt , but `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who 's running for state legislature , it was a reminder of the obstacles he and other Patriot Movement leaders face as they try to carve a path into the mainstream .
`` It was just kind of a kick in the teeth , '' he said .
For years , Marshall has tried to convince his critics that he and the Three Percenters reject racist ideologies like white nationalism .
So it was encouraging , he said , to learn of a California-based group , Back To Work USA , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in blue states .
Marshall said the group had popped up out of nowhere a week before the rally , and offered to pay for everything .
A stage adorned with balloons .
A security team .
And an impressive headliner : country legend Larry Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers .
Marshall provided NPR with the group 's correspondence ; the logo shows an idealized image of an American worker .
`` We have some great ideas that we would like to pass by you and we are so excited about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purported Back To Work USA email that offered help for the rally .
Marshall said he and the other organizers asked themselves , `` Is it too good to be true ? ''
but were reassured when Back To Work USA plunked down the money for portable toilets and other necessities .
Marshall estimated total costs to be in the $ 50,000 range ; the money was paid directly to vendors , not the rally organizers .
`` I mean , they played the game , '' Marshall said .
`` We talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be labeled racist , and they agreed with us .
Like , we really let the guard down and trusted them . ''
On Saturday , the rally started off according to plan .
Then , Marshall said , organizers learned that another band had been added at the last minute .
A bluegrass act .
Marshall and his buddies were too busy setting up to vet the new performer .
Besides , the sponsors had come through with Gatlin as well as a local band that was confirmed as legit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing out , checking out , '' Marshall said .
But then the new singer stepped onstage and it became clear that something was off .
`` A guy that 's like wearing almost a clown suit of red , white and blue gets up there , '' Marshall said .
`` Obvious disguise .
Like a fake nose and chin .
And he starts playing and the first thought when you hear his voice is , 'Dude , is this like a bad impression of Borat ? '
`` Marshall watched as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and anti-Semitic lyrics about politics and the pandemic .
Even worse , some members of the audience were joining in .
Photos on Marshall 's Facebook page show several people in the crowd that appear to be filming audience reactions with concealed cameras and earpieces .
Marshall and his friends tried to rush the stage and cut the mic but they were stopped by the security guards the newfound sponsor had hired .
Marshall was fuming .
`` This is my event ! ''
Marshall recalled thinking .
`` He 's not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectacle ! ''
After a physical struggle between the Three Percenters and the guards , Marshall said , the production crew vanished .
The performer , the sponsors , the band all fled to waiting cars , Marshall said .
He found himself alone on stage with a visibly shocked Larry Gatlin .
`` He looked at me and said , 'Um , I thought I was coming to a Republican Second Amendment rally , ' `` Marshall said .
`` I said , 'You did come to one .
Somebody 's trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what 's going on . '
`` What seems to have been going on is a sophisticated prank .
Photos , videos and tweets from witnesses suggest it 's the work of Sacha Baron Cohen , the comedian behind the `` Borat '' character .
He 's also known for tricking conservatives into embarrassing situations for his TV show , Who Is America ?
A representative for Baron Cohen did n't respond to a request for comment Sunday .
Apart from one press release , there 's little online to suggest Back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Calls to the number on the email went to voicemail .
Marshall said there 's no doubt it 's bogus .
`` Somebody just spent a whole lot of money trying to set us up , '' he said .
Marshall acknowledged that some audience members sang along with the mystery performer , even to lines that were blatantly racist and anti-Semitic .
`` It 's sad , it 's unfortunate that some people chanted back , '' he said .
But he also pointed to footage showing a Jewish member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and trying to drown out the performance .
Marshall said he estimates that half the crowd left when they heard the lyrics .
It was only after the episode , Marshall said , that he saw the photos and heard witness accounts that pointed to Sacha Baron Cohen as the culprit .
He was n't impressed .
`` I know who he is , but I never followed him , '' Marshall said .
`` I never even watched Borat all the way through because I could n't stand it . ''

Far-Right Group Pranked: 'Dude, Is This Like A Bad Impression Of Borat?'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
To put it plainly, Matt Marshall was duped.
"Yeah. I mean. It was a miss," Marshall said by phone, with a sigh.
Marshall, 36, is the founder and former leader of the Washington Three Percent, which is aligned with the far-right "Patriot" and militia movement. On Saturday, he was the emcee at a rally in Olympia, Wash., called March for Our Rights 3, a gathering of "constitutionalist" factions that extremism trackers put in the anti-government category.
The event's disastrous ending — a racist singalong seemingly staged by prankster Sacha Baron Cohen — went viral over the weekend. The apparent infiltration was the latest salvo in the culture wars, one of the endless "owns" of the other side. Leftists in Seattle trolled with glee; they've never bought into the militia makeover. The Western States Center, an Oregon-based watchdog that repeatedly has warned of the anti-government threat, said it had no information on the stunt but "found it amusing."
For Marshall, who's running for the Washington state Legislature, it was a reminder of the obstacles he and other "Patriot" movement leaders face as they try to carve a path into the mainstream.
"It was just kind of a kick in the teeth," he said.
For years, Marshall has tried to convince his critics that he and the Three Percenters reject racist ideologies such as white nationalism. So it was encouraging, he said, to learn of a California-based group, Back to Work USA, that was helping conservatives get their message out in blue states.
Marshall said the group had popped up out of nowhere a week before the rally, and offered to pay for everything. A stage adorned with balloons. A security team. And an impressive headliner: country legend Larry Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers. Marshall provided NPR with the group's correspondence; the logo shows an idealized image of an American worker.
"We have some great ideas that we would like to pass by you and we are so excited about what you're doing!" read one purported Back to Work USA email that offered help for the rally.
Marshall said he and the other organizers asked themselves, "Is it too good to be true?" but were reassured when Back to Work USA plunked down the money for portable toilets and other necessities. Marshall estimated total costs to be in the $50,000 range; the money was paid directly to vendors, not the rally organizers.
"I mean, they played the game," Marshall said. "We talked to them about how frustrating it was to be labeled racist, and they agreed with us. Like, we really let the guard down and trusted them."
On Saturday, the rally started off according to plan. Then, Marshall said, organizers learned that another band had been added at the last minute. A bluegrass act. Marshall and his buddies were too busy setting up to vet the new performer. Besides, the sponsors had come through with Gatlin as well as a local band that was confirmed as legit.
"It all looked like it was playing out, checking out," Marshall said.
But then the new singer stepped onstage, and it became clear that something was off.
"A guy that's like wearing almost a clown suit of red, white and blue gets up there," Marshall said. "Obvious disguise. Like a fake nose and chin. And he starts playing and the first thought when you hear his voice is, 'Dude, is this like a bad impression of Borat?' "
Marshall watched as the guy in overalls belted out racist and anti-Semitic lyrics about politics and the pandemic. Even worse, some members of the audience were joining in. Photos on Marshall's Facebook page show several people in the crowd who appear to be filming audience reactions with concealed cameras and earpieces.
Marshall and his friends tried to rush the stage and cut the mic, but they were stopped by security guards the newfound sponsor had hired. Marshall was fuming.
"This is my event!" Marshall recalled thinking. "He's not going to turn my event into a racist spectacle!"
After a struggle between the Three Percenters and the guards, Marshall said, the production crew vanished. The performer, the sponsors, the band all fled to waiting cars, Marshall said. He found himself alone on stage with a visibly shocked Gatlin.
"He looked at me and said, 'Um, I thought I was coming to a Republican Second Amendment rally,' " Marshall said. "I said, 'You did come to one. Somebody's trying to hijack it. I don't know what's going on.' "
What seems to have been going on is a sophisticated prank. Photos, videos and tweets from witnesses suggest it's the work of Baron Cohen, the comedian behind the Borat character. He's also known for tricking conservatives into embarrassing situations for his TV show, Who Is America?
A representative for Baron Cohen didn't respond to a request for comment Sunday. Apart from one press release, there's little online to suggest Back to Work USA is a real organization. Calls to the number on the email went to voicemail.
Marshall said there's no doubt it's bogus.
"Somebody just spent a whole lot of money trying to set us up," he said.
Marshall acknowledged that some audience members sang along with the mystery performer, even to lines that were blatantly racist and anti-Semitic.
"It's sad, it's unfortunate that some people chanted back," he said.
But he also pointed to footage showing a Jewish member of the Washington Three Percent grabbing a bullhorn and trying to drown out the performance. Marshall said he estimates that half the crowd left when they heard the lyrics.
It was only after the episode, Marshall said, that he saw the photos and heard witness accounts that pointed to Baron Cohen as the culprit. He wasn't impressed.
"I know who he is, but I never followed him," Marshall said. "I never even watched Borat all the way through because I couldn't stand it."


npr--2020-06-28--Beyoncé To Drop Visual Album, 'Black Is King,' On Disney+ In July

Beyoncé To Drop Visual Album , 'Black Is King , ' On Disney+ In July A new visual album written , directed and executive produced by Beyoncé is on its way .
Black Is King will celebrate Black resilience and culture , and premiere globally on Disney+ on July 31 , according to a press release .
The album is based on the music of The Lion King : The Gift , the Beyoncé-curated soundtrack album for the Lion King animated remake released last July , in which she voiced the character of Nala .
`` The visual album from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King for today 's young kings and queens in search of their own crowns , '' reads the statement from Disney and from Beyoncé 's company , Parkwood Entertainment .
The film , which was in production for one year , will star the album 's featured artists as well as special guest appearances .
A minute-long teaser video is available on Beyoncé 's website .
The press release says the album honors the voyages of Black families throughout time , and tells the story of a young king 's journey through betrayal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his ancestors , father and childhood love , he earns the virtues needed to reclaim his `` home and throne . ''
`` These timeless lessons are revealed and reflected through Black voices of today , now sitting in their own power , '' it reads .
Black Is King `` is an affirmation of a grand purpose , with lush visuals that celebrate Black resilience and culture .
The film highlights the beauty of tradition and Black excellence . ''
The announcement comes on the heels of Beyoncé 's latest surprise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she released on Juneteenth .
She announced on her website that proceeds from the song will benefit Black-owned small businesses in need through her BeyGOOD initiative .
`` Black excellence is a form of protest , '' the post said .
`` Black joy is your right . ''

Beyoncé To Drop Visual Album, 'Black Is King,' On Disney+ In July
Enlarge this image toggle caption Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
A new visual album written, directed and executive produced by Beyoncé is on its way.
Black Is King will celebrate Black resilience and culture, and premiere globally on Disney+ on July 31, according to a press release. The album is based on the music of The Lion King: The Gift, the Beyoncé-curated soundtrack album for the Lion King animated remake released last July, in which she voiced the character of Nala.
"The visual album from Beyoncé reimagines the lessons of The Lion King for today's young kings and queens in search of their own crowns," reads the statement from Disney and from Beyoncé's company, Parkwood Entertainment.
The film, which was in production for one year, will star the album's featured artists as well as special guest appearances. A minute-long teaser video is available on Beyoncé's website.
The press release says the album honors the voyages of Black families throughout time, and tells the story of a young king's journey through betrayal, love and self-identity. Guided by his ancestors, father and childhood love, he earns the virtues needed to reclaim his "home and throne."
"These timeless lessons are revealed and reflected through Black voices of today, now sitting in their own power," it reads. Black Is King "is an affirmation of a grand purpose, with lush visuals that celebrate Black resilience and culture. The film highlights the beauty of tradition and Black excellence."
The announcement comes on the heels of Beyoncé's latest surprise, a single called "Black Parade" that she released on Juneteenth. She announced on her website that proceeds from the song will benefit Black-owned small businesses in need through her BeyGOOD initiative.
"Black excellence is a form of protest," the post said. "Black joy is your right."


npr--2020-06-28--Justice Department Charges 4 Over Attempt to Topple Andrew Jackson Statue In D.C.

Justice Department Charges 4 Over Attempt to Topple Andrew Jackson Statue In D.C .
The Justice Department is charging four men with destruction of federal property over an attempt to topple a statue of Andrew Jackson in Washington , D.C .
In a criminal complaint unsealed on Saturday , the DOJ alleges that Lee Michael Cantrell , 47 , Connor Matthew Judd , 20 , Ryan Lane , 37 , and Graham Lloyd , 37 , participated in a June 22 attempt to tear down the statue in Lafayette Park , just near the White House .
The Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four , along with other unidentified individuals , attempting to pull down and damage the statue of Jackson , who protesters apparently targeted over his treatment of Native Americans and ownership of enslaved people .
As of Saturday , Judd was the only one of the four who had been taken into custody .
The charges were filed the same day that President Trump signed an executive order promising a crackdown on the destruction of federal monuments and threatening prosecution to the fullest extent of the law .
`` I just had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Order protecting American Monuments , Memorials , and Statues - and combatting recent Criminal Violence .
Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our Great Country ! ''
Trump tweeted after signing the order Friday .
Trump followed up his executive action by tweeting out wanted posters of people that U.S. Park Police say are responsible for damage to the park near the White House .
During the course of nationwide protests , Trump has expressed furor over efforts to take down statues , previously threatening to invoke a 2003 law to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who deface or destroy federal monuments .
The attempted tear-down of Jackson 's statue provoked cries of `` disgraceful vandalism '' from Trump , who notably holds the 7th president in high regard .

Justice Department Charges 4 Over Attempt To Topple Andrew Jackson Statue In D.C.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Andrew Harnik/AP Andrew Harnik/AP
The Justice Department is charging four men with destruction of federal property over an attempt to topple a statue of Andrew Jackson in Washington, D.C.
In a criminal complaint unsealed on Saturday, the DOJ alleges that Lee Michael Cantrell, 47, Connor Matthew Judd, 20, Ryan Lane, 37, and Graham Lloyd, 37, participated in a June 22 attempt to tear down the statue in Lafayette Park, just near the White House.
The Justice Department statement says that video evidence shows all four, along with other unidentified individuals, attempting to pull down and damage the statue of Jackson, who protesters apparently targeted over his treatment of Native Americans and ownership of enslaved people.
As of Saturday, Judd was the only one of the four who had been taken into custody.
The charges were filed the same day that President Trump signed an executive order promising a crackdown on the destruction of federal monuments and threatening prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
"I just had the privilege of signing a very strong Executive Order protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues - and combatting recent Criminal Violence. Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our Great Country!" Trump tweeted after signing the order Friday.
Trump followed up his executive action by tweeting out wanted posters of people that U.S. Park Police say are responsible for damage to the park near the White House. During the course of nationwide protests, Trump has expressed furor over efforts to take down statues, previously threatening to invoke a 2003 law to give fines and jail time to those who deface or destroy federal monuments.
The attempted tear-down of Jackson's statue provoked cries of "disgraceful vandalism" from Trump, who notably holds the 7th president in high regard.


Global COVID-19 Deaths Top 500,000

The coronavirus pandemic reached a new milestone on Sunday , with confirmed deaths surpassing half a million around the world and the number of confirmed cases topping 10 million .
According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University , there were 10,063,319 confirmed cases and 500,108 deaths globally by late Sunday afternoon .
The number of cases is likely much higher , with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing this week that for every reported case , there were 10 other estimated infections in the United States .
More than 2.5 million of those confirmed cases are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next highest totals are Brazil , Russia , India and the United Kingdom .
Some parts of the world have managed to bring the virus under control .
South Korea , which reported about 750 new cases daily in late February and early March , was averaging just a few dozen per day at the end of May , though officials have noted a slight resurgence .
New Zealand had mostly eradicated the virus by mid-May and went 24 days with no new cases before identifying two this month .
And China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months without reporting a local coronavirus case until mid-June .
Initially hard-hit countries such as Italy , Germany and Spain are lifting restrictions as case numbers decrease , while cases surge in places like India and Mexico .
Latin America became a new epicenter of the pandemic in early June , according to the World Health Organization .
The U.S. set a daily record for new coronavirus cases this past week , reporting more than 45,000 on Friday — its highest single-day increase .
`` We are 4 % of the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cases and the deaths , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on ABC 's This Week on Sunday .
U.S. states began imposing stay-at-home orders and other restrictions in March in order to slow the spread of the virus , with numbers declining as a result .
By mid-May , all 50 states had started to reopen , some at a faster pace than others .
Cases have surged in recent weeks , particularly in the South and West .
As a result , several states — such as North Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pause or roll back their reopening plans .
Officials noted at a White House coronavirus task force briefing on Friday that the percentage of people requiring hospitalization is lower than it was earlier in the pandemic and that the number of fatalities is declining .
They urged the public , especially young people , to take precautions and manage risks .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar echoed this message on NBC 's Meet the Press on Sunday .
He cited reports from governors that the majority of new cases are among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of those asymptomatic , and said these areas have the hospital capacity , personal protective equipment and medical tools to fight the virus — for the time being .
`` But the window is closing , '' he said .
`` We have to act , and people as individuals have to act responsibly .
We need to social distance .
We need to wear our face coverings if we 're in settings where we ca n't social distance , particularly in these hot zones . ''
The federal government is facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' testing and contact tracing efforts .
And some Democratic officials are advocating for a federal mask mandate , with Pelosi and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden expressing support for the idea in recent days .
Pelosi said on Sunday that the U.S. is `` long overdue '' for a nationwide mask-wearing requirement .
The U.S. has reported more than 125,000 coronavirus deaths so far , which is more than any other country and more than twice as many confirmed deaths as Brazil , its next-highest neighbor on the list .
COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in December .
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency in January and officially characterized it as a pandemic in March .

Global COVID-19 Deaths Top 500,000
Enlarge this image toggle caption Wilfredo Lee/AP Wilfredo Lee/AP
Updated at 5:11 p.m. ET
The coronavirus pandemic reached a new milestone on Sunday, with confirmed deaths surpassing half a million around the world and the number of confirmed cases topping 10 million.
According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, there were 10,063,319 confirmed cases and 500,108 deaths globally by late Sunday afternoon. The number of cases is likely much higher, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing this week that for every reported case, there were 10 other estimated infections in the United States.
More than 2.5 million of those confirmed cases are in the United States. The countries with the next highest totals are Brazil, Russia, India and the United Kingdom.
Some parts of the world have managed to bring the virus under control. South Korea, which reported about 750 new cases daily in late February and early March, was averaging just a few dozen per day at the end of May, though officials have noted a slight resurgence.
New Zealand had mostly eradicated the virus by mid-May and went 24 days with no new cases before identifying two this month. And China's capital city of Beijing went two months without reporting a local coronavirus case until mid-June.
Initially hard-hit countries such as Italy, Germany and Spain are lifting restrictions as case numbers decrease, while cases surge in places like India and Mexico. Latin America became a new epicenter of the pandemic in early June, according to the World Health Organization.
The U.S. set a daily record for new coronavirus cases this past week, reporting more than 45,000 on Friday — its highest single-day increase.
"We are 4% of the world's population; we are 25% of the cases and the deaths," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on ABC's This Week on Sunday.
U.S. states began imposing stay-at-home orders and other restrictions in March in order to slow the spread of the virus, with numbers declining as a result. By mid-May, all 50 states had started to reopen, some at a faster pace than others.
Cases have surged in recent weeks, particularly in the South and West. As a result, several states — such as North Carolina, Nevada and Texas — have opted to pause or roll back their reopening plans.
Officials noted at a White House coronavirus task force briefing on Friday that the percentage of people requiring hospitalization is lower than it was earlier in the pandemic and that the number of fatalities is declining. They urged the public, especially young people, to take precautions and manage risks.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar echoed this message on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.
He cited reports from governors that the majority of new cases are among people age 35 and under, with many of those asymptomatic, and said these areas have the hospital capacity, personal protective equipment and medical tools to fight the virus — for the time being.
"But the window is closing," he said. "We have to act, and people as individuals have to act responsibly. We need to social distance. We need to wear our face coverings if we're in settings where we can't social distance, particularly in these hot zones."
The federal government is facing calls to provide increased support for states' testing and contact tracing efforts. And some Democratic officials are advocating for a federal mask mandate, with Pelosi and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden expressing support for the idea in recent days.
Pelosi said on Sunday that the U.S. is "long overdue" for a nationwide mask-wearing requirement.
The U.S. has reported more than 125,000 coronavirus deaths so far, which is more than any other country and more than twice as many confirmed deaths as Brazil, its next-highest neighbor on the list.
COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency in January and officially characterized it as a pandemic in March.