csmonitor--2020-04-21--At Seattle farmers market, a taste of new normal – and fresh asparagus

Chris Petry is selling sourdough bread made from his hard red wheat flour .
“ This is one of my favorite customers , ” he says of Nora Lih , who confides , “ I am just here to chat him up ” – from 6 feet away .
But the fact that the market was open at all , for the first time in weeks , is a tentative step toward normalcy , in the first U.S. city hit hard by COVID-19 .
It ’ s a sign of how early , widespread social distancing has paid off in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hopeful glimpse of a possible “ new normal ” ahead for a nation debating when and how to reopen the economy while protecting health .
The rules were a little different Saturday at one of Seattle ’ s beloved farmers markets .
Shoppers couldn ’ t pick out their own produce .
They waited stoically under overcast skies , 6 feet apart , in a line stretching down the block and around the corner .
Hundreds signed a 14-point oath , including vows not to “ chat up my favorite farmer.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holly Ferguson and other marketgoers gather in hooded rain jackets , masks , and gloves .
Grasping reusable cloth shopping bags , they stand stoically under overcast skies , 6 feet apart .
The line stretches down the block and around the corner .
A few seagulls squawk nearby as they land , wings flapping , in the wet , empty street .
The University District Farmers Market , a vibrant and beloved outdoor produce market popular in Seattle for more than 25 years , is about to reopen for the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if tentative , step toward normalcy in the first U.S. city hit hard by COVID-19 , and a hopeful glimpse ahead for the nation .
Regulars like Ms. Ferguson pushed to reopen the market , and are now determined to make it work by following a slew of new health safety measures – with about 500 people even signing a 14-point “ farmers market shoppers oath , ” pledging to act responsibly on Saturday .
“ I ’ d rather do this and have it be awkward , than have everybody just rip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to quarantine again , ” she says .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Her orange rain hat dripping , Ms. Ferguson is ebullient and undeterred .
“ My whole weekend changed .
I get to do something I love … that I do every Saturday morning .
I know there is going to be asparagus – so yay !
” she says , smiling under her mask .
The market opening is a sign of how early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Seattle and Washington state .
Coronavirus fatalities are rising at a slower rate than in most other states , and hospitals have not been overwhelmed .
In the capital Olympia on Sunday , about 2,000 protesters opposed the emergency lockdown , but most residents accept it .
“ Washingtonians are complying with our ‘ stay home , stay healthy ’ initiative in mass numbers , ” Gov .
Jay Inslee said last week .
“ We have bent the curve down ” and must drive it lower .
A leading model projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay home order in mid-May , shifting to a containment strategy that relies on rigorous testing and contact tracing to stamp out any new outbreaks .
“ Fortunately for Washington , we have ended up on the lower end of the range probably because … Washingtonians were adjusting their behavior even before the social distancing mandates came out , ” says Dr. Christopher Murray , director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington .
IHME has used mobility data to gauge how much people are isolating themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microcosm for the “ new normal ” ahead as local leaders and health authorities innovate creative solutions aimed at reviving commerce and restarting the economy while also preserving health .
This involves adapting transactions so goods and services can circulate while face-to-face contacts are minimized – at least for now .
Then gradually , experts and officials say , increasing contacts will be allowed , starting with smaller groups and expanding from there , with the ban on large gatherings lifted last .
For Saturday ’ s bedraggled shoppers and farmers alike , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stilted dance of social distancing – a far cry from the usual lively scene of fresh goods and hot food , street musicians , hugs , and camaraderie – but everyone agrees it is far better than no market at all .
Indeed , the reopening is a trial run , contingent upon stringent new safety rules , and public health officials are monitoring compliance on-site .
“ This is a major test today , ” says Sarah Schu , marketing and development manager for Neighborhood Farmers Markets , which runs the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If it goes well we are hoping we can open our two other year-round markets , ” she says , wearing a mask and neon vest .
New rules limit the market to 30 vendors , or half the regular number , their tents spaced at least 10 feet apart .
Bells ring at regular intervals to remind everyone to wash their hands .
Prepared food is not allowed because it “ encourages people to hang around and eat , ” says Ms. Schu .
Shoppers line up at a single access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside the two-block-long market at once .
They can ’ t touch or pick out their own produce .
They are encouraged to sign the 14-point shopper oath – pledging among other things to make a list in advance , send only one shopper per household , not bring pets , and “ shop quickly and efficiently.
” “ I won ’ t chat up my favorite farmer , ” reads one line of the oath .
“ I will offer them a smile and wave.
” That ’ s one rule substitute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – at least from a 6-foot distance .
After appealing in emails to Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan to reopen the market , Ms. Lih is eager to visit with farmer Chris Petry , owner of Oh Yeah !
Farms in Leavenworth , Washington .
“ I am just here to chat him up , ” confides Ms. Lih .
“ This is one of my favorite customers , ” responds Mr. Petry , who is selling sourdough bread made from his farm ’ s hard red wheat flour .
“ I am smiling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask .
Since ancient times , markets have been essential places not only for trade but for human connections – something Ms. Lih and Mr. Petry have missed equally .
Mr. Petry , a former mountain guide , says he ’ s been eager to return to the market after weeks secluded at his farm in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains .
Saturday feels “ a little eerie , ” he says , unlike the “ vibrant , bright , awesome ” event it is in normal times .
Still , Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chance to sell some onions and other produce he advertises , tongue-in-cheek , as “ straight outta compost.
” Many local growers rely on the farmers markets for the majority of their sales .
Some also cater to Seattle-area restaurants .
The market ’ s closure and reduced or nonexistent restaurant sales have cost the farmers thousands of dollars .
Some are getting by thanks to plans known as “ community supported agriculture ” or CSA , where customers buy a portion of the harvest in advance , but others risk going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Small farms are the fabric of our local food system , and if we do not allow them to continue to operate and thrive they will shut down , and access to fresh food , especially for urban places , will be severely limited , ” she says .
The market drew about 1,200 people on Saturday , she says , a third as many as the same time last year .
At a stall brimming with fresh asparagus , farmer Kurt Tonnemaker says the market opening is a good first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential once cherries , peaches , and nectarines start ripening at his family ’ s orchards .
“ This is a trial and everyone ’ s new and we ’ re learning , but come July when all the farmers have a lot of their product in , it ’ s going to be difficult , ” he says .
With her bag full of 4 pounds of the fresh green spears , Ms. Ferguson stops last at the stand of Jason Devela of Rockridge Orchards and Cidery to buy some rhubarb .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Marine Corps veteran who turned to farming in part to help overcome PTSD , greets Ms. Ferguson with a grin instead of their usual hug .
“ I miss being able to talk to you !
” he says .
Both are determined to keep the market going .
“ If it came down to it , I would just set up on the side of the road and sell my products , ” Mr. Devela says .
“ We ’ re resilient .
We ’ ll get through it.
” Editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

Chris Petry is selling sourdough bread made from his hard red wheat flour. “This is one of my favorite customers,” he says of Nora Lih, who confides, “I am just here to chat him up” – from 6 feet away.
But the fact that the market was open at all, for the first time in weeks, is a tentative step toward normalcy, in the first U.S. city hit hard by COVID-19. It’s a sign of how early, widespread social distancing has paid off in Washington state. And it’s a hopeful glimpse of a possible “new normal” ahead for a nation debating when and how to reopen the economy while protecting health.
Markets have always been about more than commerce. They’re for the human connections, too. And they might help model a responsible path out of this crisis, as we try to balance economic, health, and social needs.
The rules were a little different Saturday at one of Seattle’s beloved farmers markets. Shoppers couldn’t pick out their own produce. They waited stoically under overcast skies, 6 feet apart, in a line stretching down the block and around the corner. Hundreds signed a 14-point oath, including vows not to “chat up my favorite farmer.”
It’s a signature Seattle moment.
In a downpour early Saturday morning, Holly Ferguson and other marketgoers gather in hooded rain jackets, masks, and gloves. Grasping reusable cloth shopping bags, they stand stoically under overcast skies, 6 feet apart. The line stretches down the block and around the corner. A few seagulls squawk nearby as they land, wings flapping, in the wet, empty street.
The University District Farmers Market, a vibrant and beloved outdoor produce market popular in Seattle for more than 25 years, is about to reopen for the first time in six weeks – a welcome, if tentative, step toward normalcy in the first U.S. city hit hard by COVID-19, and a hopeful glimpse ahead for the nation.
Why We Wrote This Markets have always been about more than commerce. They’re for the human connections, too. And they might help model a responsible path out of this crisis, as we try to balance economic, health, and social needs.
Regulars like Ms. Ferguson pushed to reopen the market, and are now determined to make it work by following a slew of new health safety measures – with about 500 people even signing a 14-point “farmers market shoppers oath,” pledging to act responsibly on Saturday.
“I’d rather do this and have it be awkward, than have everybody just rip off their masks and run around and have to quarantine again,” she says.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Her orange rain hat dripping, Ms. Ferguson is ebullient and undeterred. “My whole weekend changed. I get to do something I love … that I do every Saturday morning. I know there is going to be asparagus – so yay!” she says, smiling under her mask.
The market opening is a sign of how early, widespread social distancing has paid off in Seattle and Washington state. Coronavirus fatalities are rising at a slower rate than in most other states, and hospitals have not been overwhelmed. In the capital Olympia on Sunday, about 2,000 protesters opposed the emergency lockdown, but most residents accept it.
“Washingtonians are complying with our ‘stay home, stay healthy’ initiative in mass numbers,” Gov. Jay Inslee said last week. “We have bent the curve down” and must drive it lower.
A leading model projects the state can safely consider relaxing the stay home order in mid-May, shifting to a containment strategy that relies on rigorous testing and contact tracing to stamp out any new outbreaks. “Fortunately for Washington, we have ended up on the lower end of the range probably because … Washingtonians were adjusting their behavior even before the social distancing mandates came out,” says Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. IHME has used mobility data to gauge how much people are isolating themselves.
The Seattle market is also a microcosm for the “new normal” ahead as local leaders and health authorities innovate creative solutions aimed at reviving commerce and restarting the economy while also preserving health. This involves adapting transactions so goods and services can circulate while face-to-face contacts are minimized – at least for now. Then gradually, experts and officials say, increasing contacts will be allowed, starting with smaller groups and expanding from there, with the ban on large gatherings lifted last.
Ann Scott Tyson/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Sarah Schu, marketing and development manager for Neighborhood Farmers Markets, posts a sign prior to the reopening of the University District Farmers Market on April 18. Market access is controlled to allow 60 shoppers at a time, to allow for social distancing.
“A major test”
For Saturday’s bedraggled shoppers and farmers alike, the market’s first day brings a stilted dance of social distancing – a far cry from the usual lively scene of fresh goods and hot food, street musicians, hugs, and camaraderie – but everyone agrees it is far better than no market at all.
Indeed, the reopening is a trial run, contingent upon stringent new safety rules, and public health officials are monitoring compliance on-site. “This is a major test today,” says Sarah Schu, marketing and development manager for Neighborhood Farmers Markets, which runs the market and six others throughout Seattle. “If it goes well we are hoping we can open our two other year-round markets,” she says, wearing a mask and neon vest.
New rules limit the market to 30 vendors, or half the regular number, their tents spaced at least 10 feet apart. Bells ring at regular intervals to remind everyone to wash their hands. Prepared food is not allowed because it “encourages people to hang around and eat,” says Ms. Schu.
Shoppers line up at a single access point to ensure only 60 people are inside the two-block-long market at once. They can’t touch or pick out their own produce. They are encouraged to sign the 14-point shopper oath – pledging among other things to make a list in advance, send only one shopper per household, not bring pets, and “shop quickly and efficiently.”
“I won’t chat up my favorite farmer,” reads one line of the oath. “I will offer them a smile and wave.”
That’s one rule substitute teacher Nora Lih is tempted to bend – at least from a 6-foot distance. After appealing in emails to Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan to reopen the market, Ms. Lih is eager to visit with farmer Chris Petry, owner of Oh Yeah! Farms in Leavenworth, Washington.
“I am just here to chat him up,” confides Ms. Lih. “This is one of my favorite customers,” responds Mr. Petry, who is selling sourdough bread made from his farm’s hard red wheat flour. “I am smiling,” he relates from behind his mask.
Since ancient times, markets have been essential places not only for trade but for human connections – something Ms. Lih and Mr. Petry have missed equally. Mr. Petry, a former mountain guide, says he’s been eager to return to the market after weeks secluded at his farm in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Saturday feels “a little eerie,” he says, unlike the “vibrant, bright, awesome” event it is in normal times. Still, Ms. Lih cheers him up – as does the chance to sell some onions and other produce he advertises, tongue-in-cheek, as “straight outta compost.”
Ann Scott Tyson/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Shoppers wearing masks line up 6 feet apart in the rain at the single entrance to the University District Farmers Market as it prepares to reopen April 18 in Seattle. A sign describes new “shopper rules” advising people not to touch anything or linger amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Back to business
Many local growers rely on the farmers markets for the majority of their sales. Some also cater to Seattle-area restaurants. The market’s closure and reduced or nonexistent restaurant sales have cost the farmers thousands of dollars. Some are getting by thanks to plans known as “community supported agriculture” or CSA, where customers buy a portion of the harvest in advance, but others risk going out of business, says Ms. Schu.
“Small farms are the fabric of our local food system, and if we do not allow them to continue to operate and thrive they will shut down, and access to fresh food, especially for urban places, will be severely limited,” she says. The market drew about 1,200 people on Saturday, she says, a third as many as the same time last year.
At a stall brimming with fresh asparagus, farmer Kurt Tonnemaker says the market opening is a good first step, but more space will be essential once cherries, peaches, and nectarines start ripening at his family’s orchards. “This is a trial and everyone’s new and we’re learning, but come July when all the farmers have a lot of their product in, it’s going to be difficult,” he says.
With her bag full of 4 pounds of the fresh green spears, Ms. Ferguson stops last at the stand of Jason Devela of Rockridge Orchards and Cidery to buy some rhubarb. Despite tough times, Mr. Devela, a Marine Corps veteran who turned to farming in part to help overcome PTSD, greets Ms. Ferguson with a grin instead of their usual hug.
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“I miss being able to talk to you!” he says. Both are determined to keep the market going. “If it came down to it, I would just set up on the side of the road and sell my products,” Mr. Devela says. “We’re resilient. We’ll get through it.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-17--What day is it? Why the pandemic warps your sense of time (audio)

The coronavirus pandemic and the social distancing it requires is affecting everyone differently .
Some people have found themselves with far more time on their hands than they know what to do with .
Others – including health care professionals , those caring for sick family members , and parents of young children – are overwhelmed by the day ’ s demands .
But if there ’ s one universal element to our experience , it ’ s that it is distorting our sense of the passage of time .
February feels as though it happened a decade ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternatively fly by and slow to a crawl , depending on how anxious or bored we ’ re feeling and how many new memories we are generating .
What ’ s going on ?
Niels van de Ven , a psychologist at Tilburg University in the Netherlands , explains that these shifts in temporal perception happen when we lose the normal reference points that anchor our days and weeks .
Listen to the full audio story above .
Note : This audio story was designed to be heard .
We strongly encourage you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we understand that is not an option for everybody .
For those who are unable to listen , we have provided a transcript of the story .
( If you ’ re reading this off our website and don ’ t see an audio player , click here to access the audio player . )
Eoin O ’ Carroll : If there ever were a defining power ballad for the coronavirus era , this parody by The Holderness Family would be a good contender .
[ Excerpt from “ I Want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parody by The Holderness Family ] Rebecca Asoulin : Because this crisis has made us lose our normal sense of time .
Most of us are experiencing time distortions , even though people ’ s experiences are wildly different right now .
I ’ m Rebecca Asoulin , engagement editor for The Christian Science Monitor .
Eoin : And I ’ m Eoin O ’ Carroll , a science reporter for the Monitor .
To get at what ’ s going on and to offer some tips on how to regain some sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ van de Ven , a psychologist at Tilburg University in the Netherlands .
He studies how people perceive the world , including how they experience the passage of time .
Rebecca : Niels lives in the part of the Netherlands that was hit by the coronavirus first and has been in lockdown for around a month .
And he ’ s noticed changes in his own perception of time .
Niels van de Ven : For one thing , it ’ s clear that I seem to be losing track of which day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are a few points in the week that I do recognize .
In my case , it ’ s online teaching , but at other times I have difficulty figuring out which day of the week it is .
So normally I travel to work .
That ’ s also a half an hour for me by train or by car where I can get my head ready .
And now I ’ m at home all the time .
So you lose these reference points .
Rebecca : How have you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it ’ s ...
I have three kids that are 4 , 6 , and 8 .
So I ’ m trying to work , trying to teach online courses .
My wife is trying to work .
That can be a bit hectic .
But there ’ s also plenty of extra family time that we ’ re really enjoying .
Eoin : This is a really important point : Why might you be losing track of the day ?
It ’ s because you ’ ve lost your normal reference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally at school on weekdays .
Now , my kids are at home all day watching “ ALF ” reruns on Amazon .
[ Four seconds of the “ ALF ” theme song , composed by Alf Clausen ( no relation ) ] Rebecca : I ’ ve heard people say that it feels like they ’ ve gone through like an entire month in the past week or the past day .
What do you think ’ s going on there ?
Niels : To me at least , the days feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think what ’ s going on there is that we at least I especially with the kids at home , I ’ m doing a lot of things .
I ’ m helping them with their teaching .
I ’ m giving a lecture .
I ’ m preparing a few other things .
I have to make sure that I do get the groceries .
So I ’ m doing more things in a given day .
And they also vary more quickly afterwards , I think .
So at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re doing so much .
So time speeds up if you ’ re doing a lot of things .
But when you reflect back on the day , then you also have this long list of things that I ’ ve been doing .
And then the day in retrospect also feels super long because I ’ ve managed to do so many things .
Eoin : This is another really important point : Our perception of time is closely linked to attention .
When you ’ re paying more attention –like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are generating more memories .
That makes your day feel longer in retrospect .
Rebecca : I ’ ve been thinking a lot about the first few days .
And again , this is my memory of it , so I ’ m not sure if in the moment it felt like it was forever .
But it just felt so , so , so long .
And I know that when we experience threat , we kind of experience time dilation and time does expand .
But this threat seems so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it ’ s also dragging on for so long .
It ’ s not like a car accident or something like that .
So I ’ m wondering if you ’ ve any thoughts on kind of threat and our perception of time as it pertains to the coronavirus crisis ?
Niels : Threat with adrenaline , that really focuses your attention , which makes you feel as if you suddenly have a lot of time to respond in , for example , the car accident that you mentioned .
But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me at least , the idea that everything you ’ re doing at the time becomes novel and requires thinking and where normally you can go grocery shopping .
And you know , right , you take your car , you go there , you know which store to go to .
Now , suddenly , everything becomes a question like , should I order it ?
Should I have it shipped to my house ?
Should I go at this time ?
Or at a different time where it might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there be a line ?
Will ...
So everything that you ’ re doing that you ’ re normally doing on automatic pilot now suddenly requires an active mind and rethinking everything that you ’ re doing .
And I think that that drives a lot of that perception that a lot more is happening in a day like grocery shopping suddenly becomes a real thing to do instead of one of the little tasks that you do in a given week .
Eoin : During this social distancing , for many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the novel and the ordinary .
My personal nickname for this time – I call it the sweatpants apocalypse , because it mixes the novel and the ordinary in this weird way .
How do you think that is affecting our sense of time ?
Niels : For me , I think I ’ m still in a position that every day I ’ m homeschooling the kids , I ’ m learning new things about what they are actually learning .
And I see them developing .
So every day still builds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you don ’ t have that in a day , then your day becomes like one of those days at the beach where you ’ re nice and lying in the sun and enjoying the beach .
But at the end of the day , you really felt that you haven ’ t done anything .
And that can be nice for a few days .
But if you have many of these days , then this stretch will be probably quite boring and when you reflect back on it nothing much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re not doing much , each day feels really long in the moment , but in retrospect , the day goes by quickly .
So what is one way people with a lot of time on their hands can use it wisely ?
Niels : My suggestion would be to find these new things to do .
If you can find it , to train yourself in new things that would be helpful for a job or things that are fun to do .
If you can train some new skills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel at least that you ’ ve done a few more things in a day and break that stretch of this [ chuckles ] the sweatpants day that you mentioned .
Because at the end of the day , you want to feel that you ’ ve done something , you want to feel as you ’ ve accomplished something .
Rebecca : It ’ s interesting because I feel like so for some people , they ’ re not feeling like their minds are being engaged with new things , but for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or maybe are in a situation where , for example , they ’ re on the front lines of this right now , either in health care or they ’ re a grocery store worker , that they ’ re experiencing the opposite .
They ’ re taking in so much new information , so much threatening information that it ’ s overwhelming and it ’ s not that they feel like time is speeding up .
It ’ s almost like they ’ re doing everything in slow motion .
Niels : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think that ’ s a good observation and I think that if anything , this is a period where all our experiences are so extremely different at this moment .
Rebecca : Are there other things you can think of that you feel like would help people regain a sense of timeliness ?
Time order ?
Niels : For other people who already are swamped by the many things , I think trying to make compartments of the time , trying to better differentiate between when you ’ re working , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and making more blocks of an hour and trying to keep you to those things will really help you .
Also , at the end of the day , to feel that you fell short on everything .
Eoin : Niels emphasized that a lot of people are in situations that make it incredibly difficult to have the time to do this – people on the front lines , who ’ ve lost their jobs , who are ill or taking care of loved ones , or who have lost loved ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many different experiences of the current situation .
And it ’ s important to acknowledge that so we can do a better job of supporting one another .
Rebecca : There ’ s so much out there right now that ’ s about like “ make the best of your quarantine time ” or “ how to be productive.
” And all this sort of stuff , which I think , you know , for so many people is not that ’ s not what is happening right now .
Niels : And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society , be more lenient towards these differences at this point and try to make it in a way that the people who suffer the most are actually helped the most and gain the most .
I am trying to be lenient towards my students .
I ’ m trying to help them as much as I can .
I find grading them now way less important than trying to help them and learn something from this .
Rebecca : All of us want this to be over .
Like , if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , it ’ s all about how do we know when this is going to be over .
When will this end ?
What does the end mean ?
And part of me always thinks that the natural question when I was starting to think about time perception and I don ’ t know if it ’ s the right question , but was how could I make this feel like it ’ s going faster because I want it to be over ?
Like , can I trick myself into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going faster ?
And would that even be a good goal ?
I think what I ’ m hoping is that this will help us reflect a bit on what we actually value .
And it ’ s difficult to find hope in this time because it ’ s hurting so many people .
But at the same time , I ’ m hoping that we do realize that we value our health care workers , that we need health care , that we need to take care of everyone because that that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to time travel to the end of this .
[ Niels , Rebecca sensible chuckling ] Eoin : So what can you do with all this information ?
Rebecca : For those under stress right now , it ’ s most likely hard to compartmentalize your time .
But trying to in any small way you can , could help give you some sense of order .
Eoin : For others the days might feel really boring .
You ’ re stuck in the same place with the same people , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ folks : Try learning something new .
Or try journaling .
Reflecting on your day , even if everything that happened felt mundane in the moment helps you build reference points which anchor you in time .
Eoin : And for everyone : one important thing about time perception is that we remember new experiences as having lasted longer than familiar ones .
And the coronavirus pandemic is a weird mix of the familiar and the new .
Rebecca : As Niels explained , the familiar – like grocery shopping – has become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the experience requires more of our attention , which makes us remember it as lasting longer .
But for those of us at home surrounded by the familiar , the lack of new stimuli throughout our day can actually make time feel like it ’ s zipping by .
Eoin : This global lockdown has a way of blending the universal with the particular .
Social distancing has forced us to become atomized in ways that we ’ ve never been before .
But at the same time , it has created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when anyone brings up the 2020 coronavirus pandemic , no matter who we are or where we were , we ’ ll each have a story to tell , one that will be in many ways unique , but probably also familiar .
Rebecca : At least in one way ... [ “ I Want to Know What Day It Is ” ] This audio story was reported by me , Rebecca Asoulin , and Eoin O ’ Carroll .
I produced this story .
Editing by Samantha Laine Perfas and Noelle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Noel Flatt and Morgan Anderson .
Special thanks to Jessica Mendoza and Ann Hermes .
The Foreigner parody song , “ I Want to Know What Day It Is ” is by The Holderness Family .
You can find the complete music video on YouTube .
Do you want to hear more from us on the concept of time ?
We ’ re working on a podcast right now called “ It ’ s About Time.
” Email us at podcast @ csmonitor.com with the subject line “ Time ” if you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the podcast .
This story was produced by The Christian Science Monitor , copyright 2020 .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

LISTEN: What day is it? Why the pandemic warps your sense of time Loading the player...
The coronavirus pandemic and the social distancing it requires is affecting everyone differently. Some people have found themselves with far more time on their hands than they know what to do with. Others – including health care professionals, those caring for sick family members, and parents of young children – are overwhelmed by the day’s demands.
But if there’s one universal element to our experience, it’s that it is distorting our sense of the passage of time. February feels as though it happened a decade ago. Days blur together, and the hours alternatively fly by and slow to a crawl, depending on how anxious or bored we’re feeling and how many new memories we are generating.
Why We Wrote This Social distancing has taken away many of our reference points, shifting our experiences on a fundamental level. But psychology can help us regain some control.
What’s going on? Niels van de Ven, a psychologist at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, explains that these shifts in temporal perception happen when we lose the normal reference points that anchor our days and weeks. Listen to the full audio story above.
Note: This audio story was designed to be heard. We strongly encourage you to experience it with your ears, but we understand that is not an option for everybody. For those who are unable to listen, we have provided a transcript of the story. (If you’re reading this off our website and don’t see an audio player, click here to access the audio player.)
Audio Transcript:
[Clock ticking]
Eoin O’Carroll: If there ever were a defining power ballad for the coronavirus era, this parody by The Holderness Family would be a good contender.
[Excerpt from “I Want to Know What Day It Is” song parody by The Holderness Family]
Rebecca Asoulin: Because this crisis has made us lose our normal sense of time. Most of us are experiencing time distortions, even though people’s experiences are wildly different right now. I’m Rebecca Asoulin, engagement editor for The Christian Science Monitor.
Eoin: And I’m Eoin O’Carroll, a science reporter for the Monitor.
[Music]
To get at what’s going on and to offer some tips on how to regain some sense of order, we called up Niels van de Ven, a psychologist at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. He studies how people perceive the world, including how they experience the passage of time.
Rebecca: Niels lives in the part of the Netherlands that was hit by the coronavirus first and has been in lockdown for around a month. And he’s noticed changes in his own perception of time.
Niels van de Ven: For one thing, it’s clear that I seem to be losing track of which day of the week it is. So there are a few points in the week that I do recognize. In my case, it’s online teaching, but at other times I have difficulty figuring out which day of the week it is. So normally I travel to work. That’s also a half an hour for me by train or by car where I can get my head ready. And now I’m at home all the time. So you lose these reference points. Rebecca: How have you been doing? Niels: Fine. But it’s ... I have three kids that are 4, 6, and 8. So I’m trying to work, trying to teach online courses. My wife is trying to work. That can be a bit hectic. But there’s also plenty of extra family time that we’re really enjoying.
[Sort of a “zhoop” sound]
Eoin: This is a really important point: Why might you be losing track of the day? It’s because you’ve lost your normal reference points. For instance, children are normally at school on weekdays. Now, my kids are at home all day watching “ALF” reruns on Amazon.
[Four seconds of the “ALF” theme song, composed by Alf Clausen (no relation)]
Rebecca: I’ve heard people say that it feels like they’ve gone through like an entire month in the past week or the past day. What do you think’s going on there?
Niels: To me at least, the days feel longer than they normally do. And I think what’s going on there is that we at least I especially with the kids at home, I’m doing a lot of things. I’m helping them with their teaching. I’m giving a lecture. I’m preparing a few other things. I have to make sure that I do get the groceries. So I’m doing more things in a given day. And they also vary more quickly afterwards, I think. So at the time it flies by. Because you’re doing so much. So time speeds up if you’re doing a lot of things. But when you reflect back on the day, then you also have this long list of things that I’ve been doing. And then the day in retrospect also feels super long because I’ve managed to do so many things.
[Music]
Eoin: This is another really important point: Our perception of time is closely linked to attention. When you’re paying more attention –like Niels is during his busy days – you are generating more memories. That makes your day feel longer in retrospect.
Rebecca: I’ve been thinking a lot about the first few days. And again, this is my memory of it, so I’m not sure if in the moment it felt like it was forever. But it just felt so, so, so long. And I know that when we experience threat, we kind of experience time dilation and time does expand. But this threat seems so different because it’s immediate, but it’s also dragging on for so long. It’s not like a car accident or something like that. So I’m wondering if you’ve any thoughts on kind of threat and our perception of time as it pertains to the coronavirus crisis? Niels: Threat with adrenaline, that really focuses your attention, which makes you feel as if you suddenly have a lot of time to respond in, for example, the car accident that you mentioned. But I think that in these early days, to me at least, the idea that everything you’re doing at the time becomes novel and requires thinking and where normally you can go grocery shopping. And you know, right, you take your car, you go there, you know which store to go to. Now, suddenly, everything becomes a question like, should I order it? Should I have it shipped to my house? Should I go at this time? Or at a different time where it might be more quiet in the supermarket? Will there be a line? Will... So everything that you’re doing that you’re normally doing on automatic pilot now suddenly requires an active mind and rethinking everything that you’re doing. And I think that that drives a lot of that perception that a lot more is happening in a day like grocery shopping suddenly becomes a real thing to do instead of one of the little tasks that you do in a given week. Eoin: During this social distancing, for many people it seems like a weird mix of the novel and the ordinary. My personal nickname for this time – I call it the sweatpants apocalypse, because it mixes the novel and the ordinary in this weird way. How do you think that is affecting our sense of time? Niels: For me, I think I’m still in a position that every day I’m homeschooling the kids, I’m learning new things about what they are actually learning. And I see them developing. So every day still builds some new things for me. But if you don’t have that in a day, then your day becomes like one of those days at the beach where you’re nice and lying in the sun and enjoying the beach. But at the end of the day, you really felt that you haven’t done anything. And that can be nice for a few days. But if you have many of these days, then this stretch will be probably quite boring and when you reflect back on it nothing much has happened.
[Music]
Eoin: So when you’re not doing much, each day feels really long in the moment, but in retrospect, the day goes by quickly. So what is one way people with a lot of time on their hands can use it wisely?
Niels: My suggestion would be to find these new things to do. If you can find it, to train yourself in new things that would be helpful for a job or things that are fun to do. If you can train some new skills, I bet that would make you feel at least that you’ve done a few more things in a day and break that stretch of this [chuckles] the sweatpants day that you mentioned. Because at the end of the day, you want to feel that you’ve done something, you want to feel as you’ve accomplished something. Rebecca: It’s interesting because I feel like so for some people, they’re not feeling like their minds are being engaged with new things, but for other people who are maybe more anxious or maybe are in a situation where, for example, they’re on the front lines of this right now, either in health care or they’re a grocery store worker, that they’re experiencing the opposite. They’re taking in so much new information, so much threatening information that it’s overwhelming and it’s not that they feel like time is speeding up. It’s almost like they’re doing everything in slow motion. Niels: Yeah, I totally agree, and I think that’s a good observation and I think that if anything, this is a period where all our experiences are so extremely different at this moment. Rebecca: Are there other things you can think of that you feel like would help people regain a sense of timeliness? Time order? Niels: For other people who already are swamped by the many things, I think trying to make compartments of the time, trying to better differentiate between when you’re working, when you’re there for the kids, and making more blocks of an hour and trying to keep you to those things will really help you. Also, at the end of the day, to feel that you fell short on everything.
[Music]
Eoin: Niels emphasized that a lot of people are in situations that make it incredibly difficult to have the time to do this – people on the front lines, who’ve lost their jobs, who are ill or taking care of loved ones, or who have lost loved ones. The thing is, there are many different experiences of the current situation. And it’s important to acknowledge that so we can do a better job of supporting one another.
Rebecca: There’s so much out there right now that’s about like “make the best of your quarantine time” or “how to be productive.” And all this sort of stuff, which I think, you know, for so many people is not that’s not what is happening right now. Niels: And I think we should, as a society, be more lenient towards these differences at this point and try to make it in a way that the people who suffer the most are actually helped the most and gain the most. I am trying to be lenient towards my students. I’m trying to help them as much as I can. I find grading them now way less important than trying to help them and learn something from this. Rebecca: All of us want this to be over. Like, if you look at the questions people are asking right now, it’s all about how do we know when this is going to be over. When will this end? What does the end mean? And part of me always thinks that the natural question when I was starting to think about time perception and I don’t know if it’s the right question, but was how could I make this feel like it’s going faster because I want it to be over? Like, can I trick myself into making it feel like it’s going faster? And would that even be a good goal? Niels: Yeah, no, no, I totally agree. I think what I’m hoping is that this will help us reflect a bit on what we actually value. And it’s difficult to find hope in this time because it’s hurting so many people. But at the same time, I’m hoping that we do realize that we value our health care workers, that we need health care, that we need to take care of everyone because that that. Rebecca: So no tips on how to time travel to the end of this. [Niels, Rebecca sensible chuckling]
[Music]
Eoin: So what can you do with all this information?
Rebecca: For those under stress right now, it’s most likely hard to compartmentalize your time. But trying to in any small way you can, could help give you some sense of order.
Eoin: For others the days might feel really boring. You’re stuck in the same place with the same people, just like ALF.
Rebecca: For those folks: Try learning something new. Or try journaling. Reflecting on your day, even if everything that happened felt mundane in the moment helps you build reference points which anchor you in time.
Eoin: And for everyone: one important thing about time perception is that we remember new experiences as having lasted longer than familiar ones. And the coronavirus pandemic is a weird mix of the familiar and the new.
Rebecca: As Niels explained, the familiar – like grocery shopping – has become novel. And when something is new, the experience requires more of our attention, which makes us remember it as lasting longer. But for those of us at home surrounded by the familiar, the lack of new stimuli throughout our day can actually make time feel like it’s zipping by.
Eoin: This global lockdown has a way of blending the universal with the particular. Social distancing has forced us to become atomized in ways that we’ve never been before. But at the same time, it has created a unifying experience.
Decades from now, when anyone brings up the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, no matter who we are or where we were, we’ll each have a story to tell, one that will be in many ways unique, but probably also familiar.
Rebecca: At least in one way...
[“I Want to Know What Day It Is”]
This audio story was reported by me, Rebecca Asoulin, and Eoin O’Carroll. I produced this story. Editing by Samantha Laine Perfas and Noelle Swan. Sound design and engineering by Noel Flatt and Morgan Anderson. Special thanks to Jessica Mendoza and Ann Hermes. The Foreigner parody song, “I Want to Know What Day It Is” is by The Holderness Family. You can find the complete music video on YouTube.
Do you want to hear more from us on the concept of time? We’re working on a podcast right now called “It’s About Time.” Email us at podcast@csmonitor.com with the subject line “Time” if you want to get an update when we launch the podcast.
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This story was produced by The Christian Science Monitor, copyright 2020.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-01-23--Lessons learned from SARS: China locks down three more cities

Chinese authorities Thursday moved to lock down three cities that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to contain a new virus that has sickened hundreds and spread to other parts of the world during the busy Lunar New Year travel period .
`` Party committees , governments , and relevant departments at all levels must put people 's lives and health first , '' President Xi Jinping said Monday .
`` It is necessary to release epidemic information in a timely manner and deepen international cooperation . ''
China is keen to avoid repeating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another virus , in 2003 .
For months , even after the illness had spread around the world , China parked patients in hotels and drove them around in ambulances to conceal the true number of cases and avoid the World Health Organization experts .
In the current outbreak , China has been credited with sharing information rapidly , and President Xi has emphasized that as a priority .
On Thursday , police , SWAT teams , and paramilitary troops guarded Wuhan 's train station , where metal barriers blocked the entrances at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last trains out were allowed to enter .
Normally bustling streets , shopping malls , restaurants , and other public spaces in the city of 11 million people were eerily quiet .
In addition to shutting down the train station , authorities closed the Wuhan airport and halted ferry , subway , and bus service .
Police checked all vehicles entering the city but did not close off the roads .
Authorities announced similar measures would take effect Friday in the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou .
In Huanggang , theaters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers were also ordered closed .
Seventeen people have died in the outbreak , all of them in and around Wuhan .
Close to 600 people have been diagnosed with the virus , the vast majority of them in Wuhan , and countries around the world have begun monitoring incoming airline passengers .
The lockdowns are unprecedented in size , embracing more people than the population of New York City , Los Angeles , and Chicago combined .
In the capital , Beijing , authorities canceled `` major events '' indefinitely , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of holiday celebrations , in order to `` execute epidemic prevention and control . ''
`` To my knowledge , trying to contain a city of 11 million people is new to science , '' Gauden Galea , the WHO 's representative in China , said in an interview .
`` It has not been tried before as a public health measure .
We can not at this stage say it will or it will not work . ''
Jonathan Ball , a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be justified scientifically .
`` Until there 's a better understanding of what the situation is , I think it 's not an unreasonable thing to do , '' he said .
`` Anything that limits people 's travels during an outbreak would obviously work . ''
But Mr. Ball cautioned that any such quarantine should be strictly time-limited .
He added : `` You do n't want to antagonize communities , so you have to make sure you communicate effectively about why this is being done .
Otherwise you will lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In China , the illnesses from the newly identified coronavirus first appeared last month in Wuhan , an industrial and transportation hub in central China 's Hubei province .
Other cases have been reported in the United States , Japan , South Korea , and Thailand .
Singapore , Vietnam , and Hong Kong reported their first cases Thursday .
Most of the illnesses outside China involve people who were from Wuhan or had recently traveled there .
The sharp rise in illnesses comes as millions of Chinese travel for the Lunar New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest annual migrations of people .
Chinese are expected to take an estimated 3 billion trips during the 40-day spike in travel .
Analysts predicted cases will continue to multiply , although the jump in numbers is also attributable in part to increased surveillance .
`` Even if [ cases ] are in the thousands , this would not surprise us , '' Mr. Galea , the WHO 's representative said , adding , however , that the number of those infected is not an indicator of the outbreak 's severity , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
WHO convened its emergency committee of independent experts on Thursday to consider whether the outbreak should be declared a global health emergency , after the group failed to come to a consensus on Wednesday .
The U.N. health agency defines a global emergency as an `` extraordinary event '' that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response .
A declaration of a global emergency typically brings greater money and resources , but may also sow fear and prompt nervous governments to restrict travel and trade to affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease-reporting requirements on countries .
Declaring an international emergency can also be politically fraught .
Countries typically resist the notion that they have a crisis within their borders and may argue strenuously for other control measures .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP journalists Shanshan Wang in Shanghai , Maria Cheng in London , and Krista Larson in Dakar contributed to this report .

Chinese authorities Thursday moved to lock down three cities that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to contain a new virus that has sickened hundreds and spread to other parts of the world during the busy Lunar New Year travel period.
"Party committees, governments, and relevant departments at all levels must put people's lives and health first," President Xi Jinping said Monday. "It is necessary to release epidemic information in a timely manner and deepen international cooperation."
China is keen to avoid repeating mistakes with its handling of SARS, another virus, in 2003. For months, even after the illness had spread around the world, China parked patients in hotels and drove them around in ambulances to conceal the true number of cases and avoid the World Health Organization experts.
In the current outbreak, China has been credited with sharing information rapidly, and President Xi has emphasized that as a priority.
On Thursday, police, SWAT teams, and paramilitary troops guarded Wuhan's train station, where metal barriers blocked the entrances at 10 a.m. Only travelers holding tickets for the last trains out were allowed to enter. Normally bustling streets, shopping malls, restaurants, and other public spaces in the city of 11 million people were eerily quiet.
In addition to shutting down the train station, authorities closed the Wuhan airport and halted ferry, subway, and bus service. Police checked all vehicles entering the city but did not close off the roads.
Authorities announced similar measures would take effect Friday in the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou. In Huanggang, theaters, internet cafes, and other entertainment centers were also ordered closed.
Seventeen people have died in the outbreak, all of them in and around Wuhan.
Close to 600 people have been diagnosed with the virus, the vast majority of them in Wuhan, and countries around the world have begun monitoring incoming airline passengers.
The lockdowns are unprecedented in size, embracing more people than the population of New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago combined.
In the capital, Beijing, authorities canceled "major events" indefinitely, including traditional temple fairs that are a staple of holiday celebrations, in order to "execute epidemic prevention and control."
"To my knowledge, trying to contain a city of 11 million people is new to science," Gauden Galea, the WHO's representative in China, said in an interview. "It has not been tried before as a public health measure. We cannot at this stage say it will or it will not work."
Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham in Britain, said the unprecedented lockdowns appear to be justified scientifically.
"Until there's a better understanding of what the situation is, I think it's not an unreasonable thing to do," he said. "Anything that limits people's travels during an outbreak would obviously work."
But Mr. Ball cautioned that any such quarantine should be strictly time-limited. He added: "You don't want to antagonize communities, so you have to make sure you communicate effectively about why this is being done. Otherwise you will lose the goodwill of the people."
In China, the illnesses from the newly identified coronavirus first appeared last month in Wuhan, an industrial and transportation hub in central China's Hubei province. Other cases have been reported in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. Singapore, Vietnam, and Hong Kong reported their first cases Thursday.
Most of the illnesses outside China involve people who were from Wuhan or had recently traveled there.
The sharp rise in illnesses comes as millions of Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year, one of the world's largest annual migrations of people. Chinese are expected to take an estimated 3 billion trips during the 40-day spike in travel.
Analysts predicted cases will continue to multiply, although the jump in numbers is also attributable in part to increased surveillance.
"Even if [cases] are in the thousands, this would not surprise us," Mr. Galea, the WHO's representative said, adding, however, that the number of those infected is not an indicator of the outbreak's severity, so long as the mortality rate remains low.
WHO convened its emergency committee of independent experts on Thursday to consider whether the outbreak should be declared a global health emergency, after the group failed to come to a consensus on Wednesday.
The U.N. health agency defines a global emergency as an "extraordinary event" that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response.
A declaration of a global emergency typically brings greater money and resources, but may also sow fear and prompt nervous governments to restrict travel and trade to affected countries. The announcement also imposes more disease-reporting requirements on countries.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Declaring an international emergency can also be politically fraught. Countries typically resist the notion that they have a crisis within their borders and may argue strenuously for other control measures.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP journalists Shanshan Wang in Shanghai, Maria Cheng in London, and Krista Larson in Dakar contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-05-27--South Africa's COVID-19 alcohol ban saves lives but brews debate

A soccer mom in one of Cape Town 's posh suburbs drops off a cardboard box of blankets to a neighbor .
Inside the box are several bottles of banned red wine .
In Johannesburg 's Alexandra township , two men in face masks greet each other on a sunny street .
One has surreptitiously sold the other a pack of cigarettes , now considered a contraband .
A bootlegging culture has sprung up across South Africa in response to the government 's nearly 8-week-old ban on the sale of tobacco and alcohol , part of its strict lockdown to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Critics describe the prohibitions imposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa as puritanical , hypocritical , and unrealistic .
Around the world , only Panama and Sri Lanka are reported to be prohibiting the sale of liquor during the pandemic , while India and Thailand temporarily banned it .
But other South Africans say they favor the restrictions .
`` Without alcohol , serious crime has gone down , '' said Mphumelelo Mdunge , a Soweto resident .
`` And in the hospitals , there are less people injured from drunken driving and from people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those disagreements have gone down because there 's less alcohol .
So I see it as a good thing . ''
South African government officials say the number of admissions to hospital emergency rooms from alcohol-related crimes and vehicle accidents have been reduced significantly .
Supporters of the ban on cigarette sales say smoking weakens the respiratory system , which is attacked by the virus .
South Africa has the continent 's highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases with over 24,000 .
The virus has spread relatively slowly across Africa , whose 54 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reported a total of over 115,000 cases .
More than 230,000 South Africans have been arrested for breaking the lockdown regulations , including the bans on alcohol and tobacco sales , said national police minister Bheki Cele .
`` We have also observed an increase in smuggling of contraband [ liquor and tobacco ] between South Africa 's land borders with Botswana , Eswatini , Lesotho , Mozambique , and Zimbabwe , as well as the sale of these products in the black market , '' Mr. Cele said on May 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cigarettes worth about $ 148,000 in March and April .
At first , South African vineyards were prohibited from transporting or exporting their wine , causing a loss in international sales .
That restriction was lifted May 1 but the winemakers are still being hurt on lost domestic sales .
That will improve June 1 , when South Africa further eases its lockdown by allowing the sale of alcohol for home consumption on limited days per week .
Pubs and bars will remain closed , prompting criticism that they also should be allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sale of cigarettes will remain banned .
An illegal trade in cigarettes is thriving , even though the price of a contraband pack can be the equivalent of $ 6 , nearly three times what it cost before the ban .
South Africa has long had a problem of criminal gangs illegally selling cigarettes , estimated to be in the millions of dollars .
Critics of the bans say the government is losing sales tax revenue for cigarettes and alcohol .
The country 's revenue service told lawmakers recently that it had lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue from the sale of cigarettes and alcohol since the lockdown started in March .
In Cape Town , the Woodstock Brewery has adapted to the ban by using its large vats to cook meals for the city 's poor .
The Disoufeng Pub , once a popular Soweto watering hole , has not sold any liquor for nearly eight weeks .
`` It 's really sad to be feeling the pain , '' said owner Tobogo Phiri , who reopened its kitchen two weeks ago to sell takeaway food .
Some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to break the regulations by selling them liquor , promising to spend the equivalent of more than $ 500 .
`` You could n't even entertain it , '' said Mr. Phiri , adding he would not break the law .
`` So it 's been very , very , very hard .
But one had to be disciplined and just decline every sale .
So we are feeling the pain . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg and Gerald Imray in Cape Town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

A soccer mom in one of Cape Town's posh suburbs drops off a cardboard box of blankets to a neighbor. Inside the box are several bottles of banned red wine.
In Johannesburg's Alexandra township, two men in face masks greet each other on a sunny street. One has surreptitiously sold the other a pack of cigarettes, now considered a contraband.
A bootlegging culture has sprung up across South Africa in response to the government's nearly 8-week-old ban on the sale of tobacco and alcohol, part of its strict lockdown to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Critics describe the prohibitions imposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa as puritanical, hypocritical, and unrealistic. Around the world, only Panama and Sri Lanka are reported to be prohibiting the sale of liquor during the pandemic, while India and Thailand temporarily banned it.
But other South Africans say they favor the restrictions.
"Without alcohol, serious crime has gone down," said Mphumelelo Mdunge, a Soweto resident. "And in the hospitals, there are less people injured from drunken driving and from people beating their wives and arguments. All those disagreements have gone down because there's less alcohol. So I see it as a good thing."
South African government officials say the number of admissions to hospital emergency rooms from alcohol-related crimes and vehicle accidents have been reduced significantly. Supporters of the ban on cigarette sales say smoking weakens the respiratory system, which is attacked by the virus.
South Africa has the continent's highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases with over 24,000. The virus has spread relatively slowly across Africa, whose 54 countries with a population of 1.3 billion have reported a total of over 115,000 cases.
More than 230,000 South Africans have been arrested for breaking the lockdown regulations, including the bans on alcohol and tobacco sales, said national police minister Bheki Cele.
"We have also observed an increase in smuggling of contraband [liquor and tobacco] between South Africa's land borders with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, as well as the sale of these products in the black market," Mr. Cele said on May 22, adding that officials seized alcohol and cigarettes worth about $148,000 in March and April.
At first, South African vineyards were prohibited from transporting or exporting their wine, causing a loss in international sales. That restriction was lifted May 1 but the winemakers are still being hurt on lost domestic sales.
That will improve June 1, when South Africa further eases its lockdown by allowing the sale of alcohol for home consumption on limited days per week. Pubs and bars will remain closed, prompting criticism that they also should be allowed to sell for home consumption.
The sale of cigarettes will remain banned. An illegal trade in cigarettes is thriving, even though the price of a contraband pack can be the equivalent of $6, nearly three times what it cost before the ban. South Africa has long had a problem of criminal gangs illegally selling cigarettes, estimated to be in the millions of dollars.
Critics of the bans say the government is losing sales tax revenue for cigarettes and alcohol. The country's revenue service told lawmakers recently that it had lost more than $86 million in tax revenue from the sale of cigarettes and alcohol since the lockdown started in March.
In Cape Town, the Woodstock Brewery has adapted to the ban by using its large vats to cook meals for the city's poor.
The Disoufeng Pub, once a popular Soweto watering hole, has not sold any liquor for nearly eight weeks.
"It's really sad to be feeling the pain," said owner Tobogo Phiri, who reopened its kitchen two weeks ago to sell takeaway food.
Some of his high-roller customers have tried to get him to break the regulations by selling them liquor, promising to spend the equivalent of more than $500.
"You couldn't even entertain it," said Mr. Phiri, adding he would not break the law. "So it's been very, very, very hard. But one had to be disciplined and just decline every sale. So we are feeling the pain."
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Mogomotsi Magome in Johannesburg and Gerald Imray in Cape Town contributed.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-28--Bubbles and teddy bears: dining out in a pandemic

Dining at a table where each person is enclosed by a clear plastic shield might look and sound futuristic , but it could be one way for some restaurants to reopen .
It also might help out if your companion orders escargots , heavy on the garlic .
The prototype plastic shields are known as the “ Plex'eat , ” and they resemble big clear lampshades suspended from the ceiling .
They are being showcased temporarily at H.A.N.D.
, a Parisian restaurant seeking a way to reopen its dining room as coronavirus restrictions are relaxed .
As restaurateurs around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , they want to adhere to social distancing rules while also trying to serve as many customers as health and safety measures will allow .
Some are putting mannequins at every other table to put some space between the actual customers , like at Augustas and Barbora , a restaurant in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius .
Some of its faux diners are dressed casually , while others look as though they are at a ball .
The clothes showcase the work of local fashion designers .
“ We want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said owner Patrikas Ribas .
Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Simasius called the initiative a “ perfect match of communal spirit and creativity working side by side.
” In Hofheim , Germany , the Beef ’ n Beer is using large teddy bears seated at some tables to keep diners properly spaced apart .
They also ensure a cozy , less-sterile atmosphere .
At Amsterdam 's Mediamatic restaurant , the owners have erected small glass houses that surround each table , served by waiters in protective shields .
While many restaurants offered take-out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generating at least some income , such practices are less common in France , although Michelin starred chefs such as Alain Ducasse have started doing take-out service .
Owners are seeking solutions that will coax back customers while also easing their anxiety about catching the virus .
Mathieu Manzoni , the director of H.A.N.D , said he thinks the plastic shields are a “ pretty , more poetic ” solution for restaurateurs who fear that social distancing could cut their capacity by half or more .
“ There is a bit of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Makers of the Plex ’ eat say they have received more than 200 preorders around the world , including from France , the United States , and Japan .
Designer Christophe Gernigon said he got the idea after visiting a store in Bangkok “ with three individual domes with chairs where people would sit and listen to music.
” He merged the idea with the large face shields that have proliferated since the pandemic began , although there is no filtration system to keep any viruses from spreading .
Being French , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of course : a dome that cocoons its occupants in romantic isolation from the rest of the room .
Among other revamped restaurants across Europe : • At El Salamanca , a Barcelona beachfront restaurant known for paella , menus are gone and customers use their smart phones to scan a QR code to consult what is on offer .
• Greek restaurants are using salt and pepper sachets inside of shakers , and menus are either thrown away after each meal or are laminated and wiped down regularly .
Many waiters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff in matching face masks .
• In the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod , a restaurant on the banks of the Volga and Oka rivers has set up 20 plastic huts for couples .
It is awaiting approval from authorities to open if it meets safety standards .
• Italian restaurants are using contact tracing .
Diners are supposed to reserve tables ahead of time and owners are keeping their contact information : If someone subsequently reports testing positive , the restaurant can quickly identify and contact those who ate there at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in central Rome also are attaching stylish arched glass partitions to divide tabletops down the middle .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Thomas Adamson reported from Leeds , England .
AP writers Nicole Winfield in Rome , Derek Gatopoulos in Athens , Frank Jordans in Berlin , and Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Dining at a table where each person is enclosed by a clear plastic shield might look and sound futuristic, but it could be one way for some restaurants to reopen. It also might help out if your companion orders escargots, heavy on the garlic.
The prototype plastic shields are known as the “Plex'eat,” and they resemble big clear lampshades suspended from the ceiling. They are being showcased temporarily at H.A.N.D., a Parisian restaurant seeking a way to reopen its dining room as coronavirus restrictions are relaxed.
As restaurateurs around the world seek to resume in-person dining amid the pandemic, they want to adhere to social distancing rules while also trying to serve as many customers as health and safety measures will allow.
Some are putting mannequins at every other table to put some space between the actual customers, like at Augustas and Barbora, a restaurant in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. Some of its faux diners are dressed casually, while others look as though they are at a ball. The clothes showcase the work of local fashion designers.
“We want to fill the space with fun things,” said owner Patrikas Ribas.
Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Simasius called the initiative a “perfect match of communal spirit and creativity working side by side.”
In Hofheim, Germany, the Beef’n Beer is using large teddy bears seated at some tables to keep diners properly spaced apart. They also ensure a cozy, less-sterile atmosphere.
At Amsterdam's Mediamatic restaurant, the owners have erected small glass houses that surround each table, served by waiters in protective shields.
While many restaurants offered take-out and delivery during the health crisis to keep generating at least some income, such practices are less common in France, although Michelin starred chefs such as Alain Ducasse have started doing take-out service.
Owners are seeking solutions that will coax back customers while also easing their anxiety about catching the virus.
Mathieu Manzoni, the director of H.A.N.D, said he thinks the plastic shields are a “pretty, more poetic” solution for restaurateurs who fear that social distancing could cut their capacity by half or more.
“There is a bit of a panic,” Mr. Manzoni said.
Makers of the Plex’eat say they have received more than 200 preorders around the world, including from France, the United States, and Japan.
Designer Christophe Gernigon said he got the idea after visiting a store in Bangkok “with three individual domes with chairs where people would sit and listen to music.”
He merged the idea with the large face shields that have proliferated since the pandemic began, although there is no filtration system to keep any viruses from spreading.
Being French, there's a version for more intimate dining, of course: a dome that cocoons its occupants in romantic isolation from the rest of the room.
Among other revamped restaurants across Europe:
At El Salamanca, a Barcelona beachfront restaurant known for paella, menus are gone and customers use their smart phones to scan a QR code to consult what is on offer.
Greek restaurants are using salt and pepper sachets inside of shakers, and menus are either thrown away after each meal or are laminated and wiped down regularly. Many waiters have face shields. Some tavernas have staff in matching face masks.
In the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod, a restaurant on the banks of the Volga and Oka rivers has set up 20 plastic huts for couples. It is awaiting approval from authorities to open if it meets safety standards.
Italian restaurants are using contact tracing. Diners are supposed to reserve tables ahead of time and owners are keeping their contact information: If someone subsequently reports testing positive, the restaurant can quickly identify and contact those who ate there at the same time.
Some coffee bars in central Rome also are attaching stylish arched glass partitions to divide tabletops down the middle.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. Thomas Adamson reported from Leeds, England. AP writers Nicole Winfield in Rome, Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, Frank Jordans in Berlin, and Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-27--Normal life is returning to South Korea, but is it too soon?

The baseball league is on .
Students have begun returning to school .
And people are increasingly dining out and enjoying nighttime strolls in public parks .
As South Korea significantly relaxes its rigid social distancing rules as a result of waning coronavirus cases , the world is paying close attention to whether it can return to something that resembles normal – or face a virus resurgence .
Already , a mini-outbreak linked to nightclubs in Seoul has tested South Korea ’ s widely praised method for dealing with the disease – essentially a combination of rapid tracing , testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing practices .
“ Other countries must be wondering whether our nation will continue to make good progress , ” said Jin Yong Kim , a doctor at Incheon Medical Center near Seoul who confirmed South Korea ’ s first patient on Jan. 20 and has since treated more than 100 others .
“ But I can ’ t predict with authority what will happen here from now on.
” South Korea once had the world ’ s largest number of coronavirus cases outside mainland China , but its daily caseload has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has hit single digits in recent weeks .
South Korea on Wednesday still reported 40 new cases , its biggest daily jump in about 50 days .
The recent uptick in fresh infections linked to nightclubs in Seoul ’ s Itaewon entertainment district has raised fears of another big outbreak .
Since the first patient was associated with the nightclubs on May 6 – the same day social distancing policy was officially eased – South Korea has confirmed more than 250 related cases .
It ’ s unclear how things will play out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t grown , unlike what happened in late February and early March when hundreds of new patients were reported each day , many of them tied to a controversial church gathering in the country ’ s southeast .
The tried and tested methods of aggressive tracing , testing , and treatment and the widespread public use of masks again played a major role in preventing the outbreak in Itaewon from exploding , said Hyukmin Lee , a professor at Yonsei University of College of Medicine in Seoul .
South Korean officials previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social limits .
But Mr. Lee said the government now has to think about whether it can tolerate small outbreaks and let the economy operate smoothly , or if it should restore strict social distancing rules .
Meanwhile , daily life – of a sort – has resumed .
Long-delayed baseball and soccer seasons began without fans in the stands .
Public parks , museums , and outdoor leisure facilities have reopened .
High school seniors returned to class last week , and younger students will do the same in phases by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lunch time , restaurants in downtown Seoul are crowded with office workers , and many have stopped working from home .
During evening rush hours , subways are packed with commuters wearing masks .
At night , in a park in western Seoul , it ’ s easy to find young couples strolling without masks .
South Korea ’ s quarantine campaign is often compared with that of the United States , U.K. , and Italy , some of the hardest-hit countries .
They all noticed their first cases in late January .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and in early February it had open public testing , which was available to asymptomatic people , and pursued contact tracing for all confirmed patients .
Italy ’ s testing increased much more slowly .
In the case of the U.K. , despite its early head start on testing , there were signs that it wasn ’ t able to keep up with the outbreak .
Testing in the U.S. began in earnest in mid-March , according to a recent analysis in Our World in Data , a nonprofit online scientific publication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of the 5.6 million people infected worldwide , the U.S. tops the list with about 1.6 million while both the U.K. and Italy have more than 230,000 cases respectively .
South Korea has recorded a total of 11,265 cases with 269 deaths .
Jaehun Jung , a professor at Gachon University College of Medicine , said lifting restrictions in the U.S. , U.K. , and Italy will likely cause a second wave of COVID-19 that he said could be “ much bigger and more severe.
” In South Korea , officials said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major yardstick for whether authorities can maintain the relaxed restrictions .
The French government said last week that about 70 virus cases had been linked to schools , one week after a third of French schoolchildren went back to school in an easing of the coronavirus lockdown .
There is a sense that South Korea ’ s hard-won gains could be reversed without vigilance .
“ South Korea will face a second virus wave , too .
Whether there are outbreaks that are 10 times bigger than what happened in Itaewon or smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see them , ” said Mr. Kim , the doctor at Incheon Medical Center .
“ If we consider our high population density ... we are rather more vulnerable to the virus than [ even the U.S. ] .
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The baseball league is on. Students have begun returning to school. And people are increasingly dining out and enjoying nighttime strolls in public parks.
As South Korea significantly relaxes its rigid social distancing rules as a result of waning coronavirus cases, the world is paying close attention to whether it can return to something that resembles normal – or face a virus resurgence. Already, a mini-outbreak linked to nightclubs in Seoul has tested South Korea’s widely praised method for dealing with the disease – essentially a combination of rapid tracing, testing, and treatment, along with stringent social distancing practices.
“Other countries must be wondering whether our nation will continue to make good progress,” said Jin Yong Kim, a doctor at Incheon Medical Center near Seoul who confirmed South Korea’s first patient on Jan. 20 and has since treated more than 100 others. “But I can’t predict with authority what will happen here from now on.”
South Korea once had the world’s largest number of coronavirus cases outside mainland China, but its daily caseload has since dropped to around 10-30 and occasionally has hit single digits in recent weeks. South Korea on Wednesday still reported 40 new cases, its biggest daily jump in about 50 days.
The recent uptick in fresh infections linked to nightclubs in Seoul’s Itaewon entertainment district has raised fears of another big outbreak. Since the first patient was associated with the nightclubs on May 6 – the same day social distancing policy was officially eased – South Korea has confirmed more than 250 related cases.
It’s unclear how things will play out, but so far the outbreak hasn’t grown, unlike what happened in late February and early March when hundreds of new patients were reported each day, many of them tied to a controversial church gathering in the country’s southeast.
The tried and tested methods of aggressive tracing, testing, and treatment and the widespread public use of masks again played a major role in preventing the outbreak in Itaewon from exploding, said Hyukmin Lee, a professor at Yonsei University of College of Medicine in Seoul.
South Korean officials previously said their nation was approaching its economic and social limits. But Mr. Lee said the government now has to think about whether it can tolerate small outbreaks and let the economy operate smoothly, or if it should restore strict social distancing rules.
Meanwhile, daily life – of a sort – has resumed.
Long-delayed baseball and soccer seasons began without fans in the stands. Public parks, museums, and outdoor leisure facilities have reopened. High school seniors returned to class last week, and younger students will do the same in phases by June 8.
These days, during lunch time, restaurants in downtown Seoul are crowded with office workers, and many have stopped working from home. During evening rush hours, subways are packed with commuters wearing masks. At night, in a park in western Seoul, it’s easy to find young couples strolling without masks.
South Korea’s quarantine campaign is often compared with that of the United States, U.K., and Italy, some of the hardest-hit countries. They all noticed their first cases in late January.
South Korea launched widespread testing fairly early, and in early February it had open public testing, which was available to asymptomatic people, and pursued contact tracing for all confirmed patients. Italy’s testing increased much more slowly. In the case of the U.K., despite its early head start on testing, there were signs that it wasn’t able to keep up with the outbreak. Testing in the U.S. began in earnest in mid-March, according to a recent analysis in Our World in Data, a nonprofit online scientific publication based at the University of Oxford.
Of the 5.6 million people infected worldwide, the U.S. tops the list with about 1.6 million while both the U.K. and Italy have more than 230,000 cases respectively. South Korea has recorded a total of 11,265 cases with 269 deaths.
Jaehun Jung, a professor at Gachon University College of Medicine, said lifting restrictions in the U.S., U.K., and Italy will likely cause a second wave of COVID-19 that he said could be “much bigger and more severe.”
In South Korea, officials said the reopening of schools will likely be a major yardstick for whether authorities can maintain the relaxed restrictions. The French government said last week that about 70 virus cases had been linked to schools, one week after a third of French schoolchildren went back to school in an easing of the coronavirus lockdown.
There is a sense that South Korea’s hard-won gains could be reversed without vigilance.
“South Korea will face a second virus wave, too. Whether there are outbreaks that are 10 times bigger than what happened in Itaewon or smaller ones, we’ll continue to see them,” said Mr. Kim, the doctor at Incheon Medical Center. “If we consider our high population density ... we are rather more vulnerable to the virus than [even the U.S.].”
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-05-30--Violence amid protests of George Floyd's killing spur National Guard call-ups

Protesters burned businesses in Minneapolis .
They smashed police cars and windows in Atlanta , broke into police headquarters in Portland , Oregon , and chanted curses at President Donald Trump outside the White House .
Thousands also demonstrated peacefully , demanding justice for George Floyd , a black man who died after a white officer pressed a knee into his neck .
As anger over Mr. Floyd 's killing spread to cities nationwide , local leaders increasingly said they could need help from National Guardsmen or even military police to contain the unrest .
Georgia ’ s governor declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activate the state National Guard as violence flared in Atlanta .
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler also declared an emergency and ordered a nighttime curfew for the city .
Another 500 Guard soldiers were mobilized in and around Minneapolis , where Mr. Floyd died and an officer faced charges Friday in his death .
But after another night of watching fires burn and businesses ransacked , Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz said early Saturday that he was moving to activate more than 1,000 more and was considering federal help .
The Guard was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where a crowd grew outside the White House and chanted curses at President Donald Trump .
Some protesters tried to push through barriers set up by the U.S. Secret Service along Pennsylvania Avenue , and threw bottles and other objects at officers wearing riot gear , who responded with pepper spray .
“ I just feel like he ’ s just one of many names that we ’ ve had to create hashtags and T-shirts and campaigns for and I feel like nothing has changed , '' district resident Abe Neri said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s why I ’ m out here .
Yeah , when you say nothing you ’ re taking the side of the oppressor.
” A person was killed in downtown Detroit just before midnight after someone in an SUV fired shots into a crowd of protesters near the Greektown entertainment district , police said .
In Portland , Oregon , protesters broke into police headquarters and authorities said they lit a fire inside .
In Virginia 's capital , a police cruiser was set on fire outside Richmond police headquarters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bus set ablaze was “ a total loss , ” news outlets reported .
Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp tweeted that up to 500 members of the Guard would deploy immediately “ to protect people & property in Atlanta.
” He said he acted at the request of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , who earlier appealed in vain for calm .
In scenes both peaceful and violent across the nation , thousands of protesters chanted “ No justice , no peace ” and “ Say his name .
George Floyd.
” They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t breathe .
Justice for George.
” Some demonstrators smashed police cars and spray-painted the iconic logo sign at CNN headquarters in downtown Atlanta .
At least three officers were hurt and there were multiple arrests , Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos said , as protesters shot at officers with BB guns and threw bricks , bottles , and knives .
Atlanta officials said crews were temporarily unable to reach a fire at Del Frisco ’ s restaurant in the Buckhead neighborhood several miles north because of protesters there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Martin Luther King , Jr. , '' Mayor Bottoms said .
“ You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country.
” Ms .
Bottoms was flanked by Mr. King ’ s daughter , Bernice King , and rappers T.I .
and Killer Mike .
“ We have to be better than burning down our own homes .
Because if we lose Atlanta what have we got ?
” said Killer Mike , crying as he spoke .
Video posted to social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batons and shoving protesters down as they took people into custody and cleared streets .
One video showed on officer slam a woman to the ground as he walked past her in the street .
Demonstrators rocked a police van , set it ablaze , scrawled graffiti across its charred body and set it aflame again as officers retreated .
Blocks away , protesters used a club to batter another police vehicle .
`` There will be a full review of what happened tonight , ” Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted , referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t ever want to see another night like this.
” The police department said numerous officers were injured , including one whose tooth was knocked out .
The names of black people killed by police , including Mr. Floyd and Eric Garner , who died on Staten Island in 2014 , were on signs and in chants .
“ Our country has a sickness .
We have to be out here , '' said Brianna Petrisko , among those at lower Manhattan ’ s Foley Square , where most were wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the only way we ’ re going to be heard.
” Protesters in Houston , where Mr. Floyd grew up , included Jimmy Ohaz from the nearby city of Richmond , Texas : “ My question is how many more , how many more ?
I just want to live in a future where we all live in harmony and we ’ re not oppressed.
” Demonstrators on the West Coast blocked highways in Los Angeles and Oakland , California .
About 1,000 protesters in Oakland smashed windows , sprayed buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and were met with chemical spray from police , who said several officers were injured by projectiles .
One Los Angeles officer received medical treatment , police said .
An LAPD vehicle had its windows smashed , and at least one city bus was vandalized .
Police declared an unlawful assembly throughout downtown , where aerial footage from KTLA-TV showed scored of people corralled by police .
An LAPD spokesman told The Associated Press they were still tallying arrests .
“ I believe in our city .
L.A. is strong enough to stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted , cautioning `` violence and vandalism hurts all.
” San Jose , California , police said that Santa Clara County sheriff ’ s deputies shot at a fleeing SUV that was shown on video striking protesters , the San Jose Mercury News reported .
Protesters repeatedly clashed with police in San Jose , said Mayor Sam Liccardo , and police responded with flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets .
One officer was hospitalized with a non-life-threatening injury , officials said .
Mayor Liccardo said his city 's officers shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death .
“ It was a horrible injustice , ” he told the AP .
Portland , Oregon , police said at least one shooting was tied to the protest , although details weren ’ t immediately released .
Two people were arrested during overnight riots in which protesters set fires throughout downtown and smashed storefront windows , police said .
Police , who declared the protest a riot , said they deployed gas after people threw projectiles at them .
Mayor Wheeler tweeted a plea to protesters to remain peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the city to attend to his dying mother , he was heading back .
He later declared a state of emergency .
“ Portland , this is not us , ” he wrote .
“ When you destroy our city , you are destroying our community .
When you act in violence against each other , you are hurting all of us .
How does this honor the legacy of George Floyd ?
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Protesters burned businesses in Minneapolis. They smashed police cars and windows in Atlanta, broke into police headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and chanted curses at President Donald Trump outside the White House. Thousands also demonstrated peacefully, demanding justice for George Floyd, a black man who died after a white officer pressed a knee into his neck.
As anger over Mr. Floyd's killing spread to cities nationwide, local leaders increasingly said they could need help from National Guardsmen or even military police to contain the unrest.
Georgia’s governor declared a state of emergency early Saturday to activate the state National Guard as violence flared in Atlanta. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler also declared an emergency and ordered a nighttime curfew for the city.
Another 500 Guard soldiers were mobilized in and around Minneapolis, where Mr. Floyd died and an officer faced charges Friday in his death. But after another night of watching fires burn and businesses ransacked, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said early Saturday that he was moving to activate more than 1,000 more and was considering federal help.
The Guard was also on standby in the District of Columbia, where a crowd grew outside the White House and chanted curses at President Donald Trump. Some protesters tried to push through barriers set up by the U.S. Secret Service along Pennsylvania Avenue, and threw bottles and other objects at officers wearing riot gear, who responded with pepper spray.
“I just feel like he’s just one of many names that we’ve had to create hashtags and T-shirts and campaigns for and I feel like nothing has changed," district resident Abe Neri said of Mr. Floyd. "And so that’s why I’m out here. Yeah, when you say nothing you’re taking the side of the oppressor.”
A person was killed in downtown Detroit just before midnight after someone in an SUV fired shots into a crowd of protesters near the Greektown entertainment district, police said. In Portland, Oregon, protesters broke into police headquarters and authorities said they lit a fire inside. In Virginia's capital, a police cruiser was set on fire outside Richmond police headquarters, and a city transit spokeswoman said a bus set ablaze was “a total loss,” news outlets reported.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted that up to 500 members of the Guard would deploy immediately “to protect people & property in Atlanta.” He said he acted at the request of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who earlier appealed in vain for calm.
In scenes both peaceful and violent across the nation, thousands of protesters chanted “No justice, no peace” and “Say his name. George Floyd.” They hoisted signs reading: “He said I can’t breathe. Justice for George.”
Some demonstrators smashed police cars and spray-painted the iconic logo sign at CNN headquarters in downtown Atlanta. At least three officers were hurt and there were multiple arrests, Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos said, as protesters shot at officers with BB guns and threw bricks, bottles, and knives.
Atlanta officials said crews were temporarily unable to reach a fire at Del Frisco’s restaurant in the Buckhead neighborhood several miles north because of protesters there.
“This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr.," Mayor Bottoms said. “You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country.”
Ms. Bottoms was flanked by Mr. King’s daughter, Bernice King, and rappers T.I. and Killer Mike.
“We have to be better than burning down our own homes. Because if we lose Atlanta what have we got?” said Killer Mike, crying as he spoke.
Video posted to social media showed New York City officers using batons and shoving protesters down as they took people into custody and cleared streets. One video showed on officer slam a woman to the ground as he walked past her in the street.
Demonstrators rocked a police van, set it ablaze, scrawled graffiti across its charred body and set it aflame again as officers retreated. Blocks away, protesters used a club to batter another police vehicle.
"There will be a full review of what happened tonight,” Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted, referring to the Brooklyn protest. "We don’t ever want to see another night like this.”
The police department said numerous officers were injured, including one whose tooth was knocked out.
The names of black people killed by police, including Mr. Floyd and Eric Garner, who died on Staten Island in 2014, were on signs and in chants.
“Our country has a sickness. We have to be out here," said Brianna Petrisko, among those at lower Manhattan’s Foley Square, where most were wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. "This is the only way we’re going to be heard.”
Protesters in Houston, where Mr. Floyd grew up, included Jimmy Ohaz from the nearby city of Richmond, Texas: “My question is how many more, how many more? I just want to live in a future where we all live in harmony and we’re not oppressed.”
Demonstrators on the West Coast blocked highways in Los Angeles and Oakland, California.
About 1,000 protesters in Oakland smashed windows, sprayed buildings with “Kill Cops” graffiti, and were met with chemical spray from police, who said several officers were injured by projectiles.
One Los Angeles officer received medical treatment, police said. An LAPD vehicle had its windows smashed, and at least one city bus was vandalized. Police declared an unlawful assembly throughout downtown, where aerial footage from KTLA-TV showed scored of people corralled by police.
An LAPD spokesman told The Associated Press they were still tallying arrests.
“I believe in our city. L.A. is strong enough to stand for justice and walk in love,” Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted, cautioning "violence and vandalism hurts all.”
San Jose, California, police said that Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies shot at a fleeing SUV that was shown on video striking protesters, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
Protesters repeatedly clashed with police in San Jose, said Mayor Sam Liccardo, and police responded with flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets. One officer was hospitalized with a non-life-threatening injury, officials said.
Mayor Liccardo said his city's officers shared the community’s outrage over Floyd’s death.
“It was a horrible injustice,” he told the AP.
Portland, Oregon, police said at least one shooting was tied to the protest, although details weren’t immediately released. Two people were arrested during overnight riots in which protesters set fires throughout downtown and smashed storefront windows, police said.
Police, who declared the protest a riot, said they deployed gas after people threw projectiles at them.
Mayor Wheeler tweeted a plea to protesters to remain peaceful and said that, while he had left the city to attend to his dying mother, he was heading back. He later declared a state of emergency.
“Portland, this is not us,” he wrote. “When you destroy our city, you are destroying our community. When you act in violence against each other, you are hurting all of us. How does this honor the legacy of George Floyd?”
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.