csmonitor--2020-05-12--His Afghan mission: to restore lives and limbs

“ You can see these kinds of miracles , people that , when you looked at them the very first time , you see them totally lost , ” he says .
“ In front of you , you really see day by day people are growing , people are changing .
There is a transformation .
It ’ s fantastic.
” “ The person who comes the very first time , who has lost one or two legs ... they are people in an awful situation , ” Mr. Cairo explains .
But as the patients make tangible progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , every day .
The holistic rehabilitation program has broadened to include home visits , job training , social integration , and even wheelchair sports teams .
Last year alone those centers helped more than 160,000 Afghan patients .
Their workshops created some 27,000 artificial limbs , put to use in nearly 350,000 physiotherapy sessions .
For 30 years , Italian physiotherapist Alberto Cairo has shepherded a comprehensive program in Afghanistan run by the International Committee of the Red Cross .
At seven orthopedic centers around the country , the former lawyer reverentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseen an expansion of the ICRC ’ s work fitting disabled Afghans with artificial limbs .
When a rocket tore through the roof of Ahmad Zubair ’ s house in Afghanistan ’ s Parwan province , the boy lost his right leg – and with it , his family thought , any chance of a decent future .
That was last September , on election day , north of Kabul .
Taliban insurgents had vowed to disrupt the presidential vote , and so the rocket attack added the young boy to the near-endless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war in Afghanistan .
But these days the 10-year-old is in Kabul , steadying himself on a newly fitted prosthesis at an orthopedic center run by the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC ) .
“ I am so very happy to walk , ” says Ahmad , moving forward confidently with his right shoe strapped to the plastic and metal foot .
“ It ’ s too important to have the [ prosthetic ] leg , ” concurs Ahmad ’ s father , Ghanem Gul Hojat , as he watches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He is top in school .
It ’ s far from home , ” says the father of the 25-minute walk .
Ahmad ’ s story represents another devastating war casualty in Afghanistan , but also another life transformed for the better by a comprehensive ICRC program that , for 30 years , has been shepherded by Italian physiotherapist Alberto Cairo .
Revered by Afghans as “ Mr .
Alberto , ” and respected by colleagues for devoting his life to helping disabled Afghans , Mr. Cairo has overseen an expansion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fitting and physical rehabilitation to seven orthopedic centers around the country .
Last year alone those centers helped more than 160,000 Afghan patients , including nearly 15,000 new ones – Ahmad among them .
Their workshops created some 27,000 artificial limbs , put to use in nearly 350,000 physiotherapy sessions .
At the heart of the program , and its holistic broadening to include home visits , job training , social integration , and even wheelchair sports teams , is a soft-spoken former lawyer who found his calling far from his native Turin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has motivated him to help Afghans over the course of multiple wars and social upheavals , Mr. Cairo says , “ I have only one word for that : It ’ s a privilege.
” He says he sees despair turn to hope , every day .
“ The person who comes the very first time , who has lost one or two legs ... there is no hope at all , ” he says .
Patients feel their life is over , that they have no chance of finding a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in an awful situation , ” he says .
“ You can see these kinds of miracles , people that , when you looked at them the very first time , you see them totally lost , ” he says .
“ In front of you , you really see day by day people are growing , people are changing .
There is a transformation .
It ’ s fantastic.
” Beyond the sheer numbers , the proof is in the ICRC centers and prosthesis workshops , where the combined staff of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There are some excellent physiotherapists , men and women , some excellent orthopedic technicians , making prosthetics , ” says Mr. Cairo .
“ And I tell you , at the beginning they were looking at me as if I were coming from another planet .
Self-esteem was so low .
Self-confidence was minus 20 .
And now look at them , they are there , teaching other people and helping them , and very proud.
” As much of the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic , Mr. Cairo exemplifies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a lifetime of devotion as a committed humanitarian .
“ Even within the institution , [ Mr. Cairo ] has really become an icon , ” says Benjamin Wahren , the ICRC deputy head of delegation in Kabul .
Foreign staff are usually rotated frequently in dangerous and grim postings like Afghanistan , Congo , Syria , and Iraq .
An internal joke is that Mr. Cairo is still on the longest-ever “ first mission.
” “ The impact that he as a person has had is in a way much more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanitarian work , because [ for others ] a lot of it tends to shift .
People shift , programs shift , ” says Mr. Wahren .
“ It ’ s very , very rare to have a single person building from zero to where it is today , a program like this.
” That program has been built with sustainability in mind .
And it has survived setbacks .
In 2017 the Spanish ICRC physiotherapist Lorena Enebral Perez was shot dead by one of her own polio patients inside the orthopedic center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 1979 have also weathered dramatic political change , including the Soviet pullout , the civil war of the 1990s , the U.S. ousting of the Taliban in 2001 , and the subsequent insurgency , which has at times resulted in the ICRC being targeted and forced to curtail its work..
Through much of it has been Mr. Cairo , who arrived here in 1990 after the Soviet occupation .
But the path was circuitous for someone who became captivated by physiotherapy at age 16 during his first visit to a care home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man helping these elderly people to walk and move around , ” recalls Mr. Cairo .
“ I remember that he was doing very simple things , but very useful , because people that I could never imagine would be able to stand .
He was able to help them.
” Mr. Cairo started reading about physiotherapy as a hobby and every so often returned to the care home .
He studied law but finally , in his late 20s , asked himself if he wanted to be a lawyer for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else .
So he went back to school .
His first mission , to southern Sudan for an Italian relief group , ended after three years , when the team was evacuated .
He joined the ICRC and was sent to Afghanistan , where he fell in love with the place and its people .
“ For a while , nobody wanted to come and replace me , so it was very easy to stay , ” says Mr. Cairo .
“ It was during the civil war , and nobody wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I asked to stay , and they allowed me .
And now I think they forgot me.
” Already by 2008 , The New York Times referred to Mr. Cairo as the “ most celebrated Western relief official ” in the country , and in 2010 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize .
Last August he was made an honorary citizen of Afghanistan .
Mr. Cairo now says that his time in the country flies by too quickly , so he just agreed to extend his Afghanistan tour through 2022 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ man credited with helping more than 100,000 Afghans walk again ?
Mr. Cairo ponders a moment and mentions a man in his mid-20s who now works as an administrator at the Kabul center but who arrived as a boy .
Ashraf came at the age of 7 , he says , paralyzed from the chest down due to shrapnel in his back .
“ At the very beginning , he was so , so afraid of everything .
He could not do anything .
He was never , ever , leaving his house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , ” he recounts .
Ashraf felt he couldn ’ t even propel his own wheelchair outside .
“ It took some time to convince him , and we sent pictures home to teach him , ” says Mr. Cairo .
Now , on top of his ICRC job , Ashraf studies at university , speaks fluent English , is writing a novel , and recently traveled – insisting on doing so alone – to India and Moscow .
“ This is a person who , believe me , was scared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so afraid , ” adds Mr. Cairo , with a hint of pride in his voice .
“ And now he ’ s a new person .
This is one of the thousands .
”

“You can see these kinds of miracles, people that, when you looked at them the very first time, you see them totally lost,” he says. “In front of you, you really see day by day people are growing, people are changing. There is a transformation. It’s fantastic.”
“The person who comes the very first time, who has lost one or two legs ... they are people in an awful situation,” Mr. Cairo explains. But as the patients make tangible progress, he sees despair turn to hope, every day.
In Afghanistan, a soft-spoken former lawyer has dedicated himself to helping those wounded in war walk a path from despair to hope. Watching that progression, he says, is a “privilege.”
The holistic rehabilitation program has broadened to include home visits, job training, social integration, and even wheelchair sports teams. Last year alone those centers helped more than 160,000 Afghan patients. Their workshops created some 27,000 artificial limbs, put to use in nearly 350,000 physiotherapy sessions.
For 30 years, Italian physiotherapist Alberto Cairo has shepherded a comprehensive program in Afghanistan run by the International Committee of the Red Cross. At seven orthopedic centers around the country, the former lawyer reverentially called “Mr. Alberto” has overseen an expansion of the ICRC’s work fitting disabled Afghans with artificial limbs.
When a rocket tore through the roof of Ahmad Zubair’s house in Afghanistan’s Parwan province, the boy lost his right leg – and with it, his family thought, any chance of a decent future.
That was last September, on election day, north of Kabul. Taliban insurgents had vowed to disrupt the presidential vote, and so the rocket attack added the young boy to the near-endless list of wounded civilians from decades of war in Afghanistan.
But these days the 10-year-old is in Kabul, steadying himself on a newly fitted prosthesis at an orthopedic center run by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Why We Wrote This In Afghanistan, a soft-spoken former lawyer has dedicated himself to helping those wounded in war walk a path from despair to hope. Watching that progression, he says, is a “privilege.”
“I am so very happy to walk,” says Ahmad, moving forward confidently with his right shoe strapped to the plastic and metal foot.
“It’s too important to have the [prosthetic] leg,” concurs Ahmad’s father, Ghanem Gul Hojat, as he watches his son test the new device. “He is top in school. It’s far from home,” says the father of the 25-minute walk.
Ahmad’s story represents another devastating war casualty in Afghanistan, but also another life transformed for the better by a comprehensive ICRC program that, for 30 years, has been shepherded by Italian physiotherapist Alberto Cairo.
Revered by Afghans as “Mr. Alberto,” and respected by colleagues for devoting his life to helping disabled Afghans, Mr. Cairo has overseen an expansion of the ICRC’s work with limb-
fitting and physical rehabilitation to seven orthopedic centers around the country.
Last year alone those centers helped more than 160,000 Afghan patients, including nearly 15,000 new ones – Ahmad among them. Their workshops created some 27,000 artificial limbs, put to use in nearly 350,000 physiotherapy sessions.
At the heart of the program, and its holistic broadening to include home visits, job training, social integration, and even wheelchair sports teams, is a soft-spoken former lawyer who found his calling far from his native Turin, Italy.
Of the tangible progress that has motivated him to help Afghans over the course of multiple wars and social upheavals, Mr. Cairo says, “I have only one word for that: It’s a privilege.” He says he sees despair turn to hope, every day.
Scott Peterson/Getty Images/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Ahmad Zubair, who lost his leg in a rocket attack that struck his house on election day in September 2019, practices with a new prosthesis beside his father, Ghanem Gul Hojat, as physiotherapists care for victims of war and disease at the ICRC's Orthopedic Center, March 3, 2020, in Kabul, Afghanistan.
“The person who comes the very first time, who has lost one or two legs ... there is no hope at all,” he says. Patients feel their life is over, that they have no chance of finding a job or getting married. “They are people in an awful situation,” he says.
“You can see these kinds of miracles, people that, when you looked at them the very first time, you see them totally lost,” he says. “In front of you, you really see day by day people are growing, people are changing. There is a transformation. It’s fantastic.”
Beyond the sheer numbers, the proof is in the ICRC centers and prosthesis workshops, where the combined staff of 750 are almost exclusively disabled former patients.
“There are some excellent physiotherapists, men and women, some excellent orthopedic technicians, making prosthetics,” says Mr. Cairo. “And I tell you, at the beginning they were looking at me as if I were coming from another planet. Self-esteem was so low. Self-confidence was minus 20. And now look at them, they are there, teaching other people and helping them, and very proud.”
As much of the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Cairo exemplifies the impact that one individual can have during a lifetime of devotion as a committed humanitarian.
“Even within the institution, [Mr. Cairo] has really become an icon,” says Benjamin Wahren, the ICRC deputy head of delegation in Kabul. Foreign staff are usually rotated frequently in dangerous and grim postings like Afghanistan, Congo, Syria, and Iraq. An internal joke is that Mr. Cairo is still on the longest-ever “first mission.”
“The impact that he as a person has had is in a way much more tangible, at least in terms of humanitarian work, because [for others] a lot of it tends to shift. People shift, programs shift,” says Mr. Wahren. “It’s very, very rare to have a single person building from zero to where it is today, a program like this.”
That program has been built with sustainability in mind. And it has survived setbacks. In 2017 the Spanish ICRC physiotherapist Lorena Enebral Perez was shot dead by one of her own polio patients inside the orthopedic center in Mazar-e-Sharif.
ICRC operations in Afghanistan since 1979 have also weathered dramatic political change, including the Soviet pullout, the civil war of the 1990s, the U.S. ousting of the Taliban in 2001, and the subsequent insurgency, which has at times resulted in the ICRC being targeted and forced to curtail its work..
Through much of it has been Mr. Cairo, who arrived here in 1990 after the Soviet occupation. But the path was circuitous for someone who became captivated by physiotherapy at age 16 during his first visit to a care home, with classmates.
“There was a man helping these elderly people to walk and move around,” recalls Mr. Cairo. “I remember that he was doing very simple things, but very useful, because people that I could never imagine would be able to stand. He was able to help them.”
Scott Peterson/Getty Images/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption An Afghan orthopedic technician for the International Committee of the Red Cross builds prostheses at the ICRC's Orthopedic Center in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 3, 2020. The Kabul center is one of seven around the country that have provided new limbs, training, and social support under the directorship of Italian physiotherapist Alberto Cairo.
Mr. Cairo started reading about physiotherapy as a hobby and every so often returned to the care home. He studied law but finally, in his late 20s, asked himself if he wanted to be a lawyer for the rest of his life – or something else.
So he went back to school. His first mission, to southern Sudan for an Italian relief group, ended after three years, when the team was evacuated. He joined the ICRC and was sent to Afghanistan, where he fell in love with the place and its people.
“For a while, nobody wanted to come and replace me, so it was very easy to stay,” says Mr. Cairo. “It was during the civil war, and nobody wanted to come to Afghanistan. Later on, I asked to stay, and they allowed me. And now I think they forgot me.”
Already by 2008, The New York Times referred to Mr. Cairo as the “most celebrated Western relief official” in the country, and in 2010 he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Last August he was made an honorary citizen of Afghanistan.
Mr. Cairo now says that his time in the country flies by too quickly, so he just agreed to extend his Afghanistan tour through 2022.
Do any cases stand out to the man credited with helping more than 100,000 Afghans walk again?
Mr. Cairo ponders a moment and mentions a man in his mid-20s who now works as an administrator at the Kabul center but who arrived as a boy.
Ashraf came at the age of 7, he says, paralyzed from the chest down due to shrapnel in his back. “At the very beginning, he was so, so afraid of everything. He could not do anything. He was never, ever, leaving his house without being escorted by one or two people,” he recounts. Ashraf felt he couldn’t even propel his own wheelchair outside.
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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.
“It took some time to convince him, and we sent pictures home to teach him,” says Mr. Cairo. Now, on top of his ICRC job, Ashraf studies at university, speaks fluent English, is writing a novel, and recently traveled – insisting on doing so alone – to India and Moscow.
“This is a person who, believe me, was scared to look around; he was so, so afraid,” adds Mr. Cairo, with a hint of pride in his voice. “And now he’s a new person. This is one of the thousands.”


csmonitor--2020-06-08--Poll shows Republicans are unusually pessimistic about US path

Republicans are more pessimistic about the country 's direction than at almost any other time during Donald Trump 's presidency , as a trio of crises – the coronavirus pandemic , an economic downturn , and mass protests over police brutality – buffets his administration .
Only 46 % of Americans who identify as Republicans say the country is on the right track , according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week .
It is the first time that number has fallen so low since August 2017 , when a rally organized by white supremacists in Charlottesville , Virginia led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently as early March , before the novel coronavirus forced widespread shutdowns across the country , about 70 % of Republicans said they were optimistic about the country 's direction .
President Donald Trump 's approval rating remains resilient at around 40 % , with a large majority of Republicans still approving of his overall performance .
But sustained pessimism among Mr. Trump 's supporters could portend potential weakness ahead of November 's election , when he will face Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden , experts said .
Mr. Trump has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and on Sunday , former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell endorsed Mr. Biden , becoming the first major Republican to publicly back Mr. Trump 's rival ahead of November 's election .
Mr. Powell , who led the U.S. military during the 1991 Gulf War under Republican former President George H.W .
Bush and later led the U.S. Department of State under President George W. Bush , said Mr. Trump was `` ineffective '' and has only gotten worse since he took office .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' from the U.S. Constitution .
`` I can not in any way support President Trump this year , '' Mr. Powell , who did not vote for Mr. Trump in 2016 , told CNN in an interview .
Asked if he would vote for Mr. Biden , he added : `` I will be voting for him . ''
Thirty-seven percent of Republicans said the country is on the wrong track ; 17 % of those said they would vote for Mr. Biden if the election were held now , while 63 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Trump .
In an election most analysts believe will come down to a handful of closely divided states such as Michigan , Pennsylvania , and North Carolina , even minor defections or a dip in turnout among the Republican ranks could imperil Mr. Trump 's chances .
`` It probably should be concerning for the president , even though it 's reasonable to say he still maintains strong support among Republicans , '' said Kyle Kondik , an elections analyst at the University of Virginia .
Republicans believe an economic rebound in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday 's jobs report showed more than 2.5 million jobs were added last month during the thick of the coronavirus pandemic .
Mr. Trump touted the gains as the `` greatest comeback in American history . ''
Trump campaign spokeswoman Erin Perrine said in a statement , `` Polling is notoriously wrong .
We are five months from the election and any polling now is not a clear indicator of election results .
Pollsters were very wrong in 2016 and underestimate voters ' enthusiasm for President Mr. Trump every time . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of February , when the pandemic began accelerating .
But unlike Republicans , large majorities of Democrats and independents already felt the country was on the wrong track ; fewer than 7 % of Democrats and 19 % of independents feel the country is headed in the right direction , down slightly from March , the poll showed .
Matthew Knight , a resident in North Carolina who supported Mr. Trump in 2016 , said he has been disappointed with Mr. Trump 's response to the crises .
`` Just think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not helping matters , that things are definitely wrong , '' Mr. Knight wrote in an email to Reuters .
`` I was going to vote for Trump , but if things do n't get better , I may have to rethink that . ''
Reuters conducted interviews and email exchanges with more than a dozen Republicans who said the country was headed in the wrong direction , yielding a mix of responses .
Some , such as Bill McMichael , in politically divided Minnesota who has n't voted for a Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting for Mr. Biden out of disgust with Mr. Trump .
A few admitted some misgivings but still plan to vote for Mr. Trump , either because they are more skeptical about Mr. Biden or trust Mr. Trump to revive the economy .
Others blamed Democrats for the country 's problems .
`` The last week sure shows you the direction the liberals are trying to drive this country , '' said Ken Wilamowski , a retired General Motors engineer in Clarkston , Michigan , adding that Democratic governors have been too unwilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to lose to anarchy every time . ''
Mr. Trump has urged governors to `` dominate '' the streets and claimed that far-left radicals are primarily responsible for the violence .
Protesters again gathered in Washington for a big demonstration on Saturday .
`` In normal political circumstances , having a 40 % favorability would be terrible , but that 's just not the world we live in right now , '' said Terry Sullivan , a Republican strategist who served as Senator Marco Rubio 's presidential campaign manager in 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the last 3-1/2 years . ''
Tom Singer , a probation officer in Riverside , California , said Mr. Trump 's presidency has been `` dysfunctional . ''
Nevertheless , he said he would still likely vote for him in November because he trusts Mr. Trump will deliver where it matters most : on the economy .
`` I 'm not happy with either candidate , but I have to look at the one who 's going to have the greatest impact on me , '' he said .
The Reuters/Ipsos poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the United States and gathered responses from 1,113 American adults .
It had a credibility interval of plus or minus 3 percentage points .
This story was reported by Reuters .
Reuters writer Susan Heavey contributed to this report .
Chris Kahn , Soyoung Kim , Lisa Shumaker , and Daniel Wallis edited this story .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Republicans are more pessimistic about the country's direction than at almost any other time during Donald Trump's presidency, as a trio of crises – the coronavirus pandemic, an economic downturn, and mass protests over police brutality – buffets his administration.
Only 46% of Americans who identify as Republicans say the country is on the right track, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week. It is the first time that number has fallen so low since August 2017, when a rally organized by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia led to violent clashes with counter-protesters.
As recently as early March, before the novel coronavirus forced widespread shutdowns across the country, about 70% of Republicans said they were optimistic about the country's direction.
President Donald Trump's approval rating remains resilient at around 40%, with a large majority of Republicans still approving of his overall performance.
But sustained pessimism among Mr. Trump's supporters could portend potential weakness ahead of November's election, when he will face Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden, experts said.
Mr. Trump has been criticized by several former military officials, and on Sunday, former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell endorsed Mr. Biden, becoming the first major Republican to publicly back Mr. Trump's rival ahead of November's election.
Mr. Powell, who led the U.S. military during the 1991 Gulf War under Republican former President George H.W. Bush and later led the U.S. Department of State under President George W. Bush, said Mr. Trump was "ineffective" and has only gotten worse since he took office. He said Mr. Trump had "drifted away" from the U.S. Constitution.
"I cannot in any way support President Trump this year," Mr. Powell, who did not vote for Mr. Trump in 2016, told CNN in an interview. Asked if he would vote for Mr. Biden, he added: "I will be voting for him."
Thirty-seven percent of Republicans said the country is on the wrong track; 17% of those said they would vote for Mr. Biden if the election were held now, while 63% still plan to cast ballots for Mr. Trump.
In an election most analysts believe will come down to a handful of closely divided states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, even minor defections or a dip in turnout among the Republican ranks could imperil Mr. Trump's chances.
"It probably should be concerning for the president, even though it's reasonable to say he still maintains strong support among Republicans," said Kyle Kondik, an elections analyst at the University of Virginia.
Republicans believe an economic rebound in the fall would bolster his prospects. Friday's jobs report showed more than 2.5 million jobs were added last month during the thick of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Trump touted the gains as the "greatest comeback in American history."
Trump campaign spokeswoman Erin Perrine said in a statement, "Polling is notoriously wrong. We are five months from the election and any polling now is not a clear indicator of election results. Pollsters were very wrong in 2016 and underestimate voters' enthusiasm for President Mr. Trump every time."
'THINGS ARE DEFINITELY WRONG'
The pessimism among all Americans has grown since the end of February, when the pandemic began accelerating. But unlike Republicans, large majorities of Democrats and independents already felt the country was on the wrong track; fewer than 7% of Democrats and 19% of independents feel the country is headed in the right direction, down slightly from March, the poll showed.
Matthew Knight, a resident in North Carolina who supported Mr. Trump in 2016, said he has been disappointed with Mr. Trump's response to the crises.
"Just think with everything going on, and Trump not helping matters, that things are definitely wrong," Mr. Knight wrote in an email to Reuters. "I was going to vote for Trump, but if things don't get better, I may have to rethink that."
Reuters conducted interviews and email exchanges with more than a dozen Republicans who said the country was headed in the wrong direction, yielding a mix of responses.
Some, such as Bill McMichael, in politically divided Minnesota who hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in four decades, are considering voting for Mr. Biden out of disgust with Mr. Trump.
A few admitted some misgivings but still plan to vote for Mr. Trump, either because they are more skeptical about Mr. Biden or trust Mr. Trump to revive the economy. Others blamed Democrats for the country's problems.
"The last week sure shows you the direction the liberals are trying to drive this country," said Ken Wilamowski, a retired General Motors engineer in Clarkston, Michigan, adding that Democratic governors have been too unwilling to confront protesters. "Pacifism is going to lose to anarchy every time."
Mr. Trump has urged governors to "dominate" the streets and claimed that far-left radicals are primarily responsible for the violence. Protesters again gathered in Washington for a big demonstration on Saturday.
"In normal political circumstances, having a 40% favorability would be terrible, but that's just not the world we live in right now," said Terry Sullivan, a Republican strategist who served as Senator Marco Rubio's presidential campaign manager in 2016. "The numbers really haven't moved in the last 3-1/2 years."
Tom Singer, a probation officer in Riverside, California, said Mr. Trump's presidency has been "dysfunctional." Nevertheless, he said he would still likely vote for him in November because he trusts Mr. Trump will deliver where it matters most: on the economy.
"I'm not happy with either candidate, but I have to look at the one who's going to have the greatest impact on me," he said.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online, in English, throughout the United States and gathered responses from 1,113 American adults. It had a credibility interval of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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This story was reported by Reuters. Reuters writer Susan Heavey contributed to this report. Chris Kahn, Soyoung Kim, Lisa Shumaker, and Daniel Wallis edited this story.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-03-24--Europe rises from its sickbed

Europe rises from its sickbed

If you tally what ails the European Union – coronavirus lockdowns , looming recession , resurgent nationalism , Brexit – it is amazing the EU still holds together as a “ home ” for 27 nations with shared values .
Yet this week , the union ’ s leaders are expected to approve membership talks with two countries , Albania and North Macedonia .
Instead of cowering before illness and other turmoil , this community of nearly 450 million people seeks to expand itself .
Such confidence in the EU ’ s health and its power of attraction befits a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ der Leyen , the first female president of the bloc ’ s executive body .
She said Europe must “ step up ” its role in the world .
That role includes making sure Europe ’ s most troubled corner , the Balkans , is finally brought into the EU fold .
Two of the region ’ s nations , Croatia and Slovenia , have already joined the EU .
Montenegro and Serbia are negotiating accession to the union .
Meanwhile , Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina are “ candidates ” for formal talks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ law in these parts of former Yugoslavia has been slow .
Ethnic nationalism is still strong .
Bosnia-Herzegovina has not recovered from the 1995 Srebrenica massacre , in which 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Serbian forces .
Kosovo has yet to be fully recognized as a sovereign nation .
But North Macedonia and Albania ( which was not part of Yugoslavia ) have now implemented enough reforms to open a door for EU membership .
There is no guarantee they will ultimately join the bloc .
Both must show progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Albania in particular is in a political stalemate between its two major parties .
By opening talks with the two countries , however , the EU hopes to further push along their reforms .
The bloc also seeks to counter the growing influence of Russia and China in the region .
Most of all , the EU wants to show that its basic goal of creating a “ common home ” for Europe is alive and well .
Its won ’ t-you-be-my-neighbor invitation to two potential members is a way to expand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Continent .

If you tally what ails the European Union – coronavirus lockdowns, looming recession, resurgent nationalism, Brexit – it is amazing the EU still holds together as a “home” for 27 nations with shared values. Yet this week, the union’s leaders are expected to approve membership talks with two countries, Albania and North Macedonia.
Instead of cowering before illness and other turmoil, this community of nearly 450 million people seeks to expand itself.
Such confidence in the EU’s health and its power of attraction befits a proclamation made last year by Ursula von der Leyen, the first female president of the bloc’s executive body. She said Europe must “step up” its role in the world.
That role includes making sure Europe’s most troubled corner, the Balkans, is finally brought into the EU fold. Two of the region’s nations, Croatia and Slovenia, have already joined the EU. Montenegro and Serbia are negotiating accession to the union. Meanwhile, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina are “candidates” for formal talks.
Progress to implant democracy and rule of law in these parts of former Yugoslavia has been slow. Ethnic nationalism is still strong. Bosnia-Herzegovina has not recovered from the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, in which 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Serbian forces. Kosovo has yet to be fully recognized as a sovereign nation.
But North Macedonia and Albania (which was not part of Yugoslavia) have now implemented enough reforms to open a door for EU membership. There is no guarantee they will ultimately join the bloc. Both must show progress in tackling corruption and other problems. Albania in particular is in a political stalemate between its two major parties.
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By opening talks with the two countries, however, the EU hopes to further push along their reforms. The bloc also seeks to counter the growing influence of Russia and China in the region.
Most of all, the EU wants to show that its basic goal of creating a “common home” for Europe is alive and well. Its won’t-you-be-my-neighbor invitation to two potential members is a way to expand the EU’s sense of belonging on the Continent.


csmonitor--2020-04-08--After 11 weeks, Wuhan ends lockdown

After 11 weeks, Wuhan ends lockdown

After more than two months indoors , Wuhan resident Tong Zhengkun was one of millions of people enjoying a renewed sense of freedom when the Chinese city 's 76-day coronavirus lockdown was lifted on Wednesday .
`` I have n't been outside for more than 70 days , '' an emotional Mr. Tong said as he watched a celebratory light display from a bridge across the broad Yangtze River flowing through the city , where the coronavirus outbreak started late last year .
`` Being indoors for so long drove me crazy . ''
Later in the day , Wang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film a mask-free dance routine with a friend for posting on the internet .
`` I 've been inside for 2 1/2 months .
I 'm so happy Wuhan has defeated the virus , '' Ms. Wang said after again donning her mask .
Like so many others in the city , Ms. Wang was still waiting to hear about when she would get back to work .
`` That 's a very good question , '' she said with a laugh .
Streets in the city of 11 million people were clogged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few snack shops that had reopened in the nightlife area .
Long lines formed at the airport and train and bus stations as thousands streamed out of the city to return to their homes and jobs elsewhere .
Yellow barriers that had blocked off some streets were gone , although the gates to residential compounds remained guarded .
Mr. Tong said his apartment complex was shut down after residents were found to have contracted the coronavirus .
Neighborhood workers delivered groceries to his door .
Such measures wo n't be entirely abandoned following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which began on Jan. 23 as the virus was raging through the city and overwhelming hospitals .
Schools are still closed , temperatures are checked when people enter buildings , and masks are strongly encouraged .
City leaders say they want to simultaneously bring back social and commercial life while avoiding a second wave of infections .
The ability to travel again is a huge relief , however , and around 65,000 people were expected to depart Wednesday by plane and train .
Wuhan residents are now permitted to leave without special authorization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powered by a mix of data-tracking and government surveillance shows they are healthy and have not been in recent contact with anyone confirmed to have the virus .
It did n't take long for traffic to begin moving swiftly through the reopened bridges , tunnels and highway toll booths .
Nearly 1,000 vehicles went through a busy highway toll booth at Wuhan 's border between midnight – when barricades were lifted – and 7 a.m. , according to Yan Xiangsheng , a district police chief .
According to airport official Lou Guowei , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Airport at 7:25 a.m. for Sanya , a coastal city in Hainan province known for its beaches .
`` The crew will wear goggles , masks , and gloves throughout the flight , '' chief flight attendant Guo Binxue was quoted as saying by China 's official Xinhua News Agency .
`` It will be very smooth because we have made much preparation for this flight . ''
Xiao Yonghong had found herself stuck in Wuhan after returning to her hometown on Jan. 17 to spend the Lunar New Year with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We were too excited to fall asleep last night .
I was looking forward to the lockdown lift very much .
I set up an alert to remind myself .
I was very happy , '' said Ms. Xiao , who was waiting for her train outside Hankou station with her son and husband , all three of them wearing masks and gloves .
At the airport , Chen Yating took personal protection a step further , wearing white coveralls , gloves , a mask , and a baseball cap .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the southern Chinese business hub of Guangzhou .
`` We are living in a good era , '' Ms. Chen said .
`` It is not easy to have today 's achievement . ''
The end of Wuhan 's lockdown came one day after Japan declared a state of emergency for Tokyo , Osaka , and five other prefectures in an effort to stem the virus 's spread .
India and much of Europe and the U.S. have also ordered stay-at-home orders , although not nearly to the same extreme as Wuhan .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ China 's more than 82,000 virus cases and over 3,300 deaths from COVID-19 were reported have been gradually eased as cases declined .
The government reported no new cases in the city on Wednesday .
While there are questions about the veracity of China 's count , the unprecedented lockdown of Wuhan and Hubei province , where the city is located , have been successful enough that other countries adopted similar measures .
`` The people in Wuhan paid out a lot and bore a lot mentally and psychologically , '' resident Zhang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historically famous for their strong will . ''
During the lockdown , Wuhan residents could leave their homes only to buy food or attend to other tasks deemed absolutely necessary .
Some were allowed to leave the city , but only if they had paperwork showing they were not a health risk and a letter attesting to where they were going and why .
Even then , authorities could turn them back on a technicality such as missing a stamp , preventing thousands from returning to their jobs outside the city .
Residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave the province starting about three weeks ago , as long as they could provide a clean bill of health .
People leaving the city still face numerous hurdles at their final destinations , such as 14-day quarantines and nucleic acid tests .
Wuhan is a major center for heavy industry , particularly autos , and while major plants have restarted , the small and midsize businesses that employ the most people are still hurting from both a lack of workers and demand .
Measures are being instituted to get them back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yuan ( $ 2.8 billion ) in preferential loans , according to the city government .
The exact source of the virus remains under investigation , though many of the first COVID-19 patients were linked to an outdoor food market in the city .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP producer Olivia Zhang in Wuhan , China , and writer Yanan Wang in Toronto contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @

After more than two months indoors, Wuhan resident Tong Zhengkun was one of millions of people enjoying a renewed sense of freedom when the Chinese city's 76-day coronavirus lockdown was lifted on Wednesday.
"I haven't been outside for more than 70 days," an emotional Mr. Tong said as he watched a celebratory light display from a bridge across the broad Yangtze River flowing through the city, where the coronavirus outbreak started late last year. "Being indoors for so long drove me crazy."
Later in the day, Wang Chun took to a downtown street to film a mask-free dance routine with a friend for posting on the internet.
"I've been inside for 2 1/2 months. I'm so happy Wuhan has defeated the virus," Ms. Wang said after again donning her mask.
Like so many others in the city, Ms. Wang was still waiting to hear about when she would get back to work.
"That's a very good question," she said with a laugh.
Streets in the city of 11 million people were clogged with traffic and masked pedestrians visited the few snack shops that had reopened in the nightlife area. Long lines formed at the airport and train and bus stations as thousands streamed out of the city to return to their homes and jobs elsewhere. Yellow barriers that had blocked off some streets were gone, although the gates to residential compounds remained guarded.
Mr. Tong said his apartment complex was shut down after residents were found to have contracted the coronavirus. Neighborhood workers delivered groceries to his door.
Such measures won't be entirely abandoned following the end of Wuhan's closure, which began on Jan. 23 as the virus was raging through the city and overwhelming hospitals. Schools are still closed, temperatures are checked when people enter buildings, and masks are strongly encouraged. City leaders say they want to simultaneously bring back social and commercial life while avoiding a second wave of infections.
The ability to travel again is a huge relief, however, and around 65,000 people were expected to depart Wednesday by plane and train. Wuhan residents are now permitted to leave without special authorization as long as a mandatory smartphone application powered by a mix of data-tracking and government surveillance shows they are healthy and have not been in recent contact with anyone confirmed to have the virus.
It didn't take long for traffic to begin moving swiftly through the reopened bridges, tunnels and highway toll booths. Nearly 1,000 vehicles went through a busy highway toll booth at Wuhan's border between midnight – when barricades were lifted – and 7 a.m., according to Yan Xiangsheng, a district police chief.
According to airport official Lou Guowei, the first departing flight left Wuhan Tianhe International Airport at 7:25 a.m. for Sanya, a coastal city in Hainan province known for its beaches.
"The crew will wear goggles, masks, and gloves throughout the flight," chief flight attendant Guo Binxue was quoted as saying by China's official Xinhua News Agency. "It will be very smooth because we have made much preparation for this flight."
Xiao Yonghong had found herself stuck in Wuhan after returning to her hometown on Jan. 17 to spend the Lunar New Year with her husband, son, and parents-in-law.
"We were too excited to fall asleep last night. I was looking forward to the lockdown lift very much. I set up an alert to remind myself. I was very happy," said Ms. Xiao, who was waiting for her train outside Hankou station with her son and husband, all three of them wearing masks and gloves.
At the airport, Chen Yating took personal protection a step further, wearing white coveralls, gloves, a mask, and a baseball cap. She was waiting to catch a flight to the southern Chinese business hub of Guangzhou.
"We are living in a good era," Ms. Chen said. "It is not easy to have today's achievement."
The end of Wuhan's lockdown came one day after Japan declared a state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, and five other prefectures in an effort to stem the virus's spread. India and much of Europe and the U.S. have also ordered stay-at-home orders, although not nearly to the same extreme as Wuhan.
Restrictions in the city where most of China's more than 82,000 virus cases and over 3,300 deaths from COVID-19 were reported have been gradually eased as cases declined. The government reported no new cases in the city on Wednesday.
While there are questions about the veracity of China's count, the unprecedented lockdown of Wuhan and Hubei province, where the city is located, have been successful enough that other countries adopted similar measures.
"The people in Wuhan paid out a lot and bore a lot mentally and psychologically," resident Zhang Xiang said. "Wuhan people are historically famous for their strong will."
During the lockdown, Wuhan residents could leave their homes only to buy food or attend to other tasks deemed absolutely necessary. Some were allowed to leave the city, but only if they had paperwork showing they were not a health risk and a letter attesting to where they were going and why. Even then, authorities could turn them back on a technicality such as missing a stamp, preventing thousands from returning to their jobs outside the city.
Residents of other parts of Hubei were allowed to leave the province starting about three weeks ago, as long as they could provide a clean bill of health. People leaving the city still face numerous hurdles at their final destinations, such as 14-day quarantines and nucleic acid tests.
Wuhan is a major center for heavy industry, particularly autos, and while major plants have restarted, the small and midsize businesses that employ the most people are still hurting from both a lack of workers and demand. Measures are being instituted to get them back on their feet, including 20 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) in preferential loans, according to the city government.
The exact source of the virus remains under investigation, though many of the first COVID-19 patients were linked to an outdoor food market in the city.
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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. AP producer Olivia Zhang in Wuhan, China, and writer Yanan Wang in Toronto contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-13--Christians worldwide celebrate an Easter like no other

Christians around the world celebrated Easter Sunday isolated in their homes by the coronavirus while pastors preached the faith ’ s joyous news of Christ 's resurrection to empty pews .
One Florida church drew a large turnout for a drive-in service in a parking lot .
In Britain , Prime Minister Boris Johnson , the first major world leader to test positive for the virus , paid an emotional tribute Sunday to the country 's National Health Service following his release from the hospital , saying its doctors and nurses had saved his life “ no question.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his bedside for 48 hours “ when things could have gone either way.
” The strangeness of this Easter was evident at the Vatican .
St. Peter ’ s Square , where tens of thousands would normally gather to hear Pope Francis , was empty of crowds , ringed by police barricades .
Pope Francis celebrated Easter Mass inside the largely vacant basilica .
In his address , the pope called for global solidarity to confront the “ epochal challenge ” of the pandemic .
He urged political leaders to give hope and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Worldwide , families who normally would attend church in their Easter best and later gather for festive meals instead were hunkered down at home .
Police checkpoints in Europe and outside closed churches elsewhere left the faithful with few worship options other than watching services online or on TV .
Some U.S. pastors went ahead with in-person services despite state or local bans on large gatherings .
At the Happy Gospel Church in Bradenton , Florida , about 100 cars carrying 250 people gathered in the parking lot to hear Pastor Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sat in lawn chairs or on tailgates , but families stayed at least 6 feet apart ; those in their cars occasionally honked to convey agreement with Bailey 's remarks .
Relevant Church in South Carolina also held a drive-in service , but took the additional step of changing it to Saturday because of an expected storm .
Gloved volunteers carefully distributed prepackaged communion packets to families who drove into the YMCA parking lot .
While Pastor Matt McGarity preached from the New Testament , cars sporadically honked in agreement .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning : joyful , expectant , hopeful , ” parishioner Kelly Hills said .
In Louisiana , a pastor who is facing misdemeanor charges for holding services despite a ban on gatherings , said people from every state and all but one continent attended his Easter service Sunday morning .
“ My hope is not in a vaccine for a virus , but all my hope is in Jesus , ” Rev .
Tony Spell said during the service shown online at Life Tabernacle Church in the city of Central .
Worshipers could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ amen ” during the service , though it was not clear how many attended .
President Donald Trump had said he planned to watch an online service led by the Rev .
Robert Jeffress of the Southern Baptist megachurch First Baptist Dallas , although the White House would n't confirm whether he did .
The pastor , a staunch ally of the president , mentioned Mr. Trump in his remarks .
“ We are going to get through this crisis with your continued strong leadership and the power of God , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own Easter message , Mr. Trump and his wife , Melania , paid tribute to the medical professionals , first responders , and other essential workers striving to combat the pandemic .
Back on March 24 , at a Fox News virtual town hall , Mr. Trump had broached the possibility that the United States could emerge from widespread lockdowns by this weekend .
`` I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter , ” he said .
“ Wouldn ’ t it be great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” Mr. Trump said in a subsequent interview .
“ You ’ ll have packed churches all over our country.
” Instead , most churches were empty , including St. Patrick ’ s Cathedral in New York City , which is now the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. Cardinal Timothy Dolan , who led a televised Mass , said he was pleased congregants could have a virtual celebration .
“ We miss you though , ” he added .
“ We ’ d rather you be here physically.
” Parishioners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Christ the Lord is Risen Today ” from their balconies and windows as part of an initiative organized online .
“ My husband and I went out on the balcony and we belted it out as loud as we could , ” said Kathy Keller , of Redeemer Presbyterian Church , who helped launch the ‘ Easter2020 ’ singing event .
Ms. Keller said people from across the U.S. sent her messages telling her they had joined the event , including a woman in Denver , Colorado who sang while snow fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you didn ’ t hear everyone , God heard everyone , ” Ms. Keller said .
At one of the biggest churches in South Korea , Seoul 's Yoido Full Gospel Church , a small number of masked church followers attended the service broadcast online via the church ’ s website .
They were seated noticeably apart from each other to abide by social distancing rules .
Choir members also wore masks when they sang hymns .
In the central German city of Hildesheim , around 400 people participated in a drive-in Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to take part if they stayed in their cars with the doors and windows closed , listening to the sermon over the radio .
In Europe , countries used roadblocks , fines , and other tactics to keep people from traveling over an Easter weekend with beautiful spring weather .
The Italian government said weekend police patrols resulted in more than 12,500 people being sanctioned and 150 facing criminal charges for allegedly violating lockdown measures .
On the hopeful side , officials said Italy recorded the lowest number of new coronavirus victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dying in the past day to bring its total to over 19,800 .
It was the lowest day-to-day toll since March 19 .
As hard-hit countries like Italy and Spain see reduced daily virus infections and deaths , economic pressures are mounting to loosen the tight restrictions on daily life .
Southern Europe and the U.S. , whose death toll of over 22,000 is now the world ’ s highest , have been the recent focal points of the pandemic .
But coronavirus hot spots have been shifting , with new concerns rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where the death toll passed 10,000 .
Uncertainties loomed about the months ahead , with a top European Union official suggesting people hold off on making any summer vacation plans .
Some European nations started tentative moves to ease their shutdowns .
Spain , which on Sunday reported its lowest daily growth in infections in three weeks , will allow workers in some nonessential industries to return to factories and construction sites Monday .
More than 1.8 million infections have been reported and over 114,000 people have died worldwide , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest numbers , with over 555,000 confirmed cases .
The figures likely understate the size and toll of the pandemic , due to limited testing , uneven counting of the dead and some governments ’ desire to play down the extent of outbreaks .
In Britain , Mr. Johnson thanked those who treated him ahead of his release Sunday from St. Thomas ’ Hospital and praised the entire National Health Service , which he called the “ beating heart of this country.
” His week in the hospital included three nights in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received oxygen .
“ I can ’ t thank them enough .
I owe them my life , ” said Mr. Johnson in his first public statement since he was moved from intensive care Thursday .
His office said he will continue his recovery at Chequers , the prime minister ’ s country home .
In the U.S. , about half the deaths are in the New York metropolitan area , but hospitalizations are slowing in the state and other indicators suggest that lockdowns and social distancing are “ flattening the curve ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top U.S. infectious disease expert , said the economy in parts of the country could be allowed to reopen as early as next month .
While he said there ’ s no light switch that will be clicked to turn everything back , he told CNN 's `` State of the Union '' that “ rolling reentry ” will be required based on the status of the pandemic in various parts of the country .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced that 758 people died in the state Saturday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topped 700 .
More than 9,300 people have died in New York .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Winfield reported from Rome and AP journalists around the world contributed .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Christians around the world celebrated Easter Sunday isolated in their homes by the coronavirus while pastors preached the faith’s joyous news of Christ's resurrection to empty pews. One Florida church drew a large turnout for a drive-in service in a parking lot.
In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the first major world leader to test positive for the virus, paid an emotional tribute Sunday to the country's National Health Service following his release from the hospital, saying its doctors and nurses had saved his life “no question.” He especially thanked two nurses who stood by his bedside for 48 hours “when things could have gone either way.”
The strangeness of this Easter was evident at the Vatican. St. Peter’s Square, where tens of thousands would normally gather to hear Pope Francis, was empty of crowds, ringed by police barricades. Pope Francis celebrated Easter Mass inside the largely vacant basilica.
In his address, the pope called for global solidarity to confront the “epochal challenge” of the pandemic. He urged political leaders to give hope and opportunity to the millions laid off work.
Worldwide, families who normally would attend church in their Easter best and later gather for festive meals instead were hunkered down at home. Police checkpoints in Europe and outside closed churches elsewhere left the faithful with few worship options other than watching services online or on TV.
Some U.S. pastors went ahead with in-person services despite state or local bans on large gatherings.
At the Happy Gospel Church in Bradenton, Florida, about 100 cars carrying 250 people gathered in the parking lot to hear Pastor Bill Bailey’s Easter sermon. Some sat in lawn chairs or on tailgates, but families stayed at least 6 feet apart; those in their cars occasionally honked to convey agreement with Bailey's remarks.
Relevant Church in South Carolina also held a drive-in service, but took the additional step of changing it to Saturday because of an expected storm. Gloved volunteers carefully distributed prepackaged communion packets to families who drove into the YMCA parking lot. While Pastor Matt McGarity preached from the New Testament, cars sporadically honked in agreement. “We felt tonight like we would any Easter morning: joyful, expectant, hopeful,” parishioner Kelly Hills said.
In Louisiana, a pastor who is facing misdemeanor charges for holding services despite a ban on gatherings, said people from every state and all but one continent attended his Easter service Sunday morning.
“My hope is not in a vaccine for a virus, but all my hope is in Jesus,” Rev. Tony Spell said during the service shown online at Life Tabernacle Church in the city of Central.
Worshipers could be heard clapping, singing and responding “amen” during the service, though it was not clear how many attended.
President Donald Trump had said he planned to watch an online service led by the Rev. Robert Jeffress of the Southern Baptist megachurch First Baptist Dallas, although the White House wouldn't confirm whether he did. The pastor, a staunch ally of the president, mentioned Mr. Trump in his remarks.
“We are going to get through this crisis with your continued strong leadership and the power of God,” Rev. Jeffress said.
In their own Easter message, Mr. Trump and his wife, Melania, paid tribute to the medical professionals, first responders, and other essential workers striving to combat the pandemic.
Back on March 24, at a Fox News virtual town hall, Mr. Trump had broached the possibility that the United States could emerge from widespread lockdowns by this weekend.
"I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter,” he said.
“Wouldn’t it be great to have all of the churches full?” Mr. Trump said in a subsequent interview. “You’ll have packed churches all over our country.”
Instead, most churches were empty, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, which is now the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who led a televised Mass, said he was pleased congregants could have a virtual celebration.
“We miss you though,” he added. “We’d rather you be here physically.”
Parishioners from churches across New York City sang “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” from their balconies and windows as part of an initiative organized online.
“My husband and I went out on the balcony and we belted it out as loud as we could,” said Kathy Keller, of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, who helped launch the ‘Easter2020’ singing event.
Ms. Keller said people from across the U.S. sent her messages telling her they had joined the event, including a woman in Denver, Colorado who sang while snow fell outside her window.
“Even if you didn’t hear everyone, God heard everyone,” Ms. Keller said.
At one of the biggest churches in South Korea, Seoul's Yoido Full Gospel Church, a small number of masked church followers attended the service broadcast online via the church’s website. They were seated noticeably apart from each other to abide by social distancing rules. Choir members also wore masks when they sang hymns.
In the central German city of Hildesheim, around 400 people participated in a drive-in Catholic Mass for Easter Sunday. People were allowed to take part if they stayed in their cars with the doors and windows closed, listening to the sermon over the radio.
In Europe, countries used roadblocks, fines, and other tactics to keep people from traveling over an Easter weekend with beautiful spring weather.
The Italian government said weekend police patrols resulted in more than 12,500 people being sanctioned and 150 facing criminal charges for allegedly violating lockdown measures.
On the hopeful side, officials said Italy recorded the lowest number of new coronavirus victims in three weeks, with 431 people dying in the past day to bring its total to over 19,800. It was the lowest day-to-day toll since March 19.
As hard-hit countries like Italy and Spain see reduced daily virus infections and deaths, economic pressures are mounting to loosen the tight restrictions on daily life.
Southern Europe and the U.S., whose death toll of over 22,000 is now the world’s highest, have been the recent focal points of the pandemic. But coronavirus hot spots have been shifting, with new concerns rising in Japan, Turkey, and Britain, where the death toll passed 10,000.
Uncertainties loomed about the months ahead, with a top European Union official suggesting people hold off on making any summer vacation plans.
Some European nations started tentative moves to ease their shutdowns. Spain, which on Sunday reported its lowest daily growth in infections in three weeks, will allow workers in some nonessential industries to return to factories and construction sites Monday.
More than 1.8 million infections have been reported and over 114,000 people have died worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has the highest numbers, with over 555,000 confirmed cases. The figures likely understate the size and toll of the pandemic, due to limited testing, uneven counting of the dead and some governments’ desire to play down the extent of outbreaks.
In Britain, Mr. Johnson thanked those who treated him ahead of his release Sunday from St. Thomas’ Hospital and praised the entire National Health Service, which he called the “beating heart of this country.” His week in the hospital included three nights in the intensive care unit, where he received oxygen.
“I can’t thank them enough. I owe them my life,” said Mr. Johnson in his first public statement since he was moved from intensive care Thursday. His office said he will continue his recovery at Chequers, the prime minister’s country home.
In the U.S., about half the deaths are in the New York metropolitan area, but hospitalizations are slowing in the state and other indicators suggest that lockdowns and social distancing are “flattening the curve” of infections.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said the economy in parts of the country could be allowed to reopen as early as next month.
While he said there’s no light switch that will be clicked to turn everything back, he told CNN's "State of the Union" that “rolling reentry” will be required based on the status of the pandemic in various parts of the country.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that 758 people died in the state Saturday, the sixth day in a row the toll topped 700. More than 9,300 people have died in New York.
Get stories that
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. Winfield reported from Rome and AP journalists around the world contributed.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-06--Monday Sunrise Briefing: Europe’s lockdown flattens the curve

Europe ’ s worst hit countries - Italy , Spain , and France - saw coronavirus death tolls declining this weekend as weeks of lockdowns prove effective .
Tension over restarting European economies rose , too .
Italy ’ s prime minister said he didn ’ t expect to lift social distancing measures for another week , but called for a Europe-wide economic recovery plan .
As the number of cases dropped , Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Monday he would open small shops next week , and all shops and malls on May 1 .
“ We are starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the tunnel , ” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said .
In the U.S. , there were calls for resolve Sunday , including the U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams , who told Americans that this could be “ the hardest ” week of your lives .
“ This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment , our 9/11 moment , ’ ’ he told “ Fox News Sunday.
” 2 .
A monarch ’ s message of resoluteness and hope .
Britain ’ s Queen Elizabeth II gave a rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the front lines of the pandemic and citizens who have reached out to help others .
“ Those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any , ” she said , affirming “ that the attributes of self-discipline , of quiet , good-humored resolve , and of fellow feeling still characterize this country.
” In closing , the queen invoked the words of a World War II-era song “ We ’ ll Meet Again ” : “ We should take comfort that while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , better days will return , ” she said .
“ We will be with our friends again ; we will be with our families again ; we will meet again.
” The queen ’ s address came shortly before U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson , diagnosed with COVID-19 , was admitted to the hospital as a “ precautionary step.
” 3 .
Allies in the fight against coronavirus .
Last week , President Trump ordered 3M to reserve all N95 masks for only the U.S. market , a move that would cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Saturday , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted that such a move could hurt the U.S. , since Canada ships medical gloves and testing kits to the U.S now and some of materials from the N95 masks originate in Canada .
On Sunday , conservative Canadian politicians slammed Trump ’ s order .
But Mr. Trudeau took a more diplomatic approach : “ We are not looking at retaliatory measures or measures that are punitive , ” he said .
“ We know it is in both our countries interests to cooperate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil-producing nations planned to meet online today to discuss crude oil output goals .
But a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia was reignited this past weekend .
After oil prices tumbled to an 18-year low , most observers still expect the sides to meet later this week .
New , bite-size storytelling .
A new video-streaming service , Quibi , debuts .
It will offer episodes that last 10-minutes or less , and are designed to be viewed on a smartphone .
The $ 1.8 billion enterprise was founded by former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Packard CEO Meg Whitman .
Quibi launches with 50 shows .
Subscriptions cost $ 4.99 a month with ads , and $ 7.99 a month without ads .
Democratic test .
Despite a statewide shelter-at-home order , Wisconsin voters are expected to head to the polls for a presidential primary .
Absentee balloting has surged .
Several other states have postponed their primaries .
Jews celebrate freedom .
Passover , the annual commemoration of the Israelites exodus from Egypt , a journey from slavery to freedom , begins at sundown .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will be free , ” Rabbi Noam Marans told the Associated Press , describing the celebration of Passover during the coronavirus lockdown .
Good Friday .
Christians honor Christ Jesus 's crucifixion , which precedes his resurrection , celebrated on Easter Sunday .
Here ’ s a recipe for giving : Too many perishables , five generous chefs , and friends in need .
When the coronavirus lockdown hit Detroit recently , many restaurants shuttered .
Some gave their inventory of food to employees .
But a few still had perishables to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of restaurateurs and chefs decided to cook meals for the local homeless shelters .
They dubbed their effort , `` Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen for Good . ''
Talk about food fusion .
The group includes Chef Maxcel Hardy of Coop Caribbean Fusion , Ron Bartell of Kuzzo ’ s Chicken and Waffles , Stephanie Byrd of The Block and Flood ’ s Bar , James Beard Award-nominated chef Genevieve Vang of Bangkok 96 Street Food , and community executive chef Phil Jones of Ma Haru .
But the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not sure what the menu of foods will be , ” chef Vang tells the Detroit Metro Times .
“ But you can be sure it will taste good because it ’ s prepared with love and from the soul of our hearts.
” Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers : Say cheese !
Families commemorate their isolation with ‘ porchraits ’ In tonight ’ s Daily Edition , watch for our story about Joy Harjo , the first Native American poet laureate .
She talks about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the importance of listening .
Finally , check out the Monitor ’ s selected stories from Friday 's subscription-only Daily Edition : • How online learning may be more than a stopgap in the US • Hot commodity : How toilet paper became an icon of stability • Points of progress : Where one epidemic is in retreat This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update .
Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think .
@ @ @

Europe’s worst hit countries - Italy, Spain, and France - saw coronavirus death tolls declining this weekend as weeks of lockdowns prove effective. Tension over restarting European economies rose, too. Italy’s prime minister said he didn’t expect to lift social distancing measures for another week, but called for a Europe-wide economic recovery plan. As the number of cases dropped, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Monday he would open small shops next week, and all shops and malls on May 1. “We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said.
In the U.S., there were calls for resolve Sunday, including the U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who told Americans that this could be “the hardest” week of your lives. “This is going to be our Pearl Harbor moment, our 9/11 moment,’’ he told “Fox News Sunday.”
2. A monarch’s message of resoluteness and hope. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II gave a rare televised address Sunday, thanking healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic and citizens who have reached out to help others. “Those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any,” she said, affirming “that the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet, good-humored resolve, and of fellow feeling still characterize this country.”
Why We Wrote This Good morning! Welcome to your Monday, April 6, 2020, sunrise briefing. Here are three news events from this past weekend (while you may have been binging on Netflix's "Tiger King," doing a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, and enjoying an offline life). Also, what to look for in the news this week.
In closing, the queen invoked the words of a World War II-era song “We’ll Meet Again”:“We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return,” she said. “We will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”
The queen’s address came shortly before U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, diagnosed with COVID-19, was admitted to the hospital as a “precautionary step.”
3. Allies in the fight against coronavirus. Last week, President Trump ordered 3M to reserve all N95 masks for only the U.S. market, a move that would cut sales to Latin America and Canada. On Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted that such a move could hurt the U.S., since Canada ships medical gloves and testing kits to the U.S now and some of materials from the N95 masks originate in Canada. On Sunday, conservative Canadian politicians slammed Trump’s order. But Mr. Trudeau took a more diplomatic approach: “We are not looking at retaliatory measures or measures that are punitive, ” he said. “We know it is in both our countries interests to cooperate.
CNSphoto via REUTERS View caption Hide caption Chinese citizens observe a moment of silence Saturday April 4, 2020 in Beijing as China holds a national memorial for those who died of the coronavirus.
Look Ahead
Monday, April 6
Oil meeting postponed. The leaders of oil-producing nations planned to meet online today to discuss crude oil output goals. But a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia was reignited this past weekend. After oil prices tumbled to an 18-year low, most observers still expect the sides to meet later this week.
New, bite-size storytelling. A new video-streaming service, Quibi, debuts. It will offer episodes that last 10-minutes or less, and are designed to be viewed on a smartphone. The $1.8 billion enterprise was founded by former Disney chief Jeffrey Katzenberg and former Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman. Quibi launches with 50 shows. Subscriptions cost $4.99 a month with ads, and $7.99 a month without ads.
Tuesday, April 7
Democratic test. Despite a statewide shelter-at-home order, Wisconsin voters are expected to head to the polls for a presidential primary. Absentee balloting has surged. Several other states have postponed their primaries.
Wednesday, April 8
Jews celebrate freedom. Passover, the annual commemoration of the Israelites exodus from Egypt, a journey from slavery to freedom, begins at sundown. “This year we are enslaved - next year we will be free,” Rabbi Noam Marans told the Associated Press, describing the celebration of Passover during the coronavirus lockdown.
Friday, April 10
Good Friday. Christians honor Christ Jesus's crucifixion, which precedes his resurrection, celebrated on Easter Sunday.
Generosity Watch
Photos courtesy David E. Rudolph View caption Hide caption Organizer David E. Rudolph (left) with chefs Maxcel Hardy and Genevieve Vang while preparing meals for Detroit homeless shelters.
Here’s a recipe for giving: Too many perishables, five generous chefs, and friends in need.
When the coronavirus lockdown hit Detroit recently, many restaurants shuttered. Some gave their inventory of food to employees. But a few still had perishables to spare. That’s when a group of restaurateurs and chefs decided to cook meals for the local homeless shelters. They dubbed their effort, "Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen for Good."
Talk about food fusion. The group includes Chef Maxcel Hardy of Coop Caribbean Fusion, Ron Bartell of Kuzzo’s Chicken and Waffles, Stephanie Byrd of The Block and Flood’s Bar, James Beard Award-nominated chef Genevieve Vang of Bangkok 96 Street Food, and community executive chef Phil Jones of Ma Haru.
But the result is some inspired cooking. “We are not sure what the menu of foods will be,” chef Vang tells the Detroit Metro Times. “But you can be sure it will taste good because it’s prepared with love and from the soul of our hearts.”
Hidden gem
Start your week with a recent story that inspired Monitor readers:
Say cheese! Families commemorate their isolation with ‘porchraits’
Sneak preview
In tonight’s Daily Edition, watch for our story about Joy Harjo, the first Native American poet laureate. She talks about hearing the collective heart of the country, and the importance of listening.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Finally, check out the Monitor’s selected stories from Friday's subscription-only Daily Edition:
This is a beta test - an experiment with an early Monday morning news update. Please give us your feedback via the link below and let us know what you think. Thank you!


csmonitor--2020-04-08--Lapping the living room: Lockdown marathoners get creative

“ Isn ’ t that what life is about , finding different challenges and conquering them ?
” says Ms. Thungo .
“ We run marathons , we run ultras , but maybe it ’ s only by running in tiny circles that we can really test our minds and find our breaking point.
” Around the world , government restrictions to fight COVID-19 have changed the way we exercise .
And for a dedicated few , it ’ s given rise to a new kind of challenge : to run ever-longer distances in ever-smaller spaces .
For some , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money for charity , or offer inspiration .
For others , they ’ re a way to stay centered in the midst of a crisis that can seem overwhelming .
But for Ms. Thungo , that doesn ’ t mean no running .
It just means running around her postage-stamp backyard , ducking under her washing line on every loop .
And then the world around her started to shrink .
On March 23 , as cases of the novel coronavirus ticked upward , the country announced a 21-day lockdown : no leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three weeks ago , Shahieda Thungo was at the peak of her training for the Comrades , the world ’ s largest ultramarathon , which is run in South Africa each June .
She was taking on weekly marathons like they were casual jogs .
It was one of the most grueling marathons that Wojciech Machnik had completed – and that was saying something .
Mr. Machnik has run marathons that zigzag up mountain peaks .
He has finished 26.2 miles in 90 degree heat and 95 % humidity .
One week last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six Caribbean countries , just to see if he could .
But even Mr. Machnik had never run a marathon quite like this .
On a quiet Sunday morning last month in Warsaw , Poland , he rounded his bed for the 5,626th time , and then plopped down on top of it .
“ It was a crazy thing to do to commemorate a crazy moment in time , ” he says .
“ So I thought , why not ?
” Around the world , government restrictions to fight the novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For many , that ’ s meant brushing off dusty home gym equipment or streaming blocky feeds of trainers in their living rooms .
But for a dedicated few , it ’ s given rise to a new kind of challenge : to run ever-longer distances in ever-smaller spaces .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
In China in February , an ultramarathon runner named Pan Shancu set the tone when he ran 31 miles through his small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his stocking feet .
In March in the south of France , furloughed restaurant manager Elisha Nochomovitz ran the length of his 23-foot balcony – with its sweeping view of the Pyrenees Mountains – 6,000 times to complete his own self-isolation marathon .
And then , a week later , he did it again .
“ This is literally a way to keep moving through this crisis , ” says Rossyle Ayuro , a Filipino hospital administrator in Doha , Qatar , who recently ran a marathon from her kitchen , down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the elevator and back – 1,400 times .
At-home marathons come with their own set of challenges , namely extreme boredom .
But their adherents also see unusual upsides : no race-day jitters , and smooth-as-butter logistics .
For runners like these , then , lockdown restrictions are less a limitation than a kind of extreme dare .
“ Isn ’ t that what life is about , finding different challenges and conquering them ?
” says Shahieda Thungo , a South African ultramarathoner who ’ s been running 10 kilometer loops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Johannesburg , ducking under her washing line on every loop .
“ We run marathons , we run ultras , but maybe it ’ s only by running in tiny circles that we can really test our minds and find our breaking point.
” Three weeks ago , Ms. Thungo was at the peak of her training for the Comrades , the world ’ s largest ultramarathon , which is run in South Africa each June .
She was taking on weekly marathons like they were casual jogs .
And then the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As South Africa ’ s coronavirus cases ticked upward , the president called for restrictions on how many people could gather in one place .
Races were canceled .
Gyms closed their doors .
Ms. Thungo kept running , logging 20 mile jogs with just one or two friends , or solo runs at dawn near her house .
But on March 23 , South Africa announced a 21-day lockdown : no leaving home for anything except food or medicine .
“ I thought , OK , well that might be an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Stuart Mann , who lives in Johannesburg and has run over 240 marathons and ultramarathons .
He took stock of his options : There was an exercise bike gathering dust in his garage .
Sure , he hadn ’ t swum for exercise in 15 years , but he had a pool in his backyard .
And his driveway was pretty long .
Why not try an Ironman triathlon ?
He could get out his lockdown jitters , and raise money for a favorite education charity .
So last Saturday , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As cold rain lashed his shoulders , he swam 2.4 miles across his 36-foot-long pool .
When he finished , he popped out , had a cup of tea , and headed for the bike on his veranda .
For the next 5 1/2 hours , he chatted with friends online and read his 8-year-old daughter a chapter of “ Harry Potter ” as his feet spun through the miles – 112 of them , to be exact .
Then it was time for his driveway marathon , full of constant , sharp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not quite Comrades pain , ” he says , referring to the 56 mile ultramarathon he ’ s completed 10 times , “ but definitely getting there.
” For some runners , however , the tediousness of running back and forth across a tiny space has also been a way to trick their brains into thinking of something other than the colossal human crisis unfolding around them .
“ There are no real answers for why this is happening , and this is a way to take my mind off of all that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italian veterinarian living in Dubai , who watched the horror in his home country unfold from afar .
Last month , he ran a marathon through the eighth floor corridor of his apartment building , turning his head every loop to catch a glimpse of the skyscrapers arching into the dusty sky outside .
For Mr. Machnik , on the other hand , his bedroom marathon provided little in the way of scenic distractions .
In fact , he ’ d clocked only a few loops before the room began to spin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ For two years , Mr. Machnik , who runs a small adventure tour company , has been on a dogged mission – to run 100 marathons in 100 countries in a world record time .
A week and a half before , he ’ d finished marathon No .
97 , on the island of Socotra in Yemen .
He caught the last flight off the island .
When he arrived back in Poland , he was put into a 14-day quarantine , confined to a small rented room .
There , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 99 passed by .
Canceled .
Finally , March 29 arrived : the day he was meant to run marathon 100 .
“ I wanted something to celebrate , ” he says .
And that something , he decided , would be 5,000 spins around a queen-size bed .
“ Look , today this is what I can do .
And this is probably my one chance in my life to do this , ” he says .
“ You either take it or you don ’ t .
You either say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I said yes.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“Isn’t that what life is about, finding different challenges and conquering them?” says Ms. Thungo. “We run marathons, we run ultras, but maybe it’s only by running in tiny circles that we can really test our minds and find our breaking point.”
Around the world, government restrictions to fight COVID-19 have changed the way we exercise. And for a dedicated few, it’s given rise to a new kind of challenge: to run ever-longer distances in ever-smaller spaces. For some, at-home marathons are a way to raise money for charity, or offer inspiration. For others, they’re a way to stay centered in the midst of a crisis that can seem overwhelming.
But for Ms. Thungo, that doesn’t mean no running. It just means running around her postage-stamp backyard, ducking under her washing line on every loop.
Running 5,000 laps around your bed? That may sound crazy – especially as lockdowns turn so many of us into couch potatoes. But for these joggers, marathons are a way to stay centered, challenged, and creative at an extremely trying time.
And then the world around her started to shrink. On March 23, as cases of the novel coronavirus ticked upward, the country announced a 21-day lockdown: no leaving home except for food or medicine.
Three weeks ago, Shahieda Thungo was at the peak of her training for the Comrades, the world’s largest ultramarathon, which is run in South Africa each June. She was taking on weekly marathons like they were casual jogs.
It was one of the most grueling marathons that Wojciech Machnik had completed – and that was saying something. Mr. Machnik has run marathons that zigzag up mountain peaks. He has finished 26.2 miles in 90 degree heat and 95% humidity. One week last June, he ran six marathons in six Caribbean countries, just to see if he could.
But even Mr. Machnik had never run a marathon quite like this. On a quiet Sunday morning last month in Warsaw, Poland, he rounded his bed for the 5,626th time, and then plopped down on top of it.
“It was a crazy thing to do to commemorate a crazy moment in time,” he says. “So I thought, why not?”
Why We Wrote This Running 5,000 laps around your bed? That may sound crazy – especially as lockdowns turn so many of us into couch potatoes. But for these joggers, marathons are a way to stay centered, challenged, and creative at an extremely trying time.
Around the world, government restrictions to fight the novel coronavirus have changed the way we exercise. For many, that’s meant brushing off dusty home gym equipment or streaming blocky feeds of trainers in their living rooms. But for a dedicated few, it’s given rise to a new kind of challenge: to run ever-longer distances in ever-smaller spaces.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
In China in February, an ultramarathon runner named Pan Shancu set the tone when he ran 31 miles through his small apartment, slurping noodles and taking videos of his stocking feet. In March in the south of France, furloughed restaurant manager Elisha Nochomovitz ran the length of his 23-foot balcony – with its sweeping view of the Pyrenees Mountains – 6,000 times to complete his own self-isolation marathon. And then, a week later, he did it again.
Courtesy photos View caption Hide caption Rossyle Ayuro (left), a Filipino hospital administrator in Doha, Qatar, runs a loop of her apartment marathon last month. An app (center) tracks Shahieda Thungo running loops of her postage-stamp yard in Johannesburg, and Wojciech Machnik (right) completes a marathon around a bed in Warsaw, Poland.
“This is literally a way to keep moving through this crisis,” says Rossyle Ayuro, a Filipino hospital administrator in Doha, Qatar, who recently ran a marathon from her kitchen, down her hallway, out the door, to the elevator and back – 1,400 times.
At-home marathons come with their own set of challenges, namely extreme boredom. But their adherents also see unusual upsides: no race-day jitters, and smooth-as-butter logistics. For runners like these, then, lockdown restrictions are less a limitation than a kind of extreme dare.
“Isn’t that what life is about, finding different challenges and conquering them?” says Shahieda Thungo, a South African ultramarathoner who’s been running 10 kilometer loops around her postage-stamp backyard in Soweto, near Johannesburg, ducking under her washing line on every loop. “We run marathons, we run ultras, but maybe it’s only by running in tiny circles that we can really test our minds and find our breaking point.”
Three weeks ago, Ms. Thungo was at the peak of her training for the Comrades, the world’s largest ultramarathon, which is run in South Africa each June. She was taking on weekly marathons like they were casual jogs.
And then the world around her started to shrink. As South Africa’s coronavirus cases ticked upward, the president called for restrictions on how many people could gather in one place. Races were canceled. Gyms closed their doors.
Courtesy of Stuart Mann View caption Hide caption Stuart Mann, a hobby marathoner in Johannesburg, takes on the biking leg of his at-home Ironman triathlon, which he completed in 13 1/2 hours on April 4, 2020.
Ms. Thungo kept running, logging 20 mile jogs with just one or two friends, or solo runs at dawn near her house. But on March 23, South Africa announced a 21-day lockdown: no leaving home for anything except food or medicine.
“I thought, OK, well that might be an opportunity to try something completely different,” says Stuart Mann, who lives in Johannesburg and has run over 240 marathons and ultramarathons.
He took stock of his options: There was an exercise bike gathering dust in his garage. Sure, he hadn’t swum for exercise in 15 years, but he had a pool in his backyard. And his driveway was pretty long.
Why not try an Ironman triathlon? He could get out his lockdown jitters, and raise money for a favorite education charity.
So last Saturday, that’s exactly what he did. As cold rain lashed his shoulders, he swam 2.4 miles across his 36-foot-long pool. When he finished, he popped out, had a cup of tea, and headed for the bike on his veranda. For the next 5 1/2 hours, he chatted with friends online and read his 8-year-old daughter a chapter of “Harry Potter” as his feet spun through the miles – 112 of them, to be exact.
Then it was time for his driveway marathon, full of constant, sharp turns that pounded his knees.
“Not quite Comrades pain,” he says, referring to the 56 mile ultramarathon he’s completed 10 times, “but definitely getting there.”
For some runners, however, the tediousness of running back and forth across a tiny space has also been a way to trick their brains into thinking of something other than the colossal human crisis unfolding around them.
“There are no real answers for why this is happening, and this is a way to take my mind off of all that,” says Walter Tarello, an Italian veterinarian living in Dubai, who watched the horror in his home country unfold from afar. Last month, he ran a marathon through the eighth floor corridor of his apartment building, turning his head every loop to catch a glimpse of the skyscrapers arching into the dusty sky outside.
For Mr. Machnik, on the other hand, his bedroom marathon provided little in the way of scenic distractions. In fact, he’d clocked only a few loops before the room began to spin.
But he was determined to finish. For two years, Mr. Machnik, who runs a small adventure tour company, has been on a dogged mission – to run 100 marathons in 100 countries in a world record time.
A week and a half before, he’d finished marathon No. 97, on the island of Socotra in Yemen. He caught the last flight off the island. When he arrived back in Poland, he was put into a 14-day quarantine, confined to a small rented room.
There, he watched as the dates for marathons 98 and 99 passed by. Canceled. Finally, March 29 arrived: the day he was meant to run marathon 100.
“I wanted something to celebrate,” he says. And that something, he decided, would be 5,000 spins around a queen-size bed.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“Look, today this is what I can do. And this is probably my one chance in my life to do this,” he says. “You either take it or you don’t. You either say yes or you say no. And I said yes.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.