csmonitor--2020-04-27--Restless and ready to work, Georgia gets back to business

“ We closed down for a reason , and I haven ’ t seen enough change yet to reopen.
” Others are more cautious .
Alonzo Wright Jr. knows Georgia has not yet met the guidelines laid out by the White House to safely lift stay-at-home orders .
The state isn ’ t even close , really .
And so when the decision to reopen his Beastmode Fitness came , he had a realization .
He would clean .
He would expand to create more space for social distancing .
But he wouldn ’ t reopen , not yet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses could start to reopen this weekend , the Peach State offered a taste of what America might look like when it emerges from its coronavirus lockdowns .
“ I ’ m excited and , yes , I ’ m nervous , ” says the owner of The Crab Shack , capturing the atmosphere around Savannah .
For starters , the restaurant will have about 300 seats , not the usual 700-plus .
The breezes that blow through the screened-in windows will hopefully offer plenty of circulation .
And all the servers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves .
But make no mistake , The Crab Shack is preparing to open Monday .
One day the parking lot of Nottingham Plaza off Skidaway Road was empty – as it had been for nearly five long weeks of a pandemic lockdown .
Then the next day , on Friday , at 11:13 a.m. , cars appeared – lots of them .
“ Like a regular summer day , ” one shopkeeper observed .
This weekend , Georgia began rolling back stay-at-home coronavirus restrictions in hopes of restarting the U.S. economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ LaZharia Morris could palpably feel the stakes – for her customers , for her stylists , and for a thriving business she grew from the ground up .
As appointments flooded in , Ms. Morris scrambled to manage expectations and check off a list of requirements put out by the state cosmetology board .
Hand-washing and mask-wearing would be required .
Importantly , customers are being asked to sign a “ hold harmless ” waiver so that business owners can ’ t be sued if someone becomes ill. Editor ’ s note : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Before long , she had to run to Walmart , out of printer ink .
As customers flocked in , she realized she needed more waivers , more posters , more information .
Ms. Morris ’ harried morning offers a glimpse into how America might begin to reemerge from isolation – hair askew , facing a world where the barber makes you sign a contract and where sit-down diners will , for the foreseeable future , be greeted by servers in masks and gloves .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen .
In beginning to reopen , Georgia defied White House guidelines , which call for , among other things , declining COVID-19 cases for 14 days and a robust testing system .
Georgia has neither .
But there are signs of restlessness in some parts of the country .
In the South , other states are beginning to reopen .
An anti-lockdown protest brought thousands to Madison , Wisconsin , this weekend .
And in Southern California , some beaches were crowded .
In coastal Georgia , the mood was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this weekend marked a return to clarity and purpose after weeks of wandering through a kind of fog .
“ My boyfriend is an entrepreneur , too – he owns a recording studio – and he was begging me not to reopen , but I told him , ‘ I ’ ve got six ladies here who have mouths to feed and rents to pay.
’ I ’ m not going to say the governor is stupid .
We needed this .
This virus isn ’ t going away .
We have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point .
We ’ ve got to do what we ’ ve got to do.
” The decision is a controversial one , among some here and certainly in other parts of the United States .
The concern is that the desire to return to something like normal could undo the gains made by social distancing .
Indeed , health officials say that until there is a vaccine or an effective means of treatment , social distancing is the only viable medical path .
A study by the Institute for Health Metrics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia should begin reopening after June 22 .
“ The ethical issue here isn ’ t a question of right and wrong – as it usually isn ’ t – but how do you balance two competing rights ?
” asks Paul Root Wolpe , a bioethicist at Emory University in Atlanta , referring to health and economic welfare .
“ We have to decide which one we ’ re going to favor – and when.
” Those choices are playing out on both sides at Nottingham Plaza .
From the outside , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strip mall on an urban fringe in America .
But behind mirrored shop doors , whole worlds are coming back to life .
At 11:33 a.m. on Friday , all eight chairs are occupied at Fatou ’ s , an African hair-braiding shop .
In the tattoo shop next door , A Fifth of Ink , the owner is cautiously reopening – by appointment only at first , but already with customers in chairs .
Yet as his plaza colleagues rush to open , Alonzo Wright Jr. raises his head as the front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gym .
“ We ’ re closed .
You got my number ?
Call me.
” He ’ s in touch with six local gym owners , and only one opened Friday .
After preemptively closing his gym in March , Mr. Wright , newly married , moved into a new house .
The idling hours were spent painting walls and otherwise nesting .
The gym benches began gathering dust , and for weeks he didn ’ t care .
But when GOP Gov .
Brian Kemp “ threw his curveball ” last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , Mr. Wright returned to the gym and had a realization .
He knew Georgia remained far behind on testing and setting up contact tracers to track the spread of the virus .
He knew the tension between Mr. Kemp and federal guidelines , and the deadlier impact the virus has had on working-class African American communities .
He had soaked up every news detail of the pandemic .
Mayors , governors , and the president were openly bickering over a way forward .
And here he was , faced with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening his gym .
“ Welcome to life as a lab rat , ” he thought .
As he looked around at the well-worn green carpeting , he saw what he must do : His trainers were already using Zoom and FaceTime to do one-on-one workouts .
“ I realized that this is something else .
It requires bigger thinking.
” So he called in his trainer crew – “ the muscle ” – to start moving equipment around .
The carpet is coming up , a deep clean commencing .
And shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s attorney appeared to start discussions about expanding the gym into a soon-to-be-vacant unit next door .
“ Each person has to do what they think is right , knowing that you can ’ t be mad at any one person , ” says Mr. Wright .
“ I also think that this is part madness .
But if I ’ m speaking only for myself , we ’ re not opening the gym because we ’ re just not ready .
We ’ re not ready.
” “ We closed down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t seen enough change yet to reopen , ” he adds .
Such personal deliberations in part of Savannah point to similar deliberations nationwide .
Polls released in recent weeks say Americans are wary of reopening too soon .
But many American also say they can be responsible if shown a little more trust .
“ This is us playing out over and over again – the inherent tension in the American psyche of not really being good at understanding and balancing collective sacrifice , ” says Dr. Wolpe .
“ Yes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme situations .
But what makes this so interesting is that we ’ re not sure how extreme this is.
” Some 20 miles from Nottingham Plaza , beneath sprawling canopies of live oak , power washers roar , glasses clink in dishwashers , people shout across parking lots and lean into truck windows to talk .
It is Saturday at 10:33 a.m. , two days before the region ’ s largest restaurant , The Crab Shack , resumes dine-in service .
After nearly six weeks of being laid off , one server @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deep-clean shift .
“ I am ready to work !
” she shouts for all to hear .
“ Plus , I can ’ t take my wife anymore !
” Thirty years ago , Capt .
Jack Flanigan , an offshore charter fisherman , turned a weekend crab boil at his fish camp dock on Chimney Creek into what became a 728-seat institution .
The Crab Shack serves mounds of low-country boil – Old Bay-infused new potatoes , shellfish , sausage , corn hunks – amid moss-draped sunsets and clacking marsh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager Justin Fowler points out , “ an experience as much as a meal.
” But what experience can The Crab Shack offer ?
As he readies to open at noon Monday , Mr. Fowler has halved the number of seats to about 300 .
Given that the restaurant is essentially a massive screened-in porch with breezes from the creek , “ we ’ re hoping that will make people more comfortable , ” he adds .
Servers will be in masks and gloves .
Mr. Flanigan says he knows the importance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excited and , yes , I ’ m nervous , ” he says .
“ In one way , it feels like all of us are suddenly living in a petri dish .
But I also know that we ’ ll survive .
We ’ ll make it .
It ’ s a new start for us , but we ’ re going to approach it the same way we always have : Let the customer tell us what they want.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paywall .

“We closed down for a reason, and I haven’t seen enough change yet to reopen.”
Others are more cautious. Alonzo Wright Jr. knows Georgia has not yet met the guidelines laid out by the White House to safely lift stay-at-home orders. The state isn’t even close, really. And so when the decision to reopen his Beastmode Fitness came, he had a realization. He would clean. He would expand to create more space for social distancing. But he wouldn’t reopen, not yet.
“Welcome to life as a lab rat,” said one Georgia resident this weekend, unsure whether to follow the state’s loosening of coronavirus restrictions. Yet the general mood was one of cautious excitement.
After Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said businesses could start to reopen this weekend, the Peach State offered a taste of what America might look like when it emerges from its coronavirus lockdowns. “I’m excited and, yes, I’m nervous,” says the owner of The Crab Shack, capturing the atmosphere around Savannah.
For starters, the restaurant will have about 300 seats, not the usual 700-plus. The breezes that blow through the screened-in windows will hopefully offer plenty of circulation. And all the servers, of course, will have masks and gloves. But make no mistake, The Crab Shack is preparing to open Monday.
One day the parking lot of Nottingham Plaza off Skidaway Road was empty – as it had been for nearly five long weeks of a pandemic lockdown.
Then the next day, on Friday, at 11:13 a.m., cars appeared – lots of them. “Like a regular summer day,” one shopkeeper observed.
This weekend, Georgia began rolling back stay-at-home coronavirus restrictions in hopes of restarting the U.S. economy. And Nottingham Plaza ZYS Hair Studio owner LaZharia Morris could palpably feel the stakes – for her customers, for her stylists, and for a thriving business she grew from the ground up.
Why We Wrote This “Welcome to life as a lab rat,” said one Georgia resident this weekend, unsure whether to follow the state’s loosening of coronavirus restrictions. Yet the general mood was one of cautious excitement.
As appointments flooded in, Ms. Morris scrambled to manage expectations and check off a list of requirements put out by the state cosmetology board. Hand-washing and mask-wearing would be required. Importantly, customers are being asked to sign a “hold harmless” waiver so that business owners can’t be sued if someone becomes ill.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Before long, she had to run to Walmart, out of printer ink. As customers flocked in, she realized she needed more waivers, more posters, more information.
Ms. Morris’ harried morning offers a glimpse into how America might begin to reemerge from isolation – hair askew, facing a world where the barber makes you sign a contract and where sit-down diners will, for the foreseeable future, be greeted by servers in masks and gloves.
The question is how quickly it should happen. In beginning to reopen, Georgia defied White House guidelines, which call for, among other things, declining COVID-19 cases for 14 days and a robust testing system. Georgia has neither.
But there are signs of restlessness in some parts of the country. In the South, other states are beginning to reopen. An anti-lockdown protest brought thousands to Madison, Wisconsin, this weekend. And in Southern California, some beaches were crowded.
In coastal Georgia, the mood was one of buzzy excitement. For Ms. Morris, this weekend marked a return to clarity and purpose after weeks of wandering through a kind of fog.
“My boyfriend is an entrepreneur, too – he owns a recording studio – and he was begging me not to reopen, but I told him, ‘I’ve got six ladies here who have mouths to feed and rents to pay.’ I’m not going to say the governor is stupid. We needed this. This virus isn’t going away. We have to learn to live with it at some point. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”
The decision is a controversial one, among some here and certainly in other parts of the United States. The concern is that the desire to return to something like normal could undo the gains made by social distancing.
Indeed, health officials say that until there is a vaccine or an effective means of treatment, social distancing is the only viable medical path. A study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington suggests Georgia should begin reopening after June 22.
“The ethical issue here isn’t a question of right and wrong – as it usually isn’t – but how do you balance two competing rights?” asks Paul Root Wolpe, a bioethicist at Emory University in Atlanta, referring to health and economic welfare. “We have to decide which one we’re going to favor – and when.”
“We’re just not ready”
Those choices are playing out on both sides at Nottingham Plaza. From the outside, it’s just another nondescript L-shaped strip mall on an urban fringe in America. But behind mirrored shop doors, whole worlds are coming back to life.
Patrik Jonsson/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Alonzo Wright Jr. sits on a bench at Beastmode Fitness, his Savannah, Georgia, gym, on April 24, 2020, the day hard-hit Georgia began to reopen select businesses amid the coronavirus crisis. Mr. Wright, however, is not opening yet. "Not enough has changed," he says. "We're not ready."
At 11:33 a.m. on Friday, all eight chairs are occupied at Fatou’s, an African hair-braiding shop. In the tattoo shop next door, A Fifth of Ink, the owner is cautiously reopening – by appointment only at first, but already with customers in chairs.
Yet as his plaza colleagues rush to open, Alonzo Wright Jr. raises his head as the front door opens at Beastmode Fitness, his gym.
“We’re closed. You got my number? Call me.”
He’s in touch with six local gym owners, and only one opened Friday. After preemptively closing his gym in March, Mr. Wright, newly married, moved into a new house. The idling hours were spent painting walls and otherwise nesting. The gym benches began gathering dust, and for weeks he didn’t care. But when GOP Gov. Brian Kemp “threw his curveball” last Monday, announcing that businesses could reopen Friday, Mr. Wright returned to the gym and had a realization.
He knew Georgia remained far behind on testing and setting up contact tracers to track the spread of the virus. He knew the tension between Mr. Kemp and federal guidelines, and the deadlier impact the virus has had on working-class African American communities. He had soaked up every news detail of the pandemic. Mayors, governors, and the president were openly bickering over a way forward. And here he was, faced with the question of reopening the country – by opening his gym.
“Welcome to life as a lab rat,” he thought.
As he looked around at the well-worn green carpeting, he saw what he must do: His trainers were already using Zoom and FaceTime to do one-on-one workouts. “I realized that this is something else. It requires bigger thinking.”
So he called in his trainer crew – “the muscle” – to start moving equipment around. The carpet is coming up, a deep clean commencing. And shortly after noon that day, Mr. Wright’s attorney appeared to start discussions about expanding the gym into a soon-to-be-vacant unit next door.
“Each person has to do what they think is right, knowing that you can’t be mad at any one person,” says Mr. Wright. “I also think that this is part madness. But if I’m speaking only for myself, we’re not opening the gym because we’re just not ready. We’re not ready.”
“We closed down for a reason, and I haven’t seen enough change yet to reopen,” he adds.
Such personal deliberations in part of Savannah point to similar deliberations nationwide. Polls released in recent weeks say Americans are wary of reopening too soon. But many American also say they can be responsible if shown a little more trust.
“This is us playing out over and over again – the inherent tension in the American psyche of not really being good at understanding and balancing collective sacrifice,” says Dr. Wolpe. “Yes, we do it in war and extreme situations. But what makes this so interesting is that we’re not sure how extreme this is.”
Patrik Jonsson/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Capt. Jack Flanigan, owner of the sprawling Crab Shack restaurant on Tybee Island, Georgia, peers at his open-air dining area on April 25, 2020, to inspect what he calls "a new start" for restaurants -- including cutting the capacity in half in order to allow for social distancing between dining groups. Still, the restaurant will be able to seat 300 at one time. Staff will wear gloves and masks as the restaurant opens for the first time in nearly six weeks at noon on Monday.
Scenes from a 300-seat restaurant
Some 20 miles from Nottingham Plaza, beneath sprawling canopies of live oak, power washers roar, glasses clink in dishwashers, people shout across parking lots and lean into truck windows to talk.
It is Saturday at 10:33 a.m., two days before the region’s largest restaurant, The Crab Shack, resumes dine-in service.
After nearly six weeks of being laid off, one server waves and grins as she reports for a deep-clean shift. “I am ready to work!” she shouts for all to hear. “Plus, I can’t take my wife anymore!”
Thirty years ago, Capt. Jack Flanigan, an offshore charter fisherman, turned a weekend crab boil at his fish camp dock on Chimney Creek into what became a 728-seat institution. The Crab Shack serves mounds of low-country boil – Old Bay-infused new potatoes, shellfish, sausage, corn hunks – amid moss-draped sunsets and clacking marsh hens. It is, as general manager Justin Fowler points out, “an experience as much as a meal.”
But what experience can The Crab Shack offer? As he readies to open at noon Monday, Mr. Fowler has halved the number of seats to about 300. Given that the restaurant is essentially a massive screened-in porch with breezes from the creek, “we’re hoping that will make people more comfortable,” he adds. Servers will be in masks and gloves.
Mr. Flanigan says he knows the importance of this decision.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“I’m excited and, yes, I’m nervous,” he says. “In one way, it feels like all of us are suddenly living in a petri dish. But I also know that we’ll survive. We’ll make it. It’s a new start for us, but we’re going to approach it the same way we always have: Let the customer tell us what they want.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-20--Daily for April 20, 2020

Daily for April 20, 2020

The number of coronavirus cases in Mexico was growing quickly , bending toward the kind of curve that had turned cities like Paris , Rome , and Wuhan into ghost towns , empty and silent .
But in Mexico City on a recent morning , though the streets were quieter than normal , the dissonant orchestra of daily life continued .
Sweet potato vendors sounded their iconic steam-engine whistles .
Flatbed trucks piped their monotone jingle as they circled the city collecting broken electronics and used mattresses .
Subway trains clattered along their tracks , their doors squealing open to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sizzled on street-corner comales , large round griddles .
In the tranquil Coyoacán neighborhood , a sign beside one food stand offered a succinct explanation for why the coronavirus hadn ’ t interrupted daily life the way it had elsewhere .
“ Mexico isn ’ t Europe , ” read the sign , photographed by journalist Andalusia Knoll Soloff .
“ In Mexico , if you don ’ t work you don ’ t eat.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments have faced tough choices about how to control the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Let life go on , and the disease can spread unchecked .
But order everyone home , and the economy buckles .
These choices are especially painful in countries like Mexico , where social safety nets are often flimsy and millions live off whatever they can hustle together each day .
For these countries , stopping the coronavirus demands something more complicated than a cut-and-paste of responses that have been tried in China , Europe , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires bending those solutions to meet the needs of the world ’ s poorest people , for whom staying home without work could be as deadly as walking into the virus ’ s hotspots .
“ A lockdown , or even social distancing , is actually a bit elitist as a concept , ” says Dr. Elizabeth Kimani-Murage , a senior researcher at the African Population and Health Research Center in Nairobi , Kenya .
“ When people live in houses that are very small and close together , when they work to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , how can you expect them to stay home and stay indoors to keep an unknown virus away ?
” At one extreme in answering that question is Mexico , where President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for weeks brusquely ignored calls to institute nationwide restrictions on movement , or to close businesses .
“ Remember , ” his government implored in a March public health notice , “ the illness caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus is not serious.
” Schools were closed , and in recent weeks he has agreed to certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and shuttering nonessential businesses .
But his priority , he says , is to protect the 60 % of Mexican workers who labor informally – hawking fruit , scrubbing toilets , preparing tacos , and doing other piece work that pays job-to-job , in cash .
Because these jobs are unofficial , they tend to be unprotected by employment law or government safety nets .
At the other end sit countries like South Africa , where a quarter of the labor force is also informal .
But unlike Mexico , it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strictest lockdowns , which has shuttered most industries , and prohibits even outdoor exercise and the sale of alcohol and cigarettes .
“ The countries that have acted swiftly and dramatically have been far more effective in controlling the spread of the disease , ” explained President Cyril Ramaphosa as he announced South Africa ’ s original three-week lockdown – now extended to five weeks .
Since the lockdown began on March 26 , indeed , the rate of newly diagnosed case has fallen sharply , from 110 per day before the lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second week .
Globally , most experts and leaders acknowledge that some form of societal shutdown is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
“ We know how to bring the economy back to life .
What we do not know is how to bring people back to life , ” said Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on March 27 .
“ We will , therefore , protect people ’ s lives , then their livelihoods.
” But shutting down countries where more than half the population lives in poverty has not gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforce the lockdown in poor South African communities have beaten and publicly humiliated those who resisted the orders , conjuring up painful echoes of apartheid-era lockdowns to violently quell black resistance .
In Kenya , police have killed nearly as many people for resisting curfews and other disease control measures than have died from the disease itself .
And many of those resisting the lockdown restrictions say they simply have no other choice .
“ The thing that makes people keep going out is their empty stomach , that they simply don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Luyanda Hlatshwayo , who works as an informal recycler in Johannesburg and is also an organizer with the African Reclaimers Organization ( ARO ) .
In normal times , recyclers like Mr. Hlatshwayo spend their days sorting through garbage bins left out for collection , picking out recyclable goods , which they then sell to centers around the city .
Those centers are now closed , since the country did not deem them an “ essential service.
” But many recyclers continue to roam their old routes , dodging police and hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People who have enough to eat , enough to live off of , they follow the rules , ” he says .
“ But the ones who don ’ t , can ’ t. ” Resistance from the country ’ s poorest people has pushed the South African government to ease some of its more onerous restrictions .
Shared minibus taxis – the most common form of public transportation – are now allowed to travel at 70 % capacity , up from 50 % at the start of the lockdown .
And in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hawkers of fruits and vegetables would be allowed to sell their wares on the streets again , as long as they registered to do so .
“ The only way lockdowns can continue in societies with high poverty is if government is responding swiftly and directly to the needs of very poor people , whether that ’ s food or just direct transfers of money , ” says Hannah Ryder , a Kenyan economist and former diplomat who runs the consultancy Development Reimagined .
Across Africa , Asia , and Latin America , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assist poor people , particularly those in informal jobs most likely to fall through the cracks of other social assistance .
( The informal sector accounts for 89 % of employment in sub-Saharan Africa , and 54 % in Latin America and the Caribbean , according to the International Labor Organization . )
Peru and Argentina , for instance , have begun emergency cash transfers to vulnerable people .
Forty-seven African countries , meanwhile , have instituted some form of relief for citizens to access essential services , from waiving utility bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct food or cash aid .
And India has promised $ 22.6 billion for direct cash transfers and food assistance , which it hopes to use to feed more than 800 million people , after its lockdown left millions of workers without wages .
But many countries have struggled to keep up with the sheer magnitude of need when their economies are already in free-fall .
In South Africa , for instance , phone lines for numbers set up for food assistance ring unanswered , and most of the aid given to informal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Not five cents from government , ” says Mr. Hlatshwayo , whose organization ARO has raised nearly $ 10,000 in a crowdfunding campaign to support out-of-work recyclers .
In Mexico , meanwhile , most informal workers have continued working , and say they will do so as long as there are no alternatives .
Although the federal government has not implemented strict restrictions – taco stands and other informal food stalls can still sell their food to-go – some states and municipalities have implemented curfews or lockdowns .
“ What I understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , really big risk .
I truly believe that , ” says Arturo Granadas , who sells fruit in pop-up street markets in Mexico City called tianguis , and who serves as a representative for a union of informal hawkers in the capital .
Each morning , he puts on a face mask and heads out to set up his hot-pink tarp stall , just as he has for the past four decades .
“ If the government doesn ’ t provide alternatives [ for informal workers ] , we will have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and work , ” he says .
But like grocery-store employees and delivery drivers in Europe and the U.S. , workers like Mr. Granadas and Mr. Hlatshwayo say they hope this crisis will be a wake-up call about how important their industries are , and how crucial it is for government to support them – not only in times of crisis .
“ We are constantly criminalized , stigmatized , and persecuted in Mexico , ” Mr. Granadas says .
“ But we aren ’ t the problem .
We are the solution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create jobs and stable employment.
” For experts , too , a silver lining of this pandemic may be the light it shines on people at the margins , whose lives have historically been easy for those in power to ignore .
“ Maybe the right model to address this is not only the health challenges , but the many underlying challenges , like poverty , education , and access to care , ” says Dr. Hermes Florez , the interim chair of public health sciences at the University of Miami Miller School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address those to better be able to tackle future pandemics.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

‘If you don’t work you don’t eat’: Where lockdowns have extra sting Collapse
The number of coronavirus cases in Mexico was growing quickly, bending toward the kind of curve that had turned cities like Paris, Rome, and Wuhan into ghost towns, empty and silent.
But in Mexico City on a recent morning, though the streets were quieter than normal, the dissonant orchestra of daily life continued. Sweet potato vendors sounded their iconic steam-engine whistles. Flatbed trucks piped their monotone jingle as they circled the city collecting broken electronics and used mattresses. Subway trains clattered along their tracks, their doors squealing open to disgorge crowds of passengers. And tortillas sizzled on street-corner comales, large round griddles.
In the tranquil Coyoacán neighborhood, a sign beside one food stand offered a succinct explanation for why the coronavirus hadn’t interrupted daily life the way it had elsewhere.
“Mexico isn’t Europe,” read the sign, photographed by journalist Andalusia Knoll Soloff. “In Mexico, if you don’t work you don’t eat.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Across the globe, governments have faced tough choices about how to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. Let life go on, and the disease can spread unchecked. But order everyone home, and the economy buckles.
These choices are especially painful in countries like Mexico, where social safety nets are often flimsy and millions live off whatever they can hustle together each day. For these countries, stopping the coronavirus demands something more complicated than a cut-and-paste of responses that have been tried in China, Europe, and the United States. Instead, it requires bending those solutions to meet the needs of the world’s poorest people, for whom staying home without work could be as deadly as walking into the virus’s hotspots.
“A lockdown, or even social distancing, is actually a bit elitist as a concept,” says Dr. Elizabeth Kimani-Murage, a senior researcher at the African Population and Health Research Center in Nairobi, Kenya. “When people live in houses that are very small and close together, when they work to earn enough to live off of that day, how can you expect them to stay home and stay indoors to keep an unknown virus away?”
Opposite approaches
At one extreme in answering that question is Mexico, where President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for weeks brusquely ignored calls to institute nationwide restrictions on movement, or to close businesses. “Remember,” his government implored in a March public health notice, “the illness caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus is not serious.”
Schools were closed, and in recent weeks he has agreed to certain measures, including limiting gatherings to 50 people and shuttering nonessential businesses. But his priority, he says, is to protect the 60% of Mexican workers who labor informally – hawking fruit, scrubbing toilets, preparing tacos, and doing other piece work that pays job-to-job, in cash. Because these jobs are unofficial, they tend to be unprotected by employment law or government safety nets.
Jerome Delay/AP View caption Hide caption Homeless people get in line to receive food baskets from private donors during a lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, in Johannesburg April 13, 2020. South Africa, with the continent’s most cases, has been able to slow the pace of infections.
At the other end sit countries like South Africa, where a quarter of the labor force is also informal. But unlike Mexico, it has instituted one of the world’s strictest lockdowns, which has shuttered most industries, and prohibits even outdoor exercise and the sale of alcohol and cigarettes.
“The countries that have acted swiftly and dramatically have been far more effective in controlling the spread of the disease,” explained President Cyril Ramaphosa as he announced South Africa’s original three-week lockdown – now extended to five weeks. Since the lockdown began on March 26, indeed, the rate of newly diagnosed case has fallen sharply, from 110 per day before the lockdown began to 67 per day by its second week.
Globally, most experts and leaders acknowledge that some form of societal shutdown is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19. “We know how to bring the economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life,” said Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on March 27. “We will, therefore, protect people’s lives, then their livelihoods.”
But shutting down countries where more than half the population lives in poverty has not gone seamlessly. Police and soldiers deployed to enforce the lockdown in poor South African communities have beaten and publicly humiliated those who resisted the orders, conjuring up painful echoes of apartheid-era lockdowns to violently quell black resistance. In Kenya, police have killed nearly as many people for resisting curfews and other disease control measures than have died from the disease itself.
And many of those resisting the lockdown restrictions say they simply have no other choice.
“The thing that makes people keep going out is their empty stomach, that they simply don’t have anything to eat,” says Luyanda Hlatshwayo, who works as an informal recycler in Johannesburg and is also an organizer with the African Reclaimers Organization (ARO). In normal times, recyclers like Mr. Hlatshwayo spend their days sorting through garbage bins left out for collection, picking out recyclable goods, which they then sell to centers around the city.
Those centers are now closed, since the country did not deem them an “essential service.” But many recyclers continue to roam their old routes, dodging police and hoping for handouts from sympathetic suburbanites. “People who have enough to eat, enough to live off of, they follow the rules,” he says. “But the ones who don’t, can’t.”
Attempts to help
Resistance from the country’s poorest people has pushed the South African government to ease some of its more onerous restrictions. Shared minibus taxis – the most common form of public transportation – are now allowed to travel at 70% capacity, up from 50% at the start of the lockdown. And in early April, officials announced that informal hawkers of fruits and vegetables would be allowed to sell their wares on the streets again, as long as they registered to do so.
“The only way lockdowns can continue in societies with high poverty is if government is responding swiftly and directly to the needs of very poor people, whether that’s food or just direct transfers of money,” says Hannah Ryder, a Kenyan economist and former diplomat who runs the consultancy Development Reimagined.
Across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, governments have begun to adapt their responses to assist poor people, particularly those in informal jobs most likely to fall through the cracks of other social assistance. (The informal sector accounts for 89% of employment in sub-Saharan Africa, and 54% in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the International Labor Organization.)
Peru and Argentina, for instance, have begun emergency cash transfers to vulnerable people. Forty-seven African countries, meanwhile, have instituted some form of relief for citizens to access essential services, from waiving utility bills and fees on mobile money transfers to direct food or cash aid. And India has promised $22.6 billion for direct cash transfers and food assistance, which it hopes to use to feed more than 800 million people, after its lockdown left millions of workers without wages.
But many countries have struggled to keep up with the sheer magnitude of need when their economies are already in free-fall. In South Africa, for instance, phone lines for numbers set up for food assistance ring unanswered, and most of the aid given to informal workers so far has been private. “Not five cents from government,” says Mr. Hlatshwayo, whose organization ARO has raised nearly $10,000 in a crowdfunding campaign to support out-of-work recyclers.
“We aren’t the problem”
In Mexico, meanwhile, most informal workers have continued working, and say they will do so as long as there are no alternatives. Although the federal government has not implemented strict restrictions – taco stands and other informal food stalls can still sell their food to-go – some states and municipalities have implemented curfews or lockdowns.
“What I understand is that the virus is a really, really big risk. I truly believe that,” says Arturo Granadas, who sells fruit in pop-up street markets in Mexico City called tianguis, and who serves as a representative for a union of informal hawkers in the capital. Each morning, he puts on a face mask and heads out to set up his hot-pink tarp stall, just as he has for the past four decades. “If the government doesn’t provide alternatives [for informal workers], we will have no choice but to continue to go out and work,” he says.
But like grocery-store employees and delivery drivers in Europe and the U.S., workers like Mr. Granadas and Mr. Hlatshwayo say they hope this crisis will be a wake-up call about how important their industries are, and how crucial it is for government to support them – not only in times of crisis.
“We are constantly criminalized, stigmatized, and persecuted in Mexico,” Mr. Granadas says. “But we aren’t the problem. We are the solution to the government’s inability to create jobs and stable employment.”
For experts, too, a silver lining of this pandemic may be the light it shines on people at the margins, whose lives have historically been easy for those in power to ignore.
“Maybe the right model to address this is not only the health challenges, but the many underlying challenges, like poverty, education, and access to care,” says Dr. Hermes Florez, the interim chair of public health sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “We have to address those to better be able to tackle future pandemics.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-13--Sweden broke norms with 'low-scale' lockdown. Is it working?

Crowds swarm Stockholm 's waterfront , with some people sipping cocktails in the sun .
In much of the world , this sort of gathering would be frowned upon or even banned .
It doesn ’ t worry Anders Tegnell , the country ’ s chief epidemiologist and top strategist in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic .
He has become a household name in Sweden , appearing across the media and holding daily briefings outlining the progression of the outbreak with a precise , quiet demeanor .
As countries across Europe have restricted the movement of their citizens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls a “ low-scale ” approach that “ is much more sustainable ” over a longer period .
President Donald Trump has suggested that a rising number of COVID-19 deaths indicate Sweden is paying a heavy price for embracing the idea of herd immunity – that is , letting many individuals get sick to build up immunity in the population .
He said : “ Sweden did that – the herd .
They called [ it ] the herd .
Sweden is suffering very , very badly .
It ’ s a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Lena Hallengren recently told The Associated Press : “ We have never had a strategy for herd immunity.
” So far , Sweden has banned gatherings larger than 50 people , closed high schools and universities , and urged those over 70 or otherwise at greater risk from the virus to self-isolate .
The softer approach means that schools for younger children , restaurants , and most businesses are still open , creating the impression that Swedes are living their lives as usual .
Yet as Johan Klockar watches his son kick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soccer practice in Stockholm , the financial analyst says it 's not like that .
He and his wife work from home and avoid unnecessary outings .
They socialize in a very small circle , and limit their son ’ s contacts to people he sees at school or soccer practice .
“ Society is functioning , but I think it ’ s quite limited , ” Mr. Klockar said .
“ Other than this sort of situation – schools , soccer practice – we basically stay at home.
” And while most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic cost of the pandemic is already being felt .
Last week , 25,350 Swedes registered as unemployed , according to the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce – a larger increase than during the 2008 financial crisis .
In contrast , just across a narrow strip of sea , neighboring Denmark is already talking about reopening society .
They imposed a much stricter lockdown four weeks ago , closing borders , schools , and businesses .
This week , the prime minister said by acting early , Denmark averted the tragedy that struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which together have seen at least 37,000 virus-related deaths , and will be ready after Easter for a slow return to normal life that starts with reopening preschools and primary schools .
For weeks , the numbers of COVID-19 cases and fatalities were proportionally similar between Sweden and Denmark , but while the economic results of the strict isolation are being felt in Denmark , Sweden ’ s mortality rate has reached more than 88 dead per million , compared with around 47 dead per million in Denmark .
Sweden , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 899 deaths , while Denmark , with 5.8 million people , has 273 deaths .
Worldwide , the virus has infected a reported 1.8 million people and killed 114,000 , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
Still , due to limited testing , different ways of counting the dead and deliberate under-counting by some governments , experts believe those numbers vastly understate the pandemic 's true toll .
After a sharp spike in deaths in Sweden , Prime Minister Stefan Lofven proposed an emergency law allowing the quick closure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Lofven also warned citizens to prepare for possibly up to thousands of deaths .
Nevertheless , Mr. Tegnell , the chief epidemiologist , insists that Sweden ’ s approach still seems to make sense , though he also acknowledges that the world is in uncharted territory with the virus .
He argues that while Sweden might have more infections in the short term , it will not face the risk of a huge infection spike that Denmark might face once its lockdown is lifted .
“ I think both Norway and Denmark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop this complete lockdown in a way so you don ’ t cause this wave to come immediately when you start loosening up , ” he said .
He said authorities know that the physical distancing Swedes are engaging in works , because officials have recorded a sudden end to the flu season and to a winter vomiting illness .
Lars Ostergaard , chief consultant and professor at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark , agrees it is too soon to know which approach is best .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected because of the strict lockdown , we are a day closer to a cure , '' Mr. Ostergaard said , underlining the advantage of the Danish approach .
But he acknowledges that the long-term consequences of a locked-down community could also be “ substantial.
” “ There is no right or wrong way , '' Mr. Ostergaard said .
`` No one has walked this path before , and only the aftermath will show who made the best decision . ''
This story of was reported by The Associated Press .
Ms. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Crowds swarm Stockholm's waterfront, with some people sipping cocktails in the sun. In much of the world, this sort of gathering would be frowned upon or even banned.
Not in Sweden.
It doesn’t worry Anders Tegnell, the country’s chief epidemiologist and top strategist in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
He has become a household name in Sweden, appearing across the media and holding daily briefings outlining the progression of the outbreak with a precise, quiet demeanor.
As countries across Europe have restricted the movement of their citizens, Sweden stands out for what Mr. Tegnell calls a “low-scale” approach that “is much more sustainable” over a longer period.
President Donald Trump has suggested that a rising number of COVID-19 deaths indicate Sweden is paying a heavy price for embracing the idea of herd immunity – that is, letting many individuals get sick to build up immunity in the population. He said: “Sweden did that – the herd. They called [it] the herd. Sweden is suffering very, very badly. It’s a way of doing it.”
But Swedish Health Minister Lena Hallengren recently told The Associated Press: “We have never had a strategy for herd immunity.”
So far, Sweden has banned gatherings larger than 50 people, closed high schools and universities, and urged those over 70 or otherwise at greater risk from the virus to self-isolate.
The softer approach means that schools for younger children, restaurants, and most businesses are still open, creating the impression that Swedes are living their lives as usual.
Yet as Johan Klockar watches his son kick a ball around a field during a soccer practice in Stockholm, the financial analyst says it's not like that. He and his wife work from home and avoid unnecessary outings. They socialize in a very small circle, and limit their son’s contacts to people he sees at school or soccer practice.
“Society is functioning, but I think it’s quite limited,” Mr. Klockar said. “Other than this sort of situation – schools, soccer practice – we basically stay at home.”
And while most businesses in Sweden are still operating, the economic cost of the pandemic is already being felt. Last week, 25,350 Swedes registered as unemployed, according to the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce – a larger increase than during the 2008 financial crisis.
In contrast, just across a narrow strip of sea, neighboring Denmark is already talking about reopening society. They imposed a much stricter lockdown four weeks ago, closing borders, schools, and businesses. This week, the prime minister said by acting early, Denmark averted the tragedy that struck hard-hit nations like Italy and Spain, which together have seen at least 37,000 virus-related deaths, and will be ready after Easter for a slow return to normal life that starts with reopening preschools and primary schools.
For weeks, the numbers of COVID-19 cases and fatalities were proportionally similar between Sweden and Denmark, but while the economic results of the strict isolation are being felt in Denmark, Sweden’s mortality rate has reached more than 88 dead per million, compared with around 47 dead per million in Denmark.
Sweden, with a population of 10 million, has registered 899 deaths, while Denmark, with 5.8 million people, has 273 deaths.
Worldwide, the virus has infected a reported 1.8 million people and killed 114,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
Still, due to limited testing, different ways of counting the dead and deliberate under-counting by some governments, experts believe those numbers vastly understate the pandemic's true toll.
After a sharp spike in deaths in Sweden, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven proposed an emergency law allowing the quick closure of public venues and transportation if needed. Mr. Lofven also warned citizens to prepare for possibly up to thousands of deaths.
Nevertheless, Mr. Tegnell, the chief epidemiologist, insists that Sweden’s approach still seems to make sense, though he also acknowledges that the world is in uncharted territory with the virus.
He argues that while Sweden might have more infections in the short term, it will not face the risk of a huge infection spike that Denmark might face once its lockdown is lifted.
“I think both Norway and Denmark are now very concerned about how you stop this complete lockdown in a way so you don’t cause this wave to come immediately when you start loosening up,” he said.
He said authorities know that the physical distancing Swedes are engaging in works, because officials have recorded a sudden end to the flu season and to a winter vomiting illness.
Lars Ostergaard, chief consultant and professor at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, agrees it is too soon to know which approach is best.
"Every day a person is not being infected because of the strict lockdown, we are a day closer to a cure," Mr. Ostergaard said, underlining the advantage of the Danish approach. But he acknowledges that the long-term consequences of a locked-down community could also be “substantial.”
“There is no right or wrong way," Mr. Ostergaard said. "No one has walked this path before, and only the aftermath will show who made the best decision."
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 of was reported by The Associated Press. Ms. Gera reported from Warsaw, Poland.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-20--Tensions rise over economic freedom vs. global public safety

The global health crisis is taking a nasty political turn with tensions worsening between governments locked down to keep the coronavirus at bay and people yearning to restart stalled economies and forestall fears of a depression .
Protesters worrying about their livelihoods and bucking infringements on their freedom have taken to the streets in the United States .
A few countries are acting to ease restrictions , but most of the world remains unified in insisting it 's much too early to take more aggressive steps .
In the United States , there is clear evidence of the mounting pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country are ready to begin a gradual return to normalcy .
Yet some state leaders say their response to the pandemic is hindered by a woefully inadequate federal response .
After insisting the country ’ s virus testing system was without fault , President Donald Trump announced Sunday evening that he would be using the Defense Production Act to compel increased manufacturing of testing swabs – one of several products governors have been begging the president to help them acquire .
White House officials will also be holding a call Monday with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walk them through where to find supplies , he said .
Mr. Trump also remained defensive , however , vowing that there were enough swabs to go around .
“ Swabs are easy , ” the president said , bringing one to his news briefing and waving it in front of reporters .
Washington state 's Democratic governor , Jay Inslee , accused President Trump of encouraging insubordination and “ illegal activity '' by goading protesters who flouted shelter-in-place rules .
“ To have an American president to encourage people to violate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any time during my time in America where we have seen such a thing , ” Mr. Inslee told ABC 's “ This Week . ''
He said it was ” dangerous because it can inspire people to ignore things that actually can save their lives.
” Trump supporters in several states have ignored social distancing and stay-at-home orders , gathering to demand that governors lift controls on public activity .
The largest protest drew thousands to Lansing , Mich. , on Wednesday , and others have featured hundreds in several states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , calling on several states with Democratic governors to “ LIBERATE.
” Vice President Mike Pence sidestepped questions Sunday about why Mr. Trump seemed to be encouraging efforts to undermine preventive measures his own government has promoted .
Mr. Inslee likened Mr. Trump 's response to “ schizophrenia.
” Larry Hogan , the Republican governor of Maryland , said it “ just doesn ’ t make any sense.
” “ We ’ re sending completely conflicting messages out to the governors and to the people , as if we should ignore federal policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on CNN 's “ State of the Union.
” Shutdowns that began in China in late January and spread globally have disrupted economic , social , cultural , and religious life and plunged the world into a deep economic slump unseen since the Great Depression .
Tens of millions of workers have lost their jobs and millions more fear they 'll be next .
With the arc of infection different in every nation and across U.S. states , proposals have differed for coping with the virus that has killed more than 165,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some places , including Germany , which is still enforcing social distancing rules but on Monday intended to begin allowing some small stores , like those selling furniture and baby goods , to reopen .
Authorities in Spain , which had some of Europe 's strictest restrictions and a virus death toll only exceeded by the U.S. and Italy , said children will be allowed to leave their homes beginning April 27 .
Albania planned to let its mining and oil industries reopen Monday , along with hundreds of businesses including small retailers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and fishing boats .
The death toll in the U.S. was near 41,000 with more than 758,000 confirmed infections , while the global total has surpassed 2.4 million , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
The European Center for Disease Control said the continent now has more than 1 million confirmed cases and almost 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus .
The actual extent of the pandemic is likely to be significantly higher due to mild infections that are missed , limited testing , problems counting the dead , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extent of their outbreaks .
The International Monetary Fund expects the global economy to contract 3 % this year .
That 's a far bigger loss than 2009′s 0.1 % after the global financial crisis .
Still , many governments are resisting pressures to abruptly relax lockdowns .
“ We must not let down our guard until the last confirmed patient is recovered , ” South Korea 's President Moon Jae-in said Sunday .
In Britain , which reported 596 more coronavirus-related hospital deaths on Sunday , officials also said they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus 's spread .
U.K. minister Michael Gove told the BBC that pubs and restaurants “ will be among the last ” to leave the lockdown , which is now in place until May 7 .
France ’ s health agency urged the public to stick to social distancing measures that have been extended until at least May 11 and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said people could be required to wear masks on public transportation , and suggested no one plan faraway summer vacations even after that .
Mr. Trump is pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some states even before his own May 1 deadline , a plan that health experts and governors from both parties say will require a dramatic increase in testing capacity nationwide .
But Mr. Pence insisted in television interviews Sunday that the country has “ sufficient testing today ” for states to begin reopening their economies as part of the initial phases of guidelines that the White House released last week .
The Trump administration has repeatedly blamed state leaders for delays , but governors from both parties have been begging the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as swabs and chemicals known as reagents .
Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine of Ohio made a direct appeal to Washington : “ We really need help ... to take our capacity up , ” he said on NBC 's ” Meet the Press . ''
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom , a Democrat , said his state can ’ t begin lifting restrictions until it is able to test more people daily .
“ Right now , we ’ re not even close as a nation , let alone as a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing , ” he said .
Mr. Trump pushed back in a tweet before his scheduled Sunday evening briefing at the White House .
“ I am right on testing .
Governors must be able to step up and get the job done .
We will be with you ALL THE WAY !
” he wrote .
Economic concerns that have increasingly collided with measures to protect public health are now popping up throughout the U.S. Business leaders in Louisiana have slammed New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell for imposing restrictions that they say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city .
A full-page ad in “ The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate ” newspaper on Sunday urged an easing of lockdowns , even as the paper featured nearly nine pages of obituaries in a city hard-hit by the virus .
States including Texas and Indiana have announced plans to allow some retail and other activity to resume and some restrictions were either lifted or set to be on beaches in Florida and South Carolina .
But in New York , where the daily coronavirus death toll hit its lowest point in more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that New York City and the rest of the hard-hit state aren ’ t ready to ease shutdowns of schools , businesses , and gatherings .
Geopolitical and religious tensions stretching back centuries have further complicated the global response to the virus .
But Jordan ’ s King Abdullah II said the outbreak has made “ partners ” out of “ our enemies of yesterday , or those that were not friendly countries yesterday – whether we like it or not.
” “ I think the quicker we as leaders and politicians figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring this under control , ” he told CBS ' `` Face the Nation . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Will Weissert, Jill Colvin, and Frank Jordans

The global health crisis is taking a nasty political turn with tensions worsening between governments locked down to keep the coronavirus at bay and people yearning to restart stalled economies and forestall fears of a depression.
Protesters worrying about their livelihoods and bucking infringements on their freedom have taken to the streets in the United States.
A few countries are acting to ease restrictions, but most of the world remains unified in insisting it's much too early to take more aggressive steps.
In the United States, there is clear evidence of the mounting pressure. The Trump administration says parts of the country are ready to begin a gradual return to normalcy. Yet some state leaders say their response to the pandemic is hindered by a woefully inadequate federal response.
After insisting the country’s virus testing system was without fault, President Donald Trump announced Sunday evening that he would be using the Defense Production Act to compel increased manufacturing of testing swabs – one of several products governors have been begging the president to help them acquire. White House officials will also be holding a call Monday with the nation’s governors to help walk them through where to find supplies, he said.
Mr. Trump also remained defensive, however, vowing that there were enough swabs to go around. “Swabs are easy,” the president said, bringing one to his news briefing and waving it in front of reporters.
Washington state's Democratic governor, Jay Inslee, accused President Trump of encouraging insubordination and “illegal activity" by goading protesters who flouted shelter-in-place rules.
“To have an American president to encourage people to violate the law, I can’t remember any time during my time in America where we have seen such a thing,” Mr. Inslee told ABC's “This Week.'' He said it was ”dangerous because it can inspire people to ignore things that actually can save their lives.”
Trump supporters in several states have ignored social distancing and stay-at-home orders, gathering to demand that governors lift controls on public activity. The largest protest drew thousands to Lansing, Mich., on Wednesday, and others have featured hundreds in several states. The president has invoked their rallying cry, calling on several states with Democratic governors to “LIBERATE.”
Vice President Mike Pence sidestepped questions Sunday about why Mr. Trump seemed to be encouraging efforts to undermine preventive measures his own government has promoted. Mr. Inslee likened Mr. Trump's response to “schizophrenia.” Larry Hogan, the Republican governor of Maryland, said it “just doesn’t make any sense.”
“We’re sending completely conflicting messages out to the governors and to the people, as if we should ignore federal policy and federal recommendations,” Mr. Hogan said on CNN's “State of the Union.”
Shutdowns that began in China in late January and spread globally have disrupted economic, social, cultural, and religious life and plunged the world into a deep economic slump unseen since the Great Depression. Tens of millions of workers have lost their jobs and millions more fear they'll be next.
With the arc of infection different in every nation and across U.S. states, proposals have differed for coping with the virus that has killed more than 165,000.
Restrictions have begun to ease in some places, including Germany, which is still enforcing social distancing rules but on Monday intended to begin allowing some small stores, like those selling furniture and baby goods, to reopen.
Authorities in Spain, which had some of Europe's strictest restrictions and a virus death toll only exceeded by the U.S. and Italy, said children will be allowed to leave their homes beginning April 27. Albania planned to let its mining and oil industries reopen Monday, along with hundreds of businesses including small retailers, food and fish factories, farmers, and fishing boats.
The death toll in the U.S. was near 41,000 with more than 758,000 confirmed infections, while the global total has surpassed 2.4 million, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The European Center for Disease Control said the continent now has more than 1 million confirmed cases and almost 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus.
The actual extent of the pandemic is likely to be significantly higher due to mild infections that are missed, limited testing, problems counting the dead, and some nations' desires to underplay the extent of their outbreaks.
The International Monetary Fund expects the global economy to contract 3% this year. That's a far bigger loss than 2009′s 0.1% after the global financial crisis. Still, many governments are resisting pressures to abruptly relax lockdowns.
“We must not let down our guard until the last confirmed patient is recovered,” South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said Sunday.
In Britain, which reported 596 more coronavirus-related hospital deaths on Sunday, officials also said they’re not ready to ease efforts to curb the virus's spread. U.K. minister Michael Gove told the BBC that pubs and restaurants “will be among the last” to leave the lockdown, which is now in place until May 7.
France’s health agency urged the public to stick to social distancing measures that have been extended until at least May 11 and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said people could be required to wear masks on public transportation, and suggested no one plan faraway summer vacations even after that.
Mr. Trump is pushing to begin easing the U.S. lockdown in some states even before his own May 1 deadline, a plan that health experts and governors from both parties say will require a dramatic increase in testing capacity nationwide. But Mr. Pence insisted in television interviews Sunday that the country has “sufficient testing today” for states to begin reopening their economies as part of the initial phases of guidelines that the White House released last week.
The Trump administration has repeatedly blamed state leaders for delays, but governors from both parties have been begging the federal government for help securing in-demand testing supplies such as swabs and chemicals known as reagents. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio made a direct appeal to Washington: “We really need help ... to take our capacity up,” he said on NBC's ”Meet the Press."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said his state can’t begin lifting restrictions until it is able to test more people daily. “Right now, we’re not even close as a nation, let alone as a state, to where we should be on testing,” he said.
Mr. Trump pushed back in a tweet before his scheduled Sunday evening briefing at the White House. “I am right on testing. Governors must be able to step up and get the job done. We will be with you ALL THE WAY!” he wrote.
Economic concerns that have increasingly collided with measures to protect public health are now popping up throughout the U.S.
Business leaders in Louisiana have slammed New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell for imposing restrictions that they say have unfairly shuttered economic activity outside the city. A full-page ad in “The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate” newspaper on Sunday urged an easing of lockdowns, even as the paper featured nearly nine pages of obituaries in a city hard-hit by the virus.
States including Texas and Indiana have announced plans to allow some retail and other activity to resume and some restrictions were either lifted or set to be on beaches in Florida and South Carolina. But in New York, where the daily coronavirus death toll hit its lowest point in more than two weeks on Sunday, officials warn that New York City and the rest of the hard-hit state aren’t ready to ease shutdowns of schools, businesses, and gatherings.
Geopolitical and religious tensions stretching back centuries have further complicated the global response to the virus. But Jordan’s King Abdullah II said the outbreak has made “partners” out of “our enemies of yesterday, or those that were not friendly countries yesterday – whether we like it or not.”
“I think the quicker we as leaders and politicians figure that out, the quicker we can bring this under control,” he told CBS' "Face the Nation.''
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.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-20--Fighting ‘invisible fire’: Why Paradise is ready for coronavirus.

“ People my age , we ’ ve been through life .
We know it has ups and downs , ” she says .
Ms. Zinn always keeps small stockpiles of toilet paper , cleaning solvents , and canned food on hand .
Her habitual readiness derives , in part , from childhood memories of rationing during World War II .
Her calmness about the coronavirus arises , in part , from living through the polio epidemic while growing up in Southern California .
Between the two crises , Pat Zinn , a retired bank manager whose house survived the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ominous .
“ At first you think , ‘ We just went through one disaster , and now this ?
’ ” says Jody Jones , a member of the town council who was mayor when the inferno struck .
She and her husband lost their home to the flames .
“ At the same time , this community has drawn a lot of strength from what we went through , and that will help us get through this.
” Now the COVID-19 pandemic threatens its fragile progress .
Facing another calamity so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local officials share concern over the ordeals ahead and yet trust they will persevere – a communal resolve born of collective adversity .
After wildfire burned their town in 2018 , the people of Paradise , California , were determined to rebuild .
The concrete foundation rising from the dirt lot along Sunburst Drive will support a three-bedroom house that Jada and Grant Keeter will call home one day .
Until a month ago , the couple thought that day would arrive by Christmas .
Then California ’ s governor imposed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus outbreak , and now they wonder if their timeline might be as fanciful as Santa Claus .
“ We ’ re still aiming for Christmas , but it ’ s a little hard to know if there will be any delays , ” Ms. Keeter says .
She stood beside the gravel drive leading into the property as her husband inspected the foundation walls .
“ We ’ re hoping for the best.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common sentiment in the Northern California town of Paradise , where the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history swept through on Nov. 8 , 2018 .
The blaze killed 85 people , destroyed some 14,000 homes , and forced the evacuation of Paradise ’ s 27,000 residents , along with another 23,000 from nearby communities .
Seventeen months later , as the town struggles to rebuild and its population hovers around 3,000 , the COVID-19 pandemic threatens Paradise ’ s fragile progress .
Facing another calamity so soon after the Camp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern over the ordeals ahead and yet trust they will persevere – a communal resolve born of collective adversity .
“ At first you think , ‘ We just went through one disaster , and now this ?
’ ” says Jody Jones , a member of the town council who was mayor when the inferno struck .
She and her husband lost their home to the flames .
“ At the same time , this community has drawn a lot of strength from what we went through , and that will help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decree that Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced March 19 has led to most of the state ’ s businesses closing and schools shifting classes online .
In Paradise , the pausing of public life has clouded the future for dozens of the more than 200 businesses that have opened since the wildfire .
The school district , with half as many students as before the blaze , has seen its academic year upended once again .
Under the statewide order , construction remains an “ essential ” service , enabling home builders to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose house burned down , the good news is tempered by the potential for lags in the supply chain of construction materials .
“ There are a lot of questions about everything right now , ” Ms. Keeter says , “ and we ’ re all waiting to see what the answers will be.
” Paradise ’ s recovery gained momentum in January with the opening of the Building Resiliency Center in a vacant bank branch .
The center serves as a one-stop shop for residents to obtain building permits , housing assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction .
The pandemic has slowed the center ’ s work as town officials , mindful of social distancing guidelines , have reduced staff and restricted visits to scheduled appointments .
Fewer than 90 new houses have gone up in the past year , and even as the whir of circular saws and the report of nail guns attest to ongoing construction , the pace has dropped .
“ We can ’ t let the rebuilding stop , ” says Eric Reinbold , Paradise ’ s police chief .
He and his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town 15 miles away after the fire destroyed their home .
“ But everything has been affected to one degree or another , and the big thing is , we don ’ t know how long it will last.
” Health officials have recorded 16 cases of the coronavirus in Butte County as of Monday morning ; none have occurred in Paradise .
Damage from the wildfire closed the lone full-service hospital in town , and while an immediate care clinic that opened last month has conducted tests for COVID-19 , the relative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxiety of residents .
“ This is like the invisible fire , ” says Eddie DeAnda , an outreach worker with a disaster crisis counseling program who lives in Paradise .
“ It ’ s been a stressful time .
Just going to the grocery store kind of puts people on edge.
” The outbreak has hampered the town ’ s efforts to mend its social fabric .
Municipal officials , who shut down the town hall , have canceled or postponed annual community festivals .
Paradise High School ’ s graduation ceremony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors receiving diplomas by appointment rather than in a group celebration .
The school district welcomed back about 1,600 of its 3,300 students in August .
Last month , three days before the state ’ s stay-at-home order went into effect , administrators closed classrooms and teachers switched to online instruction .
The high school opens each weekday morning to allow students to pick up laptops and wireless hotspots .
But the disruption of a second straight school year has deepened the hardship for students , as many families displaced by the fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing outside Paradise .
“ Our emotional reserves were already a little lower than everybody else ’ s , ” says Tom Taylor , the district superintendent .
He has told teachers to modify their expectations of students .
“ We can ’ t push too hard .
We just have to accept they won ’ t learn at the same level.
” The high school ’ s graduation ceremony last June , seven months after the Camp fire , provided a unifying moment for students and residents alike .
Mike Ervin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the class of 2020 – including his youngest son – could miss out on a cherished rite of passage .
Imagining his son walking toward him on the commencement stage , Mr. Ervin says , “ I was really looking forward to giving my kid a hug.
” Gun sales have increased at Fins , Fur , and Feather Sports in the weeks since Paradise ’ s residents began living almost entirely indoors .
Shop owner Chris Main offers a wry explanation for the rush .
“ People are buying firearms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he says .
The Camp fire spared his home , and though concerned about the impact of the pandemic on his suppliers , the Paradise native has resolute faith in the town ’ s resilience .
“ We ’ ve been through a lot , but we keep on going , keep on surviving.
” The fallout from the lockdown order on restaurants , cafes , and other businesses will emerge in the coming weeks and months .
As Ms. Jones , the former mayor , frets about the local economy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly 700 building permits the town has issued for home construction since the fire .
“ The coronavirus has left all of us feeling a little in limbo , ” she says .
The uncertainty extends to the completion date of the new house that she and her husband are building .
“ But if we can keep construction going , then we can weather this challenge , too.
” In the fire ’ s aftermath , 10 of the 21 officers on the town ’ s police force departed , pursuing new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guiding the department through a different sort of adversity , Mr. Reinbold relies on lessons learned from that earlier disaster , urging his officers to remain visible to reassure isolated residents .
“ This isn ’ t as traumatic as the fire , when we lost much of our community in a matter of hours , ” says Mr. Reinbold , who has hired three officers in recent months .
“ But people are scared thinking about where we could end up , so you want to show them we ’ re here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broken power lines owned by the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. ignited the Camp fire , and last month , the company pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter .
The news elicited a muted reaction even in California as the pandemic dominates headlines and public attention .
Between the two crises , Pat Zinn , a retired bank manager whose house survived the blaze , considers the coronavirus far less ominous .
“ This is nothing compared to the fire , ” she says .
Ms. Zinn always keeps small stockpiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and canned food on hand .
Her habitual readiness derives , in part , from childhood memories of rationing during World War II .
Her calmness about the coronavirus arises , in part , from living through the polio epidemic while growing up in Southern California .
“ People my age , we ’ ve been through life .
We know it has ups and downs , ” she says .
Still , she adds with a smile , “ I ’ m glad I ’ m not in New York.
” Editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“People my age, we’ve been through life. We know it has ups and downs,” she says.
Ms. Zinn always keeps small stockpiles of toilet paper, cleaning solvents, and canned food on hand. Her habitual readiness derives, in part, from childhood memories of rationing during World War II. Her calmness about the coronavirus arises, in part, from living through the polio epidemic while growing up in Southern California.
Between the two crises, Pat Zinn, a retired bank manager whose house survived the blaze, considers the coronavirus far less ominous.
“At first you think, ‘We just went through one disaster, and now this?’” says Jody Jones, a member of the town council who was mayor when the inferno struck. She and her husband lost their home to the flames. “At the same time, this community has drawn a lot of strength from what we went through, and that will help us get through this.”
They lost their town to fire. Now, the residents of Paradise, California, are drawing on communal strength born of adversity to meet the pandemic with determined optimism.
Now the COVID-19 pandemic threatens its fragile progress. Facing another calamity so soon after the Camp fire, residents and local officials share concern over the ordeals ahead and yet trust they will persevere – a communal resolve born of collective adversity.
After wildfire burned their town in 2018, the people of Paradise, California, were determined to rebuild.
The concrete foundation rising from the dirt lot along Sunburst Drive will support a three-bedroom house that Jada and Grant Keeter will call home one day. Until a month ago, the couple thought that day would arrive by Christmas. Then California’s governor imposed a statewide stay-at-home order in response to the coronavirus outbreak, and now they wonder if their timeline might be as fanciful as Santa Claus.
“We’re still aiming for Christmas, but it’s a little hard to know if there will be any delays,” Ms. Keeter says. She stood beside the gravel drive leading into the property as her husband inspected the foundation walls. “We’re hoping for the best.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Why We Wrote This A story focused on Resilience They lost their town to fire. Now, the residents of Paradise, California, are drawing on communal strength born of adversity to meet the pandemic with determined optimism.
Their determined optimism reflects a common sentiment in the Northern California town of Paradise, where the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history swept through on Nov. 8, 2018. The blaze killed 85 people, destroyed some 14,000 homes, and forced the evacuation of Paradise’s 27,000 residents, along with another 23,000 from nearby communities.
Seventeen months later, as the town struggles to rebuild and its population hovers around 3,000, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens Paradise’s fragile progress. Facing another calamity so soon after the Camp fire, residents and local officials share concern over the ordeals ahead and yet trust they will persevere – a communal resolve born of collective adversity.
“At first you think, ‘We just went through one disaster, and now this?’” says Jody Jones, a member of the town council who was mayor when the inferno struck. She and her husband lost their home to the flames. “At the same time, this community has drawn a lot of strength from what we went through, and that will help us get through this.”
The lockdown decree that Gov. Gavin Newsom announced March 19 has led to most of the state’s businesses closing and schools shifting classes online. In Paradise, the pausing of public life has clouded the future for dozens of the more than 200 businesses that have opened since the wildfire. The school district, with half as many students as before the blaze, has seen its academic year upended once again.
Under the statewide order, construction remains an “essential” service, enabling home builders to continue working. For the Keeters, whose house burned down, the good news is tempered by the potential for lags in the supply chain of construction materials.
“There are a lot of questions about everything right now,” Ms. Keeter says, “and we’re all waiting to see what the answers will be.”
Ann Hermes/Staff View caption Hide caption A sign announces the cancellation of a Paradise High School event on March 13, 2020, in Paradise, California. The high school opened its doors in the fall of 2019 after Paradise was largely destroyed in the Camp Fire. Paradise High School recently had to close again due to the threat of the coronavirus.
“The invisible fire”
Paradise’s recovery gained momentum in January with the opening of the Building Resiliency Center in a vacant bank branch. The center serves as a one-stop shop for residents to obtain building permits, housing assistance, and planning guidance to accelerate home construction.
The pandemic has slowed the center’s work as town officials, mindful of social distancing guidelines, have reduced staff and restricted visits to scheduled appointments. Fewer than 90 new houses have gone up in the past year, and even as the whir of circular saws and the report of nail guns attest to ongoing construction, the pace has dropped.
“We can’t let the rebuilding stop,” says Eric Reinbold, Paradise’s police chief. He and his wife and their three children moved to a town 15 miles away after the fire destroyed their home. “But everything has been affected to one degree or another, and the big thing is, we don’t know how long it will last.”
Health officials have recorded 16 cases of the coronavirus in Butte County as of Monday morning; none have occurred in Paradise. Damage from the wildfire closed the lone full-service hospital in town, and while an immediate care clinic that opened last month has conducted tests for COVID-19, the relative lack of medical services adds to the anxiety of residents.
“This is like the invisible fire,” says Eddie DeAnda, an outreach worker with a disaster crisis counseling program who lives in Paradise. “It’s been a stressful time. Just going to the grocery store kind of puts people on edge.”
The outbreak has hampered the town’s efforts to mend its social fabric. Municipal officials, who shut down the town hall, have canceled or postponed annual community festivals. Paradise High School’s graduation ceremony, scheduled for June, could involve seniors receiving diplomas by appointment rather than in a group celebration.
The school district welcomed back about 1,600 of its 3,300 students in August. Last month, three days before the state’s stay-at-home order went into effect, administrators closed classrooms and teachers switched to online instruction.
The high school opens each weekday morning to allow students to pick up laptops and wireless hotspots. But the disruption of a second straight school year has deepened the hardship for students, as many families displaced by the fire still live in trailers or other temporary housing outside Paradise.
“Our emotional reserves were already a little lower than everybody else’s,” says Tom Taylor, the district superintendent. He has told teachers to modify their expectations of students. “We can’t push too hard. We just have to accept they won’t learn at the same level.”
The high school’s graduation ceremony last June, seven months after the Camp fire, provided a unifying moment for students and residents alike. Mike Ervin, the school’s principal, worries that the class of 2020 – including his youngest son – could miss out on a cherished rite of passage.
Imagining his son walking toward him on the commencement stage, Mr. Ervin says, “I was really looking forward to giving my kid a hug.”
Ann Hermes/Staff View caption Hide caption High school principal Mike Ervin stands outside his office at the end of the school day on March 13, 2020, in Paradise, California. The high school opened its doors in the fall of 2019 after Paradise was largely destroyed in the Camp Fire.
“We keep on going”
Gun sales have increased at Fins, Fur, and Feather Sports in the weeks since Paradise’s residents began living almost entirely indoors. Shop owner Chris Main offers a wry explanation for the rush.
“People are buying firearms and ammunition to guard their toilet paper,” he says. The Camp fire spared his home, and though concerned about the impact of the pandemic on his suppliers, the Paradise native has resolute faith in the town’s resilience. “We’ve been through a lot, but we keep on going, keep on surviving.”
The fallout from the lockdown order on restaurants, cafes, and other businesses will emerge in the coming weeks and months. As Ms. Jones, the former mayor, frets about the local economy, she finds reason for hope in the nearly 700 building permits the town has issued for home construction since the fire.
“The coronavirus has left all of us feeling a little in limbo,” she says. The uncertainty extends to the completion date of the new house that she and her husband are building. “But if we can keep construction going, then we can weather this challenge, too.”
In the fire’s aftermath, 10 of the 21 officers on the town’s police force departed, pursuing new jobs and a fresh start. Now guiding the department through a different sort of adversity, Mr. Reinbold relies on lessons learned from that earlier disaster, urging his officers to remain visible to reassure isolated residents.
“This isn’t as traumatic as the fire, when we lost much of our community in a matter of hours,” says Mr. Reinbold, who has hired three officers in recent months. “But people are scared thinking about where we could end up, so you want to show them we’re here and they’re not alone.”
Broken power lines owned by the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. ignited the Camp fire, and last month, the company pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter. The news elicited a muted reaction even in California as the pandemic dominates headlines and public attention.
Martin Kuz/The Christian Science Monitor View caption Hide caption Pat Zinn, a retired bank manager, stands in front of her home in Paradise, California, on March 27, 2020. Her house survived a wildfire that wiped out most of the town in November 2018. Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, she says, "This is nothing compared to the fire."
Between the two crises, Pat Zinn, a retired bank manager whose house survived the blaze, considers the coronavirus far less ominous. “This is nothing compared to the fire,” she says.
Ms. Zinn always keeps small stockpiles of toilet paper, cleaning solvents, and canned food on hand. Her habitual readiness derives, in part, from childhood memories of rationing during World War II. Her calmness about the coronavirus arises, in part, from living through the polio epidemic while growing up in Southern California.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“People my age, we’ve been through life. We know it has ups and downs,” she says. Still, she adds with a smile, “I’m glad I’m not in New York.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.