mercurynews--2020-04-18--Ask Amy: Should I warn this sick woman what her boyfriend is planning?

DEAR AMY : I am divorced from my ex-husband , “ Barry , ” but he and I remain friends .
He is very open with me .
He has been dating a nice woman for about a year now .
She has some serious health issues , which I can sympathize with because I also have serious health issues .
Barry has been complaining about his girlfriend and the problems she has .
He makes remarks about finding “ a healthy woman.
” He told me that a woman he has had a “ crush ” on for several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says he is planning on “ hanging out ” with his crush .
I ’ m angry that he would even consider doing this !
His girlfriend deserves so much better .
I think his girlfriend should be made aware of this , but I ’ m torn .
She is preparing to have major surgery soon .
The last thing she needs is a boyfriend that is not there for her and who is out with someone else .
• Ask Amy : I want to scream at these careless neighbor children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t need a stimulus check .
What should I do with it ?
• Ask Amy : My mom thinks I ’ ve been brainwashed • Ask Amy : She ’ s living in my house , and I don ’ t know how to get her out • Ask Amy : My brother doesn ’ t know it , but his fiancee is a psycho What are your thoughts ?
DEAR ANNOYED : One advantage of moving a spouse into the “ ex-files ” is that you don ’ t necessarily have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ displaying their less attractive qualities .
Your being divorced doesn ’ t give your ex license to display his awfulness to you without consequence .
Furthermore , his choice to complain about his current partner and about their relationship means that he is being more emotionally intimate with you than he is with her .
No , I don ’ t think you should warn his girlfriend about him .
Unless you and she are close friends , your warning would likely be dismissed by her — and dismantled by him .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then as his friend you get to deliver an occasional challenging truth .
You could start with , “ Barry , you are acting like a low-life .
If we weren ’ t already divorced , I ’ d divorce you all over again.
” DEAR AMY : I have five young sons .
Everywhere I go , people ask me if I ’ m “ done having kids ” or if I ’ m “ going to try for a girl.
” I get these questions from friends , acquaintances , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topic of future reproductive plans is a personal one .
But I am a friendly person , and I end up answering some pretty personal questions , so as not to hurt the feelings of the person asking .
Honestly , I would rather steer clear of the matter entirely !
Sometimes I just say , “ We love boys !
” when people ask if I ’ m going to try for a girl , especially when my kids are listening .
People still like to push the question further .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one person ’ s feelings by trying to change the subject at that point .
I understand that people are curious about our family , but I would rather not discuss whether or not I ’ m done having kids unless I choose to bring it up , myself .
What is a friendly way I can steer the conversation ?
DEAR MOM : You sound quite patient and understanding — great qualities in a mom of five young boys .
( “ We love boys !
” is a fantastic answer when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your children , by the way . )
I ’ m trying to comprehend how a person asking you about your reproductive plans – in front of your kids – could possibly have their feelings hurt when you deftly try to change the subject , but I take it as a given that sometimes people who are insensitive ( or merely thoughtless ) toward others are extra-sensitive about themselves .
One way to respond to this sort of query would be to say , “ Ha , ha – aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a catch-all ( Southern-born ) phrase that you can plug into almost any awkward conversational gap .
Think of it as conversational caulk .
You could put the inquisitor a little more on the spot by saying ( with a smile ) , “ Well , that ’ s a pretty personal question , don ’ t you think ?
” DEAR AMY : I was deeply offended by your response to “ No Thanks.
” This was a woman who didn ’ t want to date men of different races .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not being racist .
DEAR OFFENDED : It would have been very easy for this woman to simply tell any man who approached her , “ No thank you , ” or “ I ’ m not interested.
” According to her question , she was only looking for a response to repel men of other races .
I don ’ t know the racial identity of the woman who asked this question , but “ I stick to my own kind ” is a racist trope , at least in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dickinson at askamy @ amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy , P.O .
Box 194 , Freeville , NY 13068 .
You can also follow her on Twitter @ askingamy or Facebook .

DEAR AMY: I am divorced from my ex-husband, “Barry,” but he and I remain friends. He is very open with me.
He has been dating a nice woman for about a year now. She has some serious health issues, which I can sympathize with because I also have serious health issues.
Barry has been complaining about his girlfriend and the problems she has. He makes remarks about finding “a healthy woman.” He told me that a woman he has had a “crush” on for several years has asked him out.
Barry says he is planning on “hanging out” with his crush.
I’m angry that he would even consider doing this! His girlfriend deserves so much better. I think his girlfriend should be made aware of this, but I’m torn. She is preparing to have major surgery soon. The last thing she needs is a boyfriend that is not there for her and who is out with someone else.
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Annoyed
DEAR ANNOYED: One advantage of moving a spouse into the “ex-files” is that you don’t necessarily have to engage with them when they are displaying their less attractive qualities.
Your being divorced doesn’t give your ex license to display his awfulness to you without consequence. Furthermore, his choice to complain about his current partner and about their relationship means that he is being more emotionally intimate with you than he is with her.
No, I don’t think you should warn his girlfriend about him. Unless you and she are close friends, your warning would likely be dismissed by her — and dismantled by him.
If you and Barry are truly friends, then as his friend you get to deliver an occasional challenging truth. You could start with, “Barry, you are acting like a low-life. If we weren’t already divorced, I’d divorce you all over again.”
DEAR AMY: I have five young sons. Everywhere I go, people ask me if I’m “done having kids” or if I’m “going to try for a girl.” I get these questions from friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers.
I feel that the topic of future reproductive plans is a personal one. But I am a friendly person, and I end up answering some pretty personal questions, so as not to hurt the feelings of the person asking. Honestly, I would rather steer clear of the matter entirely!
Sometimes I just say, “We love boys!” when people ask if I’m going to try for a girl, especially when my kids are listening. People still like to push the question further. I know I’ve hurt at least one person’s feelings by trying to change the subject at that point.
I understand that people are curious about our family, but I would rather not discuss whether or not I’m done having kids unless I choose to bring it up, myself. What is a friendly way I can steer the conversation?
A Mom
DEAR MOM: You sound quite patient and understanding — great qualities in a mom of five young boys. (“We love boys!” is a fantastic answer when this intrusive question is raised in front of your children, by the way.)
I’m trying to comprehend how a person asking you about your reproductive plans – in front of your kids – could possibly have their feelings hurt when you deftly try to change the subject, but I take it as a given that sometimes people who are insensitive (or merely thoughtless) toward others are extra-sensitive about themselves.
One way to respond to this sort of query would be to say, “Ha, ha – aren’t you sweet?” This is sort of a catch-all (Southern-born) phrase that you can plug into almost any awkward conversational gap. Think of it as conversational caulk.
You could put the inquisitor a little more on the spot by saying (with a smile), “Well, that’s a pretty personal question, don’t you think?”
Want Ask Amy delivered to your inbox for free on weekdays?
DEAR AMY: I was deeply offended by your response to “No Thanks.” This was a woman who didn’t want to date men of different races. You called her a racist. That’s not being racist.
Offended
DEAR OFFENDED: It would have been very easy for this woman to simply tell any man who approached her, “No thank you,” or “I’m not interested.”
According to her question, she was only looking for a response to repel men of other races.
I don’t know the racial identity of the woman who asked this question, but “I stick to my own kind” is a racist trope, at least in my opinion.
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.


mercurynews--2020-04-18--Harriette Cole: She’s bored and she’s going nuts on the shopping channels

DEAR HARRIETTE : My mom lives in an assisted-living community , and they are all shut down now .
We can ’ t visit , and my mom says she ’ s bored out of her mind .
I get that .
My family and I feel the same way .
What I learned , though , is that my mom has been going to town buying all kinds of unnecessary stuff on QVC and HSN .
I pay her bills , and I just got an alert that she had spent beyond her credit limit .
I am mortified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now I have a huge bill to pay for stuff she doesn ’ t need .
How can I get my mom to stop shopping ?
DEAR DAILY FIX : You need to have a heart-to-heart with your mother .
Tell her the truth : She has been overspending on her TV purchases , and you do not have the money to pay for the things she has bought .
Tell her that the credit card company has called to alert you of her purchases .
Ask her to stop .
More important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call the credit card company and have her spending frozen for now .
You can request the freeze without damaging your credit .
What will happen when your mother tries to make a purchase next is that she will be denied .
This will be disappointing to her but important for you to manage your budget .
• Harriette Cole : How do I make her delete these posts before something bad happens ?
• Harriette Cole : Where can we donate clothes now that Goodwill is closed ?
• Harriette Cole : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , my kids can ’ t do online school • Harriette Cole : I don ’ t want to join their coronavirus pity party DEAR HARRIETTE : My husband and I have been living it up since we have been quarantined , and I think it ’ s getting out of control .
Starting early in the morning , he sits around sipping a beer and eating junk food .
Just about every day I join him for a couple — or more — drinks .
It ’ s not smart .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ weight , but more than that , it ’ s awful to be filling our bodies with so much bad stuff .
It ’ s like party central for us , even though I ’ m still working .
My husband got laid off , and he seems to have let himself go .
I am worried about us .
If we are home too much longer , who knows what ’ s going to happen to us ?
I feel like we really have to stop .
How can we break this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
DEAR COLD TURKEY : Invite your husband to quit drinking and eating poorly with you .
Point out the patterns that you two have been falling into over the past few weeks .
Tell him you are worried about your health and well-being .
Ask him to join you in cleaning up your act .
Regardless of whether or not he joins you , you can decide to stop drinking and make smarter choices .
And you don ’ t have to do it alone ; Alcoholics Anonymous offers free online meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get sober .
To find a meeting , go to aa-intergroup.org .
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS , an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams .
You can send questions to askharriette @ harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication , 1130 Walnut St. , Kansas City , MO 64106 .

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom lives in an assisted-living community, and they are all shut down now. We can’t visit, and my mom says she’s bored out of her mind. I get that. My family and I feel the same way.
What I learned, though, is that my mom has been going to town buying all kinds of unnecessary stuff on QVC and HSN. I pay her bills, and I just got an alert that she had spent beyond her credit limit.
I am mortified. On top of everything else, now I have a huge bill to pay for stuff she doesn’t need. How can I get my mom to stop shopping?
Daily Fix
DEAR DAILY FIX: You need to have a heart-to-heart with your mother. Tell her the truth: She has been overspending on her TV purchases, and you do not have the money to pay for the things she has bought. Tell her that the credit card company has called to alert you of her purchases. Ask her to stop.
More important, though, is for you to call the credit card company and have her spending frozen for now. You can request the freeze without damaging your credit. What will happen when your mother tries to make a purchase next is that she will be denied. This will be disappointing to her but important for you to manage your budget.
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Harriette Cole: I’m ashamed to tell people I forgave my childhood friend Advice | Harriette Cole: I’ve worked hard, and my poor siblings resent my success DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I have been living it up since we have been quarantined, and I think it’s getting out of control. Starting early in the morning, he sits around sipping a beer and eating junk food. Just about every day I join him for a couple — or more — drinks. It’s not smart.
I can see that we have gained weight, but more than that, it’s awful to be filling our bodies with so much bad stuff. It’s like party central for us, even though I’m still working. My husband got laid off, and he seems to have let himself go.
I am worried about us. If we are home too much longer, who knows what’s going to happen to us? I feel like we really have to stop. How can we break this habit? It has become a routine.
Cold Turkey
DEAR COLD TURKEY: Invite your husband to quit drinking and eating poorly with you. Point out the patterns that you two have been falling into over the past few weeks. Tell him you are worried about your health and well-being. Ask him to join you in cleaning up your act.
Regardless of whether or not he joins you, you can decide to stop drinking and make smarter choices. And you don’t have to do it alone; Alcoholics Anonymous offers free online meetings for people who want support as they get sober. To find a meeting, go to aa-intergroup.org.
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.


mercurynews--2020-04-18--Miss Manners: I think my talk with this wild boy offended his dad

DEAR MISS MANNERS : My husband and I made friends with a single father .
He has an 11-year-old daughter who is an angel ( except that she ’ s glued to my hip whenever they are over , taking any adult time ) , and a 3-year-old son who craves attention in a reckless way .
I love kids and have a knack for them , but don ’ t have any yet .
Neither of these children has a mother figure , and they bid for my attention .
I find myself essentially babysitting his kids whenever he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mind .
The little boy is a terror .
On his first visit , he tried to smash a piece of electronics .
But I ’ ve come to find him extremely intelligent , and see that he ’ s being destructive as the only way to get attention .
We had several conversations , and he no longer tries to smash my things ; he pets my dogs nicely , instead of trying to hurt them ; he won ’ t go near the wood stove , and is , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — here , at least .
• Miss Manners : How do I indicate I don ’ t appreciate the joke ?
• Miss Manners : I know I look sick , but it makes me cry when they tell me that • Miss Manners : This employee said I was rude to her , but she started it • Miss Manners : Here ’ s a smug little game to play with people who finish your sentences • Miss Manners : We tried to help this stranger and he swore at us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m aware it ’ s rude to parent other people ’ s children , but the only alternative would be to end the friendship , which I find extreme .
There has been an ongoing issue with the child touching kids at preschool .
So I sat him down , explained to him how it ’ s disrespectful ( we went over respect when he was smashing my stuff ) , and his dad cut me off , saying that talking to him about an issue for more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve never seen him speak to the child except in a disciplinarian tone . )
I haven ’ t seen or heard from him since .
It hasn ’ t been that long , so I doubt he ’ s absolved the friendship , but how do you suggest I proceed if we continue to be friends ?
GENTLE READER : When it comes to the rearing of children , outsiders ( those who do not live with them — inclusive of , but not limited to , friends and grandparents ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation .
What has worked for you and the child may not be working for his father , and vice versa .
You should , however , be able to dictate decorum in your own house , especially when it comes to the preservation of your furniture , dogs , the little boy ’ s life and your own sanity .
Still , you would do well to make amends proactively : “ I am afraid that I have offended you when I thought I was helping .
Darwin has responded so well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had that I thought it would help him to understand how it transfers to his friends at school .
But I am not the parent and I did not mean to overstep .
I hope that we can continue the friendship , as we have come to love you and the children like family.
” The “ like ” is a critical qualifier , Miss Manners points out .
It ensures that you do not cross boundaries — and that your guests eventually go home .
DEAR MISS MANNERS : Is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an office meeting ?
GENTLE READER : On the contrary , it may actually be a requirement .
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website , www.missmanners.com ; to her email , dearmissmanners @ gmail.com ; or through postal mail to Miss Manners , Andrews McMeel Syndication , 1130 Walnut St. , Kansas City , MO 64106 .

Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I made friends with a single father. He has an 11-year-old daughter who is an angel (except that she’s glued to my hip whenever they are over, taking any adult time), and a 3-year-old son who craves attention in a reckless way.
I love kids and have a knack for them, but don’t have any yet. Neither of these children has a mother figure, and they bid for my attention. I find myself essentially babysitting his kids whenever he’s over for my own peace of mind.
The little boy is a terror. On his first visit, he tried to smash a piece of electronics. But I’ve come to find him extremely intelligent, and see that he’s being destructive as the only way to get attention.
We had several conversations, and he no longer tries to smash my things; he pets my dogs nicely, instead of trying to hurt them; he won’t go near the wood stove, and is, for the most part, a little angel — here, at least.
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Miss Manners: She wants to turn our music festival into a get-drunk weekend Advice | Miss Manners: My rule is no gift for a second wedding, no attendance for a third But I think I offended his dad. I’m aware it’s rude to parent other people’s children, but the only alternative would be to end the friendship, which I find extreme.
There has been an ongoing issue with the child touching kids at preschool. So I sat him down, explained to him how it’s disrespectful (we went over respect when he was smashing my stuff), and his dad cut me off, saying that talking to him about an issue for more than a moment makes it worse. (I’ve never seen him speak to the child except in a disciplinarian tone.)
I haven’t seen or heard from him since. It hasn’t been that long, so I doubt he’s absolved the friendship, but how do you suggest I proceed if we continue to be friends?
Want Miss Manners delivered to your inbox for free on weekdays?
GENTLE READER: When it comes to the rearing of children, outsiders (those who do not live with them — inclusive of, but not limited to, friends and grandparents) are usually only seeing part of the situation. What has worked for you and the child may not be working for his father, and vice versa.
You should, however, be able to dictate decorum in your own house, especially when it comes to the preservation of your furniture, dogs, the little boy’s life and your own sanity.
Still, you would do well to make amends proactively: “I am afraid that I have offended you when I thought I was helping. Darwin has responded so well to the chats about respect that we have had that I thought it would help him to understand how it transfers to his friends at school. But I am not the parent and I did not mean to overstep. I hope that we can continue the friendship, as we have come to love you and the children like family.”
The “like” is a critical qualifier, Miss Manners points out. It ensures that you do not cross boundaries — and that your guests eventually go home.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it rude to drink coffee or tea during an office meeting?
GENTLE READER: On the contrary, it may actually be a requirement.
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.


mercurynews--2020-04-18--Dear Abby: Is my dog-walking habit rude?

DEAR ABBY : When I take my dog for a walk , I always carry little doggy bags and pick up his business .
I live in a residential neighborhood with alleys behind the houses .
After my dog does his business , I pick it up and often throw the tied-up bag in a trash can along the alley .
Is this rude ?
Is it illegal to put things in other people ’ s trash cans ?
My dog may make several stops along our long walks , and I don ’ t want to carry his waste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CONSIDERATE : Whether it ’ s illegal in your community is something you should check locally because there may be an ordinance that forbids it .
While I can ’ t speak for everyone , some of the homeowners those trash cans belong to would strenuously object to someone throwing dog doo-doo into them .
That ’ s why my advice is , “ When in doubt — DON ’ T. ” • Dear Abby : My kids ’ principals had affairs , and I have strong opinions about it • Dear Abby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his car rather than waste $ 2.50 • Dear Abby : I ’ m afraid my neighbor will find out I ’ m the one who complained • Dear Abby : My daughter won ’ t even try to pass her driver ’ s test • Dear Abby : His greeting is an assault , and I want him to stop DEAR ABBY : I am a 26-year-old college graduate .
I immigrated here in 2001 , so English is my second language .
I have no accent , and I have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except I score low on reading and written communication when I take exams .
I ’ m intelligent and a quick learner , but my vocabulary is kind of limited , and it makes me feel stupid , especially when I don ’ t score well on exams .
I try to read , but I don ’ t always have the time .
Do you have ideas on how I can improve my vocabulary or do better on exams ?
DEAR SMART : I know someone who , like you , immigrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20s after having spent her first 17 years in Russia .
From there she went to Italy , where she learned to speak Italian .
From there she came to the U.S .
When I asked her how she learned English , she told me it was by watching American television .
If there was a word she didn ’ t understand , she would look it up in a dictionary .
Not only can this be fun , I have heard others say that ’ s the way they learned English , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ English with a dictionary by her side .
Audiobooks could be helpful , too .
An adult education class might help you not only improve your vocabulary , but also help you sharpen your written English skills .
Please consider it .
DEAR ABBY : My 11-year-old niece sometimes calls my 7-year-old son fat , which hurts him to the core .
He ’ s very close with his cousins , and we get together a lot .
I have talked to my sister on numerous occasions about it .
My son knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fun of how others look , and he doesn ’ t understand why she says these mean things to him .
She ’ s old enough to know better .
I don ’ t know how to get through to my sister that this behavior should be reprimanded when she doesn ’ t seem to care .
DEAR FED UP : Your sister ’ s parenting skills appear to be questionable .
Because she refuses to teach her daughter consideration for the feelings of others , or reprimand her when she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two of them and spend more time with the other cousins .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .

DEAR ABBY: When I take my dog for a walk, I always carry little doggy bags and pick up his business. I live in a residential neighborhood with alleys behind the houses. After my dog does his business, I pick it up and often throw the tied-up bag in a trash can along the alley.
Is this rude? Is it illegal to put things in other people’s trash cans? My dog may make several stops along our long walks, and I don’t want to carry his waste with me the whole trip.
CONSIDERATE IN COLORADO
DEAR CONSIDERATE: Whether it’s illegal in your community is something you should check locally because there may be an ordinance that forbids it. While I can’t speak for everyone, some of the homeowners those trash cans belong to would strenuously object to someone throwing dog doo-doo into them. That’s why my advice is, “When in doubt — DON’T.”
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I’m intelligent and a quick learner, but my vocabulary is kind of limited, and it makes me feel stupid, especially when I don’t score well on exams. I try to read, but I don’t always have the time. Do you have ideas on how I can improve my vocabulary or do better on exams?
SMART BUT FEELS STUPID
DEAR SMART: I know someone who, like you, immigrated to the United States in her early 20s after having spent her first 17 years in Russia. From there she went to Italy, where she learned to speak Italian. From there she came to the U.S.
When I asked her how she learned English, she told me it was by watching American television. If there was a word she didn’t understand, she would look it up in a dictionary. Not only can this be fun, I have heard others say that’s the way they learned English, too.
She also read books in English with a dictionary by her side. Audiobooks could be helpful, too. An adult education class might help you not only improve your vocabulary, but also help you sharpen your written English skills. Please consider it.
DEAR ABBY: My 11-year-old niece sometimes calls my 7-year-old son fat, which hurts him to the core. He’s very close with his cousins, and we get together a lot. I have talked to my sister on numerous occasions about it.
My son knows it’s not OK to make fun of how others look, and he doesn’t understand why she says these mean things to him. She’s old enough to know better. I don’t know how to get through to my sister that this behavior should be reprimanded when she doesn’t seem to care.
FED UP IN WISCONSIN
DEAR FED UP: Your sister’s parenting skills appear to be questionable. Because she refuses to teach her daughter consideration for the feelings of others, or reprimand her when she’s cruel and hurtful, see less of the two of them and spend more time with the other cousins.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.


mercurynews--2020-04-18--San Jose: I-880 closed after person threatens to jump

SAN JOSE – All lanes of southbound Interstate 880 at Old Bayshore Highway in San Jose are closed after a @ @ @ @ @ an overpass , according to the California Highway Patrol .
The CHP announced the closure @ @ @ @ @ night .
“ Traffic is able to exit at Old Bayshore , ” the CHP @ @ @ @ @ on scene working toward a successful resolution .
”

SAN JOSE – All lanes of southbound Interstate 880 at Old Bayshore Highway in San Jose are closed after a person threatened to jump from an overpass, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP announced the closure in a tweet late Friday night.
“Traffic is able to exit at Old Bayshore,” the CHP said. “Officers are on scene working toward a successful resolution.”
The southbound lanes of I-880 are currently closed at Old Bayshore Hwy for an individual threatening to jump. Traffic is able to exit at Old Bayshore. Officers are on scene working toward a successful resolution. Use alternate routes pic.twitter.com/5VpdlRGvad — CHP San Jose (@CHPSanJose) April 18, 2020
Check back for updates.


mercurynews--2020-04-19--Coronavirus: Alameda County COVID-19 death toll nears 1989 earthquake’s

The number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Alameda County has reached 41 — one less of than the casualty total from the collapse of the Cypress Freeway in Oakland during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake .
New information released Saturday by the Alameda County Public Health Department showed 1,114 total cases in Alameda County , giving Alameda the second-highest death toll and number of cases of any Bay Area county except for Santa Clara County , the region ’ s most populous .
The death toll from the pandemic has slowed across the Bay Area and California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an event in Campbell , Gov .
Gavin Newsom noted that California as a whole added 87 deaths over the past 24 hours , according to state figures , down from 95 the day before .
“ We ’ ve certainly flattened the curve , ” Newsom said .
“ The question is when are we going to see those numbers start to decline on a consistent basis , as opposed to an episodic basis as we have seen over the last week or so.
” During the Oct. 17 , 1989 Loma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 63 people killed in Northern California died in Alameda County .
Of those , 42 perished when the Cypress Viaduct , a two-deck , four-lane section of Interstate 880 , collapsed .
In the next few days , when another person dies in Alameda county from COVID-19 , that disaster will equal the historic earthquake ’ s most visible landmark for loss of life .
Among the most recent Alameda County data , Oakland has the most cases , with 280 , followed by Hayward at 217 , San Leandro with 64 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 42 .

The number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Alameda County has reached 41 — one less than the casualty total from the collapse of the Cypress Freeway in Oakland during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake.
New information released Saturday by the Alameda County Public Health Department showed 1,114 total cases in its county, giving it the second-highest death toll and number of cases of any Bay Area county except for Santa Clara County, the region’s most populous.
The death toll from the pandemic has slowed across the Bay Area and California, however. On Saturday, at an event in Campbell, Gov. Gavin Newsom noted that California as a whole added 87 deaths over the past 24 hours, according to state figures, down from 95 the day before.
“We’ve certainly flattened the curve,” Newsom said. “The question is when are we going to see those numbers start to decline on a consistent basis, as opposed to an episodic basis as we have seen over the last week or so.”
During the Oct. 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, the majority of the 63 people killed in Northern California died in Alameda County. Of those, 42 perished when the Cypress Viaduct, a two-deck, four-lane section of Interstate 880, collapsed. In the next few days, when another person dies in Alameda county from COVID-19, that disaster will equal the historic earthquake’s most visible landmark for loss of life.
Among the most recent Alameda County data, Oakland has the most cases, with 280, followed by Hayward at 217, San Leandro with 64, Union City with 53 and Berkeley with 42.


mercurynews--2020-04-19--Photos: Protesters’ signs show frustration with stay-at-home orders

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the gallery on your mobile device .
Defying stay-at-home orders , protesters against lockdown orders in several states have gathered to express their frustration .
Despite warnings about the contagious nature of COVID-19 , many people assembled to urge governors and other lawmakers to open businesses and let people work .
Some wore masks while they protested while others crowded together without them .
Many are concerned that without work , they will be unable to put food on the table for their families .
Meanwhile , others are upset that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one sign .
Among the protest signs , some were against the idea of vaccines .
Others blamed the virus on 5G networks being set up across the nation .
Meanwhile in Austin , Texas , Infowars founder Alex Jones listened to protesters who were organized by one of his workers .
In other places such as Chicago , counterprotesters blamed the Trump Administration ’ s failures to fight the virus early on .
Others voiced support for governors who are abiding by the lockdown and urged others to follow the stay-at-home orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instagram account .

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the gallery on your mobile device.
Defying stay-at-home orders, protesters against lockdown orders in several states have gathered to express their frustration. Despite warnings about the contagious nature of COVID-19, many people assembled to urge governors and other lawmakers to open businesses and let people work.
Some wore masks while they protested while others crowded together without them. Many are concerned that without work, they will be unable to put food on the table for their families. Meanwhile, others are upset that they will miss golf season, according to one sign. Among the protest signs, some were against the idea of vaccines. Others blamed the virus on 5G networks being set up across the nation. Meanwhile in Austin, Texas, Infowars founder Alex Jones listened to protesters who were organized by one of his workers.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Politics | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge In other places such as Chicago, counterprotesters blamed the Trump Administration’s failures to fight the virus early on. Others voiced support for governors who are abiding by the lockdown and urged others to follow the stay-at-home orders.
For more images, follow our Instagram account.


mercurynews--2020-04-19--The Latest: Hundreds in Brazil denounce lockdown measures

By The Associated Press The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic .
The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness or death .
— US , Canada to keep border closed 30 more days .
— Queen Elizabeth wants low-key birthday amid virus ; nearly 15,500 deaths in Britain .
RIO DE JANEIRO — Hundreds of people denouncing pandemic lockdown measures opposed by President Jair Bolsonaro snarled traffic in major Brazilian cities on Saturday .
Protesters in trucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the streets of Rio de Janeiro , Sao Paulo and the capital of Brasilia , calling for governors to resign over measures that have forced most businesses to close for weeks .
Bolsonaro has been a fierce critic of the states ’ stay-at-home measures , arguing that the economic harm could be more damaging than the illness .
The protests took place a day after Bolsonaro fired his health minister , who had been promoting isolation measures .
In Rio de Janeiro , about 100 vehicles took part in the gridlock and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brasilia , Bolsonaro reiterated his intention to start reopening the economy .
WINDOW ROCK , Ariz. — The Navajo Nation is ordering all people on the tribe ’ s sprawling reservation to wear protective masks when out in public to help fight the spread of the coronavirus .
Tribal officials announced Friday night that the Navajo Department of Health issued an emergency health order for the reservation , which includes parts of Arizona , New Mexico and Utah .
The Navajo Nation has been hit harder by the coronavirus than any other Native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navajo Area Indian Health Service said the number of positive coronavirus tests reached 1,127 as of Friday with 44 deaths attributed to COVID-19 .
SAN FRANCISCO — California is on its way to acquiring 15,000 hotel rooms to house the homeless during the pandemic , said Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Saturday as he reminded people to stay indoors while outbreaks continue to crop up throughout the state .
Standing in front of a Motel 6 outside the city of San Jose , Newsom said more than 4,000 people have been moved out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into motel rooms .
He took the opportunity to scold leaders of unnamed cities for blocking efforts to house the homeless , asking them to “ please consider the morality ” of their decisions .
His announcement came a day after the state reported another 87 deaths from the coronavirus .
Meanwhile , California ’ s death toll from the virus rose above 1,050 on Saturday , according to a tally by John Hopkins University .
INDIANAPOLIS — More than 200 people upset over restrictions on Indiana residents because of the coronavirus protested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eric Holcomb , urging him to back off and restart the economy .
Holcomb , a Republican , said a stay-at-home order that expires Monday will be extended to May 1 while he works on a plan to reopen businesses .
In Austin , Texas , a few hundred people rallied at the state Capitol in another protest over stay-at-home orders .
The demonstration came a day after Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott announced that next week Texas will begin reopening state parks and letting retailers sell items curbside .
Abbott says more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of April .
TIRANA , Albania — About 2,400 Kosovo citizens stranded abroad due to the new coronavirus will begin returning home .
A Foreign Ministry statement Saturday said the first two flights from Switzerland and Turkey would be next week .
Kosovo has been in a total lockdown for more than a month .
The Kosovar Foreign Ministry selected the first 600 people based on criteria set by the Health Ministry .
More citizens will be allowed to return once quarantines are lifted .
ATHENS , Greece — There have been two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , raising the total to 110 .
The country ’ s health ministry also announced Saturday the number of confirmed cases rose by 11 , to 2,235 .
There are 68 people hooked to ventilators in intensive care units , down from 71 on Friday , and 39 patients have exited ICUs .
The average age of the victims is 74 , the ministry said .
MADRID — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the government will seek to extend the country ’ s state of emergency by two weeks to fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easing the total confinement of children .
Spain imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe in mid-March that brought economic activity to a near standstill .
The government , which has been under pressure from regional governments , parents and some educators to ease the lockdown for children , will begin to do so in nine days .
Sánchez said Saturday that children will be allowed “ to get out of their houses for a period on a daily basis ” but the specifics need to be ironed out with experts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will only come when the country ’ s embattled health system is ready for possible rebounds .
The state of emergency extension until May 9 needs to be approved by parliament .
PARIS — France ’ s national health agency says the number of virus patients in intensive care dropped for the 10th straight day , while the number of overall virus hospitalizations has fallen for three consecutive days .
Health officials say confinement is “ stopping the viral spread.
” The total number of deaths in France from COVID-19 reached 19,323 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than one third of the total .
DETROIT — A Michigan prisoner who declined to be paroled earlier this year after decades behind bars has died from COVID-19 complications .
William Garrison died at a hospital after nearly 44 years in prison .
The coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 500 inmates in Michigan prisons and killed 17 .
The 60-year-old Garrison was sentenced to life in prison for killing a man during a 1976 robbery when Garrison was 16 years old .
He could have been paroled two weeks ago but decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be eligible for a complete release without the rigors of parole supervision , the Detroit Free Press reported .
The parole board approved his application in March .
LONDON — Britain is due to receive a major shipment of personal protection equipment from Turkey .
The consignment of 84 metric tons of safety equipment includes 400,000 medical gowns .
Governments and hospitals are scrambling to source supplies of personal protection equipment as supplies run low during the pandemic .
Turkey has ramped up production equipment to meet the booming demand .
Turkish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked Turkey to supply PPE .
COLOMBO , Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka ’ s government has announced it will start relaxing a countrywide curfew .
The president ’ s office announced that curfew in 18 of the country ’ s 25 districts will be in force from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day starting Monday .
Curfew in the remaining seven districts , where most of the patients have been reported , will start Wednesday , and 25 areas identified as high-risk localities will remain locked down .
The government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers should report to their offices in Colombo .
In other areas 50 percent of the state workers will be required to report to their offices .
Sri Lanka has so far reported 248 COVID-19 patients with seven deaths , while 86 have recovered .
ROME — The Health Ministry in Italy says there were 3,491 new coronavirus cases , nearly identical to the previous day increase in confirmed infections .
There were 482 more deaths , raising the overall official toll to 23,227 in Italy , which has Europe ’ s highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaching the end of its sixth week of nationwide lockdown , with people allowed out of their homes only for essential work or buying food and tending to family members .
Overall , Italy has nearly 176,000 confirmed cases .
TIRANA , Albania — The NATO-led troops in Kosovo say two civilian workers have died from the coronavirus .
A statement by the Kosovo Force on Saturday says , “ some of our personnel have tested positive , and sadly two civilian workers lost their lives.
” It does not specify the nationality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 3,500 troops from 28 countries , is led from NATO and supported by the United Nations , the European Union and the United States .
KFOR says soldiers who show signs of infection or had contact with someone infected are placed in quarantine and treated by medical facilities on KFOR bases before being evacuated .
KFOR commander Major General Michele Risi says , “ Our Forces remain ready , and our crucial work goes on.
” ISTANBUL — Turkey ’ s health minister says 121 more people have died of COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fahrettin Koca shared the figures on Twitter on Saturday , saying 3,783 more people were infected of the novel coronavirus .
The total number of confirmed infections is 82,329 .
“ Despite an increase in tests , there ’ s a decrease in number of new cases , ” Koca tweeted and urged : “ Precaution , treatment.
” Also Saturday , the interior ministry extended for 15 days a ban on entering and leaving 31 provinces by land , air or sea .
These provinces , including Istanbul and capital Ankara , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of COVID-19 .
TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the U.S. and Canada have agreed to keep the border closed to nonessential travel for another 30 days .
Trudeau says it will keep people on both sides of the border safe amid the pandemic .
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S.-Canada border will be among the first borders to open .
Nearly 200,000 people normally cross the border daily .
The U.S. has more confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 than any country in the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit border crossings to essential travel amid the pandemic .
The agreement was due to expire this week .
STOCKHOLM — Sweden has reported 111 new COVID-19 deaths , with total deaths at 1,511 .
Swedish health officials say 13,822 people have confirmed infections .
Most of the infections and deaths have been recorded in Stockholm , which has 897 fatalities .
Swedish state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell told Swedish broadcaster TV4 , “ pressure on the intensive care units seems to be easing and pressure on health care services has been somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trend that is continuing.
” On Friday , the Swedish government defended its approach of pursuing relatively liberal policies to fight the coronavirus pandemic , saying it shared the “ same goals ” as other nations fighting COVID-19 .
The government has advised the public to practice social distancing , but schools , bars and restaurants remain open .
Only gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned .
ROME — An Italian cruise liner company says a ship with no cases of COVID-19 has reached the western Mediterranean .
Costa Crociere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spanish passengers early next week at the port of Barcelona , Spain .
Then the Deliziosa will head to its final destination , Genoa , Italy , where it will disembark Italian and other remaining passengers on Wednesday .
A company spokesman says a passenger left the ship this week in Marsala , Sicily , for health issues but not due to the coronavirus .
French authorities had rebuffed a request by Costa for permission to disembark several hundred passengers from France and nearby countries at Marseille ’ s port .
The ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic erupted , has 1,814 guests and 898 crew members .
ACCRA , Ghana — As the coronavirus takes its toll on the poor , some 1,000 people in Ghana ’ s capital are homeless after authorities razed their neighborhood .
The Accra Metropolitan Authority says the destruction of the Old Fadama slum clears the way for dredging of a nearby lagoon to help prevent flooding before the rainy season starts .
Upset residents ask what they can do in a city under lockdown because of the coronavirus , and some members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ callous and insensitive.
” Some residents had tried to leave the city when Ghana ’ s government-imposed coronavirus measures , but security officials forced them to return .
The government has since made some efforts to house them .
JOHANNESBURG — Africa ’ s coronavirus cases have surpassed 20,000 , according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The number of deaths across the continent surpassed 1,000 on Saturday .
Fifty-two of Africa ’ s 54 countries have confirmed cases of the virus , and the World Health Organization has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Africa could be the next hotspot in the pandemic .
Modeling by Imperial College London says under the best-case scenario with “ intense ” social distancing , some 300,000 people in Africa could die this year from COVID-19 .
INDIANAPOLIS — People in a small Indianapolis suburb don ’ t have to worry about paying a bill in April thanks to anonymous donors .
Fortville ’ s nearly 4,000 residents had their water and sewer bills paid for by anonymous businesses .
Residents were informed Friday through a Facebook post , generating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The town has received a gracious donation with the stipulation that it be used to pay for April water/sewer bills .
If you have already paid your April bill , you will see a credit on the May billing , ” the post read .
Fortville town manager Joe Renner says the total donation was more than $ 210,000 .
Renner told The Indianapolis Star it was “ pretty great ” the town had “ such caring people.
” AUSTIN , Texas — A protest is expected at the Texas Capitol , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions to curb the coronavirus pandemic will begin easing next week .
The protest Saturday in Austin , Texas , is the latest in demonstrations across the country that have been organized by small-government groups and supporters of President Donald Trump .
The Texas protest is organized by Owen Shroyer , a host of Infowars , which is a part of a company owned by conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones .
He also broadcast a small protest this week outside the governor ’ s mansion in Texas .
Abbott announced Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on retailers next week , plus reopen state parks and allow doctors to resume elective surgeries .
He says more restrictions would be lifted on April 27 .
Texas has more than 17,300 cases and at least 428 related deaths .
Texas ranks last in the U.S. in testing per capita , according to an analysis by The Associated Press of data collected by The COVID Tracking Project .
LONDON — British authorities reported 888 more coronavirus-related hospital deaths on Saturday , bringing the total to 15,464 .
The latest daily figure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous day ’ s 847 deaths .
BARCELONA — Spaniards are still grieving lost loved ones with shocking frequency and under restrictions that limit burials to three attendees .
“ The data shows that the disease is decreasing in the population , but we still have a significant number of deaths .
So this is not over yet , ” says Spanish health official Fernando Simón .
Early Saturday at a Barcelona cemetery , the silence was broken by three nuns singing hymns as the coffin of sister Inmaculada Louzán was placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The sister of Nazareth died at 80 of coronavirus-related complications after caring for members of the congregation at a nursing home , where she contracted the virus .
Spain has reached 20,000 deaths and more than 190,000 total infections .
Spain ’ s health authorities reported 565 deaths in the last 24 hours .
LONDON — Britain ’ s Queen Elizabeth doesn ’ t want a gun salute for her birthday because she doesn ’ t think it ’ s appropriate during the coronavirus pandemic .
The British monarch , who turns 94 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mark the occasion in any special way , including the artillery salute she traditionally gets on her birthday .
“ Her Majesty was keen that no special measures were put in place to allow gun salutes as she did not feel it appropriate in the current circumstances , ” Buckingham Palace said .
She ’ ll also be keeping private any phone and video calls with her family .
The queen has previously stressed the importance of lockdown measures , saying in her Easter message that “ by keeping apart we keep others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is dismantling a field hospital set up to relieve the pressure on overwhelmed medical centers .
The dismantling of the makeshift hospital in the eastern city of Mulhouse began Friday as the virus has receded in the region , a military official told The Associated Press .
The field hospital held 30 beds and treated dozens of patients that couldn ’ t fit in Mulhouse hospitals .
Hospitals in nearby Germany , Switzerland and Luxembourg also took in French patients from the area .
Lawmaker Olivier Bech told local broadcaster France Bleu Alsace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s beds are now empty .
France has more than 18,000 confirmed deaths from the virus .
ATHENS , Greece — As Orthodox Easter approaches , the Greek government is concerned about keeping the faithful from flouting quarantine measures .
Authorities are worried people will show up at churches on Saturday night to celebrate at the stroke of midnight .
They also will fine those leaving their homes to celebrate Easter Sunday in the countryside .
The government decided not to distribute the Holy Light to churches across the country , as is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eve of Easter every year from Jerusalem , having been lit there at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre .
ANGON , Myanmar — Authorities in Myanmar ’ s biggest city have ordered a six-hour curfew in a bid to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus .
The Yangon Region Government announced the 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew will start Saturday night .
Myanmar ’ s eastern neighbor , Thailand , has a curfew covering the same hours .
Several of the city ’ s neighborhoods were put under lockdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home except for essential workers , and only one person per household allowed to buy necessary supplies .
Myanmar announced Thursday a ban on gatherings of more than five people .
Public health authorities confirmed Saturday six new COVID-19 cases , bringing the total to 94 and five deaths .
Myanmar was among the last countries in Southeast Asia to confirm any COVID-19 cases , likely because of lack of testing .
The public health infrastructure is considered one of the weakest in Asia .
MADRID — Spain has reached 20,000 deaths for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to more than 190,000 .
Spain ’ s health authorities reported 565 deaths in the last 24 hours .
Only the United States and Italy have more deaths .
New infections rose by nearly 4,500 .
More than 74,000 people in Spain have recovered .
This week , health authorities said there were discrepancies in the statistics of virus deaths and infections reported by regional administrations .
The central government has ordered regions to give more precise data and use the same parameters .
As the outbreak ’ s spread slows , pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed one part of a huge field hospital with thousands of beds set up by the military in a convention center in Madrid .
But strict confinement rules are expected to be extended beyond April 26 .
ROME — Italy ’ s commissioner for the coronavirus is cautioning against pitting health concerns versus economic worries when deciding to ease lockdown rules .
Domenico Arcuri says , “ without health , the ( economic ) revival will disappear in the batting of an eyelash.
” Health experts say easing must be gradual .
Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Europe , and more than 172,000 known cases .
To put the COVID-19 pandemic in perspective , Arcuri noted during World War II in Milan , bombings killed some 2,000 civilians .
In Lombardy , which has the largest share of Italy ’ s COVID-19 cases and is a leader of the country ’ s industrial production , more than 11,851 people have died .
“ That ’ s five times as many in only two months , ” says Arcuri .
Authorities in Lombardy and other northern regions , but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressing the central government to quickly ease restrictions on factories and many other businesses .
The government decree that shut down nonessential industries and businesses runs through May 3 .
PARIS — France ’ s lower house of parliament approved an emergency budget overnight that takes into account the government ’ s 110 billion euro ( $ 120 billion ) plan to save the economy from virus-related collapse .
The budget includes bonuses for medical staff , funds to help struggling workers and families , and aid to businesses including strategic industries like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes to the Senate on Tuesday .
The government has warned that France ’ s economy , one of the world ’ s biggest , could shrink 8 % this year and see its worst recession since World War II .
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

By The Associated Press
The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
TOP OF THE HOUR:
— Japan surpasses 10,000 domestic cases.
— California is on its way to acquiring 15,000 hotel rooms to house the homeless during the pandemic
— US, Canada to keep border closed 30 more days.
— Africa surpasses 20,000 cases, more than 1,000 deaths.
TOKYO — Japanese health ministry said Sunday that 568 new cases of the coronavirus were reported the day before, bringing a domestic total to 10,361. A combined total including 712 others from a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo earlier this year came to 11,073, with 174 deaths.
The number of cases is still relatively small compared to the U.S. and Europe, but that’s only as many as Japan’s limited testing has detected and actual infections are believed to be far more widespread.
Japan has finally started setting up additional testing centers in Tokyo and elsewhere, allowing primary care doctors to send suspected patients directly to testing stations rather than having them go through public health centers to screen eligibility, an earlier requirement that had prevented and delayed testing and treatment of many people.
Experts have noted that their strategy of going after clusters to trace infections is no longer effective to keep up with the surging cases and more tests are needed.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday expanded a state of emergency, which was limited to Tokyo and six other urban areas, to all of Japan, in a bid to prevent further spread of the virus nationwide amid concerns that hospitals are already overburdened with influx of patients.
It took two months for the cases to reach 1,000 since the first case was detected in mid-January, but the spread of the infections has accelerated in recent weeks and the number doubled from around 5,000 in just 10 days.
___
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported eight more cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, the first time for a daily jump in the country to drop to a single digit in about two months.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the additional figures released Sunday took the country’s total to 10,661 with 234 deaths.
It says 8,042 of the total have been recovered and released from quarantine and that 12,243 others were under tests to determine whether they contracted the virus.
South Korea’s caseload has been waning in recent weeks since it recorded hundreds of new cases every day between late February and early March, mostly in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby areas.
Despite the recent downward trend, South Korean officials have warned about the possibility of a broader “quiet spread” with people easing up on social distancing.
___
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina retail stores and public beach access points that had been closed to halt the spread of the coronavirus will be allowed to reopen next week, The Post and Courier reported Saturday.
Gov. Henry McMaster will issue orders Monday to allow for the reopenings to take place on Tuesday, the governor’s chief of staff, Trey Walker, told the newspaper.
The order will apply to numerous nonessential stores, including department stores, flea markets, florists, bookstores and music shops. Grocery stores, pharmacies, home improvement stores and medical facilities have been allowed to stay open during the pandemic.
Occupancy in each store will be limited to five customers per 1,000 square feet of retail space or 20% occupancy, whichever is less, the newspaper said.
Local governments will still be allowed to make their own rules about waterway access.
The governor’s stay-at-home order will remain in place, as will the ban on eating inside restaurants, Walker said.
___
RIO DE JANEIRO — Hundreds of people denouncing pandemic lockdown measures opposed by President Jair Bolsonaro snarled traffic in major Brazilian cities on Saturday.
Protesters in trucks, cars and on motorcycles honked horns on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and the capital of Brasilia, calling for governors to resign over measures that have forced most businesses to close for weeks.
Bolsonaro has been a fierce critic of the states’ stay-at-home measures, arguing that the economic harm could be more damaging than the illness. The protests took place a day after Bolsonaro fired his health minister, who had been promoting isolation measures.
In Rio de Janeiro, about 100 vehicles took part in the gridlock and temporarily shut down Copacabana Beach.
In Brasilia, Bolsonaro reiterated his intention to start reopening the economy.
___
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation is ordering all people on the tribe’s sprawling reservation to wear protective masks when out in public to help fight the spread of the coronavirus.
Tribal officials announced Friday night that the Navajo Department of Health issued an emergency health order for the reservation, which includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
The Navajo Nation has been hit harder by the coronavirus than any other Native American tribe.
The tribe and the Navajo Area Indian Health Service said the number of positive coronavirus tests reached 1,127 as of Friday with 44 deaths attributed to COVID-19.
___
SAN FRANCISCO — California is on its way to acquiring 15,000 hotel rooms to house the homeless during the pandemic, said Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday as he reminded people to stay indoors while outbreaks continue to crop up throughout the state.
Standing in front of a Motel 6 outside the city of San Jose, Newsom said more than 4,000 people have been moved out of shelters and off the streets and into motel rooms. He took the opportunity to scold leaders of unnamed cities for blocking efforts to house the homeless, asking them to “please consider the morality” of their decisions.
His announcement came a day after the state reported another 87 deaths from the coronavirus. Meanwhile, California’s death toll from the virus rose above 1,050 on Saturday, according to a tally by John Hopkins University.
___
INDIANAPOLIS — More than 200 people upset over restrictions on Indiana residents because of the coronavirus protested outside the state mansion of Gov. Eric Holcomb, urging him to back off and restart the economy.
Holcomb, a Republican, said a stay-at-home order that expires Monday will be extended to May 1 while he works on a plan to reopen businesses.
In Austin, Texas, a few hundred people rallied at the state Capitol in another protest over stay-at-home orders. The demonstration came a day after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced that next week Texas will begin reopening state parks and letting retailers sell items curbside.
Abbott says more restrictions will be lifted before the end of April.
___
TIRANA, Albania — About 2,400 Kosovo citizens stranded abroad due to the new coronavirus will begin returning home.
A Foreign Ministry statement Saturday said the first two flights from Switzerland and Turkey would be next week.
Kosovo has been in a total lockdown for more than a month. The Kosovar Foreign Ministry selected the first 600 people based on criteria set by the Health Ministry. More citizens will be allowed to return once quarantines are lifted.
___
ATHENS, Greece — There have been two new fatalities from COVID-19 in Greece since Friday, raising the total to 110.
The country’s health ministry also announced Saturday the number of confirmed cases rose by 11, to 2,235. There are 68 people hooked to ventilators in intensive care units, down from 71 on Friday, and 39 patients have exited ICUs.
The average age of the victims is 74, the ministry said.
___
MADRID — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the government will seek to extend the country’s state of emergency by two weeks to fight the new coronavirus outbreak but will start easing the total confinement of children.
Spain imposed one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe in mid-March that brought economic activity to a near standstill. The government, which has been under pressure from regional governments, parents and some educators to ease the lockdown for children, will begin to do so in nine days.
Sánchez said Saturday that children will be allowed “to get out of their houses for a period on a daily basis” but the specifics need to be ironed out with experts. He says rolling back the national lockdown will only come when the country’s embattled health system is ready for possible rebounds. The state of emergency extension until May 9 needs to be approved by parliament.
___
PARIS — France’s national health agency says the number of virus patients in intensive care dropped for the 10th straight day, while the number of overall virus hospitalizations has fallen for three consecutive days.
Health officials say confinement is “stopping the viral spread.”
The total number of deaths in France from COVID-19 reached 19,323, and nursing home deaths amount to more than one third of the total.
___
DETROIT — A Michigan prisoner who declined to be paroled earlier this year after decades behind bars has died from COVID-19 complications.
William Garrison died at a hospital after nearly 44 years in prison. The coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 500 inmates in Michigan prisons and killed 17.
The 60-year-old Garrison was sentenced to life in prison for killing a man during a 1976 robbery when Garrison was 16 years old. He could have been paroled two weeks ago but decided to wait until September, when he would be eligible for a complete release without the rigors of parole supervision, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The parole board approved his application in March.
___
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


mercurynews--2020-04-18--US factories in Mexico are still open. As the coronavirus spreads, workers are dying

Throughout March , even as business and manufacturing slowed to a halt across much of the world in an effort to contain the new coronavirus , work in foreign-owned factories in northern Mexico carried on as usual .
Hundreds of thousands of workers continued to toil side by side in Juarez , Tijuana and other border cities , churning out electronics , medical equipment and auto parts .
Meanwhile , the virus was spreading .
At a plant owned by Michigan-based Lear Corp. that makes textiles for automobile seats , workers began turning up at the on-site infirmary about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nurses diagnosed them as having allergies or colds , gave them painkillers and told them to get back to work , according to two employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give interviews .
By late March , it became clear that the Juarez factory was the center of a major COVID-19 outbreak .
A total of 13 employees at the factory have died from the disease , according to Mexican health officials .
Among them was 42-year-old Rigoberto Tafoya Maqueda , who had moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a child and had worked for 20 years at the plant .
“ They didn ’ t give him anything , not even antibacterial gel , ” said his niece , Susana García Tafoya .
“ They told him that he was fine … so he kept working.
” Maquiladoras , as the thousands of foreign-owned factories in northern Mexico are known , are not accustomed to extended work stoppages .
The factories , which avoid most tariffs because their finished products are for export only , have boomed since the 1994 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of thousands of workers to rapidly industrializing border cities for jobs that typically pay many times less than similar positions in the United States .
The pandemic has fed off the drive to keep factories running .
Mexico ’ s undersecretary of health , Hugo López-Gatell , warned this week that the devastation from the virus may be acute in the northern border states in part because some factories “ have continued to operate ” despite new social distancing guidelines that call for nonessential businesses to suspend work .
Lear shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while also stopping production at 41 other facilities it operates across Mexico .
A statement from the company expressed regret over the deaths of “ several ” employees but did not address whether protective measures such as the distribution of masks had been implemented or whether sick workers had been sent back to the factory floor .
Dozens of other factories along the border continue to operate — in direct violation of federal orders .
In Juarez , at least 28 factories remain open even though they do not provide essential services , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Herrera Laso .
She said 64 factories have closed , and 33 that are considered essential are operating as usual .
In the state of Baja California , home to the twin industrial cities of Tijuana and Mexicali , state labor officials have been investigating noncompliant factories daily .
State Labor Secretary Moctezuma Martinez said that this week investigators closed a U.S.-owned factory that had been operating illegally and which had chains on its doors to prevent its roughly 800 workers from leaving .
The company , Eaton Corp. ’ s Houston-based Cooper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .
Baja California is home to a large number of factories that produce medical supplies — a business deemed essential by Mexican authorities .
Several major suppliers in Tijuana have helped make Mexico the top source of medical equipment to the United States .
State authorities have grown increasingly frustrated with those companies , which are selling their products to the United States even as Mexico ’ s public hospitals face a major shortage of surgical masks , gloves and other protective gear .
Baja California Gov .
Jaime Bonilla warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropping like flies ” and threatened to shut down a Smiths Medical Inc. factory making ventilator parts unless it figured out how to bypass free trade rules and supply local clinics .
The company agreed and says it is in talks with officials in both countries to amend regulations .
Bonilla , who belongs to the leftist Morena party founded by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador , has been an outspoken critic of factory conditions “ The employers don ’ t want to stop earning money , ” he said at a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking to sacrifice their employees .
… This is the reality.
” Calling on factories to improve sanitation and social distancing measures , he said : “ We want them to continue working , but we don ’ t want them to sacrifice the health or the lives of their workers.
” For those plants along the border that have closed in recent weeks , the government ’ s instructions haven ’ t been the only factor .
The sinking world economy has dramatically lowered demand for manufactured goods .
In some places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precautions against the virus has sparked protests from workers demanding that they be sent home or better safety measures put in place .
Videos have circulated on social media showing angry workers walking off the job and yelling at managers for not providing protection .
Trade groups that represent factory owners say a majority of companies are responding responsibly to new social distancing guidelines and that most workers who have been sent home because factories have closed are receiving partial pay .
Mexico has 6,875 confirmed coronavirus cases and 546 deaths , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The real numbers are almost certainly much higher , because Mexico has conducted fewer than 50,000 tests , compared with 3.2 million in the U.S. Top health officials have acknowledged there may be over 56,000 infections .
Here and across the globe , governments and businesses are weighing the economic costs of shutting down life as usual against the risk of the coronavirus spreading .
That question is particularly consequential in Mexico , where the economy was suffering even before the coronavirus hit .
Alfredo Coutiño , Latin America director for Moody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy will contract 6.5 % in 2020 and the country will enter into a recession “ deeper than that during the 2009 financial crisis.
” Driving the downturn are losses in remittances , a decline in tourism , and — significantly for a country whose economy relies on exports for nearly a fifth of its gross domestic product — a major contraction of the export market .
Nearly one in five Mexican taxpayers is employed in the maquiladora industry , and cities such as Juarez and Tijuana depend almost entirely on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Whirlpool washing machines to Bombardier jets There are growing concerns that some factories that are closed now might never reopen .
Some worry that widespread unemployment could lead to more crime in border cities that have long struggled with violence .
Killings soared in Juarez after nearly one-third of factory jobs were eliminated during the 2008 global recession .
Jesús Manuel Salayandía , a factory owner who is the director of a trade group called Canacintra Juarez , said his business is operating at partial capacity because only some of what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as modifications to production lines to put more space in between workers , have cost him , he said .
He hopes to still be in business after the pandemic has passed , but said that ’ s not guaranteed .
• As coronavirus restriction protests occur across US , Cuomo urges unity • Coronavirus : California secures over 15,000 hotel rooms for homeless , but is slower to fill them “ What will happen if all these factories close ?
” he said .
“ It could get very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eat.
” Times staff writer Linthicum reported from Mexico City , staff writer Fry from Tijuana and special correspondent Minjares from Juarez .

Kate Linthicum, Wendy Fry and Gabriela Minjares | Los Angeles Times
Throughout March, even as business and manufacturing slowed to a halt across much of the world in an effort to contain the new coronavirus, work in foreign-owned factories in northern Mexico carried on as usual.
Hundreds of thousands of workers continued to toil side by side in Juarez, Tijuana and other border cities, churning out electronics, medical equipment and auto parts.
Meanwhile, the virus was spreading.
At a plant owned by Michigan-based Lear Corp. that makes textiles for automobile seats, workers began turning up at the on-site infirmary about a month ago with fevers and coughs.
Nurses diagnosed them as having allergies or colds, gave them painkillers and told them to get back to work, according to two employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give interviews.
By late March, it became clear that the Juarez factory was the center of a major COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 13 employees at the factory have died from the disease, according to Mexican health officials.
Among them was 42-year-old Rigoberto Tafoya Maqueda, who had moved to Juarez from the mountains of central Mexico as a child and had worked for 20 years at the plant.
“They didn’t give him anything, not even antibacterial gel,” said his niece, Susana García Tafoya. “They told him that he was fine … so he kept working.”
Maquiladoras, as the thousands of foreign-owned factories in northern Mexico are known, are not accustomed to extended work stoppages.
The factories, which avoid most tariffs because their finished products are for export only, have boomed since the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, drawing hundreds of thousands of workers to rapidly industrializing border cities for jobs that typically pay many times less than similar positions in the United States.
The pandemic has fed off the drive to keep factories running.
Mexico’s undersecretary of health, Hugo López-Gatell, warned this week that the devastation from the virus may be acute in the northern border states in part because some factories “have continued to operate” despite new social distancing guidelines that call for nonessential businesses to suspend work.
Lear shut down the Juarez factory on April 1, while also stopping production at 41 other facilities it operates across Mexico.
A statement from the company expressed regret over the deaths of “several” employees but did not address whether protective measures such as the distribution of masks had been implemented or whether sick workers had been sent back to the factory floor.
Dozens of other factories along the border continue to operate — in direct violation of federal orders.
In Juarez, at least 28 factories remain open even though they do not provide essential services, said Chihuahua state Labor Secretary Ana Luis Herrera Laso.
She said 64 factories have closed, and 33 that are considered essential are operating as usual.
In the state of Baja California, home to the twin industrial cities of Tijuana and Mexicali, state labor officials have been investigating noncompliant factories daily.
State Labor Secretary Moctezuma Martinez said that this week investigators closed a U.S.-owned factory that had been operating illegally and which had chains on its doors to prevent its roughly 800 workers from leaving.
The company, Eaton Corp.’s Houston-based Cooper Lighting, did not respond to requests for comment.
Baja California is home to a large number of factories that produce medical supplies — a business deemed essential by Mexican authorities. Several major suppliers in Tijuana have helped make Mexico the top source of medical equipment to the United States.
State authorities have grown increasingly frustrated with those companies, which are selling their products to the United States even as Mexico’s public hospitals face a major shortage of surgical masks, gloves and other protective gear.
Baja California Gov. Jaime Bonilla warned last week that local doctors are “dropping like flies” and threatened to shut down a Smiths Medical Inc. factory making ventilator parts unless it figured out how to bypass free trade rules and supply local clinics.
The company agreed and says it is in talks with officials in both countries to amend regulations.
Bonilla, who belongs to the leftist Morena party founded by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has been an outspoken critic of factory conditions
“The employers don’t want to stop earning money,” he said at a news conference Friday. “They are basically looking to sacrifice their employees. … This is the reality.”
Calling on factories to improve sanitation and social distancing measures, he said: “We want them to continue working, but we don’t want them to sacrifice the health or the lives of their workers.”
For those plants along the border that have closed in recent weeks, the government’s instructions haven’t been the only factor. The sinking world economy has dramatically lowered demand for manufactured goods.
In some places, the failure of factories to take precautions against the virus has sparked protests from workers demanding that they be sent home or better safety measures put in place. Videos have circulated on social media showing angry workers walking off the job and yelling at managers for not providing protection.
Trade groups that represent factory owners say a majority of companies are responding responsibly to new social distancing guidelines and that most workers who have been sent home because factories have closed are receiving partial pay.
Mexico has 6,875 confirmed coronavirus cases and 546 deaths, including 84 in states along the northern border.
The real numbers are almost certainly much higher, because Mexico has conducted fewer than 50,000 tests, compared with 3.2 million in the U.S. Top health officials have acknowledged there may be over 56,000 infections.
Here and across the globe, governments and businesses are weighing the economic costs of shutting down life as usual against the risk of the coronavirus spreading.
That question is particularly consequential in Mexico, where the economy was suffering even before the coronavirus hit.
Alfredo Coutiño, Latin America director for Moody’s Analytics, predicts that Mexico’s economy will contract 6.5% in 2020 and the country will enter into a recession “deeper than that during the 2009 financial crisis.”
Driving the downturn are losses in remittances, a decline in tourism, and — significantly for a country whose economy relies on exports for nearly a fifth of its gross domestic product — a major contraction of the export market.
Nearly one in five Mexican taxpayers is employed in the maquiladora industry, and cities such as Juarez and Tijuana depend almost entirely on factory jobs, where workers build everything from Whirlpool washing machines to Bombardier jets
There are growing concerns that some factories that are closed now might never reopen. Some worry that widespread unemployment could lead to more crime in border cities that have long struggled with violence. Killings soared in Juarez after nearly one-third of factory jobs were eliminated during the 2008 global recession.
Jesús Manuel Salayandía, a factory owner who is the director of a trade group called Canacintra Juarez, said his business is operating at partial capacity because only some of what he produces is considered essential.
Those changes, as well as modifications to production lines to put more space in between workers, have cost him, he said. He hopes to still be in business after the pandemic has passed, but said that’s not guaranteed.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge “What will happen if all these factories close?” he said. “It could get very dark very quickly. People have to eat.”
Times staff writer Linthicum reported from Mexico City, staff writer Fry from Tijuana and special correspondent Minjares from Juarez.
©2020 the Los Angeles Times
Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-04-18--As coronavirus restriction protests occur across US, Cuomo urges unity

As growing numbers of protesters challenge coronavirus restrictions across the nation , New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo issued an impassioned plea Saturday for the nation to remain united as it fights the pandemic .
“ The emotion in this country is as high as I can recall , people are frustrated , we ’ re anxious , we ’ re scared , we ’ re angry , ” Cuomo said during his daily briefing , emphasizing that the crisis is mentally and economically devastating .
“ Look , if you have partisan divisions splitting this nation now , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
… This is no time and no place for division .
We have our hands full as it is .
Let ’ s just stay together , and let ’ s work it through.
” Cuomo spoke before scheduled protests began in Texas , Maryland , Indiana and Wisconsin against ongoing stay-at-home restrictions enacted to fight the spread of the coronavirus .
Several such demonstrations have already taken place across the country this week , including in California , Michigan , Ohio and New Jersey .
On Saturday in downtown Annapolis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in circles and honked during a lunchtime protest .
One woman waved a sign out her window that said , “ I want to save my business !
!
!
I need to work !
” Another man scrawled on his pickup truck , “ The face mask you were duped into wearing symbolizes you loosing your freedom of speech.
” Outside the Texas statehouse in Austin , protesters chanted , “ Fire Fauci !
” referring to Dr. Anthony Fauci , the top U.S. infectious disease expert who is widely credited with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus pandemic .
Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones made an appearance .
The protests come at a time when governors are weighing measures for reopening their economies without easing restrictions so quickly that they risk a new surge of infections , and without adequate testing capability .
On Friday , Florida allowed some beaches to reopen — resulting in throngs crowding Jacksonville shorelines not wearing masks or practicing social distancing .
Texas announced plans to ease some restrictions starting next week .
Trump , after claiming sole authority over such matters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was leaving such decisions up to the states , seemed to encourage protests Friday when he took to Twitter and wrote “ LIBERATE ” three states led by Democratic governors .
Protests have already taken place in the states — Michigan , Minnesota and Virginia — and Trump later defended the protesters .
“ These are people expressing their views … they seem to be very responsible people to me , ” Trump said during his evening White House briefing Friday when asked whether he was worried that the gatherings could further spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicate that the protesters do not reflect most Americans ’ views .
A Pew poll released Thursday found that 66 % of Americans were concerned about lifting restrictions too quickly ; 32 % were concerned that they were not being lifted quickly enough .
And some officials were increasing or extending restrictions Saturday .
Hawaii ’ s governor ordered all the state ’ s beaches closed except for swimming and other socially distanced water activities .
The United States and Canada also agreed to extend the closure of their shared border for 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from COVID-19 in the United States , with more than a third of the victims in New York state .
Cuomo reported 540 new deaths Saturday morning , the lowest toll in several days .
He also said that hospitalizations and intubations had declined .
But he warned than 2,000 new cases are still being diagnosed or resulting in hospitalization daily , and that his state lacks the ability to do the type of widespread testing and tracking necessary for its economy to fully reopen .
Cuomo repeated his plea for aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lace into Trump as he did the previous day .
• US factories in Mexico are still open .
As the coronavirus spreads , workers are dying • Coronavirus : California secures over 15,000 hotel rooms for homeless , but is slower to fill them “ Nobody wants to reopen more than me .
Nobody wants to get the economy going more than me .
Nobody wants to get on with life more than me , ” he said Saturday .
“ The tension on reopening is how fast can you reopen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection rate so you go right back to where we were .
”

By Seema Mehta | Los Angeles Times
As growing numbers of protesters challenge coronavirus restrictions across the nation, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an impassioned plea Saturday for the nation to remain united as it fights the pandemic.
“The emotion in this country is as high as I can recall, people are frustrated, we’re anxious, we’re scared, we’re angry,” Cuomo said during his daily briefing, emphasizing that the crisis is mentally and economically devastating. “Look, if you have partisan divisions splitting this nation now, it’s going to make it worse. … This is no time and no place for division. We have our hands full as it is. Let’s just stay together, and let’s work it through.”
Cuomo spoke before scheduled protests began in Texas, Maryland, Indiana and Wisconsin against ongoing stay-at-home restrictions enacted to fight the spread of the coronavirus. Several such demonstrations have already taken place across the country this week, including in California, Michigan, Ohio and New Jersey.
On Saturday in downtown Annapolis, Md., dozens in their vehicles drove in circles and honked during a lunchtime protest. One woman waved a sign out her window that said, “I want to save my business!!! I need to work!” Another man scrawled on his pickup truck, “The face mask you were duped into wearing symbolizes you loosing your freedom of speech.”
Outside the Texas statehouse in Austin, protesters chanted, “Fire Fauci!” referring to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert who is widely credited with influencing President Donald Trump’s approach to the coronavirus pandemic. Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones made an appearance.
[vemba-video id=”van/ns-acc/2020/04/18/NE-007SA_CNNA-ST1-1000000005bfbb9b”]
The protests come at a time when governors are weighing measures for reopening their economies without easing restrictions so quickly that they risk a new surge of infections, and without adequate testing capability. On Friday, Florida allowed some beaches to reopen — resulting in throngs crowding Jacksonville shorelines not wearing masks or practicing social distancing. Texas announced plans to ease some restrictions starting next week.
Trump, after claiming sole authority over such matters and later reversing course and saying he was leaving such decisions up to the states, seemed to encourage protests Friday when he took to Twitter and wrote “LIBERATE” three states led by Democratic governors. Protests have already taken place in the states — Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia — and Trump later defended the protesters.
“These are people expressing their views … they seem to be very responsible people to me,” Trump said during his evening White House briefing Friday when asked whether he was worried that the gatherings could further spread the sometimes deadly virus.
National polls indicate that the protesters do not reflect most Americans’ views. A Pew poll released Thursday found that 66% of Americans were concerned about lifting restrictions too quickly; 32% were concerned that they were not being lifted quickly enough. And some officials were increasing or extending restrictions Saturday. Hawaii’s governor ordered all the state’s beaches closed except for swimming and other socially distanced water activities. The United States and Canada also agreed to extend the closure of their shared border for 30 days.
More than 37,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States, with more than a third of the victims in New York state.
Cuomo reported 540 new deaths Saturday morning, the lowest toll in several days. He also said that hospitalizations and intubations had declined. But he warned than 2,000 new cases are still being diagnosed or resulting in hospitalization daily, and that his state lacks the ability to do the type of widespread testing and tracking necessary for its economy to fully reopen. Cuomo repeated his plea for aid from the federal government but did not lace into Trump as he did the previous day.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge “Nobody wants to reopen more than me. Nobody wants to get the economy going more than me. Nobody wants to get on with life more than me,” he said Saturday. “The tension on reopening is how fast can you reopen and what can you reopen without raising that infection rate so you go right back to where we were.”
©2020 Los Angeles Times
Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.