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A28 u.s. news
Diaranson 16 Juni 2021

California fully reopens after being 1st to shut in pandemic

(AP) — California, the events they once packed or Many question if the honor
first state in America to that businesses will opt to re- system will work, including
put in place a coronavirus turn to full capacity immedi- the California Nurses Asso-
lockdown, has turned a ately. But a palpable feeling of ciation, which said the new
page on the pandemic. anticipation has replaced the rules essentially call on busi-
anxiety, frustration and sad- nesses and essential workers
The nation’s most populated ness that ushered in summer to be the vaccination police.
state lifted most of its restric- 2020.
tions Tuesday, meaning no “This is not a sound public
more state rules on social dis- For Angie Barragan, who health strategy,” said Sandy
tancing or capacity limits at was born in Los Angeles and Rending, a president of the
restaurants, bars, supermar- visited last week from Las association, which is calling
kets, gyms, stadiums or any- Vegas, so many things that on people to keep masks on
where else. were once normal feel new, indoors and in crowds.
awkward and amazing: stroll-
And masks — one of the ing in public without a mask, For now, masks are still re-
most fraught symbols of the socializing for the first time quired in places like public
pandemic — are no longer in ages. transit, airports, health care
mandated for vaccinated peo- settings and indoor school
ple in most settings, though “It’s kind of learning how to classes.
businesses and counties can be a human again,” she said as
still require them. she shopped and strolled on While applauding the reopen-
LA’s historic Olvera Street, ing, some business owners
Gov. Gavin Newsom cele- and people can largely return tions were imposed again. a restored Mexican mar- said ever-shifting mask rules
brated the milestone by host- to pre-pandemic lifestyles. ketplace once clogged with are confounding.
ing a lottery-style selection of By summer’s end, a darker tourists. “But it’s great to be
10 winners who will get $1.5 Fans can cheer maskless at reality set in as California among people.” “We’re excited — and a lit-
million each simply for being Dodgers and Giants baseball hurtled toward a deadly win- tle confused,” said Tom La
vaccinated. It was the grand games. Disneyland is open- ter surge. Shutdowns, cur- The reopening doesn’t mean Torre, owner of Sabella & La
finale to the nation’s largest ing to all tourists after allow- fews and harrowing images the pandemic is over, New- Torre Restaurant at Fisher-
vaccine incentive — $116 ing just California residents from overwhelmed hospitals som has repeatedly stressed man’s Wharf in San Francis-
million in COVID-19 lottery since April. People can pack became the norm as the state as an explanation for retain- co, a tourist haven that trans-
jackpots and cash card give- indoor bars and nightclubs set records almost daily for ing his statewide emergency formed into a ghost town
aways. from the Sunset Strip in Los infections and deaths. declaration. during the pandemic.
Angeles to the Castro in San
“Finally we are here, June Francisco. More people tested posi- Some public health measures Until now, his restaurant was
15th, to turn the page,” tive for the virus in Califor- will stay for “megaevents.” limited to 50% capacity.
Newsom declared from a Tourism was among the nia (3.8 million and count- People attending indoor con-
stage at Universal Studios hardest hit industries during ing) and more people died certs, sporting events or other “That will be nice to fill the
Hollywood during festivities the pandemic and now wants (63,000 plus) than anywhere large gatherings of more than place up. However, we are
to mark what he called the to make up for lost time. else in the country, although 5,000 people will have to still confused about the mask
“full reopening” of the state’s the nation’s most populous show proof that they are vac- mandate,” La Torre said.
economy. “In terms of our incredible state had a lower per capita cinated or have a recent nega-
cities, our iconic attractions, death rate than most others. tive COVID-19 test. Those It’s also unclear if people will
The Democratic governor the industry is ready to roll going to outdoor events with come.
pointed to the more than 40 out the red carpet to visitors California now has one of the more than 10,000 people are
million doses of vaccine ad- in California, around the na- lowest rates of infection in “strongly encouraged” to do For Rita Torres, a retired
ministered and the resulting tion and even the world,” said the country, below 1%. That the same. university administrator in
plunge in cases as the reason Caroline Beteta, president dramatic drop in infections Oakland, the last 15 months
for the reopening. and CEO of Visit California. combined with an increasing While fully vaccinated people were “mindboggling.” She
number of vaccinated resi- will no longer be required to has missed dancing at live
“Foundationally, that’s why Pandemic highs and lows dents — over 70% of adults wear masks in most places, concerts and hugging her
we’re here today,” Newsom saw California go from be- have had at least one dose — those who are unvaccinated girlfriends at weekly happy
said. ing a success story to the led Newsom to announce in are expected to, but it won’t hours. But for her, the re-
U.S. epicenter of the virus. April that most COVID-19 be enforced. Businesses have opening is just another day.
Just in time for summer, As the first in the country to restrictions would be lifted three choices: operate on an
California wants to send the impose a statewide lockdown June 15. honor system, require cus- “Deep down, I want to re-
message that life is getting in March 2020, California’s tomers to show proof of vac- joice,” Torres said, but she’s
much closer to normal. The businesses were just starting The reopening doesn’t nec- cination or require everyone going to take it slow. “Be-
economy is fully reopen for to reopen last June when cas- essarily mean people will im- to cover their face. cause it’s kind of like, is it too
the first time in 15 months es started rising and restric- mediately flock to places and soon? Will we be sorry?”

Judge dismisses murder charges against Simone Biles’ brother

(AP) — A judge in Ohio Moments after Cuyahoga Defense lawyers had sought Biles-Thomas, a U.S. Army the party in 2018. Nineteen-
has dismissed murder County Common Pleas the judge’s ruling, which also soldier, has maintained his in- year-old DelVaunte Johnson,
charges filed against the Court Judge Joan Synenberg acquitted Biles-Thomas of nocence. His first trial ended 21-year-old Toshaun Banks
brother of Olympic gym- issued her ruling that acquit- voluntary manslaughter and in a mistrial last month after and 23-year-old DeVaughn
nastics champion Simone ted Tevin Biles-Thomas, a felonious assault charges. jurors said they had read legal Gibson were killed.
Biles, ruling Tuesday that woman in the court gallery They said there was no fo- paperwork that inadvertently
prosecutors did not pres- charged at the defendant rensic evidence connecting was included in evidence giv- Simone Biles has said on
ent evidence to sustain a and screamed “You killed their client to the killings and en to them to review. Twitter that she was strug-
conviction in a 2018 New my baby!” Three sheriff’s that no witnesses testified gling with her brother’s ar-
Year’s Eve party shoot- deputies tackled the woman that they saw Biles-Thomas Authorities have said gun- rest and that her heart ached
ing in Cleveland that left before she could reach Biles- shoot. fire broke out when a group for the victims and their fam-
three men dead. Thomas. of men arrived uninvited to ilies.