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a30 feature
Monday 25 May 2020
Holiday amid pandemic: Americans divided on how to respond

By DAVID CRARY, AMY try to contain infections at
FORLITI and GEIR MOULSON a time usually marked by
Associated Press multigenerational feasting
NEW YORK (AP) — President and collective prayer.
Donald Trump played golf In Germany, which has
at one of his courses Sat- drawn praise for its han-
urday during the Memorial dling of the virus, seven
Day weekend as he urged people appear to have
U.S. states to reopen after been infected at a restau-
coronavirus-related lock- rant in the northwest of the
downs. Yet many Ameri- country. It would be the first
cans remained cautious as such known case since res-
the number of confirmed taurants started reopening
cases nationwide passed two weeks ago.
1.6 million. And in Frankfurt, more than
In California, where many 40 people tested positive
businesses and recreational after a church service of
activities are reopening, of- the Evangelical Christian
ficials in Los Angeles Coun- Baptist congregation May
ty said they would maintain 10. A church leader said
tight restrictions until July 4. the congregation has can-
Some religious leaders took celed gatherings and is
issue with Trump’s declara- now holding services on-
tion that houses of worship line. Authorities in nearby
are “essential” and should Cocoa Beach, Fla., is packed with Memorial Day beachgoers on Saturday, May 23, 2020. Hanau called off Muslim
Associated Press.
resume in-person services prayers planned for a sta-
this weekend. northeastern U.S., where cially in the French Quarter, “It was a lot of fun,” Young dium Sunday as a pre-
“Being at the epicenter of newly reopened beaches which relies largely on tour- said. “Finally going, having caution. Religious events
this pandemic and in or- were expected to attract ist dollars. some feeling of normalcy. helped spread the virus
At least a few out-of-town- ... We had a very enjoyable early in the pandemic; re-
ers trickled in. Greer Falls morning.” Overseas, there suming such gatherings is
of Augusta, Georgia, wore was mixed news. New an especially thorny issue.
a mask as he entered the coronavirus cases reported Mindful of evangelical
Royal House restaurant for in China were zero Satur- Christians who are key to
lunch. After weeks at home, day for the first time since his base ahead of Novem-
he said he was ready the outbreak began but ber’s election, Trump on Fri-
for a change of scenery surged in India and over- day called houses of wor-
and didn’t want to miss a whelmed hospitals across ship “essential” and urged
birthday celebration with Latin America. governors to let them re-
friends he’s known for de- Many governments are open this weekend. How-
cades. Some amusement easing restrictions as they ever, leaders of many de-
parks, such as Mt. Olym- face a political backlash nominations said they plan
pus in the Wisconsin Dells and historic economic to move gradually and
and Lagoon amusement recessions. In just a few cautiously.
Hazel Roberts walks in a field of flags ahead of Memorial Day, park in Farmington, Utah, months, the pandemic In Minnesota, Gov. Tim
Saturday, May 23, 2020, in Cohasset, Mass. opened for the first time has killed at least 340,000 Walz said he is scrapping a
Associated Press in months. The Facebook people worldwide and in- 10-person limit on gather-
sites for both parks were fected about 5.3 million, ings and letting houses of
der to protect our flock, we throngs of people and test flooded with comments according to a tally kept worship open at 25% occu-
advise that congregations the effectiveness of social from visitors excited to ride by Johns Hopkins University. pancy if safety guidelines
remain closed until more distancing rules. At Orchard go-karts or roller coasters, As the United States closed are met.
accurate and uniform in- Beach in the Bronx, which though some complained in on 100,000 confirmed Archbishop Bernard Heb-
formation is provided,” said was crowded a weekend about Lagoon’s policy of COVID-19 deaths, the New da of the Roman Catholic
Bishop Paul Egensteiner, earlier, parking lots were requiring masks. York Times devoted Sun- Archdiocese of St. Paul and
who oversees the Evan- mostly empty except for Andrew Young, 29, said La- day’s entire, photo-less Minneapolis welcomed the
gelical Lutheran Church in large puddles. goon has been a lifelong front page to a list of nearly change but said priests
America’s congregations To the south, Trump played summer staple and when 1,000 names of pandemic should not reopen their
in the hard-hit New York golf at one of his private he learned the park would victims with a few words in churches if they can’t com-
City region. clubs for the first time dur- be open Saturday, he memorial for each, culled ply with safety measures.
Statewide, New York re- ing the pandemic — the went online immediately from obituaries published France allowed in-person
ported its lowest number of Trump National Golf Club to make a reservation for around the country. “Con- services to resume Satur-
daily coronavirus deaths — in Virginia. He has been himself, his wife and 2-year- tinued on Page 12,” it read day after a legal challenge
84 — in many weeks in what pushing for state and local old daughter. Because a at bottom right. to a ban on gatherings in
Gov. Andrew Cuomo de- leaders to fully reopen af- limited number of people Turkey, which has record- places of worship.
scribed as a critical bench- ter months of closures and were allowed entry, they ed over 155,000 infections, One of the world’s major
mark. The daily death tally tight restrictions. found short lines and there imposed its toughest lock- pilgrimage sites is reopen-
peaked at 799 on April 8. Parts of New Orleans stirred always seemed to be just down measures yet for the ing Sunday: the Church of
“For me, it’s a sign that to back life, with some res- one other family on each Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the Holy Sepulcher in Je-
we’re making real prog- taurants and businesses ride. There were also sani- the end of Ramadan. Ye- rusalem, built on the site
ress,” Cuomo said. opening for the first time tation stations and other men’s Houthi rebels urged where Christians believe
Rain dampened the start of in over two months. Some measures to keep people believers to use masks and Jesus was crucified, buried
the holiday weekend in the remained closed, espe- distanced and feeling safe. stay inside, as authorities and resurrected. q