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U.S. NEWS Saturday 21 March 2020

Parents, police struggle to herd the young in virus outbreak

By LEANNE ITALIE recover.
Associated Press Some teens are skipping
Teen: "I can't stay here over the reality that they're
all day. What about my potential carriers.
friends!?" "They're very much primed
Parent: "Are you kidding? toward reward and primed
This is serious!" toward immediate gratifi-
The adolescent brain is def- cation," Busman said.
initely in play as authorities What's a parent to do?
around the globe struggle Especially those of highly
to keep young people from mobile older teens used to
gathering, while parents far greater freedoms than
fret at home about what virus restrictions allow, in-
they're up to as the coro- cluding college kids whose
navirus spreads. schools have gone to re-
"It's like herding chickens," mote learning or remain on
said Southampton, New spring break.
York, mom Anastasia Ga- "If you start the conversa-
valas, with five of her own tion with, 'You can't do
who range from 13 to 21. that,' you're probably go-
She spoke Tuesday, just two ing to be met with, 'Oh yes
days into school closings I can, I'm an adult' kind of
that could last for weeks. thing,'" Busman said. "The
"They feel well and the first step is validate. Let your
weather has been nice teen know you get it, even
so they think they can go if you don't fully under- Cece Guida, 19, top, of New York City, pushes on Sam Reddick, 20, of Evansville, Ind., as spring
and do anything. If they stand." break revelers look on during a game of chicken fight on the beach, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in
can climb over locked In Europe and elsewhere, Pompano Beach, Fla.
gates and play ball in the authorities have stepped Associated Press
park, they will. If there's in.
one store that's remained Belgian media reported vite a big party at home of "concerning reports" out I'm trying to be as empa-
open, they'll find it and go roughly 300 people at- or other celebrations with of France and Italy that thetic as possible while
in. No matter how much I tended a rave in the Lux- many people," said Lars young people have be- keeping him safe."
ask, they're getting out and embourg Province town Schaade, the deputy head come seriously ill from CO- Schmidt sent him to a store
doing something," Gavalas of Tenneville last Saturday. of Germany's public health VID-19. with a credit card to buy
said. Police and federal agents agency. Some parents are doing an Xbox so at least he can
Impulsiveness, unsound swooped in and broke it Groups of teens have been what they can. play FIFA online.
judgment, egocentricity. up. congregating in cafes else- In Williston, Vermont, Ann In Manhattan, mom Alina
Toddlers or teens? In France, teens who defy where in Europe. Schmidt said her 17-year- Adams is holding her own
Rachel Busman, a child a lockdown on nonessen- Asked about the prob- old son isn't one to sit with her three, ages 13, 16
and adolescent psycholo- tial trips out could cost their lem of roving young peo- around the house. He's a and a 20-year-old home
gist with the Child Mind parents fines of $40 to $150. ple, U.S. President Donald soccer player and skier, since his college closed.
Institute in New York, said All residents must fill out a Trump joined the chorus but his soccer center has "I'm being completely
the still-developing ado- form documenting why Wednesday of those noting shut down along with the hands off because I know
lescent brain can exhibit they've left their homes "they're feeling invincible," slopes. that the minute I suggest
those traits and more, only during the 15-day period. and sternly urged them to "He's been tooling around they do anything, they'll
now teens with thoughts of Hanging out with friends is "heed the advice" to take in his car, visiting friends. It's be instantly against it,"
invincibility can potentially not considered a valid rea- care. very hard," she said. "Taking she said. "My 13-year-old
do real harm to themselves son. His coronavirus coordina- away his physical activity is daughter has been making
and others. Just as spring weather ar- tor, Deborah Birx, warned having a dramatic impact. plenty of TikToks."q
For most people, the coro- rived in Germany, with
navirus causes only mild schools, clubs and concert
or moderate symptoms, halls closed, "corona" par-
such as fever and cough. ties have surfaced despite
For some, especially older restrictions. In addition,
adults and people with police dispersed young
existing health problems, it people from several parks
can cause more severe ill- across Berlin on Tuesday,
ness, including pneumonia. according to local media.
The vast majority of people "It is not reasonable to in-