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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 29 april 2020
In rural U.S., fears of virus seem far away as stores reopen

Continued from Front ces social distancing and problems, it can cause the governor’s announce- tes. “That’s what got us to
“we’re all doing what more severe illness, in- ment Friday loosening the this point, more than the
The consequences of ea- we’re supposed to do.” cluding pneumonia and restrictions. rural nature of our state,”
sing restrictions in rural By contrast, in some rural death. “People are getting into the Democratic governor
communities won’t be fully parts of states where stay- In California, six rural coun- their gardens,” he said. said Monday.
known for some time, and at-home orders remain in ties with a combined “One of the things they Montana has one of the
health officials said they place, local leaders have 500,000 people asked can do is work on the gar- nation’s lowest per capita
will be watching for a re- pledged defiance. The Gov. Gavin Newsom on dens and beautify their death rates from the vi-
surgence of infections. mayor of Grants, New Monday if they could be- houses.” Being remote rus. The rate of confirmed
But for now, there’s little Mexico, population 9,000, gin a “careful and phased and sparsely populated infections has declined
doubt in places like Roun- led a rally Monday where reopening,” even as coun- helps towns avoid infecti- since peaking at 124 cases
dup that it was the right dozens urged nonessential ties in the San Francisco ons, said Dr. Marc Mentel, a week in late March and
thing to do after weeks- businesses to reopen. Bay Area moved to extend president of the Montana early April. There were 15
long stay-at-home orders. Only a fraction of people their stay-at-home orders Medical Association. new cases last week, he-
“We don’t have the fear in the state have been in- through May. Yet a rural ZIP code is no alth officials said.
of the virus. It’s been more fected by COVID-19, and In small Alaska towns, magic shield and carries its But not every business is
concern about our shut- it doesn’t make sense to some restaurants resumed own disadvantage: fewer throwing open its doors.
ins and older people who keep small businesses clo- dine-in service Friday, while medical resources. That In Montana’s capital of
can’t come out,” said sed, Mayor Martin “Mo- shops, personal care servi- can make outbreaks dif- Helena, the Lasso the
Shannon Thompson, who dey” Hicks said. New Mexi- ces and other nonessential ficult to contain, such as Moon toy store was open,
works in the deli at Picchi- co has more than 2,800 businesses reopened with the infections that swept but its doors were locked.
oni’s IGA supermarket and confirmed cases of the vi- limits. Rules still restrict how through an assisted living Customers had to knock
has two sons home with rus and 104 deaths. many people can be in a facility in recent weeks in to be let in, up to four at a
school still canceled. “The governor is killing the shop at once, and no wai- another small Montana time, as long as they were
The coronavirus is largely state over a little bug,” he ting is allowed in salons. town, Shelby, leading to six wearing masks.
a distant threat that so far said before heading to the In Vermont, people can deaths. Owner Amy Barrett said the
has touched few people city-owned golf course, shop at outdoor retailers, “No matter where you are, door is locked to give em-
here directly. Face masks where about 20 people and five people can work this is a dangerous virus,” ployees time to don masks.
are a novelty, and gree- were playing despite a at the same outdoor work- Mentel said. “The risk is low, Her wariness reflected the
tings often still come with a warning by state police for site. Manufacturing and in- but if something takes off uncertainty of many small-
handshake. the facility to close. door construction also can in rural America, it could business owners allowed to
Despite some grumbling For most, the coronavirus expand. be devastating.” reopen.
that the lockdown was too causes mild or moderate Mike MacLeod, who owns Gov. Steve Bullock credits “We’re still unsure quite
harsh, most people coo- symptoms, such as fever a garden center just south an early lockdown with how open to be,” Barrett
perated, county commis- and cough. For some, es- of the resort town of Sto- pushing down Montana’s said. “I don’t know how
sioner Adam Carlson said. pecially older people and we, said the phone began infection rate and helping many people are going to
Thompson said she practi- those with existing health ringing within minutes of it reopen before other sta- want to come in.”q

Hillary Clinton becomes latest Democrat to endorse Biden

By BILL BARROW "This is a moment when we
Associated Press need a leader, a president
Hillary Clinton, the first wom- like Joe Biden."
an to become a major par- With her historic candida-
ty's presidential nominee, cy, Clinton remains a pow-
endorsed Joe Biden's White erful — and complex — fig-
House bid on Tuesday, con- ure in American life.
tinuing Democrats' efforts Her 2016 campaign in-
to coalesce around the spired many women, and
former vice president as he her loss to Trump resonates
takes on President Donald to this day.
Trump. The female candidates in
Clinton made her an- the 2020 Democratic presi-
nouncement during a dential primary often faced
Biden campaign town hall skepticism that a woman
to discuss the coronavirus could win the White House.
and its effect on women. Biden has pledged to se-
Without mentioning Trump lect a woman as his vice
by name, Clinton assailed president.
the Republican president Given her 2016 experience,
and hailed Biden's experi- Clinton could offer Biden
ence and temperament in unique insight as he pre-
comparison. pares for the November
"Just think of what a differ- general election.
ence it would make right This March 4, 2020 file photo shows former secretary of state Hillary Clinton at the premiere of the Her endorsement is the
now if we had a president Hulu documentary "Hillary" in New York. Associated Press. latest example of leaders
who not only listened to from across the Democrat-
the science ... but brought the national popular vote. rather than a man who ator, "has been preparing ic spectrum rallying behind
us together," said Clinton, "Think of what it would "plays one on TV." for this moment his entire Biden.
who lost the 2016 election mean if we had a real pres- Biden, as a former vice life," said Clinton, a former
despite leading Trump in ident," Clinton continued, president and six-term sen- secretary of state. Continued on Page 26