July 4 is traditionally for barbecues, fireworks, boisterous parties, and various antics to celebrate Independence Day. But this year, with coronavirus cases hitting all-time highs, medical experts caution that the normal exuberance of holidays in the US could instead create “super-spreading” infection events.
Across the country, thousands of official public celebrations have been canceled in an effort to avoid mass gatherings. Two notable exceptions are fireworks planned by the Trump administration in central Washington, and an event Friday night at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, where the president will attend a fireworks display.
This event has simultaneously managed to annoy Native American leaders considering the location of the stolen tribal lands; irritate those concerned about wildfires in the parched landscape, where fireworks have been banned in recent drought years; and further divide views on health precautions, with the Republican governor of South Dakota saying that social distancing will not apply and that anyone who doesn’t like that idea can “stay home.”
Most municipal celebrations will not happen. But large groups are still expected in courtyards, houses and streets, as Americans strive to celebrate their liberation from British rule.
And with the country reporting record levels of new coronavirus cases, officials say the impact of the July 4 events could be catastrophic.
“It has created a perfect storm,” Joshua Barocas, an infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center, said during a briefing by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
“The combination of travel, the combination of reopening, perhaps in some cases too early, and the combination of people who do not necessarily follow some of these preventive guidelines.”
The United States recorded 52,000 new cases on Wednesday, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, a new daily high for the United States in the outbreak. It was the fifth daily maximum in the last eight days.
On Thursday morning, infections increased in up to 40 states, and 14 states reported record daily highs.
About 40% of the US is now changing course on the reopening in a bid to stifle the unprecedented surge, and states are pleading with people not to participate in a group party.
In Austin, Texas, that warning took the form of an emergency alert on people’s phones, urging them to celebrate Independence Day responsibly.
“Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in Austin-Travis County,” said the alert, which appeared on screens across the city.
“Stay home. Avoid unfamiliar gatherings. Keep six feet away from there. Wear a face covering. Wash your hands often.
Texas is among the states most affected by the recent increase. The state, which was one of the first to reopen bars, restaurants and beauty salons in May, recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus cases this week, and several hospitals in Houston are at full capacity.
In Alabama, a group of students threw “Covid parties” this week, according to Tuscaloosa City Councilwoman Sonya McKinstry, where students gambled on who would get infected.
“They put money in a pot and try to get Covid. Whoever gets Covid gets the pot first. It doesn’t make sense, “McKinstry told ABC News.” They’re doing it on purpose. “
The parties face advice from the Alabama department of public health, which has asked people to keep a 6-foot distance, and explained the concept of super-spreader events in the guidance sent to local government officials.
“The asymptomatic spread of Covid-19 is a major risk factor. These ‘super-spreaders’ don’t know they carry the disease, ”said the health department.
“An estimated one in four infected people are ‘super-spreaders.’ For this reason, we recommend wearing masks at public gatherings.”
California, which had been making progress in reducing infections, is now the worst access point in the United States. Riverside County public health official Cameron Kaiser warned that the effect of people gathering to toast Memorial Day, a holiday in May, was marked.
“We don’t want any more closings, but our numbers are through the roof,” Kaiser told the New York Times.
The California governor ordered all recently reopened bars to close on Wednesday, banned going to the movies and dining in restaurants. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey abruptly ordered the closure of bars, gyms, movie theaters, and water parks.
Many beaches were ordered closed, a traditional gathering point on July 4. Most of South Florida’s beaches will close as of Friday, as do the beaches in Texas and Los Angeles County.
Amid warnings about the celebrations, Trump has remained defiant. He has insisted that the “Salute to America,” a grand display of fireworks-laden national pride that was launched by the president last year, will continue in Washington, despite the urging of the city’s mayor.
Trump will speak at the event, which was attended by thousands last year, and the interior department said the exhibit will be “a patriotic tribute to our men and women in uniform.”
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