Small protests continued across the US Monday, with attendees demanding that states reopen — despite warnings from health officials about the risk of more coronavirus outbreaks.
As a couple hundred demonstrators rallied against stay-at-home measures in Maine and Pennsylvania, the White House doubled down on President Trump’s argument that some governors have gone “too far” with the restrictions.
Facebook has now begun to take down events set up by protesters.
Meanwhile, Kentucky, where protests broke out last week, saw its highest single-day spike in cases Sunday, with the governor saying he wouldn’t budge on lifting the lockdown.
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Here’s what else we learned today:
New York crisis:
- The number of COVID-19 deaths in the Empire State dipped below 500 for the first time since April 1. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said federal assistance in expanding testing would be the key to reopening.
- New York’s biggest nurses union sued the state Health Department and two hospitals for failing to protect their health and safety during the pandemic.
- In the Big Apple, Mayor Bill de Blasio cancelled all June parades and city events.
In Washington:
- Congress is nearing a $450 billion deal to replenish a program meant to help small businesses battered by the pandemic.
- As negotiations dragged on, Sen. Chuck Schumer fired back against criticism that Democrats were holding up a deal.
- Meanwhile, Shake Shack pledged to return $10 million it received from the initial program.
Covidiots:
- Hundreds were caught flaunting social distancing restrictions in Brooklyn’s Domino Park on Sunday — but cops did little about it.
Gone but not forgotten:
- The 5-year-old daughter of two first responders died in Michigan after a coronavirus infection left her likely brain-dead on a ventilator, her family says.
- A bartender on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship died in a Florida hospital.
Sports on the horizon:
- An inside look at how a baseball restart in South Korea has offered hope for MLB.
- The NFL’s virtual draft on Thursday isn’t looking so rosy.
Meanwhile…
- Here’s how Queen Elizabeth II will be celebrating her birthday amid the pandemic.
- Can the coronavirus be spread through farts? Just try to resist clicking through for the answer.
People protesting the coronavirus lockdown in Maine.AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty