In Defiance of Distancing

Undeterred by a death toll approaching 100,000, Americans crowded beaches and swimming pools over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, The Guardian reports.

Police tried to break up a party on Daytona Beach, Florida. Hundreds packed a Lake of the Ozarks pool party; a tweet touted there were “no covid concerns”, to which another replied: “There will be in 14 days from now”.

US president Donald Trump came under fire for playing golf over the weekend—without a mask, and shaking hands with people.

Some Americans have made masks a political flashpoint, protesting and resisting recommendations from health officials and many governors to wear masks.

All of the country’s 50 states have eased restrictions to some extent—but nearly a dozen states reports record COVID-19 cases last week. It is not clear if the rise stems from more testing or a new wave of infections.