Coronavirus News: July 20 – Disney Bans Eating and Walking, Cuomo Tells New Yorkers Not to be ‘Stupid’

As the number of cases in dozens of cities and states in the United States surged to record levels, air travel fell to its lowest level since early April.  In the week ended July 19, 4.65 million people passed through the nation’s airport security checkpoints, according to data released by the Transportation Security Administration, down more than 4% from a week earlier and the first weekly percentage drop since April.

Preliminary results of a Phase 1/2 trial of a coronavirus vaccine developed by scientists at the University of Oxford suggest that it is safe and that it does trigger an immune response. A release in the medical journal the Lancet said that the vaccine provoked an antibody response within 28 days and a T-cell response within 14 days.

Just a few days after it reopened, Walt Disney World updated its face mask policy.  The policy required face masks at all times except when eating and drinking. The updated policy states that visitors may not walk and eat at the same time and must therefore remain masked at all times when walking. The move comes after the State of Florida reported a record number of new coronavirus cases several days in a row.

Meanwhile,the Miami-Dade Police Department said it had issued 115 civil citations for noncompliance of county mask and social distancing orders.

Hundreds of New Yorkers crowded streets in the Astoria section of Queens yesterday, unmasked and in defiance of the state’s social-distancing rules.  They overwhelmed police and left a large mess in their wake.  The state’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, issued a warning to any potential revelers there: “Don’t be stupid.”  He also threatened to roll back the opening plan if this continues.

The Big Apple entered its fourth stage of reopening on Monday, although restaurants will remain closed for indoor dining and museums will stay shuttered.  Botanical gardens and zoos will open at 33% of normal capacity.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti said that the city had reopened its economy too quickly and warned it was “on the brink” of new shutdown orders as the coronavirus continues to surge in California.

The Canadian government said it will not permit the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team to play any home games due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the team will only play away games and those will take place in the United States.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)