The US had about 1.6 million confirmed Covid-19 cases around Memorial Day, before backyard parties and other gatherings contributed to a summertime surge.
It now has more than 6.2 million cases, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Deaths from the virus more than doubled over the summer to nearly 190,000.
In New Orleans, which had one of the largest outbreaks outside of New York City this spring, city officials reminded residents that Covid-19 doesn't take a holiday after they received 36 calls about large gatherings and 46 calls about businesses not following safety rules.
"This is not who we are, and this is not how we — as a community — get back to where we want to be," the city said.
In South Carolina, which was a hot spot of contagion over the summer before cases started to decline in early August, 8000 fans, including Governor Henry McMaster, were allowed to attend the NASCAR race at the Darlington Raceway yesterday.
State officials approved a socially distant attendance plan at the track, which can hold 47,000 people.
It was the biggest gathering in the state since the outbreak started six months ago. Many rows and seats were kept empty to keep groups of fans apart, and people were asked to wear masks.
Debbie Katsanos drove down from New Hampshire with her husband, her father and a friend. It was their first trip out of state since Covid-19 started spreading. They had time off because the Labour Day weekend fair where they typically sell concessions cancelled this year.
Katsanos said they wore masks at all times when they were away from their motor home, ate in a restaurant only once on the way down and tried to stay socially distant when visiting with other people at their campground.
"It's probably our only chance to get somewhere before the summer ends, " Katsanos said as she sat in traffic on Interstate 95 in North Carolina on the long trip home. "I saw it as the turning of the corner. We survived this. Let's live life a little."
- AP
