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HomeUSACaliforniaAmericans flock to beaches on Memorial Day weekend despite warnings

Americans flock to beaches on Memorial Day weekend despite warnings

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Daily US Times: Lots of Americans have flocked to lakes and beaches for Memorial Day weekend, often overthrowing restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Police in Florida dispersed an unauthorized gathering of hundreds of people in Daytona Beach on Saturday.

In Missouri, bars at the Lake of the Ozarks were packed with revellers, who violated social-distancing rules.

Dr Deborah Birx, the chief of US coronavirus task force, said she was “very concerned” after seeing such scenes.

“We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you can’t social distance and you’re outside, you must wear a mask,” she said on Sunday.

In California, big crowds descended on Newport Beach. Source: EPA

“It’s irresponsible and dangerous to engage in such high risk behaviour just to have some fun over the extended holiday weekend,” said Lyda Krewson, the mayor of St Louis, Missouri.

“Now, these folks will be going home to S. Louis and counties across Missouri and the Midwest, raising concerns about the potential of more positive cases, hospitalisations, and tragically, deaths. Deeply disturbing.”

The crowds were so big in n Florida’s Tampa area, that authorities closed parking lots because they were full, the Associated Press reports.

These surfers enjoyed the waves on Los Angeles’ Venice Beach. Source: Getty Images

Big crowds were seen enjoying California beaches over the Memorial Day weekend. State officials said most people were covering their faces and keeping their distance on parks and beaches.

Memorial Day honours all those who have died serving in the US military. It is an annual holiday held on the last Monday of May and also marks the unofficial start of summer and –

The US is currently the epicenter of coronavirus pandemic and has more coronavirus cases than anywhere in the world.

Nearly 100,000 people have died so far in the country with over 1.6 million known infections.

After a two-month shutdown, all 50 US states have now partially reopened, though remaining restrictions vary across the country.

Some of the hardest-hit areas, including New York, Washington ans New Jersey state are now showing the sharpest declines, while majority of states have reached plateaus.

You may read: Why lockdown is disastrous for women and their rights?

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