The Journal Times of Racine, April 2
No quick cure for stupidity
There is no vaccination for stupidity and bad behavior.
That’s most unfortunate right now as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across the globe giving people flu-like symptoms and causing several thousand deaths.
Even in the face of the spread of the virus - and a death toll worldwide that has climbed to more than 42,000 - and despite government and health officials’ warnings to avoid crowds and unnecessary travel, there were widespread instances of those admonishments being flouted around the world.
In Florida, rowdy spring break college students packed state beaches even as many of them had just been sent home by campuses that were closing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. One young bikini-clad woman told television a TV interviewer she was young and had a pretty good immune system as her explanation for being on the beach.
Of course, that doesn’t mean she couldn’t contract COVID-19, be a carrier and spread the virus when she got back home. And young people weren’t the only ones flocking to the beaches, there were families and older people as well, judging by television coverage.
After seeing footage of the less-than-cautious beach parties for several days, Florida officials finally closed some of the state’s most popular beaches. The same thing was happening in Australia where Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach was ordered closed after it drew hordes of beach-goers.
In Bavaria, Germany, the governor said young German adults were holding “corona parties” and coughing toward older people.
After days of non-compliance by people refusing to stay home and only go out for essential tasks, France cracked down and sent security forces to train stations to prevent people from going to their vacation homes and beaches. A curfew was imposed in Nice and in Paris the walkway along the Seine was closed.
“Some consider they’re little heroes when they break the rules,” said French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner. “Well no, you’re an imbecile, and especially a threat to yourself.”
As Wisconsin embarks on a possibly monthlong “Safer at Home” lockdown, we don’t expect we’ll see such bad behavior here and we hope that if there are instances of lockdown rules being flouted that authorities will quickly step in and educate any scofflaws.
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The Janesville Gazette, April 6
Thumbs up/down for Monday, April 6
Thumbs down to UW-Madison spring breakers. That several UW-Madison students contracted COVID-19 while on spring break in Alabama was one of the least surprising stories from last week. They brought the disease back to Wisconsin and now are quarantining. They prioritized fun over safety, as young people sometimes do, and deserve a scolding. Much of the discussion about COVID-19 risks focuses on older people who are more likely have complications. But younger people aren’t invincible, and COVID-19 has put many of them in hospitals. Regardless of your age, this illness can be extremely unpleasant.
Thumbs down to Steil’s Kennedy Center bill. Our problem isn’t with Rep. Bryan Steil’s objection to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., receiving $25 million from the $2.2 trillion rescue package that Congress passed last month. Our problem is with the Janesville native wasting valuable time and energy on introducing a bill to rescind this piddly expense, representing 0.00001% of the package’s spending. Steil should instead focus on, for example, making sure small businesses get forgivable loans through a new $349 billion Small Business Administration program. Taking on the Kennedy Center might get Steil noticed in D.C., but it does nothing to help his constituents here. It’s a sideshow, and we’re not amused.
Thumbs up to Republican push for COVID-19 transparency. As readers of this space know, the Gazette Editorial Board has been critical of local officials’ unwillingness to release more information about the coronavirus’ spread. It’s been a problem at the state level, too. Republican lawmakers have been pushing Gov. Tony Evers to release more data about the epidemic, including the number of hospitalizations. Evers relented and provided numbers for the first time last week. Nearly 25% of confirmed COVID-19 cases have required hospitalization as of Friday, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. That’s a sobering figure, despite the fact that large numbers of people with COVID-19 haven’t been tested.
Thumbs down to price gougers. It’s a tossup determining who’s more despicable: business people who took advantage of the public’s coronavirus fears by jacking up prices on sought-after supplies. Or, U.S. senators who failed to warn the American people but sold their stocks after receiving intelligence reports about the coronavirus outbreak in China. We’d argue the latter, but since we have some local examples of the former, we’ll spotlight this group. The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection sent cease-and-desist notices as of March 24 to 16 businesses found to be engaging in price gouging, including two local businesses. There are always opportunists seeking to profit on others’ misfortunes, and we hope the agency’s crackdown serves as a warning to other would-be price gougers.
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Kenosha News, April 5
Parks, lakefront provide needed outlet, just keep your distance
It’s starting to feel like spring, with Easter just around the corner. If you haven’t been out of the house, that’s an encouraging update.
Given that we’ll be largely inside for this month, observing the governor’s safer-at-home order and national guidelines, getting outdoors is important, even for only a short time.
It’s a needed outlet during this challenging time dominated by COVID-19 concerns.
And we are blessed to have a beautiful lakefront and many nice parks and walking and bike trails. There are many places you can go and still stay six feet from anyone not in your family.
Locally, we’re not seeing our parks and the lakefront being closed, and we’re thankful for that. It must stay that way.
Seeing the news reports about Colorado mountain towns blocked off and Chicago parks closed, to name just two examples, has been difficult. There must be ways to limit social distancing at all locations with some thought and planning.
However, we are hearing people react negatively to others just being outside, comparing it to crowds in stores or crowds seen during spring break on Florida beaches. Everyone should stay in, they say adamantly.
That’s where we collectively should pause and understand that what matters is social distancing and other precautions to eventually flatten the curve of the virus. Of all places, the outdoors, when social distancing is practiced, offers a great opportunity to get out of the house, exercise and enjoy your surroundings.
Fortunately, our elected officials understand that. The city of Kenosha sent out a reminder last week that playgrounds and basketball and tennis courts are closed. Signs are posted in parks telling visitors to stay off the equipment.
All good. And the city’s announcement continued, “The governor’s order - in effect through April 26 - allows for people to still go outside for exercise. People may walk, jog, and ride bicycles in city parks, but should maintain at least six feet distance from others.”
And the Kenosha County Joint Information Center answered like this when a resident asked whether it’s OK to drive to the lakefront and see the sun rise:
“Yes! Enjoy the outdoors. Exercise! Work at being healthy. Both the city and county governments have noticed that the social distancing guidelines and safer-at-home order are being followed. We thank you and ask you to continue to put the social distancing guidelines and the governor’s order into practice.”
We would expect nothing less in Kenosha County, with the emphasis on quality parks by County Executive Jim Kreuser.
That really matters now, when we must allow residents who choose to enjoy the outdoors while practicing social distancing that opportunity.
With Easter weekend ahead, family time outside may be critical.
There should be no restrictions to block that if social distancing is followed.
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