Monday morning news - November 16, 2020

Washington COVID restrictions » Washington state is reinstating lockdown measures in a bid to curb the rising rate of COVID-19 infections.

Governor Jay Inslee announced the restrictions at a news conference Sunday.

INSLEE: Outdoor gatherings are limited to no more than five people. Restaurants and bars are closed for indoor service.

But the most restrictive measures involve indoor social gatherings. With less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, people from different households are forbidden from gathering together unless they’ve quarantined for 14 days or tested negative for the virus and quarantined for seven days.

Inslee insisted the measures are necessary.

INSLEE: Average daily cases in our state have doubled in the last two weeks. It cannot go on like this. We have to get this under control, or our medical system will soon be overwhelmed.

The restrictions go into effect just after midnight on Tuesday and last for four weeks.

And Washington isn’t the only state enforcing new measures to curb the virus. On Friday, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice issued a statewide mask mandate in all businesses and other indoor spaces. 

And on Monday, the Navajo Nation will enforce a three-week stay-at-home lockdown for the entire reservation.

Admiral Brett Giroir, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, warned Americans to remain vigilant, especially in the coming weeks.

GIROIR: But we are going to have to be careful around the holiday time because even a large gathering within your household can be a way that it can spread.

California, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Virginia have issued new travel advisories ahead of Thanksgiving or put limits on the size of gatherings.

Trump rallies, Twitter storm » Thousands of President Trump’s supporters held a rally in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.

AUDIO: [Chanting, “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”]

They marched from Freedom Plaza to the Supreme Court building, breaking out into cheers when President Trump’s motorcade drove by. As evening fell, the Trump rally clashed with hundreds of counter-protesters. Police arrested more than 20 people.

C.J. Wheeler attended the rally to show support for the president’s ongoing legal fight over the election results.

WHEELER: This isn’t over. It’s not even close to being over. And those people that are telling you right now that it is over, are lying to you. The vote has not been declared. No, there is no president-elect. It’s all a lie.

The president caused a Twitter storm on Sunday when he appeared to admit he lost the election. But, his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said the president’s tweet was sarcastic, not serious.

And the president’s legal team is now drawing attention to Dominion Voting Systems. Its voting machines are widely used across the United States. Giuliani claims the company’s software has been used to steal elections in other countries.

Hundreds of protesters arrested in Belarus » AUDIO: [Sound of stun grenades and tear gas canisters]

Meanwhile in Belarus, thousands of people rallied on Sunday to call for President Alexander Lukashenko to step down.

A human rights watchdog says police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowds. They reportedly arrested about 900 people.

Belarussians have held regular protests against Lukashenko since the disputed August presidential election. The autocratic leader claimed he won a sixth term in office. Opposition parties say the election results were rigged.

Protesters who gathered over the weekend held signs in honor of a fellow protester who died Thursday after police reportedly beat him.

Dustin Johnson wins Masters, sets record » Dustin Johnson won the Masters on Sunday, polishing off a five-shot victory with the lowest score in tournament history.

He called the victory a dream come true.

JOHNSON: As a kid, you dream of playing in the Masters, and, you know, dream about putting on a green jacket. I still kind of think it’s a dream, but I… hopefully…  hopefully it’s not.

It was a unique tournament from start to finish. The event at Georgia’s Augusta National is normally held in the spring. Organizers postponed it to November this year because of the pandemic. COVID-19 also prevented the normal crowds from gathering to watch the play and cheer memorable moments.

Johnson finished at 20-under par, 268. That matched Jordan Spieth’s finish in 2015 and broke by two shots the record Tiger Woods set in 1997.

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks during a news conference, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. 

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