U.S. revelers vexed by virus

With the daily number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases trending up in 38 states, Americans held subdued Fourth of July celebrations across the country. Numerous beaches, bars, and restaurants have closed or reduced their capacity in tourist spots like California, South Florida, South Carolina, and Texas. Families and friends scaled back their barbecue plans as more than two dozen states required residents to wear masks in certain public settings. “This year is a huge bummer, to say the least,” said Ashley Peters, who usually hosts 150 friends and relatives at a pool party at her home in Manteca, Calif., to celebrate Independence Day. This year, just a few people attended.

What wasn’t canceled? In addition to President Donald Trump’s speech at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota on Friday night and a celebration in Washington on Saturday, many communities still had fireworks and events. Most tried to implement social distancing. In Ohio, Upper Arlington’s Fourth of July parade wound through neighborhoods so residents could watch without crowding the streets. “We’re calling it the front porch parade,” said organizer Sam Porter. “We can’t just not do something.”

Dig deeper: Read Rachel Lynn Aldrich’s report in Compassion about how Native American reservations are coping with the pandemic.