Detroit turns island park into COVID-19 memorial garden

A Detroit island park was transformed Monday into a drive-thru COVID-19 victims memorial as policy makers across U.S. moved forward with plans to reopen schools and public s.

Hearses led processions around Belle Isle Park in Detroit River, where more than 900 large photos of local coronavirus victims provided by relatives were turned into posters and staked into ground.

As death toll continued to rise around world, officials anunced plans to bring children back to school in Rhode Island, allow diners back inside New Jersey restaurants and let fans watch football inside an Iowa college stium.

New COVID-19 cases were linked to travelers on vacation in Europe and he of World Health Organization cautioned against opening societies too quickly.

More than 847,000 people worldwide have perished from virus and more than 25.3 million have contracted it, according to Johns Hopkins University — figures experts say understate true toll due to limited testing, missed mild cases and or factors.

DETROIT COVID VICTIMS

pictures in Detroit park showed those who died of COVID-19 during better times: Darrin ams at his college gruation; Daniel Aldape catching a fish; Shirley Frank with an Elvis impersonator; and Veronica Davis crossing finish line at a race.

y h “dreams and plans and a story,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said at park. “y weren’t finished yet.”

region’s classical music station ded gospel music to its playlist and re names of deceased.

Detroit’s director of arts and culture, Rochelle Riley, said officials hope memorial will “wake people up to devastating effect of pandemic” and also “bring some peace to families whose loved ones didn’t have funerals y deserved.”

national COVID-19 death toll increased by 305 Monday, boosting U.S. number of deaths to 183,258, according to Johns Hopkins.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

President Donald Trump’s new pandemic viser, Dr. Scott Atlas said he believes college football should be played this year even though many universities have canceled all fall sports.

Atlas, appearing with Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday in Tallahassee, said stiums have plenty of room for distancing.

“ communities of college towns depend on se activities,” Atlas said.

Iowa State says it will allow about 25,000 season-ticket holders to attend that team's opener in Ames against Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 12 , despite rising COVID-19 numbers in Iowa .

Iowa State Athletic director Jamie Pollard told fans in a letter that y will be required to wear face coverings and that tailgating will be banned. Pollard asks that fans respect ors’ wishes for distancing.

decision came as Iowa continues to struggle with virus spreing virus in several counties, including those with university campuses.

BACK TO SCHOOL

In Rhode Island, all but two public school districts have been given go-ahe to resume in-person classes when schools reopen in two weeks.

Only Providence and Providence suburb of Central falls did t meet metrics required for reopening. cities have h state's highest coronavirus infection rates.

Gov. Gina Raimondo said reopening schools is t risk-free but that she expects children will return to classroom.

COLLEGE CLOSING

In rrn California, California State University, Chico has moved limited number of in-person classes it offered online after at least 30 people tested positive for coronavirus three days after fall semester started.

University President Gayle Hutchinson said students who returned to campus housing must leave by weekend.

RESTAURANTS OPENING

In New Jersey, indoor dining with limited capacity will resume at restaurants Friday, Gov. Phil Murphy anunced.

Restaurants will be allowed 25% capacity under new rules, which includes maintaining social distancing between tables.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

he of World Health Organization warned that opening up societies too quickly amid coronavirus pandemic is a “recipe for disaster.”

WHO Director-General Tedros ham Ghebreyesus said that “ more control countries have over virus, more y can open up,” and insisted that countries that are serious about opening up must also be serious about suppressing transmission.

Tedros cited four key points that countries, communities and individuals should focus on: preventing “amplifying events” as virus thrives on clusters; protecting vulnerable groups; people taking steps individually to protect mselves; and finding, isolating, testing and caring for cases, while tracing and quarantining ir contacts.

EUROPEAN VACATION

British authorities say 16 coronavirus cases have been linked to a flight that brought U.K. tourists back from Greece, and all people who were aboard have been told to isolate mselves for two weeks.

Public Health Wales says it was contacting nearly 200 people who were on Tui flight from Greek island of Zante to Cardiff, Wales, last Tuesday.

Gwen Lowe of Public Health Wales said 30 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed over last week among people who returned from Zante on several flights and that number is expected to rise.

In Italy, popular holiday destination of Sardinia h experienced a handful or fewer cases for weeks. But with clusters of infections linked to crowded discos or holiday-goers’ parties on Mediterranean island, Sardinia registered 79 new infections on Monday.