BU students’ Fourth of July celebrations dampened by COVID-19
By CJ Zachara
July Fourth for Henry Reynolds typically means a week at his grandmother's beach house on the New Jersey shore. This year was no different, except for one little detail. He did not set foot on the beach. Instead, he stayed in as crowds of beachgoers descended on the shore for the weekend despite social distancing policies.
The week leading up to July Fourth saw daily confirmed coronavirus cases nationwide rise above 50,000, with the infection curve rising in 40 of the 50 states, according to the Associated Press. Four states — Arizona, California, Florida and Texas — accounted for nearly half of the new daily cases in the days preceding the Fourth.
Reynolds, a senior in Boston University’s College of Communication, explained that the busy beaches encouraged his family to stay in and isolate for the holiday, but a barbeque at home is how they typically celebrate anyway.
“We don’t really do elaborate celebrations,” Reynolds said. “We usually just hang out together, and that wasn’t really any different for us this year.”
Hannah Lesko, a senior in COM, took a last-minute trip from her hometown outside of Boston to Southern California to celebrate with family friends. Lesko usually spends the July Fourth at home with her family for a cookout and local fireworks, but the chance for a trip seemed like an exciting opportunity.
“The airline made sure social distancing was enforced on the plane,” Lesko said. “Looking back at recent case numbers, I definitely wouldn’t do it again.”
Travelers at Boston’s Logan Airport seemed to be mainly business-people, she said. The crowds during a layover in Washington, D.C., on July 5 told a different story.
“You really would have thought it was just a regular time, not the middle of a pandemic,” Lesko said.
Numbers of airline passengers did spike during the long weekend, according to the Transportation Security Administration. July 2-3 and 5-6 saw over 700,000 daily travelers for the first time since widespread stay-at-home orders began on March 18.
State officials around the country released statements showing varying degrees of concern related to COVID-19. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York released a statement reminding New Yorkers to wear masks, social distance, wash hands and stay smart.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem showed little concern for the pandemic in an interview on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” the week before the Fourth. Regarding the large crowds expected at President Trump’s Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore on July 3, Noem said masks were optional and social distancing would not be enforced.
Celebrations may have continued on a smaller scale to maintain a sense of normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic, but the possibility of future holidays being impacted is troubling for some. Holiday celebrations are often about being close with loved ones, said Reynolds.
“It’s important to me and my family to be able to get together,” he said. “If it becomes complicated, it’s going to be difficult.”