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Memorial Day has inspired tens of thousands of Americans to congregate on beaches and in parks, at restaurants, and at clubs.  Cell phone data from participants in anti-lockdown protestors reveals that they traveled across state lines to gather and protest, potentially spreading COVID to places that have seen little activity until now. These Memorial Day gatherings may have similar consequences.

Although Trump is proudly touting his COVID response and claiming that the number of cases have fallen, a leaked White House report shows that cases are spiking. Rural areas in particularly are suffering––ironically the root of his support––and seeing spikes in infection rates as much as 1000%.

A Florida man who called COVID “hysteria” wound up in the ICU with COVID. Audrey Whitlock, one of the leaders of a North Carolina Facebook group protesting the stay-at-home order with large public rallies, has tested positive for COVID.

Texas reopened May 1, and things are not going well. So far, the state has had basically 1,000 cases a day.

Data shows that U.S. infection rates are projected to rise as states begin to lift lockdowns. That could mean far more deaths than previous expected. But not all states are lifting; the response is quite varied. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot had to make an impassioned speech basically begging Chicago residents to stop having house parties. “We are never going to get out of this,” she said, urging Chicagoans to follow guidelines and avoid large gatherings, even if they are in a home.

An overwhelming majority of Americans, 81%, say that lockdown restrictions should not be lifted if it means coronavirus will spread. President Trump sent a series of tweets urging citizens to violate Democratic governors’ stay-at-home orders. Jay Inslee has called the tweets “unhinged” and “illegal,” since they’re calling for domestic insurrection. Protestors indeed gathered to call for “Liberation,” per Trump’s tweets, but the numbers were tiny.

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