Source: Paras Griffin / Getty The state of Georgia is one of many across the nation seeing an uptick and surging of positive COVID-19 tests, signaling the alarm for more to be done to mitigate the spread. However, Gov. Brian Kemp has decided not to enforce a statewide mask mandate and instead filed to sue Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for instituting a city-wide mandate. Atlanta, the state’s most populous city and over 51 percent Black, seen some spikes in the numbers with Mayor Bottoms implementing a mandate for masks to be worn in public spaces throughout the city. Kemp framed Bottoms’ measures as an affront to economic recovery efforts instead of the public health focus that is was, moving lockstep with President Donald Trump’s reckless policies and positions on handling COVID-19. ...
Source: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / Getty In a move that makes all the sense in the world right now, big retailers will now require customers to wear masks. Kicking off things off, Walmart said in a blog post would start enforcing a new rule requiring patrons to wear face masks beginning Monday (Jul.20). Per Walmart: “As the number of confirmed cases has spiked in communities across the country recently, so too have the number and types of face-covering mandates being implemented. Currently, about 65 percent of our more than 5,000 stores and clubs are located in areas where there is some form of government mandate on face coverings. To help bring consistency across stores and clubs, we will require all shoppers to wear a face-covering starting Monday, July 20. This will give us time to inf...
Earlier in the month of July, organizers of the UK outdoor event Gisburne Park Pop-Up touted the event as Britain’s first socially distanced festival, saying there would be “something for everyone from socially-distanced raving to big-name DJs.” Following the event’s debut, many are using it as a litmus test for what festivals and concerts may look like in a post-COVID-19 musical landscape. Only 480 people were able to attend each day, and they partied in hexagonal pitches that were capped at a maximum of 6 people. The structures were placed 8.5 meters away from each other to comply with social distancing guidelines. With the exception of using the restroom and sanitizing stations as well as entering and leaving the festival, revelers were not permitted to...
If you thought the wait for live music was tough enough as is, it may get a lot worse. Former WME global head of music/Lollapalooza co-founder Marc Geiger said on the Bob Lefsetz Podcast that he doesn’t expect live music to resume “late ’21, more likely ’22” when the host asked him the timeframe for when concerts would resume, adding that “the whole thing is a shit show.” Geiger says that “the next six months may be more painful than the last six months, and maybe the next six months after that are even more so,” and adds that if he’s right about the timeframe, there will be “massive amount of bloodshed, bankruptcies, and won’t be good for the majority of the industry.” His reasoning is that there are “probably 20″ hurdles that need to be solved before it resumes, include the vir...
The Federal Government is probing reported violations of COVID-19 safety protocols by some high profile Nigerians accessing some of the newly-reopened airports in the country. The probe, government said, involving Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri and the former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, is with a view to sanctioning violators if it is established that they indeed violated the rules, or apologise to them should the result of the investigations exonerate them. Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, PTF, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who did not mention the names of alleged violators of safety protocols, urged them to desist from flouting the guidelines. He said: “You will all recall that the aviation sector reo...
“Quarantine Diaries” is an editorial series in which EDM.com invites members of the music community to contribute guest posts about how they’re coping with the pandemic. The goal of the series is to provide a platform for these individuals to share their own experiences and perspectives and ultimately inspire anyone experiencing pitfalls contrived by the impact of COVID-19. The thoughts and viewpoints expressed are those of the author, Kaleena Zanders. Oh boy, I feel like I’ve been around the sun and back during this quarantine, witnessing some of the most unique and transformative times. I am really not one to dwell on bad or negative issues, but I’ve felt extremely sensitive during quarantine, especially at the start of it all. I’ve been bewildered by ...
As COVID-19 continues its relentless rampage through the concert industry, drive-in raves have been become the new normal for fans of live music. In lieu of sold-out festivals and concert halls, Carnage, Seven Lions, and many other major artists in electronic music have opted to plan and perform at drive-in shows to connect with fans beyond livestreaming. Joining in on the drive-in concert craze is bass music artist Subtronics, who is slated to perform at twin shows in Dickson City, Pennsylvania “Pavement Rave” on Friday, August 7th and Saturday, August 8th, 2020. Supporting the “Griztronics” producer, who is from nearby Philadelphia, are Brainrack, Forreign, Jeanie, Shizz Lo, and blossoming dubstep young gun Vampa, ...
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday, opened its portal for the recruitments of over 700 doctors and other health workers. It said that the exercise is in a bid to ensure adequate manpower in all its health facilities and the need to fill the vacant positions in the 27 General Hospitals across state necessitated the recruitment exercise for efficient and top-class healthcare delivery in all government health facilities. The State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that approval was given for the Health Service Commission to employ over 760 health workers of which 400 would be doctors in line with the government’s commitment towards addressing the shortage of health workers across the state. He however disclosed that the exercise has been phased in batches to ensure compliance with coron...
File Photo The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to Lagos State Government to speedily and holistically address the demands of the striking doctors, under the aegis of Medical Guild. The NMA made the appeal in a statement jointly signed by Dr Adenekan Adetunji and Dr Ramon Moronkola, the Lagos State Chairman and Secretary of the association respectively. The NMA leaders said that this was to prevent avoidable escalation of the issue. Adetunji and Moronkola had closely monitored the developments surrounding the ongoing industrial dispute between Lagos State employed doctors, under the auspices of the Medical Guild and the state government. “We are aware of the extension of the ultimatum set by the Medical Guild for the LASG to address its demands. “Indeed, we were optimistic t...