Easter during the COVID-19 pandemic take two.

Happening in the World: Italy has entered a preemptive three-day lockdown against any Easter-related surges in COVID-19 cases. All regions of Italy are considered to be in the “red zone” which is the highest tier of restrictions, maintaining about 20,000 new cases a day. All non-essential travel is banned, but citizens can share a meal for Easter at home with two other adults. Churches are open—but worshipers are told to attend services within their own region. Earlier today, Pope Francis delivered his Easter message to an empty St. Peter’s Square. (BBC)

Happening in the US: Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Manatee County due to the possibility that saltwater has breached the south reservoir at the Piney Point facility. Florida’s Manatee County Public Safety Department has already ordered an evacuation of the reservoir site and surrounding areas due to a leak that might cause a collapse of phosphogypsum (waste created during fertilizer production and phosphate rock mining) stacks that could impact nearby property owners. (CNN)  

Happening in NYC: The Legal Aid Society, a law firm working to serve low-income families and individuals, claimed Saturday that NYC’s jail officials have not enforced a legally required mandate informing incarcerated people of their right to vote. They argue the prison system has not distributed voting information packets for eligible inmates, despite being legally required to. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Correction said, in a statement to the Gothamist, that the agency has “gone above and beyond to facilitate voter engagement” in city jails. (Gothamist)

Happening in our community: While not much is happening on campus today, tomorrow features an event entitled “Distance Diplomacy: How the Pandemic Affects Processes at the UN.” The event boasts a panel filled with UN Ambassadors who will discuss how the lack of in-person interactions affects formal and informal discussions at the UN. They will also converse about how current aspects of the UN will affect future processes. The event is from 1 to 2:30 pm EDT. Find out more about the event here.

Opening line of the week: “We always seemed to be moving, always for the better, always to make our lives better, whatever.” -Tahereh Mafi, A Very Large Expanse of Sea.

bunny bunny bunny omg via Pixabay