China News Service, March 30. According to the Associated Press, in an effort to slow the spread of the new crown epidemic, governments are deciding which stores and services must remain open and restricting people to stay home. Home orders and related guidance are affecting more than 20% of the world's population. This has led many people to spend time thinking about a long-standing question: what exactly is a necessity?
On March 15, local time, Paris, France entered the highest stage (third stage) of the prevention of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and closed all "non-essential" public places. The picture shows a cafe closed on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Photo by Li Yang, China News Agency
The report states that the unprecedented epidemic of new coronary pneumonia defines what is "necessary" for the world and what we really cannot do without, even though we may not need them to survive.
Golf and guns are considered essential in some states in the United States. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont's listing of gun stores on the list of required industries has shocked and disappointed families who have suffered gun violence. Governor Spokesman Rice said Lamont is trying to not unduly interfere with business activities or interfere with legal rights.
On the 24th, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf allowed gun stores to reopen, but only if customers and employees adhere to social distance and other protective measures and make appointments for a limited time.
In the United States, lobbyists have been trying to influence what is on the basic services list so that their customers' industries can continue to operate. Despite their efforts, golf is not considered necessary in Connecticut. But Arizona Governor Ducci added golf courses to the list of required industries. Phoenix officials encourage the city's 1.7 million residents to "go out" and exercise at golf courses and parks.
But the mayors of five other Arizona cities countered this, telling Ducci that golf courses and lenders did not apply the definition of essential industries.
In California, construction industry executives and others have lobbied state officials to save the construction industry from shutdowns. State health officials responded by including all construction projects in essential industries.
In New Hampshire, Governor Chris Sununu said flower shops are one of the required industries. When asked why, spokesman Ben Wistatt said the florist provided the necessary services to the funeral home.
In India and some states in the United States, the information technology industry is listed as an indispensable industry during the outbreak. The global dependence on the Internet is becoming more and more obvious, and many people are forced to communicate online, watch movies and play online games at home.
Among the European countries that have been hit hard by the epidemic, Italy has the most stringent regulations. Only food stores and pharmacies can maintain business and require manufacturing to stop. However, factories that produce essentials such as medical supplies can continue to operate after improving employee safety protection measures.
Alcohol is also classified as a necessity in many places. At first, the British did not add liquor stores to the list of stores that remained open. It was not until the reports that liquor, wine and alcoholic beverages were sold out, and the government quickly allowed such stores to resume operations.
British restaurants and restaurants have stopped serving dine-in services, but people can still take away fish and chips and other meals. France has previously announced that shops selling pastries, wine and cheese are a must-have industry.