United States: what does Memorial Day look like in the midst of a Coronavirus epidemic?

People walk and gather along the beach on the morning of May 23, 2020 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Businesses, including entertainment, have reopened for Memorial Day weekend. Sean Rayford / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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In the United States, it's Memorial Day weekend. Monday, May 25 is a holiday to pay tribute to members of the armed forces who died in combat. This three-day weekend traditionally marks the start of summer with tributes to veterans, rushes on the beaches and various gatherings. But due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the majority of these events have been canceled.

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With our correspondent in Washington , Anne Corpet 

It is heartbreaking for the residents of Ironton, Iowa, who pride themselves on being the first American city to have organized a parade in honor of the veterans. Every year since 1868, the parade organized there has attracted tens of thousands of Americans. This year, no fanfare or crowd bathing, only a few vehicles will circulate, and tourists are invited to stay at home. 

At Cape Code off Boston, a sailing race that has been held for almost fifty years has had to be canceled. In the federal capital, the Mall usually invaded by thousands of bikers for Memorial Day will remain deserted  

Across the country, parades, concerts, and giant barbecues that normally punctuate this holiday weekend have been banned. Most states in the United States have lifted the strict containment guidelines, but still ban gatherings of more than ten people. The health authorities are concerned, however: the coast has become widely accessible again, and it will undoubtedly be difficult to apply safety instructions on crowded beaches. 

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