It’s difficult to choose just one story from this past week to highlight, as so much has happened since last Sunday. This week I’ll highlight two major stories; in doing so, I’ll still only capture a small picture of what the world is talking about at this time. The first, here at home, is the imposition of a 28-day shutdown in Montréal, Quebec City, and Chaudière-Appalaches. The second involves the increasingly strange American presidential election. Shortly after a debate largely as the worst in living American memory, the American president was discovered to have contracted COVID-19.
New regulations and restrictions were announced by Premier Legault and his team around 5 pm September 28th, and the measures took effect October 1st for many of Québec’s major urban centers. The press conference was immediately followed by a number of questions and concerns about how the rules would work. The CAQ also announced that they would be tightening enforcement, announcing large fines for people who mask or social distancing rules. At the Olympic Stadium, on Saturday, some anti-mask demonstrators were repeatedly warned to wear masks and given warnings, and five protestors were issued $400 fines.
On Tuesday, September 29th, American presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump met for what is supposed to be the first of three debates. Numerous American voices condemned the debate as the worst anyone could remember. Trump repeatedly interrupted his rival, and refused to listen to the of Fox News moderator Chris Wallace; Biden countered with insults of his own. The debate was bad enough that more than one commenter called for the remaining debates to be cancelled.
Before the dust could fully settle on the debate , it was revealed, Thursday night, that President Trump had contracted COVID-19. It seems likely that Trump contracted the disease from his long-time advisor Hope Hicks. The weekend news cycle in The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Washington Post* all turned to constant coverage of the President’s condition. The ceremony in the White House Rose Garden for Supreme Court nominee Amy Cornet Barrett may well have been a super-spreader event that could, ironically, derail her own nomination.
by Nathan R. Elliott
1. “As cases soar, Québec’s premier must confront a health crisis and fraying social bonds.” CBC news. Oct 2, 2020. 6 mins. Intermediate.
2. “CAQ tightens screws on COVID scofflaws by imposing $1,000 fines.” Montreal Gazette. Oct 1, 2020, 2020, 5 mins. Intermediate.
3. “Protesters without masks fined $400 each at anti-mask march.” Montreal Gazette. Oct 4, 2020. Late Beginner/Intermediate.
4. “With Cross Talk, Lies and Mockery, Trump Tramples Decorum in Debate with Biden.” The New York Times, Sept 29, 2020. 10 mins, Intermediate.
5. “For the Sake of Democracy, Cancel the Trump-Biden Debates.” The New York Times, Oct 1, 2020. 7 mins, Intermediate/Advanced.
6. “The Rose Garden Ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett May Have Been a Super-Spreader Event. Could it Derail her Supreme Court Nomination?” Vogue Magazine. Oct 4, 2020. 7 mins. Intermediate.
* These three live feeds are also linked above. These are time-sensitive links, they are of indefinite length, and may cease to function at some point.