var objshow7 = { "showcontent":{"showepisode": [ "March 17, 2020", "March 23, 2020", "March 25, 2020", "April 6, 2002", "April 20, 2020" ], "showcurrent": "April 20, 2020", "showlink": "https://rhythmenglish.com/video/update7.mp4#t=1", "showname": "Free the Children", "showcomment": "This update: Will Spanish children be allowed outside and what’s going on in NYC.", "showvocab": "brew (v)

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Hello and welcome to RE news update for Monday April 20th 2020.

Controversy in Spain. As the coronavirus lockdown in Spain, one of the toughest in the world, enters it’s second month problems are brewing about exactly how and when to end the confinement of its citizens. One of the arguments highlighted over the past week is the fact that children are not allowed to leave their homes. In inner-city areas such as Madrid where families live in small flats often with very little exposure to sunlight, this is of particular concern. Opposition parties have petitioned the ruling left-wing coalition to allow children to leave their homes with a parent or guardian for one hour every morning. At first this proposal was rejected by president Sánchez on the grounds that children, due to the fact that are the most likely to carry the virus and not show symptoms, are a danger to society and could set off a second wave of infections. News of this confinement of children hit the international press over the past few days, which may have played a role in the fact that Sánchez has now stated that it is likely that after the 27th of April there will be some type of allowance made in order that children be given the chance to enjoy some fresh air.

Currently Spain remains under harsh confinement rules as the country appears to have passed the peak of the number of infections. So far only one rule has been softened. No longer are only essential workers allowed on their posts. However, this has not had much of an effect on conditions especially in Madrid, which still has the feeling of a ghost town.

Let’s head over to the US.

As New York City enters the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, cops in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn broke up a raucous party that packed more than fifty people into a local barbershop on Saturday night. The trouble began around 6pm as a shoot for a rap video and then spiraled into a raging party. A massive presence of NYPD officers arrived around 10pm. The party-goers, mostly in their late teens and twenties were handcuffed with zip-ties and processed on the scene. According to the New York coronavirus restrictions, residents must remain six feet apart and gatherings of any size have been banned. Offenders face fines of up to one thousand dollars.

Mayor Bill Deblasio has gone as far as publicly recommending snitching on citizens who break social distancing rules. The mayor has urged New Yorkers to take pictures of offenders and text them to a special number provided by the city so that further action can be taken.

If you want to get married anywhere in the state of New York during this crisis, no worries. You may now click the bride. Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is quickly becoming the most famous politician in America says, ‘There’s now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage. You can do it by zoom’. According to the provisions set forth in Executive Order 220.20, ‘any issuance of a marriage license application, marriage license or witnessing of the marriage ceremony is authorized to be performed using audio visual technology. The measure seeks to make the statewide lockdown a little more tolerable and romantic – at least for those whose relationships don’t implode as a result of the confinement rules.

Well that’s all for now, stay safe, stay calm, it’s just a stitch in time.

Goodbye for now." } }