Spot the social distancing difference: Canadian tourist cruise at Niagara Falls is limited to just SIX people on board while American ship is crowded - as the US reports 1,000 daily COVID-19 deaths for the first time since early June
Photos from Niagara Falls on Tuesday showed the stark difference in how the United States is handling the coronavirus pandemic compared to Canada, with two tourist boats complying to respective social distancing health precautions, appearing in contrast.
At the famous waterfalls on the US-Canadian border, Canadian ferries were limited to just six passengers per boat, out of a 700 person capacity on Tuesday. But on the US side, the ferries are operating at 50% capacity, 200 people, according to Maid of the Mist boat tours.
Temperature checks and face masks were mandatory on both sides but as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across the United States, neighboring Canada has largely managed to contain the spread of the virus.
The United States reported 57,777 new COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, and more than 1,000 deaths according to a Reuters tally, marking the first time since June 10 the nation has surpassed that grim milestone.
American tourist boat, Maid Of The Mist, glides past a Canadian vessel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on Tuesday
Maid of the Mist's website says it's limited to 50% occupancy under New York state's rules amid the spread of the coronavirus
The Hornblower Niagara Thunder was limited to just six passengers under the Ontario Provencal government's rules
Canada reported 786 cases and six deaths. Since the outbreak began, the United States has reported around 118 coronavirus cases per 10,000 residents, while Canada has around 30.
As of Tuesday evening, Canada was reporting 111,697 cases while the US had racked up more than 3.9million - the highest number globally.
The tourist hotspot gained a new photo-op for social distancing Canadian visitors who spotted the crowds of Americans.
'We actually took a picture of the (American) boat,' said Julie Pronovost, visiting from Quebec with her family on Tuesday. 'I don't find that it's very safe to be on a boat like that. It's much better here.'
Maid of the Mist could not immediately be reached for comment but its website said it was following the guidance of New York State public health officials.
The boats contain markers to keep visitors spaced out, among other safety changes, it said.
Tourists at the falls on Tuesday said they felt much safer with the six person per boat limit.
Canada reported 786 new COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday. Since the outbreak began, the United States has reported around 30 coronavirus cases per 10,000 residents
The United States reported 57,777 new COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, Since the outbreak began, the United States has reported around 118 coronavirus cases per 10,000 residents
'I'm glad I'm in Canada,' said Amanda Barnes of Brampton, Ontario. 'You can see why the pandemic is raging in the United States and not in Canada when you look at the difference between the boats'
'I'm glad I'm in Canada,' said Amanda Barnes of Brampton, Ontario. 'You can see why the pandemic is raging in the United States and not in Canada when you look at the difference between the boats.'
'I think it's all about making money for the Americans, so they're more relaxed about controls,' one man told CTV National News on Tuesday.
Maria Wilson, 10, said she liked the empty boat experience.
'It was great, because usually when there's a lot of people you can't even move to have a great view,' she said.
However one man pointed out that it meant higher prices.
'I would have opted for more people on board because we had to pay more expensive [rates],' he told CTV.
Hornblower has had to offer a new VIP cruise which guarantees a near-empty boat, plus a meal and funicular ride included with the ticket price of C$69.95 ($52.00).
Mory DiMaurizio, general manager and vice president of Canada's Hornblower Niagara Cruises, said the limits placed on its business by the Ontario provincial government were 'disappointing' and that it was 'frustrating' to see the American boats relatively full.
However they have 'made lemonade out of lemons.' He told Reuters the VIP experience has proved popular and 'actually surprised us.' But the company is still losing money.
Canadian authorities are dealing with both unwanted tourists slipping though the border and permitted travelers - including essential workers, those en route to Alaska, and families reuniting - who break the strict quarantine laws, causing concerns about possible outbreaks in several provinces.
Canada will move into its next phase of reopening on Friday which will allow 100 passengers on the boat but the manager thinks it could handle 200.
'It's ridiculous actually, I mean, it's not about safety. We are beyond safe,' DiMaurizio told CTV. 'I think it could have been handled a bit differently but nevertheless we support the province in keeping us safe.'
A group of five Canadian tourists take photos as they travel down to the Hornblower tourist boat on Tuesday
The tourists are seen on board the Canadian tourist boat Hornblower. Passengers must undergo Health precautions including temperature checks and mandatory masks
Jose Mannucci, Mariah Wilson and Jasmine Demers ride the Canadian tourist boat Hornblower on Tuesday
Nancy Gagnon and Johanne Gagnon ride the Canadian tourist boat Hornblower on Tuesday with plenty of room to move
Nearly 142,000 Americans have now died from the illness caused by the coronavirus, a toll that experts warn will likely surge following recent record spikes in case numbers and an alarming rise in hospitalizations in many states.
After weeks of declining fatalities, there were more than 5,200 US COVID-19 deaths in the week ended July 19, up 5% from the previous seven days, a Reuters analysis found. That was the second successive week of rising deaths.
US deaths peaked in April, when the country lost on average 2,000 people a day. Fatalities had steadily fallen, averaging 1,300 a day in May and under 800 a day in June, according to a Reuters tally.
But after many states reopened without achieving benchmarks for doing so safety, such as two weeks of declining cases, deaths are rising again in 21 states, including Arizona, Florida and Texas, based increases in the last two weeks compared with the prior two.
While some of the increase in new cases can be attributed to more testing, hospitalizations, which are not tied to testing numbers, began to surge in late June as well.
So far in July, 17 states have reported record numbers of currently hospitalized COVID-19 patients with nine states announcing new highs on Tuesday, including Alabama, Texas and California.
People visit tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on Tuesday
People walk through a house of mirrors attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on Tuesday
People ride go karts at a tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on Tuesday
People wearing face masks visit tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada on Tuesday
In Florida, about four dozen hospitals on any given day report that their (ICUs) have reached full capacity.
Coronavirus deaths surged past 4,000 in Texas, and overwhelmed hospitals are being forced to plan for extra refrigerated storage to hold deceased patients.
Governor Greg Abbott said Hidalgo county could not order residents to stay home and said mask and social distancing rules were sufficient to keep businesses open in the Rio Grande Valley, on the US border with Mexico.
California on Tuesday became the second US state after New York to report more than 400,000 COVID-19 cases since the outbreak was first detected in the United States in January, according to a Reuters tally of county data.
New York - the epicenter of the pandemic earlier this year - has recorded by far the most deaths of any U.S. state at 32,218. California has reported more than 7,700 deaths.
But New York now has one of the nation's lowest infection rates and reported just two coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday. It has eased its once strict lockdown restrictions.
Mandatory mask wearing, which public health officials say can slow the spread of the virus, has become a political issue among Americans, with many conservatives calling such rules a violation of their Constitutional rights.
President Donald Trump has been reluctant to wear a mask himself in public, but encouraged Americans on Tuesday to wear one if they cannot maintain social distance, and avoid crowded bars.
People wait in their cars at a newly opened mega drive-thru site at SISD Student Activities Complex on July 21, 2020 in El Paso, Texas. As coronavirus deaths surge past 4000 in Texas, overwhelmed hospitals are being forced to plan for extra refrigerated storage to hold deceased patients
Few people wear masks as they walk on the beach pier during the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Oceanside, California on Tuesday
A traffic officer directs vehicles at a COVID-19 test site in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday. California on Tuesday became the second US state after New York to report more than 400,000 COVID-19 cases since the outbreak was first detected in the United States in January
People dine al fresco, or open air, in Hell's Kitchen on Tuesday in New York City. New York City's Open Restaurant Program, which seeks to phase in city-side options to expand outdoor seating for food establishments, has been extended through October
A sunbather wearing an umbrella on his head feeds pigeons on the beach at Coney Island in the Brooklyn on Tuesday
Florida teachers, whose unions are against their members returning to school, hold a car parade protest in front of the Pasco County School district office in Land O' Lakes on Tuesday. COVID-19 deaths are rising again in Florida
In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp has sought to prevent Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms from enforcing an order that residents wear masks in public.
A court hearing on Kemp's lawsuit against Bottoms, a Democrat who has been mentioned as a possible running mate for presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden, was postponed after two judges recused themselves.
In Florida, the state teachers' union has sued Governor Ron DeSantis and other officials in an attempt to halt his plans to reopen school classrooms. Florida teachers, whose unions are against their members returning to school, held a car parade protest in front of the Pasco County School district office in Land O' Lakes.
It was as the state suffered a surge of more than 10,000 daily new COVID-19 cases for six out of the last seven days.
On average last week, 19% of Florida's tests for the virus came back positive, indicating widespread community transmission. Deaths have climbed 45% week-over-week.
'I think it's much better today than it was two weeks ago. And I think it will continue to improve,' DeSantis said at a briefing on Tuesday, adding that hospitals were seeing plateaus in patient numbers.
About 20% of Florida's intensive care unit beds are available, 5% more than two weeks ago, after hospitals expanded capacity. The number of currently hospitalized coronavirus patients fell on Tuesday after rising to record highs at least nine days in a row, state data showed.
Neither Florida nor Georgia have issued statewide mask mandates. In Texas, Abbott initially resisted such an order but earlier this month agreed to require face coverings in most counties.
In Hidalgo County, cases have risen 59% in the last week to nearly 13,000 total. In just one week, deaths have doubled to over 300, according to a Reuters tally.
Two women donate blood in an INOVA Hospitals Bloodmobile at the Edlavitch Jewsih Community center in Washington, DC on Tuesday. This is the first time INVOA has had a mobile blood drive since the March and the rise of COVID-19 cases in the DC region
Team members of the Miami Marlins stand during the US national anthem before the first pitch of a summer training camp exhibition game between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday
