PANDEMIC

In this episode of "Going Ringside with The Local Station" we sit down with Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry to discuss the UFC relationship he's developed during his term along with other fighting leagues like All Elite Wrestling. We also preview the UFC event in Jacksonville June 24th. There's also an interview with the host of the "Jenerally Sepaking" Podcast.

A local business closed its doors leaving customers with questions about how they will get their pre-paid money back.

It is a good time to remind women about making their health a priority and scheduling those routine checkups they might’ve put off during the pandemic.

The News4JAX Trust Index team is fact checking a statement made by President Biden during his speech Tuesday at the White House.

The problems the nursing industry is experiencing lately aren’t new issues, said Melissa, 41, who’s in Roanoke, Virginia.

Christine always envisioned a career in nursing. It’s all she ever wanted, professionally.

Did you have any idea just how many health care workers are nervous about a physical attack on the job?

Just last week, we asked: If you’re a health care worker, what are you seeing lately on the job?

Does it still seem like the COVID-19 pandemic just started, or do you feel like we’ve been dealing with this reality for ages?

Last summer, we asked: “Are you or your partner pregnant -- or have you delivered in the past few months?” ... “We want to hear from you.”

Maybe it was when the pandemic first arrived in the United States, or perhaps it only happened in recent weeks or months. But if you lost a friend or family member to COVID-19, and you’d like to memorialize that person’s legacy, we invite you to share more.

The U.S. could soon hit more than 200,000 new coronavirus cases per day. That’s the latest from the National Institutes of Health.

It seems like more and more people are heading back to the office in some capacity, and it probably felt a little bit foreign for those who haven’t seen their co-workers in real life in more than a year.

Duval County students and staff taking part in summer activities were not spared the scourge of COVID-19, as more than 200 tested positive between June 3 and July 28, according to data provided by Duval County Public Schools (DCPS).

The Small Business Association has now released data on recipients of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, aimed at helping certain businesses and non-profits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot of things going forward, one of which is the way pet owners and veterinarians interact during visits.

In 2016, Valerie Collignon gave birth at 35 weeks, which resulted in a week-long NICU stay that she described as “traumatizing.”

Being home for those first couple months of the pandemic really made for a lot of free time for some, and wasn’t it the perfect time to adopt a new puppy or kitty?

News4Jax asked viewers currently in or fresh out of the restaurant industry their thoughts on how the environment has changed and what could drive unemployed people to pick other jobs besides those in the food industry.

An arrangement of flowers may end up costing you more than you were expecting for Mother’s Day this year.

The fund collected 15,000 individual donations and raised close to $25 million.

After more than a year, we can finally see the light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic tunnel.

Memorial Hospital Jacksonville will have yellow flags for members of its staff to display in the front of its hospital entrance as a symbolic healing gesture of letting go of the pandemic and looking forward to the future.

Kids in poverty are 7x more likely to experience child neglect and three times more likely to experience abuse.

First- and second-graders line up for Salk Polio vaccine shots on April 23, 1955. Regardless of where anyone stands on the matter, we know that vaccinations have been protecting us from diseases for decades. In 1921, the United States recorded 206,000 cases, which resulted in 15,520 deaths, according to the History of Vaccines website. According to the CDC, polio was once one of the most feared diseases in the U.S. Since 1979, there have been no polio cases that originated in the U.S.

To think of a world in which there’s no longer a COVID-19 pandemic. With vaccines now rolling out all over the country, as well as becoming available to more and more people, some have begun to talk about a post-pandemic life -- words we couldn’t imagine uttering (much less living) just a few months ago. Shall we go so far as to say there’s light at the end of the tunnel? So now we ask: What is at the top of your bucket list, if you will, post-pandemic? Maybe you’re dying to get back to work in person with your colleagues or classmates.

In writing this series, I’ve enjoyed hearing and learning about what’s been different, how people have been coping and adapting, and think about my own family’s timing and how we’ll manage it all.

The last photo on her phone before the pandemic declaration was taken at 4:32 p.m. March 10. “We are here having a beer at Tubala Rasa Brewing Company,” Blanton said of his last pre-pandemic image. SLIDESHOW: Here are our last memories before our lives changed🗓 3.11.20📸 9:22 AM - A morning walk. Bob Ellis, the vice president and general manager of WJXT/WCWJ, said his last photo before the pandemic hit was from a vacation at the beach with his family. She said it was the last picture she took on her phone before we all started wearing masks in public.

The number of deaths in the U.S. with patients who tested positive for coronavirus approaches half a million. As the pandemic continues to hurt families both medically and financially, there is at least some financial assistance heading to Jacksonville. While people are getting vaccinated, the U.S.’s leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, speculates Americans could be still wearing masks into 2022. “It’s nothing like we’ve ever been through in the last 102 years since the 1918 influenza pandemic,” Fauci said. On the local front, some good news for many families in Jacksonville as Mayor Lenny Curry puts out this announcement:Ad“Monday at noon, I will announce a new round of federal funding for rent and utility assistance for Jacksonville residents who meet certain federal qualifications.

Let’s say you’re following all of the latest public health recommendations, trying your absolute best to keep your family and others safe from COVID-19.

It almost seems impossible, but we’ve been living with COVID-19 in our lives for almost a year, and tragically, some of us have lost grandparents, parents, siblings and friends due to this unforgiving virus. As the United States is approaching 500,000 deaths since early 2020, it seems that many of us have experienced a COVID-related loss. So, in honor of your loved one’s memory, we’re asking that you share a photo of them and tell us their story. We’ve all dealt with grief in our lives, but losing a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic is especially hard, since we all can’t celebrate their lives like we normally would. Hopefully sharing your loved ones with others virtually can bring you the tiniest bit of comfort in these uncertain times.

Nearly half of Americans say they’ve gained weight during the pandemic, according to a recent survey. AdThen, there’s the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, diet – which focuses on foods to help lower blood pressure. And there’s also a newer combination of the two called the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, or MIND diet. “That diet has been shown, with rigorous adherence, to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia by about 53%, so this is really a brain boosting diet,” said Kirkpatrick. If you’re having trouble deciding what diet is right for you, talk to your healthcare provider or enlist the help of a dietician.

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, so does its financial impact. For people who need help with rent or mortgage payments, or have student loans, there may be some good news about the federal relief response. The Federal Housing Finance Agency tells you how to find out if your mortgage is federally backed. AdStudent Loan Borrowers — For those federal student loans that are covered, the U.S. Department of Education has automatically paused payments through Sept. 30, 2021. Here are some ways to protect yourself:If you spot a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Ron DeSantis called President Joe Biden a “lockdowner” when he was asked about a domestic travel ban report on Fox News. He said lockdowns won’t help with the increase of COVID-19 cases, and cases of the new variant. DeSantis said he doesn’t agree with the reports that said the Biden administration will place a domestic travel ban on certain states including Florida. This despite a White House spokesperson saying as recently as Thursday that there are currently no bans of domestic travel being considered. Lockdowns don’t work.

A recent survey shows some couples feel the quarantine has actually brought them closer together. There were many predictions that quarantine was going to have a negative impact on relationships and lead to more break ups and divorces. But, a recent survey shows some couples feel it actually brought them closer together. “In a review of over 43 different studies and 11,000 couples interviewed, the number one factor in keeping couples together, and close, is expressing appreciation of your significant other,” said Dr. Albers. It can be small or something that is really significant to who they are.”If you find yourself having relationship troubles, Dr. Albers encourages reaching out to a couples counselor.

It certainly wasn’t planned this way, but Claire Nackashi had to deal with almost every aspect of her pregnancy, pandemic-style.

In the last week, we saw thousands of people in our area get the COVID-19 vaccine, despite a rising number of cases of the virus. Do you remember when the state hit 1 million cases on Dec. 1? Just over 11,000 new cases were reported Sunday, but Florida also surpassed a million people vaccinated on Sunday. With nearly 75,000 cases in Duval, and over 50,000 people vaccinated, the percent positivity for new cases is at 9.3%. Some people asked why you’re doing some of the counties you’re doing; there’s some counties that have really big health infrastructure, Orlando, Jacksonville, has big infrastructure, a lot of hospitals.

Police, firefighters, teachers and grocery workers will be next in line for a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC advisory panel made the decision today for the second phase of distribution. Thousands of doses have been distributed across the county trying to fight the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC Sunday said firefighters, teachers, police and grocery workers will be next, but can these employers force their employees to get the vaccine? He said the vaccine would also have to be made available to the public before an employer can require employees to get it.

This comes after the FDA granted emergency use authorization for Pfizer and Bio-N-Tech’s vaccine on Friday. This is just part of an overall plan to distribute 40 million vaccine doses by the end of the year. The focus will then be on how soon the U.S. can get to what is called herd immunity among the population. “So we need to have immunized about 75% or 80% of the U.S. population before herd immunity can really be established. Even after the first few million doses of the vaccine are administered, you can still expect pushes for social distancing and mask wearing until herd immunity is achieved.

Dr. Lori Vallelunga, a clinical psychologist at Baptist Behavioral Health, spoke with McPherson and answered a few questions about how pets can boost our mental health. Can simply owning a pet benefit your mental health? Pets have even been shown to help people manage long-term mental health conditions like chronic depression or bipolar disorder. Animals even help us socially, facilitating meeting new people and aiding in building social networks and friendships.”Are pets especially helpful for mental health during the coronavirus pandemic? Pets ranging from fish to guinea pigs have been studied and have been found to offer benefits to our mental health.

Over time, we were pandemic baking and pandemic dating and rescuing pandemic puppies from shelters. All of which led Dictionary.com on Monday to declare “pandemic” its 2020 word of the year. For about half the year, it was in the top 10% of all our lookups.”Another dictionary, Merriam-Webster, also selected pandemic as its word of the year earlier Monday. Kelly said pandemic beat out routine lookups usually intended to sort more mundane matters, such as the differences between “to, two and too.”“That's significant,” Kelly emphasized. The pandemic as an event created a new language for a new normal.”Lexicographers often factor out routine lookups when evaluating word trends.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Over the last two days, Florida saw an increase of 17,344 COVID-19 cases and the state could reach one million cases by Monday. The pandemic didn’t keep people from traveling for the holiday and some weren’t interested in getting tested beforehand to check if visiting family was wise. Dr. Reza said this holiday will expose thousands more cases in the coming weeks. During that time, he says you should quarantine, even if you know a family member tested positive after the holiday. We asked News4Jax viewers if they planned on getting tested after traveling for the holiday.

With many medical experts urging Americans to make this year’s Thanksgiving scaled down, many of us will probably only see people in our “bubble,” so holiday is going to feel a little bit different. Thanks to technology, you can still gather with your extended family.

If you have survived COVID-19 and you’ve managed to keep your sense of smell (or quickly get it back), so happy for you, too -- truly. Getting sickWhat’s strange is that I didn’t notice my sense of smell was gone until I had already gotten over being sick. Losing my sense of smellWhat’s kind of funny is that I didn’t realize I had lost my sense of smell until I was cleaning my house one night. In this group, I learned of people who had become infected with COVID-19 in the earlier part of the year who still haven’t regained their sense of smell. Did you survive COVID-19 and still haven’t regained your sense of smell?

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: It’s ... been quite a year. But we all know, too, that there has been plenty of good that’s come out of this year. That includes all the people who have found love. Author’s note: As someone who is married, the dating scene doesn’t cross my mind a lot, but I’ve wondered: How do people meet others, romantically, during such a strange time? If you’ve gone through this during a pandemic, I’d love to hear your story, if you’re willing to share.

LAKELAND, Fla. – Actor Mark Wahlberg is aiding students and teachers across the nation in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, including those in Lakeland, Florida. KSAT reports that Wahlberg’s activewear brand Performance Inspired recently partnered with the active lifestyle brand LifeToGo to donate 1.3 million disposable face masks to teachers and students across the nation, as announced in a press release. Some areas have already received the donated 3-ply masks, including some students and teachers in San Antonio, the release said. Other places where donated masks have been received include Bentonville (AR), Boise (ID), Chicago (Ill.), Cincinnati (Ohio), Grand Rapids (MI), Minneapolis (MN), Portland (OR), Quincy (MA), Rochester (NY), Salisbury (NC), San Antonio (TX), and Woonsocket (RI). Wahlberg posted a video message on social media thanking essential workers and teachers as they combat the pandemic.

Despite the fact that the entire world has been living through a pandemic, there has been a lot of good happening, and we have managed to find quite a bit of it. There are so many people doing good things, but we’ll start by sharing these 11 stories with you. It was some time before the two were reunited, but when they did, “they were laughing like teenagers.”Want to read more? Community raises $300K for injured, retired Army veteran’s new smart home: ‘Pam will never be alone’U.S. Army Sgt. “And I didn’t want to put anyone in danger.”Then, Knowles found out about some special face coverings for the deaf.

Linda Mcgrath said missing sense of smell nearly cost her her life after a gas leak sprung in her Livonia, Michigan, home, about five months after her coronavirus diagnosis. She reached out to us in response to an article we previously published about COVID-19-related smell loss. “I had a guardian angel a couple of weeks ago when I heard a hissing noise and realized I had a gas leak." When her son arrived, it was clear Mcgrath didn’t know the extent of the leak, because she never smelled a thing. A few days later, the woman said, a house nearby in Livonia blew up from a gas leak, confirming how dangerous Mcgrath’s situation could have been.

“We had been getting in a good area as far as pending felony cases,” Public Defender Charlie Cofer said. State attorneys, lawyers and public defenders worked to resolve cases through plea deals and through virtual court hearings. Besides a growing caseload, the Public Defender’s Office and State Attorney’s Office were required to submit plans to the state in August to show what their operations might look like with significant budget cuts in place. The State Attorney’s Office was asked to detail the impact of an 8.5 percent budget reduction for the next fiscal year. The State Attorney’s Office plans to work with lawmakers and others to preserve current funding levels.

In the first video Finney posted of these “outings,” she starts by saying, “Since we can’t go to the movie theater right now, my dad decided to bring the movie theater to us. (more on instagram @wheres_mia) ♬ original sound - miafinneyFollow “Something Good” on Facebook and YouTube! People who commented seem to really admire Finney’s dad, and the lengths he went to reinvent going to the movie theater for her. The video got comments like:“Your dad is the sweetest man in the world.”“I’m allergic to kindness. In another video, Finney had been craving some Cold Stone Creamery ice cream, so you know they had to recreate it.

This time last year, we were beginning to talk about what kinds of fun costumes and masks we might wear for Halloween. Nowadays, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, masks are an every day, everywhere kind of thing. In an effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus, masks have been mandated for wear in plenty of places, so perhaps your mask has become second nature. That not only makes it a little more fun for those wearing the masks, but for us who are out people-watching (and unable to actually see people’s faces). And perhaps you just might give some others some fun ideas to work with.

The state of Hawaii recently launched the digital app so that travelers could provide their required health information before they arrive at the airport, speeding up the process. Travelers previously were required to fill out the same forms, but on paper, when they arrived in Hawaii. Now, the state has two different types of digital forms: One each for inter-island travel and trans-pacific travel. Upon providing health information at least one day before departure, travelers will receive a QR code that an airport screener will scan when they arrive. For the time being, travelers must check into the Safe Travels Hawaii website each day for health check-ins for the duration of their quarantine.

Whether your children have already begun their school year or you’re still preparing, due to delays, there are many who are choosing to keep their kids home to learn as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. Parents are doing their best to adapt, and we applaud every parent for the decision they’re making -- regardless of what that is. But for those who are keeping kids home for virtual learning, we want to see exactly how you’re adapting. What does the “classroom” you’ve created look like? We’d love to see what kinds of ideas parents have come up with, and we have a feeling other parents might appreciate some good ideas, too.

Are you ever flipping around on TV and you come across some sort of golf tournament? Golf looks pretty fun, and somewhat less strenuous than some of the other professional sports. Plus, golfing seems like an enjoyable group activity or a bucket-list item for a scenic vacation.

Health experts have identified that plasma received from someone who has survived COVID-19 can be extremely beneficial to others who may contract the virus. Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood that is collected from patients who have recovered from COVID-19, according to the FDA. By taking your weight, they will know how much plasma you are eligible to donate. Donating without COVID-19 diagnosisPerhaps you haven’t been diagnosed with COVID-19, but you still want to help donate blood or plasma. Click here to learn more about plasma donation.

Sure, some things have returned to a state of “normal,” or at least, as normal as can be expected. As the author of this story, and someone who writes/edits from home full-time while juggling toddlers and a recent out-of-state move, I usually just tell people I’m fine, when they ask. Tell us what you’re feeling. Loading…One final thing: It might feel good to fill out our form and vent a little bit (please -- I hope you do! ), but if you’re struggling or dealing with anything related to your mental health, or you’re feeling more than just “not OK,” please reach out to a trusted friend, family member or therapist.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian has put out what some are calling an aggressive enforcement of mask-wearing on the company’s flights. ”If you board the plane and you insist on not wearing your mask, we will insist that you don’t fly Delta into the future,” Bastian told Today in an interview Wednesday. The CEO said the stance is one he’s taking in order to keep crew and passengers safe during the pandemic. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Delta flights have been booked to 60% of their capacity, Today reported after speaking with Bastian. “We’ve had some customers indicate that they have (an) underlying condition that makes wearing a mask dangerous for them,” Bastian said.

She explained that distance learning for her son Julian, who recently finished fourth grade at a public school in Maryland, was a disaster. At Julian’s school, he received the Individualized Education Program, which is federally mandated for students with special needs. Wohl suggests new distance learning is presenting an opportunity to shift norms to benefit students with disabilities, specifically those who have communication difficulties or are nonspeaking. In-person classrooms have grown to be rather large in recent years, but that can leave students with disabilities feeling overwhelmed. Wohl suggests that smaller groups can give students better access to their curriculum at their own pace, as well as social inclusion.

State education leaders are working to make sure mental healthcare is accessible to students and families this upcoming school year. This week, the states Department of Education and the Department of Children and Families presented a framework for how school districts can develop their mental health plans. Mental health is more important than ever as we battle a pandemic, and that care needs to be accessible to everyone. It also includes $5.5 million for youth mental health first aid. State law required that school districts should submit their approved plans to the education commissioner by Aug. 1.

Both of the rappers are billed on this song, but after a listen, it seems like Eminem is the one being featured on a Kid Cudi song. Eminem, at one point, goes off about people not wearing masks in public:“Half of us walking around like a zombie apocalypse. Other half are just p----- off, and don’t wanna wear a mask and they’re just scoffing. 1 rapper advocating for public health in the middle of a pandemic. We didn’t expect to see Eminem becoming a public health advocate on our 2020 bingo card, but we are here for it.

Where is travel restricted? The International Air Transport Association -- the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing nearly 82% of total air traffic -- has created an interactive map that shows where in the world travel is restricted. There are four ways -- shown by color -- in which the map shows how restrictive the travel is in each area:Totally restrictivePartially restrictiveNot restrictiveLatest updates currently under reviewWhat information does the map actually give you? Are you interested in traveling out of the country sometime soon -- or at any point in the future, amid the coronavirus pandemic? While this map is a helpful tool for future travelers, regulations around the world change quickly, so it’s important to visit local government websites of the areas you plan on visiting before booking travel.

So let’s take a look at all of the wild things that happened so far this year that you probably already forgot about, shall we? (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Jan. 3: Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike by the U.S. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Feb. 5: After months of investigations, hearings and lots of tweets from Trump, the president was acquitted by the Senate on both articles of impeachment. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)And now we’re in June. It’s hard to believe that all of those things happened during a pandemic, so who knows what else is next?

Grocery prices saw the highest spike in nearly 50 years last month, according to the U.S. consumer price index. Meat-eaters had an additional tug at their wallet with a 4.3% increase as compared to March. The price of dairy products, fruits and vegetables inched up 1.5%While groceries were more costly, prices fell for a host of other goods and services, according to the index. These changes come in response to how Americans are now living in response to the pandemic, according to NPR. Due to stay-at-home orders, many restaurants closed and so consumers were relying on grocery stores more than ever.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Major airlines are changing the face of flying, literally. Starting Monday, May 4, anyone who flies aboard a JetBlue, Delta, or United Airlines aircraft must wear either a face mask or covering when traveling. The airline says masks will need to be worn while checking, boarding, in the air, and when passengers exit the plane. Per CDC recommendations, masks and face coverings must cover the nose and the mouth. If you look around Jacksonville International Airport, face masks and coverings appear to be as common as suitcases.

The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned a second wave of the coronavirus this year could be worse because it will coincide with flu season. "There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said in an interview with The Washington Post. "And when I've said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don't understand what I mean." Redfield told the Post that having two respiratory outbreaks would burden the health care system. He had previously warned that the United States will feel the impact of the virus in months and years ahead, telling CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in February that the virus “is probably with us beyond this season, beyond this year.”

In the midst of all the stay-at-home orders that have caused people to have too much free time, it’s a good bet that some families have blown the dust off old board games stashed away in a cabinet somewhere. For those already into board games, it’s just been more of an opportunity to play them -- and to see who can win a best-of-seven battle in Chutes and Ladders or be the best settler in Catan. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, families are turning to board games for entertainment and some fun, both rehashing old memories and perfecting skills. But how much do enthusiasts out there really know about board games? Check out the quiz below to learn some fun facts and see if you can be as good at answering these questions as you are at getting all the pieces of the pie in Trivial Pursuit, or amassing triple-word scores in Scrabble.

We’re all coping with the coronavirus outbreak in our own ways, and for some, that’s pretending that every hour of the day is happy hour. If you fall into that category, celebrity chef and all-around national treasure Ina Garten, also known as the Barefoot Contessa, has the perfect cocktail recipe for you. All you need is “good” vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lime juice and a giant martini glass. And no, we’re not kidding when we say a giant martini glass -- just check out the video of Garten making the drink on her Instagram, below. And as Garten always says, “How easy was that?”

WASHINGTON – The income tax filing date has been pushed back from April 15, to July 15, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said late last week. Mnuchin announced the decision in a tweet Friday, saying that at President Donald Trump’s direction, “We are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15. The delay is available to people who owe $1 million or less and corporations that owe $10 million or less. It is expected that many states will follow the lead of the federal government and delay their tax filing deadlines as well but that will be a state by state decision. The administration is working with Congress to develop a $1 trillion support package and Mnuchin has said the IRS payment delay will add $300 billion to that effort.

No Kid Hungry has a plan to feed them, but we need your help.”Yes, it’s a group called No Kid Hungry -- and it appears to be the perfect place place to turn. With your help, we’ll continue to remove any obstacles to get kids the food they need," the group’s website said. We can’t stress this one enough: The American Red Cross needs you. Help patients like Robert today: https://t.co/iJpVmoWxZy pic.twitter.com/xXHbVPOkto — American Red Cross (@RedCross) March 18, 2020Don’t be nervous about giving blood. The Red Cross issued a news release about its need for blood on March 10.

Does anyone else feel like we’re in the midst of some pretty unsettling times? Even if you’re trying to keep a level head about where things stand with the coronavirus pandemic, it’s easy to turn on the TV or open social media and start to feel pretty overwhelmed, pretty quickly. For some, you can’t go out to eat, you’re now working from home and your kids aren’t even going to school. And with that, we thought we’d provide the following playbook. Yes, there is some science jargon involved here, but we tried to break it down for you in a way that’s easy to read and digestible.

While there isn’t a whole lot we can do as restrictions are put in place, there are a few measures we can take to support our favorite local businesses during these unsettling times. Buy gift cards from your favorite restaurant or boutique. We’re all pretty used to shopping online (Amazon Prime Day is basically a holiday at this point), so one way you can support a local business is shopping from your computer or cellphone. Not all boutiques or retail stores may have the option to offer online shopping, but if they do, it’s a great way to support a small business and practice social distancing. Not everyone is able to do this, but if your income won’t be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, consider a donation to a local business that could need it.