July 4 was always the time for communities to gather, and the all-day celebrations with national parades in the morning and the end of the fireworks to cover them.
This year, people are urged to stay home, and watch it on TV.
Fireworks will still mount on the National Mall in Washington and elsewhere, although fewer people are able to see them.
Backyard barbecues will replace some of the traditional trips to the beaches or soccer fields.
Therefore, there is no live show for Bob Boston on the Charles River Esplanade theater, no live concert from the Western Garden of the American Capitol in Washington, and no fireworks display at the Navy Quay in Chicago.
This year’s guest list has been reduced from 100 to 30, for fear that it will make the elderly more vulnerable to the disease or young children who can spread it easily.
But whether it is big cities or small cities full of pride, there is a desire to ensure that some shows continue, regardless of their shape.
By not advertising sites and keeping shows for five minutes, crowds cannot gather in large numbers as they usually do along the river bank.
