Morning Reads for National Empanada Day (April 8)

Good morning, and welcome back to my recognition of goofy and lighthearted holidays! I’ve been way too serious of late. It’s a little more difficult than most April 8ths to get your hands on empanadas today, so perhaps it’s time for a new challenge in the kitchen?

I consider myself a pretty good cook, but I’ve never in my life attempted to make empanadas. The Spruce Eats assures us it’s easy, so if you try it, post about your experience below!

It’s also Passover, so I would like to wish a kosher and joyous Passover to our readers who celebrate. And now the news:

Pat Conroy

• Governor Kemp is expected to extend his emergency powers without approval from the Georgia General Assembly because they can’t convene due to self-quarantines.
• A lot has been said about the stress on rural hospitals during this pandemic, but how are coroners handling the increased caseload?
• Georgia food banks have increased requests at the same time they’re allowed fewer volunteers.
• The backlash over opening Georgia’s beaches has gone national.
• The current model projections predict 3,400 deaths from COVID-19 in Georgia by August with a peak coming on April 21st.
• In-person voting for the May 19th primary is looking like a big problem.
  • AHEM: Here is your reminder to fill out the form to request an absentee ballot!

Alice Walker

• In a continuation of several posts we’ve linked in the Morning Reads over the past two weeks regarding health disparities and their effects on those who contract COVID-19, here is a hard look at the frighteningly high rate at which African Americans are dying of this virus.
• The CDC has changed its website to remove dosage recommendations for hydroxychloroquine as a potential COVID-19 therapeutic.
  • Pharmacists in Georgia are seeing a sudden uptick in prescriptions for the drug, including for people who haven’t tested positive for COVID-19.
• Why many health care workers are seeing benefits and pay cuts, and furloughs, even amidst a pandemic.
• President Trump isn’t the only person unhappy with the World Health Organization right now.
• A second stimulus? Here’s what it might contain.
• It’s not really panic buying that’s causing the continued shortage on toilet paper (though, it didn’t help the situation).
• Wuhan’s lockdown has ended, but folks there are scared of a second wave of COVID-19.

Flannery O’Connor

• A couple in Macon has found a unique quarantine hobby: Photoshopping themselves into famous paintings.