Read original article By Jaiden Feldman Twelve. This is the number of people who have died of COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County since Governor Newsom issued a stay-at-home order that, among many guidelines, restricts gatherings of more than 10 people. But in the wake of the pandemic, funeral directors must balance social distancing with the undeniable needs…

Read original article By:  Sean Towle DENVER — Memorial Day weighs heavily on families who have postponed funeral plans because of rules related to COVID-19 at national cemeteries. However, some funeral homes are working with families to honor veterans amid the restrictions. Anne Ramirez and her family were making their first trip to see her parents' final resting…

Read original article The overall coronavirus death toll in the United States now stands at 49,759, with 866,646 confirmed cases. The novel coronavirus has killed nearly 50,000 people in the United States, after one of the deadliest days of the pandemic which saw 3,176 deaths, according to a tally Thursday from Johns Hopkins University. The deaths were…

Read original article By: DAVID MIGOYA The sight of thousands of tiny American flags precisely pegged against rows of symmetrically aligned headstones in the nation’s national cemeteries has been a rite of each Memorial Day for as long as can be remembered. This year, that symphony of flags will not be seen, the casualties of a national pandemic…