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From Our Own Correspondent: Louisiana Blues

Magazines & Reviews

11/04/2020 GMT

Louisiana Blues

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Louisiana Blues

Weeks after Mardi Gras, New Orleans wrestles with a surge in Coronavirus cases.

New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz, falls silent, after becoming the latest hotspot for Covid-19; faith leaders in Jerusalem issue a call to set aside differences

Stories from Louisiana, Jerusalem, Hungary and Haiti. The first confirmed case in Louisiana was announced less than two weeks after Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras – as it is more widely known – is the culmination of a month of celebrations in New Orleans, with a fan fair of parades, fancy dress and parties. But the vibrancy for which the Crescent City is known has faded into an uneasy quiet. It is now known to be one of the Covid-19 pandemic’s hot spots in the US with more than 5000 cases. The cities bars are closed, its clubs are silent and the St Patrick’s day parade has been cancelled. Sean Payton, the coach of the New Orleans Saints, announced that he had tested positive. The archbishop of New Orleans did, too. Harry Shearer, acclaimed radio host and actor, is worried about the future of the city as a cultural destination.

In Jerusalem, Easter, Passover and Ramadan would all usually be celebrated this month by families and friends eating festive meals and with prayers at the holy sites.  But this year, of course, is different.  Jerusalem is in lockdown, like cities around the world.  From her home, Middle East Correspondent, Yolande Knell has been asking local religious leaders about how to make the most of the holidays
Democracy in quarantine? Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been granted extraordinary powers for an indefinite period of time by a Parliament dominated by his own party. Opposition parties had to choose between this or being portrayed as enemies of the nation. Nick Thorpe in Budapest has been watching the power game.  

And an Easter festival with a difference: Souvenance is a week-long gathering that takes place each year on a dusty plane outside the city of Gonaive (go-na-eeve) in Haiti. It is one of the holiest pilgrimages for believers of Voodoo.After Haiti declared independence from France in 1804, the Voodoo faith flourished and became a symbol of liberty for the nation. It remains the dominant religion there.Thomas Rees attended the Souvenance festival during his time reporting there.


Picture caption: Men wear masks and play cards on a street in New Orleans amid the coronavirus outbreak. Credit: Reuters/Kathleen Flynn)

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