But remember, we also have nursing homes, we also have these developmentally disabled homes and so many other areas that also need testing. So again, it takes a lot more testing than we have today, he said during his televised press conference Monday, in response to a question from The Southern.

IDOC spokeswoman Lindsey Hess said the agency is conducting targeted and deliberate testing based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the most recent evidence available.

Hess said the goal with testing is properly and adequately responding to results and providing the best care possible within a correctional health care environment.

If an offender becomes symptomatic with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing (influenza like illness) they are assumed to be at high risk for COVID-19, Hess said in an emailed response to the newspaper. Pursuant to CDC and IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) guidelines, these individuals are isolated and tested. Exposed asymptomatic offenders are quarantined and monitored for symptoms.

The biggest known outbreak in an Illinois prison has been at Stateville in upstate Will County. There, 121 prisoners have tested positive, and more than 1,300 were quarantined, according to a spreadsheet that IDOC provided to lawmakers. The vast majority of those who tested positive have recovered, and 11 have died at Stateville.

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Illinois has tested fewer than 2% of inmates for COVID-19 - The Southern

On Thursday, officials from NASCAR announced they would return to racing at Darlington Raceway on May 17.

NASCAR will run seven events in three series at Darlington and Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Cup Series will begin on Sunday, May 17, with a 3:30 p.m. start time, and will follow that race with another Cup Series Race on Wednesday, May 20, again at Darlington with the midweek race beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The Cup Series will then move to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, and will run the famous Coca Cola 600 starting at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, May 24, the Cup Series will race at Charlotte again with an 8 p.m. start time.

The Xfinity Series will race at Darlington on Tuesday, May 19, and in Charlotte on Monday, May 25. The Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series will race in Charlotte on Tuesday, May 26.

This is NASCARs start to the schedule, and they are continuing to work to secure races to complete the season as it was scheduled.

On Thursday, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve ODonnell and John Bobo, vice president of racing operations, held a teleconference with media to discuss the specifics of the decisions to begin live racing again.

The race will not have fans in attendance, and there also will be several precautions taken by NASCAR to ensure the health and safety of those that will be in attendance.

Bobo explained those steps in detail. To start, they are asking the teams, and other organizations that are coming to the race to self-monitor people for five days for symptoms before arrival. NASCAR also is asking them to fill out questionnaires before arrival and to have an initial screening of their temperature.

Additional screening will be done for essential personnel. Bobo said NASCAR has been working with the teams to try and limit the events to who can attend, and they are doing that by trying to move any operations off-site that they can.

Any personnel going into the infield will be required to wear cloth masks, and since there will be no spectators allowed they will be able to use the entire infield to spread out and adhere to social distancing. The drivers motor coaches will be in the infield but will be spread out much more than usual. They also are going to have one-way walkways, and Bobo said that anyone who does not comply with their rules for masks and social distancing would be removed from the premises.

They also will be monitoring the traffic coming into the garage area and making sure it is limited to essential personnel as well. The situation on pit road will be similar to the rest of the track, with all over-the-wall competitors required to wear fireproof sock masks or use the face screen.

Spotters will be spaced out with at least 6 to 10 feet between them. Temperatures also will be taken at random throughout the events as needed, and all symptomatic patients will be removed and given medical attention as needed. In that case they will be focusing on contact tracing and asking teams to keep logs of who theyve interacted with throughout the course of the day so they will be able to find out who theyve had direct exposure to in the case of a positive test.

NASCAR has taken tremendous steps to ensure the health and safety of all of those that will be participating in the events, and with them being the first major sports organization to go back to live events, all eyes will be on NASCAR and who they handle the situation.

As for what is next for NASCAR when it comes to where they will be headed is a work in progress. ODonnell said that they wanted to have events that were in driving distance for the employees and that Darlington and Charlotte worked out. Once they can get these races under their belt they are hoping that other states will ease restrictions and allow them to race at tracks at further distances.

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Void of vans, NASCAR season set to start on May 17 with stepped up precautions in place - YourGV.com

Despite all of the potential hazards around a house from electrical issues to fire hazards to carbon monoxide, the National Home Security Alliance says that falls are the leading cause of death due to home accidents.

Falls are responsible for one-third of all home-related fatalities. Although seniors are the group most affected by falls, these types of accidents can affect anyone.

A broken bone may be a minor inconvenience for young people, but fractures are more serious for the elderly. As a result, seniors must take measures to protect themselves against falls. These steps can minimize risk at home.

1. Remove tripping hazards. Examine rooms and hallways for potential hazards, such as slippery throw rugs, floorboards that stick up, loose carpeting, or furniture that blocks walking paths. Remedy these hazards as soon as possible. Address loose floorboards and/or place nonslip materials beneath rugs.

2. Install grab bars or railings. Install grab bars in certain locations for extra stability or where someone may need leverage getting up from a seated position. They are particularly helpful near toilets and bathtubs and in stairways and hallways.

3. Stick to sensible shoes. Sensible shoes fit properly and have sturdy, nonskid soles. Avoid walking around in slippers or even in stocking feet, which are much more slippery.

4. Store items within reach. Store items that are used frequently, such as dishes, in easily accessible cabinets and other locations. This prevents having to climb or reach for them.

5. Install more lighting. Poor visibility can contribute to falls. Lighting in hallways, stairways, bathrooms, and bedrooms - even if it is a small night light can be enough to light the way.

6. Reinforce your home's exterior. Falls do not only occur inside. Inspect the perimeter of a property for uneven turf, holes or cracked or uneven patches of walkways. Make sure lighting is working at entryways, and check that exterior handrails are secure.

Falls can cause serious injury or death, particularly for aging men and women. Simple fixes around the house can make things more secure and reduce the risk for falls.

Continued here:
Senior Life: 6 ways to prevent falls around the house - Main Line

As long as Southern Californians remain close to home and wear masks outdoors, they can still exercise outdoors at many parks and beaches without violating Gov. Gavin Newsoms stay-at-home order. And as the fight against the pandemic evolves and summer nears, the rules are changing almost every day.

Garcetti cautioned that people shouldnt congregate in groups larger than a single household, and that the usual other pandemic requirements remain in place.

You have to maintain a physical distance. You have to wear a face covering, Garcetti said. This is not some sort of green light to slack off.

Conflicts between cautious state officials and restless local leaders came to a head Thursday, when Newsom overruled local Orange County officials to close beaches in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach after they drew substantial weekend crowds.

L.A. Countys beaches are still closed through May 15 under the countys Safer at Home order, and local, state and federal agencies throughout the region are severely limiting access to hundreds of beaches, parks, trails and forests.

Ventura and San Diego counties have been gradually opening their beaches. In both of those counties, as in Orange County, officials have closed beach-adjacent parking lots, hoping to encourage people to stay within their own walking neighborhoods.

This list is designed to help readers keep track of beach restrictions.

Heres an update on whats happening where. If you do go outside for a walk, remember these tips for keeping safe. Local and state officials stress the need to take greater care in maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others.

City Recreation and Parks officials say most most park areas remain open for walking and running. But they are enforcing a range of restrictions. Among them: All public hiking trails and trailheads in the city of Los Angeles have been closed since March 27.

Also closed are all public beaches, public beach parking lots, beach bathrooms, piers, beach access points and the Venice Boardwalk and Ocean Front Walk (with limited access to essential businesses).

All recreation centers, aquatic facilities, golf courses, skate parks, tennis courts, playgrounds, baseball fields, soccer fields and basketball courts are also closed, as are other indoor and outdoor sport amenities.

In Griffith Park, authorities have close facilities including the Observatory, Travel Town, train rides, the pony rides, the merry-go-round and some roads.

Elsewhere, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro remains closed, as is the Sherman Oaks Castle, the Expo Center in Exposition Park; and the Silver Lake Meadow. Since April 11, walkers and joggers have been required to travel counterclockwise on the 2.2-mile loop trail around the Silver Lake and Ivanhoe reservoirs.

Visitors practice social distancing at the beach in Ventura on Saturday.

(Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

About 24 farmers markets remain open in the city, including the Sunday Hollywood Farmers Market, after the city tightened safety and social-distancing requirements in early April.

Henry Brown, 42, exercises in MacArthur Park in the Westlake District of L.A. on March 31.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Since March 27, L.A. County officials have enforced the closure of beaches and other public lands. (This list details closures.) All of the countys park play and sports amenities, including golf courses, are also closed.

Los Angeles Countys beaches, piers, beach bike paths, beach access points, public trails, trailheads and tennis courts are also closed, under an order that covers beaches in every coastal city and unincorporated area of the county.

Parks officials noted on their website that you can still enjoy time outdoors at your local park for passive use, such as walking, jogging, or leisure time outdoors for individuals or families. Social distancing is still required, and group gatherings are prohibited by the health order.

In Santa Monica, city beaches, the beach bike path and Ocean Front Walk closed March 27 as part of the countywide order to shut down beaches. The citys Palisades Park, which overlooks the beach and pier, is also closed.

In Hermosa Beach, the pier, Strand and beach itself are closed as part of the countywide beach closure.

In Redondo Beach the pier, Strand and beach also are closed. City officials closed the Esplanade area; Veterans Park and nearby parking areas; all public walkways, stairways, ramps and paths to the beach; and a coastal bluff trail between Knob Hill Avenue and George Freeth Way.

On Catalina Island, the Catalina Chamber of Commerce is urging non-residents to stay away. The Catalina Express, which usually runs boats to the islands Avalon and Two Harbors landings from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point, has cut back its service to two round trips a day between Long Beach and Avalon. At the Catalina Flyer, which normally offers one departure daily from Newport Beach to Avalon, a phone recording warned that the boat has suspended service until further notice. The Catalina Island Conservancy has closed its visitor facilities, services and trails.

On March 18, state parks officials closed all state campgrounds. On March 29, they tightened restrictions further, closing vehicle access to the entire state park system 280 parks, including off-road vehicle areas.

Since then, the state has fully closed dozens of parks, banning pedestrians as well as vehicles. Among them: The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve; more than a dozen state parks and beaches in L.A. County; San Clemente State Beach in Orange County; seven state beaches in San Diego County; and four state beaches and parks in Ventura County.

But more recently, some parks have quietly reopened, while still keeping their roadways and parking lots closed to discourage visitors from outside the immediate area. On Monday morning, Carlsbad, South Carlsbad and Torrey Pines state beaches reopened that way, with visitors limited to active recreation and no group gatherings.

At Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in the Baldwin Hills area of L.A., officials said in a statement that the park is closed to vehicular access but remains open for locals who wish to walk, hike and bike (in parks with bike trails) in the park, provided they practice social/physical distancing of 6 feet or more. This is not the time for a road trip to a destination park or beach.

In the first week of April, Pasadena city officials closed the Rose Bowl Loop, a popular 3.1-mile- walking path around the famed stadium.

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino is closed through at least May 15.

Descanso Gardens in La Caada Flintridge is closed until further notice. The L.A. Arboretum in Arcadia is open; reservations are required to prevent crowding.

The National Park Service has imposed weekend closures on all Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area trails, trailheads, restrooms, overlooks and pullouts in Ventura County. Authorities said those areas will remain open on weekdays, when crowds are thinner.

Those weekend closures begin at 2 p.m. Fridays and reopen at 6 a.m. Mondays until further notice, an NPS release said.

That policy covers Rancho Sierra Vista (including the Wendy Trailhead); Cheeseboro Canyon Trailhead; the Deer Creek area; and all trails within Circle X, which includes Sandstone Creek, Mishe Mokwa, the Grotto Trail, the trails and overlooks along Yerba Buena Road and the Backbone Trail along the spine of the Santa Monicas.

As part of the earlier L.A. County-wide closure of hiking trails, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area had already shut down all of its trails and restrooms in L.A. County.

Also, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority on March 23 closed all of its parklands, trail and facilities close to 75,000 acres of parkland, including all parks owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

The authoritys busiest parks, now closed, include Wilacre Park in Studio City; Temescal Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades; Franklin Canyon Park off Mulholland Drive, Beverly Hills; Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon, the Santa Clarita Valley; all the overlooks on Mulholland Drive; Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve at the west end of Victory Boulevard; and Escondido Canyon Park in Malibu.

Ventura County has allowed the opening of county-managed beaches, golf courses and bike shops among various modifications to its Stay Well at Home order. That order, which continues to close campgrounds, gyms, swimming pools and many other facilities, is effective through May 15.

The city of Ventura on April 20 reopened its beaches, pier, promenade and parks, subject to requirements that people keep their distance and dont linger.

The city of Port Hueneme, experimenting with a soft reopening, has reopened its beach (and a parking lot) to walking, running, biking and solo surfing and paddleboarding, but said it would discourage sunbathing or any stationary presence on the sand. Its pier, restrooms, playground and street parking remain closed.

On April 25 and 26, many of the countys shores, especially in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, were so crowded that photographs alarmed many people. The governor was one of them, and he briefly shut all of Orange Countys beaches.

Since then, state officials have negotiated terms for reopening beaches in all of the countys coastal cities.

On Wednesday, after more than a week of tussling over beach access, state officials sent Newport Beachs City Council a letter approving the citys plan for reopening beaches with restrictions. The city laid out its new rules, which allow activities on beaches from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, on its website.

On Tuesday, Laguna Beach beaches opened after weeks of closure, but they will be open only from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays, for active use only, under a deal reached between local and state officials. They will remain closed on weekends.

In San Clemente too beaches reopened after an agreement between state and local leaders. In that case, the citys beaches will be open daily for active use only (no fishing or sunbathing). The citys pier reopened Tuesday with social distancing requirements. Beach restrooms and parking remain closed.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, state officials released letters authorizing Dana Point, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Newport Beach officials to open their beaches.

This list covers the beaches city by city.

Parking lots at all county beaches, regional and wilderness parks remain closed as well. So are parking spaces at all trailheads; parking lots at Irvine Lake; parking along Black Star Canyon Road; pedestrian access points at Thousand Steps, Table Rock, West, Camel Point and Treasure Island beaches; restrooms; playgrounds; exercise equipment; shelters and trailheads. Pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians were permitted.

Orange County also banned vehicular traffic to Carbon Canyon, Clark, Craig, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mason, Mile Square, Tri-City and Yorba regional parks. Pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians were permitted.

Orange Countys Supervisors have also cleared the way for public and private golf courses to open.

The Safer at Home order from Los Angeles County Public Health officials, issued March 21 and updated April 10, prohibits all public and private group events and gatherings through May 15. It also says that individuals and families are not prohibited from hiking, walking, biking or shopping at [e]ssential [b]usinesses, as long as they keep their distance from others.

The order also notes that if local entities (such as municipal governments) choose to impose stricter limits, the county order does not supersede them.

Los Angeles County has closed all indoor and outdoor playgrounds, along with indoor shopping centers and all swap meets and flea markets.

San Bernardino County on April 25 reopened county parks, lakes, rivers and recreation areas. Private and city-owned parks, trails, lakes and golf courses also opened on a limited basis, the L.A. Times Luke Money reports. Big Morongo Canyon Preserve and Mojave River Forks Regional Park are still closed.

Riverside County leaders on April 20 allowed golf courses to reopen, with restrictions. Hiking, bikes and horseback-riding on trails and in parks are also permitted under the countys health order.

San Diego County Board of Supervisors reopened county-run beaches there April 27 to swimming, surfing, kayaking and paddle-boarding but not group activities, sunbathing or boating.

City-by-city details are covered in this list.

Most of San Diego Countys parks and preserves have remained open for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians, but their parking lots and many facilities and amenities are closed.

The U.S. Forest Service has closed campgrounds, picnic areas, bathrooms and other developed recreation sites in its California forests through May 15, leaving Southern Californias four forests Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino to make their own decisions on trail access and parking.

In the Angeles National Forest, authorities on April 3 closed 23 well-used San Gabriel mountain trails, four popular trailheads and 19 roads.

This map shows the affected areas. The closures include the Millard Canyon above Altadena, San Antonio Falls, Icehouse Canyon and North Devils Backbone trailheads.

The forest order shuts routes to Echo Mountain and Mt. Lowe, such as the Sam Merrill Trail, above Altadena, as well as others leading to Mt. Wilson, San Gabriel Peak, the Rim Trail and other routes in the San Gabriel Mountains.

In the San Bernardino National Forest, whose 680,000 acres include four mountain ranges in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, a spokesman said trails, trailheads, staging areas that function as trailheads and parking areas at trailheads remain open. Hikers should practice social distancing, sticking to wide fire roads instead of single-track trails that are too narrow, the spokesman said.

In Los Padres National Forest, which includes about 1.95 million acres reaching north from Ventura County into Central California, spokesman Andrew Madsen said trailhead parking and trails remain open, as do dispersed camp sites in the backcountry.

In Cleveland National Forest, which reaches into San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties, the list of sites closed includes all trails and picnic areas where an Adventure Pass is usually required.

In the forests Trabuco ranger district, closures include: El Cariso north/south picnic area; Hot Springs trailhead; San Juan loop trailhead; Tenaja trailhead; Trabuco creek picnic area; Wildomar staging area; Maple Springs day-use area.

In the forests Descanso Ranger District, closures include Agua Dulce; Bear Valley OHV (off-highway vehicle) area; and Corral Canyon.

In the forests Palomar Ranger District, closures include Crestline; Henshaw scenic vista; Inaja Memorial; Kica Mik Overlook; Palomar Mountain Interpretive Station; San Luis Rey Picnic Area; Fry Creek Trailhead; Observatory Trailhead; and Barker Valley Trailhead. The popular Cedar Creek Falls and Three Sisters Falls trails have been closed since March 21.

The National Park Service closed Yosemite National Park on March 20; Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks on March 25; Joshua Tree National Park on March 31; and Death Valley National Park (except for California 190 and Daylight Pass) on April 4.

Charlton H. Bonham, Californias Department of Fish and Wildlife director, has postponed the start of trout season in Alpine, Inyo and Mono counties. Once set for April 25, the season is now set to open May 31.

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As of May 7: What's open and closed this weekend: Beaches, parks and trails in Southern California - Los Angeles Times

Britains economy can only restart when bosses ensure their workers are safe.If they fail, they face another lockdown and risk their staff never coming back.

John Allan, chairman of Barratt Developments and president of the CBI, listed steps his business is taking to reopen, in an online presentation to the business groups members.

Step one: social distancing.If workers can be kept apart, they are less likely to spreadcoronavirus.

Barratts, which hopes to restart on some sites next week, will begin with just half the usual number of workers. It will stagger their shift patterns to avoid a surge at rush hour. And the shape of the sites will change.

We are going to widen walkways on our sites the safe walkways people can use to get from one part of the site to another, says Allan.

They are normally quite narrow, probably about a metre wide. We are going to widen those, and when that is not possible were going to put refuges, passing places, so that people can pass safely.

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WW2-style gas masks and surprise inspections: how to re-open Britain's building sites - Telegraph.co.uk

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GAVA/MADRID, Spain (Reuters) Spaniards revelled in a second day of freedom on Sunday, heading outside in time-slots for age groups on the first weekend adults were allowed out since one of the worlds strictest coronavirus lockdowns was imposed in mid-March.

Though Spains appalling COVID-19 outbreak has shrouded the nation in mourning for more than 25,000 dead, there was much-needed relief on a sunny spring day as people at last headed back to the streets, hills and sea.

Surfer Sigrid Cervera, 44, yelled for joy as she jumped into the waves with her board in Gava, a town on the Mediterranean coast outside Barcelona. I have not been able to go surfing for ages so I am very excited, she said.

Joggers ruled the streets early on, before it was the elderly and then childrens turn all under orders to stay two metres apart under continued social distancing guidelines.

We can breathe, exulted one elderly resident of Madrid, Maria Jesus, enjoying a walk in the city centre.

At home, all you can do is open a window, and you open them every day, but it is not the same as being outdoors.

One of the worst-hit nations, Spains death toll climbed by 164 in the previous 24 hours to 25,264, while cases reached 217,466, according to latest health ministry data on Sunday.

But the declining pace of deaths and infections has led Spain to start unwinding its stay-at-home order, with children allowed out under supervision from last weekend, and adults given permission to exercise outdoors from Saturday.

WIFE HIDDEN IN CAR BOOT

Walks and sports are allowed from 6-10 a.m. and 8-11 p.m., while children have the afternoons, and the elderly are given late morning and early evening windows.

This is a great relief to me to get out and run again, said musician Jordi Jornet, 45, who went jogging along the shore in Gava on Sunday after a run in the mountains the previous evening.

Not all were following the rules though: in Logroo, northwestern Spain, police stopped a car driven by a man whose wife was hiding under a blanket in the boot, according to the Interior Ministry. He had said he was taking tools to an allotment.

To prevent overcrowding, Barcelonas city council barred entry to its urban beaches, so thousands converged instead on the beachfront boardwalk.

In the capital Madrid, where parks and other large public spaces remain closed, runners and walkers shared narrow pavements and walkways.

Government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero described the populations behaviour as exemplary.

But newspaper ABC said Madrid police broke up 29 groups of teenagers drinking on Saturday night, and Cadena Ser radio cited police sources as saying a record number of arrests were made for breaking confinement rules on Sunday.

Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The relaxation of exercise restrictions is one of the first steps in a four-phase plan to reopen Spain by the end of June.

From Monday, businesses that operate by appointment, such as hairdressers and beauty salons, will resume limited services.

In the next stage, outdoor areas of bars and restaurants can open at 50% occupancy, while groups of up to 10 people will be allowed in public places and in homes.

(Reporting by Graham Keeley in Gava; Nathan Allen, Julien Hennequin and Michael Gore in Madrid; Writing by Nathan Allen; Editing by David Goodman, Elaine Hardcastle and Andrew Cawthorne)

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Surfing and strolling, Spaniards reclaim the outdoors - Metro US

Although its only been on the market for a couple months, that hasnt stopped the Animal Crossing: New Horizons community from creating some incredibly beautiful islands. The game allows for a degree of freedom not seen in previous titles, and players are letting their imagination run wild and inspiring others to do the same. Thanks to social media, islands of all shapes and sizes are being shared online for everyone to admire.

Weve scoured all corners of the internet to pull together a list of the 15 best designs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They feature everything from a full-fledged city and a spooky cemetery, to a quaint coffee shop and a simple zen garden. But no matter how unique they are, they all share one thing in common an eye for great design.

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Further Reading

While many beautiful islands in New Horizons rely on rare items, Twitter user @kklilies has found a way to keep things minimal while bringing out the natural charm of the island. Their town is nothing more than well-designed waterways, wooden plank walkways, and carefully placed trees and flowers. If you have plenty of time on your hands but lack some of the more valuable items in New Horizons this is a great island design to try and replicate.

Sometimes you come across an island that looks so different from your own, you wonder if youre even playing the same game. Thats the case with this masterpiece, which is easily one of the most compact, dense, and gritty urban layouts weve ever come across.

Making liberal use of custom path designs, this user was able to recreate the visuals from early games in the Pokmon series. It even features a giant Snorlax that is blocking the villagers path.

Another excellent urban design, this island offers players a bit more space to roam about and includes several city blocks full of shops, houses, and public gardens. The amount of zen fencing in this one is staggering we cant even imagine how long it took to stockpile enough resources to build it all.

Story continues

Its a bit on the scary side for Animal Crossing, but this cemetery is easily one of the coolest things weve seen players create. And with the addition of Redds sculptures, its a bonafide masterpiece. On the bright side, Wisp now has a place to call home!

Finding the right furniture to accent your home can be a frustrating experience. However, this designer shows that you dont need fancy items to put together a beautiful room. Using simple tables, a few lamps, and lots of picture frames, you can easily replicate this relaxing aesthetic.

Summer is right around the corner, but this villager doesnt want to wait! Not only is their house just steps from the shore, theyve also found a unique way to use all the seashell-related items in the game to give their corner of the world a washed-out, beachy vibe. Plus, they made great use of custom designs to draw hearts in the sand how can you not like it?

While this design does rely on some rare kitchen furniture, theres no denying how cozy it is. Accenting the corner bookcases with rustic table stands and flowers pulls the room together, and excellent use of the NookPhones camera app makes this shop look incredibly inviting.

Sometimes all you need are flowers, trees, and a place to sit. A simple, well-crafted layout goes a long way and this breezy plaza proves it.

Reddit u/PM_ME_A_COLOR

Its hard to tell what the island looks like on foot, but from the air its a sight to behold. While some gamers are struggling to use the new terraforming tools, this player took things to the next level and turned their island into a massive shrine for their favorite museum curator.

Reddit u/Angel_of_Mischief

Placing sand walkways across the entire island doesnt sound like an easy feat, but the outcome is truly spectacular. Featuring large swathes of barren desert, this island is pockmarked by oases that harbor villagers, shops, and the occasional pyramid.

Reddit u/ImNotChineseOk

Were not sure if this is good island design, but it sure is hilarious. Visitors to this players island are instantly greeted with a series of beds that they need to lie down in before getting to town. All told, it takes an additional 10 seconds to go through the checkpoint something you wont want to do after having to deal with the lengthy load times associated with flying on Dodo Airlines.

The only drawback to this design is that you cant play it! Another excellent use of custom paths, this Twitter user found a way to build an entire mini-golf course on their island. Each hole has its own theme such as Bunny Day, beach, and outer space and all those unique objects probably go a long way toward raising their island rating.

While its not a true replica, this user pays homage to The Legend of Zelda series by crafting a mini dungeon that would be right at home in Hyrule. Players encounter a boss once they reach the end, but it probably wont be dropping any Heart Containers when defeated.

Simple in design yet elegant in execution this tiny zen garden is the perfect place to escape from your daily island troubles. Most of the items seen here can be easily crafted but are arranged in a tasteful way that somehow manages to pack in a lot of content without overcrowding the space.

Excerpt from:
Get inspired by the coolest Animal Crossing: New Horizons islands - Yahoo Tech

Car dealers across the country are spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on equipment, signage and promotional material as they get ready to reopen.

One large car dealer group told Car Dealer Magazine it was close to spending 1m on PPE, perspex screens and signage to enable the group to open as soon as the government gives them the nod.

Other dealer groups are spending similar amounts on what they believe could be the steps that would allow them to open, in the next few weeks.

Perspex screens for reception areas, thermometers, gloves, masks and sanitisation products are among the items dealers are snapping up.

Prime minister Boris Johnson will lay out his plans to get the economy moving again and begin easing the lockdown this Sunday, but many dealers are preempting the announcement and getting ready now.

Taking lesson from other retail sites that have been allowed to stay open during the lockdown, rules in place for the workshops that have been running throughout and knowledge gleaned from the leaked guideline documents that are likely to be issued this weekend, dealers have begun to prepare.

Rumours are circulating in the industry that May 18could be the date dealers are allowed to return to work, which would fall into line with theannouncement at the weekend that Irish dealers can get back to workon that date.

Wessex Garages managing director Chris Wiseman who runs Nissan, Mazda, Kia, Hyundai and Renault dealers shared pictures of his dealerships preparing for the return to work online.

In a post yesterday, he said: Aftersales teams are back in and the dealerships are prepped and ready. Customer demand is high with no shortage of bookings.

Service departments are back open fully on May 11. Our colleagues have really stepped up to make sure we are ready to reopen sales when the time is right. Safe and professional is the only way.

Wiseman, who will be chatting to us on Car Dealer Live on Tuesday (May 12) shared pictures of dedicated walkways marked out on the showroom floor clearly marking two metres for social distancing, express drop off zones for keys, hand sanitising stations and clear signage.

In the leaked documents, the guidelines are expected to tell car dealers to set up one entry and one exit point to showrooms, desks so staff face away from each other, and ensure there are no pinch points in corridors or lifts.

Staff maybe required to work in red and blue teams so there are elements of isolation still carried on and those who can work from home will be told to continue to do so.

However, car sales are likely to be allowed on an appointments basis and customers will have to be carefully managed coming into the showroom to avoid crowding.

Adam Turner, sales and marketing director of Chorley Group, which has showrooms in Lancashire and Wigan for Nissan, Kia, Hyundai and MG, also showed off plans on social media this week.

Turner said: Our aftersales departments are back up and running across nine brands albeit with a new normal for now and a reduced team.

This is stage one and we are back on track thanks to the help of our wonderful team, ensuring we can give confidence to our workforce and anyone who visits.

Jonathan Bischoff, group MD of JCB Group, which runs dealers in Kent and Sussex for VW Group brands, Citroen and Kia among others, has also begun to reopen sites for servicing in Medway and Rainham.

The teams have done a fantastic job and Im really pleased to say both sites are busy, he said.

Until the government unveils the official guidelines, many dealers will be holding off purchasing PPE and other products needed to allow them to get back to business.

However, there is likely to be a rush for certain items especially perspex screens that are likely to be required around reception and service desks.

Perrys MD Darren Ardron told Car Dealer Live on April 24 that his group had been busy producing screens for its dealerships in house and had taken orders from other dealers.

The advice in the leaked documents which will be particularly relevant to car dealers is expected to include for offices:

General advice for businesses that car dealerships will want to follow includes:

In retail environments like car dealerships the draft advice includes:

And for those who work in vehicles the relevant advice that is likely to be given includes:

Car dealers with more than five staff will have to produce a written risk assessment.

There is no guidance yet as to whether face masks or other PPE will be needed, but it is believed guidance on this will follow.

Read the original post:
Car dealers spending thousands on PPE and equipment to enable them to get back to work - Car Dealer Magazine

HOUSE builderBarratt Developments North Easthas announced plans to get construction sites up and running from next week, with houses already exchanged or reserved the priority for completion.

The company announced its plans for a phased return to construction, across selected sites, from Monday, followingthe creation of new working practices and protocols for employees and subcontractors to ensure the safe reopening ofsites.

Included in the first phase of reopening is Leven Woods, in Yarm, and Merrington Park and Burton Woods, in Spennymoor, County Durham.

The housebuilder announced the closure of all sites in late March to support Public Health Englands guidelines to slow down the spread of Covid-19.

The implemented changes will includealterations to signage, site welfare facilities and compounds, site access and walkways and also the presence of a nominated Social Distancing Marshal on all sites to ensure policy compliance.

The housebuilder has also said it will also provide induction, training and support for its employees and subcontractors working on site during this time.

Managing director Carl Sobolewski said: The safety of our employees, subcontractors and customers is our main priority so every precaution will be taken when our sites reopen later this month.

"The steps we have currently put in place comply with social distancing measures and are designed to minimise any risk to the health of our workforce.

"We will continually monitor the ongoing situation and respond in accordance with the Governments advice.

I would also like to thank all of our employees for their continued support during this challenging time.

Barratt has said that it will prioritise the completion of homes that customers have already exchanged or reserved.

But sales centres and show homes will not be reopening yet and customers will continue to be served remotely.

Here is the original post:
Barratt to resume building new homes; Yarm and Spennymoor sites in first phase - The Northern Echo

Every year, same-level slips and falls send five million people to the emergency room with sprains, strains, bruises and breaks. Thats almost one a minute every single day. With numbers like these, its no wonder that most facilities view payouts from slip and fall claims as an inevitable cost of doing business.

And its a major expense. Consider these figures from insurance provider Zurich North America:

For every $1 in direct costs, the company estimates $3 of indirect, uninsured costs that can add another $54,000 to a workers comp claim and $31,000 to a general liability claim.

But there is an upside. Combining the right products with best practices can put an end to slips and falls. The key is finding and mitigating your facilitys Risk Zones.

A Risk Zone is any area where slips and falls occur because of the following factors:

In 2017, a New Pig Corporation safety survey found that 70% of facility managers outsourced responsibility for safe walking surfaces to their rental mat or cleaning service. The problem with this approach is that vendors dont bear the risk or pay the claims. Thats why its up to you to take control of your Risk Zones.

These five steps will help you get started:

Read this article:
5 Steps To Eliminating Slips And Falls - Facility Executive Magazine