Editor’s Note: Due to COVID-19, TommieMedia staff members are working remotely. This is a special News in :90 report from Taylor’s home in Bloomington, Minn.

Local St. Paul creamery, Izzy’s Ice Cream will permanently close following weeks of inactivity due to the pandemic. Izzy’s opened in St. Paul 20 years ago.

The owners’ second store located in Minneapolis will remain in business, providing delivery-only service starting May 4.

In the state of New York, virus infections are slowing down and no longer meeting worst-case predictions. Temporary hospitals in convention centers and pop-up tents have become largely unused.

A Navy hospital ship that had offered help in Manhattan is soon to depart due to inactivity.

Experts say this is a good problem to have… despite spending potentially billions of dollars to create these care centers.

The unused facilities will be kept on standby, prepared to help for a second wind of infections.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board plan to close playgrounds, skateparks, athletic fields and courts by May 1 to limit group gatherings.

New guidelines include blocking or removing basketball rims, tennis nets and posting signs that notify visitors that those spaces are closed.

Taylor Shupe can be reached at taylor.shupe@stthomas.edu.