THIS IS A PHOTO JOURNAL REFLECTING MEMPHIS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN THE MONTH OF APRIL 2020.

It’s early May. Memphis is beginning phase one of reopening. 

Millions of people have tested positive for the COVID 19 virus, more than 230,000 have died, with about 60,000 of those deaths in the United States. 

The “Stay at Home” guidelines are expiring and President Trump is leaving it up to the individual states to decide what is best for them. 

Memphis successfully flattened the curve by staying home but officials say we should expect a surge towards the end of May or early June. 

In the "truth is stranger than fiction" category, the newspaper and newsroom that I worked out of for many years is being turned into a field hospital to treat overflow Coronavirus patients if needed. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is converting the The Commercial Appeal building into an alternate-care facility for COVID-19 patients. Everyone hopes it will never be needed.

It’s particularly odd for me to observe since I watched the five-floor newspaper building slowly empty over the years and the newspaper start to decline as it struggled with the dawn of internet age. It’s gone from being a full-to-capacity hive of activity to becoming an empty shell. I have many wonderful memories from my days at the newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, that was constantly on the move during the Civil War, staying ahead of advancing Union troops,  has a rich legacy of covering so many historical events in Memphis including the rise of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, and the assassination of Martin Luther King. That of course all came long before me, but in my time there we did many powerful stories that I am very proud of.

My friend in Wuhan, China had written, “Try and stay home and cancel all unnecessary going out. When we go out, we wear face masks, disposable gloves for medical use and change clothes.” “It is said healthy people wearing masks is not acceptable in America and Europe?” She went on to describe the virus as mysterious and frightening. 

When she wrote that to me early in the month, I wrote her back and said, yes, people feel odd about wearing the masks and don’t embrace the idea. I wrote her back shortly after that and said, that has all changed and most everyone is wearing masks now. It’s pretty amazing how that all has changed in just a matter of days. People now have custom masks that reflect their hobbies and taste. They are for sale everywhere, it is no longer uncommon to see someone in a mask and many places are requiring them for entry.  

It is still very hard to find toilet paper, paper towels, Lysol and cleaning supplies. Many companies have started to make hand sanitizer, including locally, and it was a big relief to find Lucky Heart Cosmetics downtown was making it. Businesses are getting very creative as they look for ways to weather the storm and fill the needs during this pandemic crisis. 

Women are desperate to get their hair colored as their roots grow out, some people are cutting their own hair.  

The country is at odds about opening up, some say it is too early, others say it can’t wait. 

There is a deep appreciation for health care workers as people have to entrust their loved ones and their lives to the medical community. Parents have a new appreciation for teachers as students are forced to learn from home.

Everyone is baking and banana bread is the number-one searched recipe in Google. Memphis is a very hungry city and our generous community is helping feed the thousands that have no food. We know there is hunger in the inner city, but even out in the suburbs, lines of cars wait patiently for their food ration. 

Many people want to go back to work, others say they can make more with the boosted unemployment they are getting from the government and are refusing. 

The economy is hurting. The airport is totally empty. There is hardly a car in the parking lot, the counters are closed and most flights are cancelled. Beale Street is still boarded up and desolate on a Saturday night at 7pm. 

The Memphis in May festival is cancelled as well as most any other festival or public gathering you can imagine. Some are postponed until fall.

Thank God it is spring!  It helps make all of this bearable. Planting seeds that offer hope of a beautiful tomorrow, basking in the flowers popping up out of the earth once again. The perfect days are filled with sunshine and wonderful breezes and even the spring rains that make you feel good about being inside. Cool nights allow for cards on the porch and a bonfire and s’mores as a family.

Now we've been given extra time to slow down and really see some of the beauty around us and enjoy our gift to see. 

I’ve been in quarantine so long, a close-up photo of my hibiscus reminds me of the COVID-19 virus.

For some, the loneliness is unbearable, like an elderly man who comes out of his home every day and waves at cars going by to alleviate his boredom and isolation. https://youtu.be/Wv9pzya2XDc

The Power of Love~ Family members are still not allowed to see their loved ones in nursing homes due to the virus and social distancing rules. http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2020/4/27/the-power-of-love

Some homes are turbulent and the walls are closing in. Calls are on the scanner all day long talk about the unmet needs of people suffering with mental health issues and people that are off of their med’s. Sons are threatening mothers, husbands threaten wives, daughters run away, children fight each other. 

Priests are offering drive-thru confessions - parishioners will still have the opportunity to get things off their chest and ask for God’s blessing.  But it may be while wearing a mask, through a car window with traffic roaring by.

http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/drive-through-confessions

Once again, our region chooses “faith over fear.” The police pray together before starting their shift as they face people each day who are at the end of their rope.

Prayers, rosaries, special intentions are being said every day for the end of COVID 19. 

To see the previous photo journal : Coronavirus Memphis in March 2020 Photo gallery http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2020/4/1/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-memphis-tennessee

Video Links to the transformation of the Commercial Appeal https://www.facebook.com/152024974863322/videos/1302609689939566/ and https://www.facebook.com/152024974863322/videos/226556238675925/

Written By Memphis Photojournalist Karen Pulfer Focht ©2020