Coronavirus quarantine, Black Friday in July sales, Tiger Woods at Memorial: 5 things to know Friday

Editors, USA TODAY
·4 min read

Coronavirus pandemic: Chicago adds Iowa, Oklahoma to quarantine list

People traveling from Iowa and Oklahoma to Chicago will have to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival or face possible fines starting Friday. To comply, travelers must stay at a single home or another dwelling for 14 days except to seek medical care or be tested for COVID-19. The city first issued a quarantine order early this month for 15 other states based on increasing numbers of confirmed cases of the coronavirus.States are included based on the rate of new confirmed cases per 100,000 residents. Chicago officials acknowledge there’s little way of enforcing the order. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the order can raise travelers’ awareness of “what their obligations are when they travel.”

Prefer to listen? Check out the 5 things podcast below and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts:

Black Friday in July: Summertime brings hot deals

Bargain shoppers were disappointed when Amazon announced it would not be hosting its annual Prime Day this July due to the impacts of COVID-19. Well, cheer up: There's still Black Friday in July. It's a time when all sorts of retailers host mid-season sales in an effort to boost earnings and clear out inventory. Deals can be found on appliances, apparel, furniture and much more. Check out our roundup of the best Black Friday in July sales courtesy of the eagle-eyed product experts at Reviewed.

Memorial Tournament: How will Tiger Woods fare in Round 2?

After a five-month break from competitive golf, Tiger Woods is back in action on the PGA Tour at this weekend's Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio. On Thursday, Woods shot a 1-under-par 71 and trails leader Tony Finau by five strokes heading into Friday's second round. Woods is in the featured group with Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka, teeing off at 8:17 a.m. ET on Friday. Round 2 TV coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.

The Chicks are back with first album in more than a decade

Last month, the band formerly known as The Dixie Chicks announced they would henceforth be known as The Chicks. The Grammy-winning country trio comprised of Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Strayer also released a new song, "March March," with a video featuring historical footage of protests and listing the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. On Friday, the Chicks will release "Gaslighter," their first new album in 14 years. The band, which once drew fierce backlash for speaking against former President George W. Bush, isn't holding back this time, either. In the title track, they sing: "Gaslighter, denier/ Doin' anything to get your a** farther."

Traveling during the pandemic? Amtrak is offering a deal... with a catch

Amtrak wants you to have sweet dreams the next time you travel — so much so that it's sweetening the deal on its sleeper "roomettes" during the coronavirus pandemic. The rail service is offering a buy-one-get-one-free discount this summer for its roomette accommodation, which includes two seats that convert into beds, with a large window, fresh towels and linens and access to a private bathroom and shower in the car. If you haven't taken an Amtrak train during the coronavirus pandemic, expect some changes — Amtrak has enhanced the cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and installed clear protective barriers at stations to reduce contact between passengers and employees. The offer ends Friday, for travel beginning July 13 through Sept. 30.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID-19, Black Friday in July, Tiger Woods: 5 things to know Friday