Midmorning With Aundrea - July 7, 2020 (Part 1)

(Part 1 of 2) Now that many workers are returning to their desk jobs after having been on lockdown for the past few months, some companies have instituted changes to insure public safety as the coronavirus surge continues.

And on today's "As the Page Turns", author BJ Hyman gives us some of her favorite novels.

And we take a tour to a Greek island that is starting to welcome back tourists after successfully keeping COVID-19 cases down to a minimum.

Henry, what's your number?a very specical midmorning starts right now.

Technology has made today's cars and trucks safer than ever.

But one component lags behind -- the seatback -- it can snap backward in crashes - and hasn't seen a safety upgrade in decades kris van cleave first brought this story to light five years ago - and has this update.

Ten years after losing their 16- month old daughter&andy and liz warner still struggle with their loss.

Some days are harder than others.

Some days i can, you know, get through it and other days i get very emotional.

Taylor was in a car seat behind her father in the family's mini-van when they were rear-ended.

Andy's seat broke, collapsing backward-into taylor.

Similar to what happens here in this new crash test video.

Taylor's mom liz in 2015... and it was all because of some stupid car that we thought was the safest thing we could get for our family to protect them.

Taylor's death and hundreds of others-blamed on a seatback safety standard dating to the 1960's - one even this banquet chair passed.

We lose, on average 50 children a year, one a week who die because the standard is not updated.

Almost one child a week?

One child a week on average for the last 15 years this week, senators ed markey and richard blumenthal introduced legislation to force auto makers and the national highway administration, or nhtsa, to strengthen seat standards within two years.

A problem auto makers have known about for decades from crash tests - like these.

Markey has been trying to change the standard since 2015 when our investigation first told the warners story cbs put the spotlight on this issue.

And as a result, this spotlight is now on nhtsa and the auto manufacturers and our goal is to make sure that we pass the legislation that fixes this problem it's a step the warners have been fighting for - we wanted to make sure that you know, we can prevent this from happening to other families.

A tribute to taylor and a lifesaving legacy for the little girl they lost.

For cbs this morning saturday, kvc for the little girl they lost.

For cbs this morning saturday, kvc washington.

Many employees who have been working from home for the past few months are starting to return -- and finding a different office than what they left behind.

Nancy chen introduces to the new technology some companies are using to keep workers safe.

Employees arriving at this brooklyn tech hub have their temperature taken and are then given a sensor to help them maintain social distance.

The device is made by strongarm technologies, matt norcia is the c-o.

16:51 nancy: right now we are more than six feet apart so we're not buzzing.

Matt: correct, so if we were to move closer together sensors would start to light up 17:15 matt: so if we continue to stand this way, now you see the vibration.

Nancy: i just buzzed max haot's company makes its home in the tech hub and calls the device a sixth sense.

2103 you try all the time, 100 percent of the time to be socially distant, but you might do something that involves moving something or you're in a quick team meeting together, and sometimes you can forget.

2214 the sensors also provide information for contact tracing.

0324 if an individual for some reason was able to get into the facility but then found out that they might have covid, we can actually look at every single interaction that individual had with everyone else in the facility.

2833 nancy: strongarm charges about a dollar per day for every device in use, and it's not the only company using technology to maintain social distance 2841 amazon has introduced the 'distance assistant'.

Cameras line the workspace, and a monitor displays a live video that flashes with red if people get too close.

In this arlington, virginia office building, employees' temperatures are screened by thermal cameras.

Kastle systems also installed touchless tech.

Workers use an app on their phone to get in the front door..

Through turnstiles... and they call for an elevator to avoid touching any buttons.

1152 the phone has a credential on it so that you don't have to take out a plastic badge, touch it.

It's there - it recognizes that you're close.

1159 employers are using tech to re- imagine work spaces and keep employees safe.

Nancy chen, cbs news, new york.

Amazon says they plan to open source the software behind their "distanc assistant" s anyone can create their own.

More than half a million americans experience homelessness according to the government's count.

And they faced an extraordinary new set of challenges when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Elise preston looks at what some communities are doing to help.

And introduces us to one new yorker who had no home to go to, when the city told everyone to stay at home.

Trt: 2:02 suggested anchor lead: more than half a million americans experience homelessness according to the government's count...and they faced an extraordinary new set of challenges when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Elise preston looks at what some communities are doing to help..

And introduces us to one new yorker who had no home to go to, when the city told everyone to stay at home.

While most new yorkers are just now venturing out into the city - la moreno has been sleeping on the streets for months during the coronavirus pandemic&living with a compromised immune system.

"i'm scared on moment something bad can happen- and my immune system will crash."

But moreno still feels safer spending the night on this tiny stretch of a sidewalk& than in a dormitory-style shelter.

The advocacy group coalition for the homeless says the coronavirus death rate for new yorker's in shelters is 61 percent higher compared to new yorker's with homes.

The organization also says unsheltered homeless, like moreno may face an even greater risk of dying.

And many groups that provide help are temporarily shut down or are not able to operate normally.

"doctors withou borders teamed up with the salvation army here in new york city to offer showers to those in need.

Organizations across the country are getting creative in an effort to provide resources like showers, meals, and places for people to sleep during the pandemic."

"a few people hav told me this is the first shower they've had in 2-3 an an effort to provide resources like showers, meals, and places for people to sleep during the pandemic."

"a few people hav told me this is the first shower they've had in 2-3 weeks.

Elise- that's both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

Eric- yeah- it feels good to be able to provide it- but we shouldn't have gotten here."

Officials in new york, houston and los angeles secured hotel rooms for some homeless residents.

San fransisco has designated safe sleeping sites..

Open air encampments that encourage social distancing.

And in atlanta, georgia- the lost and found youth shelter added extra staff to keep the facility sanitized.

The shelter-like many across the country--- spaced out beds--- to keep people as far away from each other as possible.

"we're allowin everybody to stay and not asking anybody to leave unless they get into another more long-term program or find a permanent place to stay."

Back under this new york city scaffolding& "i am still alive- i' still breathing."

Moreno is focusing on the here and now&and cautiously optimistic about what tomorrow might bring.

Elise preston, cbs news new york.

Bet you can't name just one.

Favorite books as the if you are a big reader, you probably have an answer to this question.

What is your favorite book?

Think about it.

It's not easy to answer.

That's why local author bj hyman picks several of her faves.

Here's as the page turns.

Bj hyman here.

Today we're going to talk about books that are perennial favorites of mine.

If somebody asks me what my favorite books are, i might stare off into space for a little bit going hmm, but these are going to be ones that i'm going to always bring up.

Bj hyman: the first one is all the pretty horses by cormac mccarthy.

I am not a reader of westerns, but this is my one exception, and it is a big one.

This was my first foray into reading anything by cormac mccarthy, and it is gorgeous.

The imagery is vivid and flows beautifully.

This is a simple story, but in the hands of his mastery, it might as well be the sistine chapel.

It is just so gorgeous.

He writes in an unconventional way that he kind of throws out common unusual punctuation, which can make it a little bit challenging to read, but it's so worth it.

Brad pitt reads it to perfection in the audio version.

If you're a little afraid of the challenge, let brad do the work for you, you'll not be sorry.

Bj hyman: the second book on my list is the lovely bones by alice sebold.

It's about a 14 year old girl who was murdered and her body is never found.

The narrator is actually the spirit of the girl, and she goes on to watch her family completely collapse from her disappearance.

She also has to watch the man who murdered her live a life that she's not going to get to, as he hides his tracks.

While the subject matter is very somber there is a lot of joy, and humor, and love, and beauty the sorrow.

The way that the girl finds peace in the end is such a beautiful surprise that it's a book that's just not to be missed.

Bj hyman: the next book that i'm going to talk about is a separate piece by john knowles.

This one is on a lot of high school lists and has been for years for a very good reason.

It is one of the most elegant, beautiful pieces of american literature that there has ever been written.

It focuses on two boys at a prep school during world war two, and their unlikely friendship.

What happens between these two boys is, it seems like a small thing at the time, but it becomes something that is as huge and dramatic, and devastating as a hurricane.

Bj hyman: my last book that i'm going to talk about is love is a mix tape by rob sheffield.

This book is an autobiography set to music.

It covers seven years of the author's life, where he falls in love and gets married, and then his wife tragically dies.

Every single one of his memories are connected to a song.

He uses his favorite mix tapes, which for those of you who are younger and don't know, mix tapes were playlists that were actually recorded to cassette.

He uses those songs to express what happened, how he felt, and how he survived the best and the worst of his life.

Bj hyman: while it sounds depressing.

It is a beautiful love story and is also a story of finding love after loss.

He doesn't just leave you in his grief, he also carries you through to the beautiful dawn that happens after his darkness.

As a reader and a music lover i highly recommend you giving this book a try.

Bj hyman: as always, thank you for watching and you can find my books on amazon.

Email me at bjhyman2112@gmail .com.

Until next time happy reading.

We want to know.

What's your favorite book.

And why.

Travel to wonderful places and never leave your the cbs this morning series "the new normal - the world from home," bringd th world to áyou,á since travel is limited this summer.

This morning we go to an island áuntouchedá by the corona- virus.

Greece is joing other european nations that opened for tourism this week, though americans are ánotá welcome right now.

The country is a pandemic success story, with fewer than 35 hundred cases nationwide.

Tourist spending accounts for about 20 percent of its economy.

Holly williams shows how reopening brings hope for revival -- along with safety concerns.

Cbs foreign correspondent, holly williams, skiathos, greece 2: thodoris tzoumas, mayor of skiathos 3.

Mamma mia!

Universal pictures imagine if you spent the last few months on an island paradise&.without a single case of the new corona virus.

Here on skiathos - population around 6000, a tiny speck in the aegean sea - they don't have to imagine.

Fo for more than two thousand years people have lived on skiathos& surviving wars, earthquakes and even a nazi occupation.

They were bracing for the arrival of the new corona virus - the island's mayor told us - but it never came.

Holly: what was it like being on skiathos, and seeing that unfold everywhere else?

Mayor: it was like seeing a movie, a scary movie.

Very, very difficult to understand what's happening.

Now, like the rest of greece, skiathos is reopening to tourists from around the world&.the first international flights arrived yesterday.

It's been strangely empty so far this summer - the island normally gets more than half a million visitors a year - with plenty of attractions.

Parts of the film mamma mia were filmed on skiathos&and kate hudson and goldie hawn famously enjoyed its golden sands - posting photos on social media.

Mayor: she is, you know, very charming, very charming holly: you mean goldie hawn?

Mayor: yes, goldie hawn.

Yes.

Unique personality.

The arrivals this week will breathe life into greece's economy - but it's a risky business.

Covid 19 has claimed fewer than 200 lives in this country of around 11 million - nothing short of a miracle according to some.

But experts say greece got the science right - an early lockdown with quarantine for international arrivals.

Things are slowly going back to normal here on skiathos - though what they won't see anytime soon is tourists coming here from america&.greece - along with the rest of the european union - has decided that with infection rates in the us soaring it's simply too dangerous.

They opened this luxury resort on skiathos two years ago - catering to the jet set, including wealthy americans&it's now almost deserted and the manager, tommy ressopoulos, wants them back.

Tommy: you need four europeans to be able to make one american.

Holly: oh - so the americans are big spenders?

Tommy: yeah - they are.

And they are specifically spending in the hotels.//which is really good for us.

In a country famous for its philosophers, the mayor shared this lesson to deal with the uncertainties of life.

Enjoy every minute, every day, like it's your last day, like it's your last minute.

Suggested outcue: local residents here told us they did enjoy having the island to the louvre museum in paris will re- open to visitors this week for the first time since it was shut down because of the corona- virus.

Ancient landmarks and museums are also starting to re-open in italy, one of the countries hit áhardestá by the pandemic.

But visiting these historic sites will be very different.

Chris livesay gives us an inside look at how things have changed in the city of florence.

Changed in the city of florence.

Tanding 6 feet apart.

Want lo ok coming close.

Bump in to someone else .

In the.

It does allow you to enjoy the art.

Really need to return the.

Be came places .

It so far kill half .

13 percent .

Use to c ounbt 16,000 italy's coast guard is studying just how much has changed in the mediterranean sea, while the tourists were away.

Ian lee reports.

For marine life, it's home.

For researchers, it's an opportunity.

The months of the lockdown have given marine biologists unprecedented access to the sea.

Divers with the italian coast guard are collecting water samples, before the summer crowds return.

"the lockdow represented a unique opportunity to evaluate human impact.

Diver alessandro mino says .

To evaluate how marine life regained spaces that human activity had eroded."

In addition to water samples, he and other divers filmed underwater footage, and conducted a census of marine life.

While the official results aren't available yet, researchers confirm the waters around italy are visibly cleaner and clearer than before the lockdown.

With people forced to stay at home... marine life began moving closer to shore with jumping dolphins replacing container ships.

Near sicily, a pod of sperm whales silently swims where once roaring motorboats raced.

But officials fear the improvements could be short lived.

Once the lockdown lifts... covid waste... those masks and empty bottles of hand sanitizer, could find their way to the seas.

"this beauty ha been given to us on loan.

He says.

And we must preserve it and give it to our children."

Lessons from the lockdown...for a future generation.

Ian lee cbs news london when we come back, it's time for uncorked.

Mid morning will