Month: July 2020

UPDATE — Members of two families in New Rochelle have tested positive for the new coronavirus and have gone into quarantine, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a late afternoon press conference. The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased to 11 in New York. The Westchester Torah Academy joined the list of closed schools.

WHITE PLAINS, NY — About 500 people are expected to go into either mandatory or self-quarantine in Westchester County and New York City after a family and neighbor in New Rochelle tested positive for the new coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news conference Wednesday after noon in White Plains.

“They will be contacted; between county, state and private organizations, they’ll be given information on what that means,” he said.

The affected people include congregants and attendees at recent events at Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue; eight staffers at New York Presbyterian-Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville; students and staff at the SAR Academy in Riverdale; some people at Yeshiva University; and members of the hospitalized man’s midtown Manhattan law firm.

They’re all on the list of people who may have come in contact with a New Rochelle family with coronavirus: the 50-year-old father, who is hospitalized, his wife, a 14-year-old daughter and a 20-year-old son; and the neighbor who drove the father to Lawrence Hospital.

The neighbor’s children are also being tested, Cuomo said.

The 50-year-old New Rochelle man who was confirmed to have the virus is stable and improving at a New York City hospital, Cuomo said. County and state health department officials are investigating more possible points of contact now, Cuomo said.

There are two types of quarantine, Cuomo said: mandatory isolation for those who have tested positive, and self-quarantine for those who are at risk because of potential contact with contagious people. Anyone who has tested positive must isolate themselves from others even in their home.

“If you can’t, then we will find you a place you can be quarantined,” Cuomo said. “That is a mandatory quarantine. We check on those people to make sure they are doing it. That’s being policed by the local health departments with regulation from the state.”

The county has set up a hotline specifically for people who are being quarantined because of the New Rochelle case, Westchester County Executive George Latimer said. Other Westchester residents should call 211 if they have questions about the virus and exposure.

Latimer said the immediate focus is on tracking the movements of the people who tested positive — “detective work we have to do at the county level.”

The self-quarantine affects the synagogue, which will be closed through March 8. SAR Academy will close until after Purim, which ends the evening of March 10, and the elementary grades will close through Friday.

The decisions try “to minimize the imposition on people while protecting public health,” Cuomo said.

Yeshiva University, where the 20-year-old is a student, will close at least until Friday, he said.

“Some additional investigation is needed before making a decision,” he said.

Cuomo reiterated his argument that people don’t need to panic.

“We have an epidemic caused by coronavirus, but we have a pandemic caused by fear,” Cuomo said.

Most will have mild cases. The state is most concerned about senior citizens, people with compromised immune systems, nursing home settings and senior care settings.

What’s happened so far in New York bears that out, he said. The first diagnosed case of the new coronavirus was a New York City health care worker who been to Iran.

“The 34-year-old health care worker is home and getting better,” Cuomo said. “The 50-year-old attorney had an underlying respiratory illness. He is in the category of people we worry about.”

Tests of people in Suffolk County, Oneida County and Buffalo had come back negative, he said.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said current symptoms reported for people with the new coronavirus, officially called COVID-19, include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing. The virus is spreading from person to person, and someone sickened with the virus can spread the illness to others, medical officials said.

Click Here: liverpool mens jersey

There is currently no vaccine to prevent the new coronavirus. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus, though the CDC recommends preventive actions to help avoid spreading respiratory diseases, such as:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Stay home if sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away.Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

NEW YORK CITY — New York will go under a stay-at-home order after Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order that goes into effect Sunday.

“We’re going to take it to the ultimate step,” Cuomo said Friday. “We’re going to close the [density] valve.”

He denied it was “shelter in place,” but the rules are similar to an order that was initially called that was put in place in San Francisco limiting outdoor activity to the essentials: grocery shopping, getting medication and exercise and pet walking, for example. California later changed the name to a “stay-at-home” order.

“Words matter,” Cuomo said. “The quote-unquote policy was never shelter-in-place.”

To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in NYC, sign up for Patch’s news alerts and newsletter.

Instead, New Yorkers will be told to PAUSE.

Under the policy, only essential businesses — health care workers, food suppliers, pharmacies, utilities — can have commuting workers, Cuomo said.

Essential services allowed to remain open will include grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants for takeout orders, banks, public transit and internet service providers, which will increase data capacity at no charge to accommodate people working from home.

“We have to do it,” said Cuomo. “Everyone has personal liberty. But everyone has a responsibility to everyone else.”

Seniors over 70 face the strictest rules that keep them indoors.

“The No. 1 opportunity is to flatten the curve. The best way to do that is by controlling density,” said Cuomo.

Read More: Coronavirus Stay-At Home Order In NY: What Does It Mean?

Non-vulnerable populations are ordered to cancel gatherings and keep at least 6 feet away from others, and sick New Yorkers must stay home.

New York law officials will enforce the order with civil fines for businesses and citizens told to return home.

“This is not voluntary, it’s not helpful hints,” Cuomo said. “There can be mandatory closures for businesses that don’t comply.”

New Jersey and Connecticut may issue similar “pause” orders later Friday, Cuomo said.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who called New York City the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis, ordered 250,000 city workers to begin working remotely Friday, among them the staff of the now-closed marriage bureau.

The number of COVID-19 cases in New York City reached 4,408, with 1,939 newly positive test results, Cuomo said. There were 7,102 in the state.

Cuomo said the order came as New York State faces a outbreak that could overwhelm the health care system facing mass shortages of medical supplies.

New York’s case numbers are going up at double the capacity of the hospital system and triple the capacity of the ICU beds, fitted with equipment that helps COVID-19 patients breathe, said Cuomo.

Click Here: liverpool mens jersey

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles health officials announced the first coronavirus death of a child in the county as confirmed cases continue to skyrocket across the Southland. Over the last 24 hours, Los Angeles County Public Health Department officials confirmed 128 new cases of coronavirus and another four deaths. The county now has 669 cases, including 11 where the patient died.

The young person who died from the coronavirus was from the Lancaster area, according to Dr. Barbara Ferrer, head of the county Department of Public Health. She called the case “a devastating reminder that COVID-19 affects people of all ages.”

Officials did not release additional details about the first person under 18 to die from COVID-19 in Los Angeles. It is unclear if the youth suffered from underlying health problems.

Ferrer said that of the coronavirus cases in the county, 42% are in people aged 18-40, while 39% involve people aged 41-65. As of Monday, more than 5,700 people have been tested in the county, with about 10% coming back positive.

She has repeatedly stressed that the number of cases in the county is likely to continue rising due to the increasing availability of testing. But she said people who are tested should assume they are positive and immediately isolate themselves and notify their close contacts so those people can also go into quarantine.

Authorities announced the quarantine of eight Los Angeles Police Department officers and one civilian employee Monday who contracted the coronavirus after a sickened officer reportedly continued working while awaiting coronavirus test results, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“Social distancing is one very important tool that we use, but the second tool that we need to ask for your cooperation on is adhering to isolation and quarantine orders,” she said. “Isolation is required by law for anyone positive for COVID-19 or whose clinician has told them they’re likely to be positive.”

She said it can take several days for people to get their test results, and patients should assume they are positive while they’re waiting for those results.

Don’t miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

For days, health officials have been warning residents to prepare for the outbreak to spike. On Monday, officials also announced 128 additional cases despite countywide “safer at home” orders, cautioning residents to stay home and avoid gatherings. It also closed nonessential businesses. However, many Angelenos failed to heed the orders, crowding beaches and parks. The situation forced Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to announce further public area closures — including the Venice Beach Boardwalk.

Garcetti also told people not to take risks with their health.

“Don’t mess around,” he said. “This is too important.”

Residents of the county and across the state are under orders to remain at home as much as possible, and engage in social distancing when they’re outside the home.

The restrictions were ramped up over the weekend in response to continued large-scale gatherings of people at beaches — most notably the Venice boardwalk — and on hiking trails.

“Seriously people, you need to practice social distancing. I am seeing tons of people out there acting like there’s no crisis. You could be carrying the virus, have no symptoms, and be responsible for the illness or worse of others,” Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia wrote on his Twitter page over the weekend.

The previous order prohibited gatherings of 10 or more people, but the revised wording released over the weekend prohibits “all indoor and outdoor public and private gatherings and events.”

People who go out for shopping or essential jobs are required to remain at least six feet away from anyone else. Residents are still free to go outside for walks, hikes or bike rides, but not in large groups.

Saturday’s enhanced order also clarified that golf courses and personal grooming services — including hair and nail salons — are nonessential services and are closed. The order can be found online at http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/. It requires “all indoor malls and shopping centers, all swap meets and flea markets, all indoor and outdoor playgrounds and all non-essential businesses to close.”

Businesses considered essential and permitted to remain open include hardware stores, repair shops, media outlets, banks, laundromats, dry-cleaners and pet supply stores.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed more emergency orders Monday related to the coronavirus outbreak, including a temporary suspension of evictions through Ellis Act proceedings, which allow landlords to sell their buildings and exit the rental market if they want.

“This step is necessary to keep tenants in their homes as we’re asking them to stay home, and if you cannot pay rent, you cannot be evicted,” Garcetti said, adding that not every landowner is part of a large corporation. “The money you owe won’t disappear. You’ll have six months to pay it back … and everyone is struggling.”

Garcetti said he also signed an order allowing restaurants and bars to deliver alcoholic beverages in the city of Los Angeles, saying he hopes the move will generate more revenue for those small businesses.

Meanwhile, the Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy was expected to arrive later this week at the Port of Los Angeles, providing an extra 1,000 beds to help alleviate the shortage in Southland hospital space.

The ship and its staff will not treat patients with the coronavirus but will offer a broad range of medical and surgical support, with the exceptions of obstetrics and pediatrics, said Rear Adm. Timothy Weber, the commander of the Naval Medical Corps Pacific and director of the Medical Service Corps. The ship will serve as a referral hospital for non-COVID-19 patients admitted to shore-based hospitals and will provide a full spectrum of medical care including general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults.

The Mercy’s presence will allow Los Angeles-area health professionals to focus on treating coronavirus patients and for shore-based hospitals to use their intensive care units and ventilators for those patients, Weber said.

County officials have been working to establish quarantine/isolation areas for people who either have the virus, have been exposed to it or are showing symptoms. One location has already been established at Dockweiler State Beach, where RVs have been parked to provide isolation space.

County Supervisor Hilda Solis announced Friday that the Sheraton Fairplex hotel in Pomona will become a quarantine/isolation facility beginning Monday. She said the county has negotiated a lease for the hotel’s 244 rooms that will continue through May 31, with an option to extend through June.

The Pomona Fairplex is also opening a child-care center for the children of first-responders, and a drive-through food pantry will begin operating at the facility on April 1. And the shuttered St. Vincent Medical Center in the Westlake district will also be used for patients with the virus.

SEE ALSO:

Products That Kill The Coronavirus Identified By EPALA Man Who Flew Home From Florida Trip Dies From Coronavirus

Garcetti also said the city will launch a portal to be rolled out in the next couple of days designed to test the most vulnerable Angelenos — 65 and over with underlying health conditions, who are showing coronavirus symptoms.

These residents will be prioritized to be tested, and will need to be able to prove identification to get those tests.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.Stay home when you are sick.Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — The San Diego region’s estimated unemployment rate has risen to nearly 25% — and it will get worse as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, according to a report released Wednesday by the San Diego Association of Governments.

SANDAG’s latest data accounts for the period between April 11-18, where unemployment numbers increased from 20.6% to 24.7%. The numbers “are expected to continue to rise for the next few weeks,” the report’s authors said.

On March 7, the unemployment rate in the county was 3.4%.

Ray Major, SANDAG’s chief economist, said the numbers are unprecedented.

“Nothing like this has ever happened in San Diego,” he told City News Service. “We have long since passed the high of 11.1% unemployment of the Great Recession and we are rivaling numbers in the Great Depression.”

Major said unemployment figures for San Diego in 1934 were spotty, but noted that the nation saw rates of 25% and higher in some regions during the depression. He said he anticipated the local figures to pass those historic unemployment rates next week or the week after.

According to the SANDAG analysis, the San Diego region now has 430,000 people out of work, more than 360,000 of whom lost employment after March 7 — which public health officials have pinpointed as the date the health crisis began locally.

Major said it looks bleak, but there is one advantage the current climate holds over that of the 1930s.

“The difference is there are jobs, people just can’t go to work right now,” he said. “This is a man-made closure. We are just waiting for medical officials to tell us when we can get back to work. If hairdressers and barbers open tomorrow, they could be busy for the next two months, but we have to make sure we open up safely.”

Don’t miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

The news is bad all over, but a few ZIP codes are seeing a larger impact. Logan Heights leads the county in unemployment, with 34.8% of residents out of work. National City, the College area and San Ysidro all have more than 30% unemployment and Golden Hill and City Heights each have more than 29% unemployed.

“These all have a combined total of 50,000 unemployed residents — nearly as many unemployed residents the entire county of San Diego had just six weeks ago,” the report states.

Major said he doesn’t foresee the tourism industry coming back to pre- pandemic levels for another 18 months to two years, and with the county employing 337,000 in jobs considered “high-touch,” industries like health care and restaurants may see lasting ramifications, as well.

The industries most severely impacted by COVID-19 and various stay-at- home and social distancing orders associated with the pandemic include ones in which close contact is required, such as hotel, restaurant, personal care, transportation and entertainment jobs.

ZIP codes with a higher percentage of office workers who can work from home are less severely impacted by unemployment. Those areas include West Rancho Bernardo, Eastlake, Carmel Valley, Del Mar and Scripps Ranch — all of which have less than 20% unemployment.

Major had some words of encouragement for people dealing with the economic repercussions of the health crisis.

“This will come to an end,” he said. “And when it does, I anticipate the unemployment rate to drop very rapidly.”

Click Here: Atlanta United FC Jersey

SANTEE, CA — A man was spotted wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood while grocery shopping Saturday in Santee, sparking outrage from local officials, residents and others on social media, and prompting a sheriff’s investigation into the incident.

Shoppers at the Vons store on Mission Gorge Road snapped photos of the masked man and posted them online.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced Monday it was investigating the incident, even though deputies were not called to the store at the time.

Click Here: racing club camiseta

“Detectives from the Sheriff’s Department are looking into the matter and will pursue any appropriate criminal charges,” the department said in a prepared statement. “The Sheriff’s Department does not condone hate or any acts of intolerance in our communities. We are a county that is welcoming of people from all backgrounds.”

Workers at the Vons had the man remove the makeshift hood but did not make him leave the store, a company spokeswoman confirmed to Patch on Sunday.

“At Vons, fostering an environment of courtesy, dignity, and respect is one of our highest priorities, and we work hard to hold everyone in our stores to these standards, including customers,” said Melissa Hill, a spokeswoman for Albertsons Companies, which owns the supermarket chain.

“Unfortunately, an alarming and isolated incident occurred at our Vons store in Santee, where a customer chose an inflammatory method of wearing a face covering. Needless to say, it was shocking. Several members of our team asked the customer to remove it, and all requests were ignored until the customer was in the checkout area.”

Hill said the incident was “disturbing” for Vons customers and workers, and that the company would review with the team how to “best handle such inappropriate situations” in the future.

“Don’t know which angers me more — the person wearing this or the fact that no one in management @Vons Santee did anything about it,” Tammy Gillies, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of San Diego, wrote on Twitter. “⁦@ADL_SD⁩ would be happy to educate your team. San Diego is #NoPlaceForHate.”

The city of Santee, a suburb of San Diego County, has a history of racially motivated attacks and skinhead activity in the area, including a brutal attack by five white men in 1998 that left a black Marine paralyzed.

The city has worked hard in recent years, however, to rebrand the community and strip itself of the nickname “Klantee.” In fact, last year Santee hired a marketing company to help develop a brand to market the city to businesses, potential residents and visitors.

But when pictures of the shopper wearing the hood surfaced over the weekend on social media, people were quick to point to Santee’s not-so-shiny past.

“Shameful, hateful situation yesterday in my hometown of Santee,” Scott Caraveo wrote on Twitter.

“This is absolutely disgusting and makes me shamed to be from this town,” Tyler Moore wrote.

“This is my local Vons that I shop at,” Dan Howe wrote. “While I’m offended by this clown, I’m much more offended by all the people who did nothing but gawk, mutter under their breath or ignore it. Shame on them.”

In a statement issued Sunday evening, Santee Mayor John Minto said the man’s actions do not represent the values of the city.

“Many thanks to all who stepped forward to curtail this sad reminder of intolerance,” Minto said. “Santee, its leaders, and I will not tolerate such behavior. Santee and its citizens are great, and this particular individual’s actions are not representative of us as a people and a wonderful city.”

San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob also reacted to the pictures and condemned the man’s actions. Jacob represents most of the eastern two-thirds of the county, including Santee.

“The images I’ve seen are abhorrent,” Jacob said in a statement. “This blatant racism has no place in Santee or any part of San Diego County. It is not who we are. It is not what we stand for and can’t be tolerated.”

SANTA MONICA, CA — Summer could look different across Los Angeles County, with top health officials reporting Tuesday that its stay-at-home order will likely remain in place through August, barring a dramatic change in the fight against the coronavirus.

Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer made that statement to the county’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday during a debate over how long a moratorium on rent evictions should be in place.

Click Here: st kilda saints guernsey 2019

It’s likely these restrictions will remain in place unless there is a “dramatic change in this virus or in the tools available,” Ferrer said.

U.S. health officials have warned about states reopening too quickly, along with the urgent need for a vaccine. Without adequate preparation, officials believe there could be a resurgence in the virus’ spread, according to The New York Times.

Friday is when the current countywide public health order is to expire. It mandates business closures and calls on residents to remain at home as much as possible, practice social distancing and wear face coverings when interacting with others.

Some restrictions have been lifted since the original order in March, and beaches are set to open Wednesday across Los Angeles County.

Don’t miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

An updated health order is expected to be announced during the county’s coronavirus briefing Wednesday. It’s unclear yet what the order will say.

Ferrer and other county health officials have been frank in recent weeks that social distancing and face coverings will be the “new normal,” likely for months to come, as efforts continue to slow the spread of the virus.

Despite that warning, the county began loosening its stay-at-home restrictions last week, allowing hiking trails and golf courses to reopen. Some retail businesses including toy stores, clothing stores, music shops, florists and sporting goods stores were opened for curbside pickup only. Car dealers were also permitted to reopen under sanitation and social distancing guidelines.

Ferrer indicated during Tuesday’s board meeting that more openings could occur on a much slower basis.

“There’s now no way, unless there was a dramatic change in … this virus and the tools that we have at hand to actually fight against this virus, there’s no way that we could in fact see us not needing to continue with a set of restrictions,” Ferrer said.

Such “dramatic change” would have to include a reliable vaccine, at- home daily testing for COVID-19 and treatment for the infection, she said.

“… Without good therapeutic medicines that are widely available and widely effective, without a vaccination and without the kind of … home testing, rapid-test kits that would let every single person test themselves every single day … what’s left are in the fact the restrictions … that form the biggest part of our community mitigation efforts, and the contact tracing that we do to make sure that we’re able to isolate and quarantine people as appropriate,” she said.

Ferrer did not specify what types of restrictions might remain in place. The countywide Safer At Home order that mandates business closures and urges residents to remain at home as much as possible, practice social distancing and wear face coverings when interacting with others is set to expire Friday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state was again loosening its statewide umbrella health order, and giving individual counties the authority to allow shopping malls, strip malls and outlet malls to reopen with curbside pickup. The state modification would also allow counties to authorize the reopening of some offices, if workers are unable to work remotely.

Speaking to CNN Tuesday afternoon, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Ferrer’s comments should not be misinterpreted by residents as a sign they will stuck inside their homes through the summer.

“I think quite simply she’s saying we’re not going to fully reopen Los Angeles — and probably anywhere in America — without any protections or any health orders in the next three months,” Garcetti said. “I think we know it’s going to be even longer than three months. As I’ve said a million times, we’re not moving past COVID-19, we’re learning to live with it.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state was again loosening its statewide umbrella health order, and give individual counties the authority to allow shopping malls, strip malls and outlet malls to reopen with curbside pickup. The state modification would also allow counties to authorize the reopening of some offices, if workers are unable to work remotely.

The state also released guidelines for possible reopening of other businesses, such as car washes, pet groomers and dog walkers. Newsom noted that changing the statewide order doesn’t automatically mean such businesses will be allowed to reopen, with the specific authority delegated to individual counties based on their individual circumstances.

“The statewide order affords the opportunity for local government to come in to reform with those guidelines,” he said. “But one can choose — a region like the Bay Area, the six counties, can choose to be a little bit more … restrictive. Parts of Southern California, L.A. and others the same. So not everyone is compelled into this phase. But that phase is afforded to everybody.”

The state has also released guidelines for dine-in restaurants, when they are eventually allowed to reopen. When such openings are permitted, the guidelines call for restrictions on capacity and mandates on safety, such as face coverings for employees and customers.

This story on the new coronavirus is updated throughout the day with national news and developments from around our network of local Patches. Scroll down for links, helpful for day-to-day living and the most recent stories.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell thinks the U.S. economy may not start to turn around until the end of this year, and that a vaccine will be critical to achieving a full financial recovery.

“Assuming there’s not a second wave of the coronavirus, I think you’ll see the economy recover steadily through the second half of this year,” the U.S. central bank chief said in an interview aired Sunday on CBS. “For the economy to fully recover people will have to be fully confident, and that may have to await the arrival of a vaccine.”

Meanwhile, all eyes are on what comes next now that the House of Representatives has pushed through an enormous $3 trillion piece of legislation intended to aid in the economic recovery process.

Friday’s 208-199 vote in the House came on the heels of a new analysis that claims a vast majority of states are not administering the number of coronavirus tests recommended by public health experts to safely reopen their economies.

All but one Republican opposed the measure, advancing what boils down to a campaign-season display of Democratic economic and health care priorities. The measure has no chance of becoming law as written, but will likely spark difficult negotiations with the White House and Senate Republicans.

Powell Warns U.S. Recovery Could Stretch Through 2021

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell sounded a slightly more optimistic note Sunday when asked about the U.S. economy, a shift from Wednesday when he said the economy could face lasting harm from the coronavirus crisis if the government doesn’t step up.

“This economy will recover. It may take a while,” Powell said in an interview aired on CBS Sunday.

Powell added that people should never “bet” against the American people, but the economy will take its time in recovering. The Fed chair’s comments came as more than 36 million Americans have lost their jobs since February.

Powell’s full interview will be broadcast at 7 p.m. ET. on CBS’s “60 Minutes.”

House Passes $3 Trillion Coronavirus Package

The Democratic measure would cost more than the prior four coronavirus bills combined. It would deliver almost $1 trillion for state and local governments, another round of $1,200 direct payments to individuals and help for the unemployed, renters and homeowners, college debt holders and the struggling Postal Service.

“Not to act now is not only irresponsible in a humanitarian way, it is irresponsible because it’s only going to cost more,” warned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “More in terms of lives, livelihood, cost to the budget, cost to our democracy.”

Trump and top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are insisting the next measure should protect reopening businesses from liability lawsuits. The president is also demanding a cut to payroll taxes, but GOP leaders are not yet onboard.

The measure now moves to the Senate, where GOP leaders have already declared it “dead on arrival.”

Most States Failing To Hit Recommended Testing Levels

A new analysis claims a vast majority of states are not administering the number of coronavirus tests recommended by public health experts to safely reopen.

According to an AP analysis of metrics developed by Harvard’s Global Health Institute, 41 of the nation’s 50 states fail to test widely enough to drive their infections below a key benchmark. Rapid, widespread testing is considered essential to tracking and containing the coronavirus.

Among the states falling short are Texas and Georgia, which moved aggressively last month to reopen stores, malls, barbershops and other businesses.

Click Here: st kilda saints guernsey 2019

Researchers at Harvard University have calculated that the U.S. needs to test a minimum of 900,000 people per day to safely reopen the economy. That goal is nearly three times the country’s current daily testing tally of about 360,000, according to figures compiled by the COVID Tracking Project website.

Obama Criticizes Virus Response In Graduation Speech

Former President Barack Obama on Saturday criticized U.S. leaders responsible for overseeing the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Obama spoke during the “Show Me Your Walk, HBCU Edition,” a two-hour event for students graduating from historically black colleges and universities, and then again later in the day during a televised commencement address for high school seniors.

“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Obama said in his first speech. “A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”

Obama did not name any federal or state officials in either of his appearances, but earlier in May he harshly criticized President Trump’s handling of the pandemic as an “absolute chaotic disaster” in a call with 3,000 members of his administrations.

Obama urged the young graduates to be unafraid despite the current challenges facing the nation and to strive to be part of a diverse community.

New Rules Allow House To Work, Vote From Home

It all started with the grandchildren.

As House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer saw it, if he could Face Time with the grandkids, why not have Congress legislate by video chat and avoid the health risks of convening at the Capitol during the coronavirus pandemic?

And so the silver-haired, 80-year-old congressman from Maryland helped steer the House into one of the more substantial rules changes of its 230-year history.

From now on, lawmakers will be allowed to cast House floor votes by proxy — without being “present” as the Constitution requires. The next step will allow them to skip the middle-man and simply vote remotely once leaders approve the technology. The House approved the new rules Friday.

Trump Hopeful For Coronavirus Vaccine By Year’s End

Trump on Friday said he’s hopeful a coronavirus vaccine will be on the market by year’s end or shortly after. Trump talked about the latest vaccine developments during a Rose Garden event at the White House.

Moncep Slaoui, a former pharmaceutical executive who Trump has tapped to serve as the administration’s virus czar, also spoke at the briefing. Slaoui said early trial data suggests that “a few hundred million doses of vaccine” will be delivered by late 2020.

Scientists, however, aren’t as optimistic as the president. Many say Trump’s goal is unrealistic and could even backfire by shortchanging safety and undermining faith in vaccines more broadly, The Washington Post reports.

Don’t miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Also, for updated coverage on national news surrounding coronavirus, sign up for the Patch Across America daily newsletter.

From Across America Class Of 2020 Joins Worst Job Market In History

Nearly 4 million people are expected to graduate with a college degree this academic year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. They will do so amid soaring unemployment and shuttering businesses, The Hill reports.

NY Racing Tracks Get Green Light To Reopen

The state will allow horse racing tracks to open without fans, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo looks to boost economic activity while avoiding crowds.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down ‘Safer-At-Home’ Order

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down the state’s “Safer-At-Home” order, stating that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ administration overstepped its legal boundaries when crafting the order.

Illinois 13-Year-Old Makes More Than 2,000 Masks

Madi Hagwell, a junior high student from Mokena, has made 2,000 masks for those in need.

You’ve Never Seen A ‘Save The Date’ Like This One

Marc and Christina of Connecticut have been together for 8 years, engaged for 3. They set a date: June 2020. But coronavirus happened. Come on, July 2021!

How To Get Free Or Discounted Prescriptions During Coronavirus

Pharmacies across the U.S. are stepping up to help consumers find affordable medications.

Should We Believe Gov. Pritzker’s Coronavirus Testing Statistics?

KONKOL COLUMN: Illinois Gov. Pritzker wants us to believe the state with the most coronavirus tests wins, but statistics don’t tell the whole story.

Coronavirus Stalks California’s Wildfire Season

Crackling flames won’t be all that threatens California firefighters this wildfire season. For the first time, they’ll be faced with another, invisible menace: the new coronavirus.

Read More By State

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s oldest legacy airline, Aeromexico, said Tuesday it has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization, a form of bankruptcy in which the carrier can keep operating while its debts and obligations are sorted out.

The airline said “this legal process will not interrupt the airline’s operations” and that all tickets, reservations and bonus points would continue to be honoured.

Like many airlines throughout the world, Aeromexico has been squeezed by a decline in travel due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Aeromexico general director Andrés Conesa said “the COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the global economy and travel industry.”

READ MORE

• Air Canada, WestJet To End Physical Distancing Policies On Planes

• Air Canada Offers Refunds To Some Passengers For COVID-19 Cancellations

• WestJet Laying Off More Than 3,300 Workers, Calling Move ‘Unavoidable'

• This Is What Air Travel Is Like In Canada Now

In a statement, Aeromexico wrote that “many leading airlines throughout the world have used Chapter 11 to strengthen their financial position, and they continue to be solid companies that serve passengers across the world now. That is what we intend to do.”

Mexico’s government has refused to bail out large private companies, even those battered by the pandemic.

Mexico’s other legacy airline, Mexicana, went into a Mexican bankruptcy proceeding in 2010 and never re-emerged.

Click Here: gws giants guernsey 2019

A mandate to wear face masks in public could be a partial “substitute” for future COVID-19 lockdowns, sparing the economy billions of dollars in damage, researchers at investment bank Goldman Sachs say.

By comparing COVID-19 data from 125 countries, and by comparing U.S. counties with and without face mask mandates, the researchers concluded that a government order to wear face masks in public could cut the virus’s infection rate by nearly 60 per cent, and reduce fatalities by nearly half.

To achieve the same result using lockdowns, the government would have to shut down enough activity to cause the economy to shrink 5 per cent, researchers Jan Hatzius, Isabella Rosenberg and Daan Struyven wrote.

Watch: How to make a medical face mask at home, according to the CDC. Story continues below.

 

“We find that face masks are associated with significantly better coronavirus outcomes,” they wrote, and this “seems to reflect a largely causal impact of masks rather than correlation with other factors (such as reduced mobility or avoidance of large gatherings).”

Looking at the U.S., the researchers found “face mask usage is highest in the Northeast, where the virus situation has improved dramatically in recent months, and generally lower in the South, where the numbers have deteriorated.

“For example, only about 40 per cent of respondents in Arizona say that they ‘always’ wear face masks in public, compared with nearly 80 per cent in Massachusetts.”

RELATED

• Canadian Mayors Are Taking Mandatory Mask-Wearing Into Their Own Hands
• Use This Checklist Before Going To A Reopened Hair Or Nail Salon
• Canada Almost Ready To Stop Importing PPE, Start Sharing 'With World': Trudeau
• Via Rail Implements New Policy Requiring Passengers To Wear Face Masks

The report noted that an “abrupt shift has occurred in the official view on face masks,” noting that the World Health Organization said as recently as March that there is “no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any potential benefit.”

But the success of countries with a face mask mandate in fighting the coronavirus has changed perceptions. 

In Canada, health authorities initially described face masks as “counterproductive,” but by April had acknowledged new research showing their effectiveness in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Face mask rules proliferate

Now, provincial and municipal governments one-by-one are implementing face mask rules.

The City of Toronto announced Tuesday that face masks will be mandatory in all indoor public spaces. The province of Quebec has decreed that face masks must be worn on public transit. Other provinces and cities are looking at following suit.

However, some jurisdictions are balking at making face masks mandatory, because not everyone can safely wear them. 

People who suffer from asthma may have trouble breathing in face masks, while people who suffer from sensory perception challenges, such as the hard of hearing and autistic persons, may also struggle with face masks.

The Goldman Sachs report found that government orders are fairly effective in getting people to wear face masks, increasing usage by about 15 percentage points. 

Recent surveys suggest Canada is closer to the low end of public face mask usage, with a recent Leger survey showing 48 per cent of Canadians have used face masks in public. In East Asia, which has largely avoided large-scale outbreaks, and in Southern Europe, where cases have rapidly dropped off, that percentage is in the 80s and 90s, the Goldman Sachs researchers noted.

Click Here: gws giants guernsey 2019

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — Several hundred people descended on Point Pleasant Beach Monday to call on Gov. Phil Murphy to fully reopen New Jersey’s economy after more than two months of closures due to the coronavirus crisis.

Chanting “Reopen New Jersey now” and “all businesses are essential,” the protest drew residents from across New Jersey to the Silver Lake parking lot for the “Freedom March of NJ,” which included speeches by Sen. Joe Pennachio, a Republican from Morris County, and the owners of two gyms that opened last week in violation of Murphy’s executive orders that shut down the state in March.

“Thousands of people are strolling through Home Depot every day buying widgets and gadgets yet we’re denying our small businesses the right to sell those same widgets and gadgets,” Pennachio said. “Gov. Murphy you took an oath to uphold the constitution under God. Gov. Murphy, let my people go.”

Don’t miss local and New Jersey announcements about coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Murphy on Thursday said he hoped it would be a matter of weeks before those businesses and others could reopen, part of “stage two” of the state’s reopening plan. Read more: Gov. Murphy Provides Timeframe For NJ Salon, Gym, Dining Reopen

At least one group of business owners isn’t willing to wait weeks. One of the speakers at the protest said a coalition of gyms and salons, estimated at 400 to 500 businesses, is planning to open in unision on June 1.

“As business owners and members we won’t stand for our civil liberties and rights to be infringed on to be able to make a living and have a healthy immune system to defend against the virus itself!” the New Jersey Business Coalition Opening 6/1/2020 said on its Facebook group. “We are making it clear we have been patient and we will no longer wait to open one more day beyond June 1st!”

The event was held across the street from Jenkinson’s amusements and the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk, which has been closed all weekend because the borough does not have enough police officers to manage the crowds that usually come for Memorial Day weekend, Point Beach Mayor .

“You can’t go to any of the stores on the boardwalk to buy sunglasses, T-shirts or flip-flops, but you can go two blocks off the beach to buy them at Dollar General,” said Sen. Michael Testa, a Republican from Cumberland County. “We have to stop this insanity.”

“Two summers ago, I thought the Jersey Shore was back,” said a man who owns a hair salon on Arnold Avenue, one of three he owns. “Now there are at least five stores that have ‘For Rent’ signs.”

Murphy ordered businesses and schools across the state to shut down on March 16, and on March 21 issued a stay-at-home order in an effort to promote social distancing and limit the spread of the virus. In the last few weeks, the rate of increase of the number of cases and the rate of daily deaths have slowed, and the number of hospitalizations and those on ventilators have fallen, leading to a loosening of restrictions. Murphy has issued orders reopening state parks and beaches up and down the state have reopened, with a mix of restrictions meant to promote social distancing. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here’s What You Need To Know

But for some, the pace of reopening has been far too slow. More than 1 million unemployment claims have been filed, thousands are still waiting to receive their first unemployment payments, and with mounting bills and no income, people are demanding the reopening move more quickly.

Murphy has repeatedly said the pace of the reopening will be dictated by the data and scientific information.

On Friday, Murphy increased the number of people permitted at outdoor gatherings to 25. Beaches have been opened along much of the Jersey Shore, with restrictions.

Pennachio even took aim at the issue of wearing masks, which has been a point of conflict for weeks. Murphy ordered customers and store employees to wear masks in stores on April 8, state officials have urged people to wear masks when they are out in public if they will be in situations where they will be within 6 feet of others.

“It feels good to shake hands without masks again,” Pennachio said, sparking cheers and chants of “No more masks.” Few if any masks were seen on attendees, and at one point a speaker urged everyone to “reach out and touch someone,” prompting hugs among those in attendance.

“There’s very little science involved and very little common sense,” Pennachio said of the restrictions. “Don’t depend on government for your freedoms. Those freedoms as we speak are being denied under the guise of public health.”

There have been 155,092 New Jersey residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 11,144 have died of complications from the virus, as of Monday. In the last few weeks, the rate of increase of the number of cases and the rate of daily deaths have slowed, and the number of hospitalizations and those on ventilators have fallen, leading to a loosening of restrictions. Murphy has issued orders reopening state parks and beaches up and down the state have reopened, with a mix of restrictions meant to promote social distancing.

Half of the deaths in the state have been at nursing homes, an issue that has drawn pointed criticisms and scrutiny. Read more: NJ: ‘We Can Do Better’ In Troubled Nursing Home COVID Crisis

“They are denying life itself,” Pennachio said. “The state was warned about the danger.”

Also in attendance were Ian Smith, co-owner of the Bellmawr gym that opened last week in violation of the state’s closure order, and Kyle Newell, owner of the Hillsborough gym that opened later in the week.

An attorney representing Smith said the closure — which he said escalated to the locks being changed on the Bellmawr gym — is a violation of Smith’s constitutional rights. Read more: South Jersey Gym That Defied Murphy Reopens After NJ Shut It Down

Last week, the New Jersey Republican State Committee filed a lawsuit seeking to force Murphy to allow small businesses to reopen, claiming Murphy’s decisions on essential businesses were arbitrary and violate the equal protections clause of the Constitution.

“Governor Murphy has irreparably harmed New Jersey small businesses by arbitrarily declaring some essential and others nonessential,” said Doug Steinhardt, chairman of the Republican State Party. “While mom and pop barbers, bars, brew pubs and retail shops are shuttered and struggling, big box stores, with big cash cushions, survive. (He) has callously covered his ears, closed his eyes, and ignored New Jersey’s cries for honest answers to real problems.”

That lawsuit followed one filed by three Toms River businesses and a group of Toms River high school seniors seeking to force changes to the reopening plan, including allowing in-person high school graduations. Read more: Toms River Students, Businesses Sue To Overturn Murphy’s Orders

“We have the right to want more and expect more for our children,” Pennachio said. “Only God has given us those rights and only God can take them away.

At times the protest resembled a rally for President Donald Trump, with chants of “USA” and “America First” and even “Lock him up,” which was directed at Murphy over the issues with unemployment and the nursing home deaths.