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May/Jun 2020
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5 I CAN'T BREATHE
Orange County to Distribute Federal CARES Act Funding in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic: Urges Small Businesses and Residents to Prepare Required Documents The application for the Small Business Grant Program and the Individual and Family Assistance Program will open June 8, 2020.
Across the entire United States and in many countries throughout the world, people of all races and ages have turned out in protest of the murder of George Floyd. There have been moments throughout this process that have touched my heart. One of them was the protest in Colorado where people lay on the ground for 9 minutes with their hands behind their backs. This is empathy. This teal cover would have shared Caribbean American Heritage Month greetings, however this issue we wanted to pay homage to the Black Lives Matter movement, and the protests in honor of George Floyd.
HAPPY CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH "Our Shared History, Our Shared Future" is the theme for the June 2020 Caribbean Heritage Month, being celebrated across the United States in recognition of the contribution of the Caribbean Peoples to the culture and economy of the nation.
The County is recommending that small businesses and residents review the eligibility criteria and prepare their documents now so they are ready to apply come June 8.
Orange County Government has received $243.2 million in Federal CARES Act funding. The County’s Small Business Grant Program will distribute $72.9 million of that to approximately 6,500 small businesses ($10,000 per business) to help them overcome the temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. In addition, $72.9 million of those funds are earmarked to help residents. Approximately $36.5 million have been allocated for Orange County’s Individual and Family Assistance Program, which will provide a onetime payment of $1,000 per household for residents affected by COVID-19. Funds for this program will assist residents to bridge financial gaps for overdue rent, mortgage, medical or an eligible utility expense. Another $36.5 million have been allocated for expanded funding for Orange County’s partner social-service organizations. Information is now available online for small businesses and residents at www.ocfl.net/OrangeCares.
“We’re urging small businesses and residents to prepare now so they can get their applications submitted in a timely manner,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “These funding amounts were broken down to help as many residents and businesses as possible during this challenging time.” As a result of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners’ philosophy to work with local governments to reach and assist as many residents as possible, funding is open to all residents and small businesses located within the boundaries of Orange County, not just unincorporated Orange County.
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L I F E S T Y L E
Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor
I CAN NOT BREATHE ...he said it 12 times Samuel J. Roberts
Owner/Publisher/Editor
I
magine saying I can't breathe to
a person 12 times as they kneel with their knee pressed on your neck. And nothing, the person who presses you down has their hands in their pocket and a smirk on their face as if they bagged a kill. Maybe that's what George Floyd was to Derek Chauvin, an animal in the wild. I have looked at the photos and videos over and over, trying to understand why the police operated in the manner they did that afternoon. It was as though that man's life did not matter. We dedicate this editorial to the life for George Floyd and we share this poem from Guyanese Author Selwyn Collins If only that knee had knelt to pray ... I shudder when I think of George Floyd's last thoughts when I think of at what point did he realize he will die I cry inside ... I cannot help it I shudder to think of what the shock and trauma was doing to his heart And as his throat yielded beneath that knee
So Take a good look See that knee watch where it kneels See it on his throat Feel it on yours Feel the pressure feel your heart beat faster Feel that knee, feel its squeeze squeezing ... squashing ... suffocating ... silencing darkness encroaching approaching to seal his doom voice is as silent as an impatient tomb the crowd knew you know too there was no turning back to them, to him hope was useless no more gasps, silence death ... senseless see that knee I AM En
what was on his mind what horrors did he see? Imagine those final moments Imagine his disbelief when he realized that he was not going to make it home tonight and that his life was going to end, right there, on that dirty street. Imagine thinking that one knee was all that knelt between him and the next breath.
407-427-1800 Fax: 407-386-7925 Toll Free: 877-220-8315
No hope for him, but he must try he cries, he pleads, he cries none who could save him would listen not even the condemning eyes of the cameras or the admonishing eyes of pleading witnesses could save him
For Media Information email: Publisher: sroberts@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Info: .Info@caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Should you desire to review past copies of the publicationgo to http://caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'.
Nevertheless, he pleaded but the knee knows no mercy so he drowns in his horrifying reality A man, a son, captured and judged then condemned to die My one consolation in this tragedy is that he must have known he was not alone he must have heard the shrieks, squeals, and screams for mercy from an anxious crowd, terrified hearts racing by the horror unfolding before them How can any on his knees be so heartless merciless, Godless a man is dying, death draws closer by each moment and whatever he might have done that death this way should be imminent he did not deserve to die on that day
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Editor & Publisher................................................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ............................................................................. Guenet Gittens-Roberts Graphic Design & Layout .....................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Writers: ................................................................................ Tony Dyal .......................................................................................................................Ryan Davis ...................................................................................................................Sandra Fatmi .......................................................................................................................Gail Seeram .................................................................................................................Sasha Watson ..................................................................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .............................................. .............................................................Nancy-Joe Brown Central Florida Distribution........................................................Kadeem Roberts South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution .....................................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ..................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.
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OneBlood Testing All Blood Donations for Coronavirus Antibody If you donate blood with OneBlood you will find out if you have the coronavirus antibody. That’s because OneBlood, the not-for-profit blood center serving Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, is testing all donations for the COVID-19 antibody. The antibody test is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the virus, regardless of whether they ever showed symptoms. Donors will be able to see their results approximately 48 hours after donating by logging into their donor portal at www.oneblood.org. “The testing brings many benefits. In addition to donors learning if they have the antibody, OneBlood will be identifying additional people who can be COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors”, said Susan Forbes, OneBlood’s senior vice president for of corporate communications and public relations.
“OneBlood is working closely with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees M.D., to provide de-identified data on the number of people testing positive and the geographical location. This information will help in decision making for reopening the economy”, said Forbes.
Convalescent plasma donors have a special ability to help critically ill coronavirus patients. By transfusing plasma that is rich with coronavirus antibodies into a patient still fighting the virus it can help boost the patient’s immune system and potentially help them recover.
OneBlood is one of the first blood centers to begin testing for the coronavirus antibody and plans to provide the antibody testing for the foreseeable future.
With no cure or vaccine to prevent coronavirus, doctors are turning to convalescent plasma to help treat their critically ill coronavirus patients. OneBlood began collecting and distributing COVID-19 convalescent plasma in April. OneBlood’s COVID-19 antibody testing will also provide important statistical information to public health officials.
COVID-19 antibody testing will be performed in addition to the standard infectious disease testing all blood donations receive. Testing takes place at OneBlood’s laboratory, Creative Testing Solutions (CTS). Appointment Required Due to social distancing measures that OneBlood has in place, all donors are required to make an appointment to donate. Appointments can be made online at www.oneblood.org or by calling 1-888-9DONATE.
O Negative Blood Needed During COVID-19 Crisis Unfortunately, this means blood collections are dropping, but the need for blood donations hasn’t stopped. Blood centers and health care professionals are working to encourage people who are still healthy to donate blood, and O negative donors are especially needed. O negative blood can be transfused into anyone who needs blood and is the most common blood type to be used in a trauma situation. If you have O negative blood, now is the perfect time to donate. The coronavirus pandemic means many of us have been called on to stay home and isolate ourselves as much as possible. This means that blood drives throughout the United States are being canceled. Blood drives are often held where people naturally come together in groups, be it workplaces, universities or even popular places of business. But the coronavirus has dramatically reshaped our social landscape and many scheduled blood drives have been canceled.
The blood donation process is safe and blood donation locations have put extra safety precautions in place to reduce exposure to other donors. Since blood donation is essential to saving lives, as long as you are healthy and eligible to donate, you should be able to visit your local blood center even during “isolate at home” orders. "If you feel healthy, go out and donate. It's something great you can do for the nation," says Dr. Mehmet Oz An appointment is necessary to help blood centers control the number of people in the facility at one time.
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COVID-19 Coping with Stress The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Find ways you and your family can reduce stress. Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include: • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones. • Changes in sleep or eating patterns. • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating. • Worsening of chronic health problems. • Worsening of mental health conditions. • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in. People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include: • Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. • Children and teens. • · People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors, other health care providers, and first responders. • · People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use.
Take care of your mental health Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row. People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. Additional information can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Preparedness.
Take care of yourself and your community Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger. Ways to cope with stress Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting. Take care of your body. • Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditateexternal icon. • Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals. • Exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep. • Avoid alcohol and drugs. • Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy. • Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. Know the facts to help reduce stress Understanding the risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful.
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPEAKS...Voices we trust share their thoughts. Mayor Demings
Camara Williams
I have no problem with rioting and protesting (there’s a difference). These visceral (often raw) emotional expressions of frustration, become manifested in action. Just know....If I EVER find myself at the end of a misfortunate deed at the hands of law enforcementbegging for my life. Just know my instruction is to burn it all down and take pictures. PERIOD. But after the fire has cindered, and the ashes have cooled. My next instruction is to infiltrate the very system you oppose. Join the police and sheriff agencies. Become a prosecutor. Ascend within the organizational power structure that continues to place its foot on the neck of the voiceless (pun intended). Did you know that most judges have a prosecutor’s background? So this is why it’s important to become one, because there’s a good chance you may be key decision holder on the rights of a human being. I will never advocate for people to stay on the sidelines. You want to express your frustration?!? Cool. But after that’s all said and done, don’t head to the sidelines like you’ve won the game. You’ve only just begun. Law enforcement as a whole (nationally) is struggling to attract people within their ranks. Even when the standards have been lowered, people are still not signing up to be in law enforcement. You wonder why bad cops keeping re-hired? Because there’s a national shortage of law enforcement. So naturally people who shouldn’t even have a job...are getting one and/or being promoted. So it’s on us to change the system by getting involved. How are you going to change the club you’re not apart of? How are going to change the score of the game you’re not even participating in? These are the questions we need to be asking (and answering) ourselves. Are there other ways to change the system? Sure! In Minneapolis for example, activists in 2016 forced the local government to enact a procedure that forced other cops to intervene when another person is using excessive force. Hence why those officers were fired immediately. They went against procedure. Change starts by recognizing the issue, and addressing it head on. Break the system by reforming it. “A riot is the language of the unheard”-Dr. Martin Luther King
To young people who are getting involved, I applaud their effort to get involved and to want to get into the arena and be a part of the change. But being a part of the change means not just a few days, not just going out and demonstrating, but going to the voting booth and using their right to vote and select their leaders. It means going to school and becoming the lawyers, the prosecutors, the public defenders, the judges. It means becoming a law enforcement officer and trying to change these agency’s from within, as opposed to simply trying to change them without. It means possibly running for public office, it means perhaps volunteering within the various divisions of government...trying to be a part of the solution. That’s what it means, it means having a lifestyle of trying to bring about change and not just for a flash moment. Not just a moment to try to get yourself on television and have your few minutes of fame, but having a lifetime of service to others.
Mayor Dyer
There is so much pain and anguish in our country and in our community right now. We have felt this anger, fear and frustration before, hoping we wouldn’t feel this way again. But here we are mourning once more. We can all agree that this is a pivotal moment for our nation. We must seize this moment and work together to enact real change. We must do everything we can to ensure that what happened to George Floyd and too many other black Americans doesn’t happen in Orlando. This moment has shown us that we must continue to do more to ensure Orlando is an equitable place for every single person who calls our city home. Orlando is committed to action. We are committed to continuing to have tough conversations. And as a community, we must continue to engage with each other to make change. That is why I am joining President Barack Obama and the My Brother's Keeper Alliance to take the following actions: • Review our police use of force policies • Engage our residents in this process by sharing their experiences and recommendations • Commit to a transparent process and share the findings of the review with the community and get feedback • Make any changes that must be made Equity, trust and meaningful relationships between our community and our officers must continue to be the path forward. Together, I believe we can do it.
Rock the Vote - Register to Vote, Find Election Info:
www.RocktheVote.com
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GROCERY SHOPPING CHECKLIST DURING COVID-19 Before
• Minimize trips to the grocery store - once per week is okay but less often is better. • If you're feeling sick or have been near someone who is sick, stay home. Consider using a delivery service or asking someone you know to bring your groceries. • Over 60? Call grocery stores in your area to ask about special shopping hours for seniors. • Have your own bags? Check with your store to see if they are allowing reusable bags. • Pack hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, if you have them. • Put on a face mask before leaving the house.
During
• Identify and follow the store's instructions on safe shopping - this may include direction arrows on the floor. • Consider wearing gloves. • Maintain 6ft distance from other shoppers. • Keep your face mask on and don't touch your face or the mask. • Wipe down the cart or basket handle with disinfectant. • Buy only as much as your need for 1-2 weeks to help stores stay well stocked. • Do not touch items that you are not buying especially produce. • When checking out, use touchless payment when possible.
After
There is no evidence of anyone catching COVID -19 from food or food packaging BUT there is evidence that the virus can remain on surfaces for varying amounts of time. • Wash/sanitize your hands before removing your mask and unpacking groceries. • Take off your mask from the earpiece or tie to avoid touching your face. • Wash/sanitize your hands again after unpacking groceries. • Disinfect countertops and home surfaces that have been in contact with grocery bags. • If your want to save plastic bags, disinfect them on the inside and outside. Cloth bags should be washed in warm water with detergent after every use. • Wash produce before eating. Do not use dish soap, detergent, or disinfectant for produce.
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Here’s What Happens to the Body After Contracting the New Coronavirus There’s still a lot we don’t know about the new coronavirus that’s sickened more than 3.2 million worldwide, with more than 230,000 deaths reported.
Leadership Council and an associate professor of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.
But one thing that’s clear is that in serious cases, the virus can have a devastating effect on the body — and not just on the lungs.
ARDS doesn’t happen just with COVID-19. A number of events can trigger it, including infection, trauma, and sepsis.
Here’s what we know so far about how COVID-19, the disease the new coronavirus causes, affects the different systems in the body. COVID-19 affects lungs
These cause damage to the lungs, which leads to fluid leaking from small blood vessels in the lungs. The fluid collects in the lungs’ air sacs, or alveoli. This makes it difficult for the lungs to transfer oxygen from the air to the blood.
As with other coronavirus illnesses — including SARS, MERS, and the common cold — COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, so the lungs are usually affected first.
While there’s a shortage of information on the type of damage that occurs in the lungs during COVID-19, a recent report suggests it’s similar to the damage caused by SARS and MERS.
Early symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. These appear as soon as 2 days, or as long as 14 days, after exposure to the virus.
One recent study of 138 people hospitalized for COVID-19 found that on average, people started having difficulty breathing 5 days after showing symptoms. ARDS developed on average 8 days after symptoms.
While fever is at the top of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of symptoms, not everyone who gets sick has a fever. In one study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that around 70 percent of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 didn’t have a fever. Cough is more common, but treatment guidelines developed by Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that cough occurs in 68 to 83 percent of people who show up at the hospital with COVID-19. Only 11 to 40 percent had shortness of breath. Other less common symptoms included confusion, headache, nausea, and diarrhea. The severity of COVID-19 varies from mild or no symptoms to severe or sometimes fatal illness. Data on more than 17,000 reported cases in China found that almost 81 percent of cases were mild. The rest were severe or critical. Older people and those with chronic medical conditions appear to have a higher risk for developing severe illness.
Treatment for ARDS involves supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation, with the goal of getting more oxygen into the blood. “There isn’t a specific treatment for ARDS,” Evans said. “We just support the person through this process as best we can, allowing their bodies to heal and their immune system to address the underlying events.” One curious thing about COVID-19 is that many patients have potentially deadly low blood oxygen levels, but they don’t seem starved of oxygen. This has led some doctors to rethink putting patients on a ventilator simply because of low oxygen levels in the blood. Other organs affected by COVID-19 The lungs are the main organs affected by COVID-19. But in serious cases, the rest of the body can also be affected. In serious cases, the rest of the body can also be affected. “In patients who become severely ill, a good proportion of those patients also develop dysfunction in other organ systems,” Evans said
This variability also shows up in how COVID-19 affects the lungs. Some people may only have minor respiratory symptoms, while others develop non-life-threatening pneumonia. But there’s a subset of people who develop severe lung damage. “What we’re frequently seeing in patients who are severely ill with [COVID-19] is a condition that we call acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS,” said Dr. Laura E. Evans, a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine
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Continued on pg 9
Here’s What Happens to the Body After Contracting the New Coronavirus
Continued from page 8
However, she says this can happen with any severe infection. This damage to the organs isn’t always directly caused by the infection, but can result from the body’s response to infection. Stomach and intestines Some people with COVID-19 have reported gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhea, although these symptoms are much less common than problems with the lungs. While coronaviruses seem to have an easier time entering the body through the lungs, the intestines aren’t out of reach for these viruses. Earlier reports identified the viruses that cause SARS and MERS in intestinal tissue biopsies and stool samples. Two recent studies — one in the New England Journal of Medicine and a preprint on medRxiv — report that stool samples of some people with COVID-19 tested positive for the virus. However, researchers don’t know yet whether fecal transmission of this virus can occur. Heart and blood vessels Evans says COVID-19 can also affect the heart and blood vessels. This may show up as irregular heart rhythms, not enough blood getting to the tissues, or blood pressure low enough that it requires medications.
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So far, though, it’s not clear that the virus directly damages the heart. Continued on pg 10
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Here’s What Happens to the Body After Contracting the New Coronavirus Continued from pg 9
In one study of hospitalized patients in Wuhan, 20 percent had some form of heart damage. In another, 44 percent of those in an intensive care unit (ICU) had an irregular heart rhythm. There are also signs that COVID-19 may cause the blood to clot more easily. It’s not clear how much this plays in the severity of the illness, but clots could increase the risk of a stroke or heart attack. Liver and kidneys When liver cells are inflamed or damaged, they can leak higher than normal amounts of enzymes into the bloodstream. Elevated liver enzymes aren’t always a sign of a serious problem, but this laboratory finding was seen in people with SARS or MERS. In one study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, 27 percent had kidney failure.
response can rid the body of the infection, it can also sometimes cause collateral damage in the body.
One recent report found signs of liver damage in a person with COVID-19. Doctors says it’s not clear, though, if the virus or the drugs being used to treat the person caused the damage.
This can come in the form of an intense inflammatory response, sometimes called a “cytokine storm.” The immune cells produce cytokines to fight infection, but if too many are released, it can cause problems in the body.
Some people hospitalized with COVID-19 have also had acute kidney damage sometimes requiring a kidney transplant. This also occurred with SARS and MERS.
“A lot of [the damage in the body during COVID-19] is due to what we would call a sepsis syndrome, which is due to complex immune reactions,” Evans said. “The infection itself can generate an intense inflammatory response in the body that can affect the function of multiple organ systems.”
During the SARS outbreak, scientists even found the virus that causes this illness in the tubules of the kidneys. There’s “little evidence,” though, to show that the virus directly caused the kidney injury, according to a World Health Organization report. Dr. James Cherry, a research professor of pediatrics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, says the kidney damage may be due to other changes that happen during coronavirus infection. “When you have pneumonia, you have less oxygen circulating,” he said, “and that can damage the kidneys.” Immune system With any infection, the body’s immune system responds by attacking the foreign virus or bacteria. While this immune
Another thing about the immune system is that, so far, there are almost no cases of COVID-19 in children under 9 years old. Scientists aren’t sure whether young children aren’t getting infected or their symptoms are so mild that no one notices it. Cherry says children also have a less severe illness than adults during other kinds of infections, including measles and pneumococcal infections. He says this may be because children have a “straightforward immune response,” whereas older people can sometimes have an “over-response.” It’s this excess immune response that causes some of the damage during infections. “There was evidence of this happening during SARS,” Cherry said, “and I suspect it could also be playing out here [with COVID-19].”
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Unemployment Benefits - Expanded due to Covid-19 Increased Unemployment Benefits In an effort to fill the gap between the average paycheck and state unemployment benefits, the CARES Act will provide eligible employees an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits in addition to what they are eligible for under existing state programs. This boosted payment will last for approximately four months until its current expiration date of July 31, 2020. The CARES Act also provides for an additional 13 weeks of continued $600 weekly payments for individuals who remain unemployed after exhausting their state unemployment benefits. This means eligible workers will be able to receive unemployment benefits for up to 39 weeks rather than the 26-week cap under most state programs. Workers should be aware of the possible implications of receiving the additional $600 benefit. For example, the expanded benefit will count as income when determining eligibility for certain means-tested programs, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program but not for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Expanded Unemployment Eligibility The CARES Act expands unemployment eligibility to individuals who are able and available to work within the meaning of applicable state law but are unemployed, partially unemployed or unable or unavailable to work. To receive benefits, the individual must self-certify that: • the individual has been diagnosed with COVID–19 or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis; • a member of the individual’s household has been diagnosed with COVID-19; • the individual is providing care for a family member or a member of the individual’s household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19; • a child or other person in the household for which the individual has primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency and such school or facility care is required for the individual to work; • the individual is unable to reach the place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a
• direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency; • the individual is unable to reach the place of employment because the individual has been advised by a health care provider to selfquarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19; • the individual was scheduled to commence employment and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency; • the individual has become the breadwinner or major supporter for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-19; • the individual has to quit his or her job as a direct result of COVID-19; or • the individual’s place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The CARES Act also expands coverage to include individuals who historically have been ineligible for unemployment benefits, including individuals who are self-employed, “gig” workers, freelancers, independent contractors and part-time workers. New hires who could not begin their employment are also covered even if they do not have a sufficient work history to qualify under their normal state unemployment eligibility rules. Who Is Not Eligible? Based on the specified list of qualifying reasons for eligibility, it does not appear that an individual who stops working in response to a general fear of contracting COVID-19 would be eligible for the increased benefits under the CARES Act. Other ineligible individuals under the CARES Act include: • those who can telework with pay; • those who are already receiving paid leave under their employer’s plans/policies; • those who are already receiving paid leave under an applicable federal, state or local law; and new entrants to the workforce who cannot find employment.
Join me on the journey over the next six months with a recurring contribution at MarlonHill.com
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CARIBBEAN STUDENT CORNER MEET: Alex "Michala" Magee Alex "Michala" Magee is the daughter of Michael Magee and Dr. Tricia Magee. Dr. Magee was born and raised in Antigua in the Caribbean. Alex "Michala" embodies both attributes of student-athlete. She started gymnastics at 3 years old at Orlando Metro Gymnastics. She has been a member of the competitive team for 11 years. She was the Florida state champion in Levels, 4, 5, 8, and 9. Although she trains 25-30 hours a week, she manages to maintain her academic focus and gives back to her community. Alex's grandmother introduced her to the Apopka Community Garden when she was in middle school. Since then, Alex has cultivated her own plots where she grows a variety of fruits and vegetables that she donates to those in need. To date, she has logged over 150 hours in the garden. Throughout her entire academic career, she has remained on the honor roll as evidence by her induction in National Beta Club and the National Honor Society. Alex attended Jones High School, where she served as Junior class and SGA Treasurer. In 10th and 11th grades, Alex participated in the W.E.B DuBois Advanced Learning Academy at Princeton University where she traveled to New Jersey three times a year to learn more about STEM careers. She is ranked # 4 in her class and will graduate with a 4.98 GPA. She will attend the University of Florida where she will study BioMedical Engineering and will compete for their gymnastics team.
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Preparing for a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm
Hurricanes don’t only affect people living along the coast. They can cause damage hundreds of miles from the shore. Learn how to be prepared. Make a Plan. Hurricane season starts on May 15 in the north Pacific and June 1 in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. It ends on November 30. Before hurricane season each year, make sure you and your family are prepared by planning ahead. • Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them on the refrigerator or near every phone in your house. Program them into your cell phone too. • Prepare an emergency supply kit. • Locate the nearest shelter and different routes you can take to get there from your home. If shelter locations in your area have not been identified, learn how to find them in the event of a storm.
watches 48 hours before they expect tropical-storm-force winds (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) to start. A hurricane warning is more serious. It means hurricaneforce winds are expected in a stated area. Experts issue these warnings 36 hours before tropicalstorm-force winds are expected in the area to give people enough time to prepare for the storm. For more information about hurricane watches and warnings, check out the National Weather Service’s Hurricane Center. If you hear that there is a hurricane watch or warning in your area, you can take steps to get ready.
• Pet owners: Pre-identify shelters, a pet-friendly hotel, or an out-of-town friend or relative where you can take your pets in an evacuation. Local animal shelters may be able to offer advice on what to do with your pets if you are asked to evacuate your home. Gather emergency supplies. During and after a hurricane, you may need supplies to keep your family safe and healthy. Remember that a hurricane could cut off your power and water supply. You also may not be able to drive because of damage to your car. Roads may be flooded or blocked.
f e y
That’s why it’s best to be prepared—stock up on everything you might need now. Be sure to prepare the following: • An emergency food and water supply. • An emergency medicine supply. • Emergency power sources such as flashlights (don’t forget extra batteries). • Safety and personal items. • Important documents, including medical documents, wills, passports, and personal identification. • A fire extinguisher. Make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it! Read the National Fire Protection Association’s tips for using fire extinguishers. Know the difference between a hurricane “watch” and “warning.” Listen for National Weather Service alerts on TV or radio or check for them online. There are two kinds of alerts: A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles per hour [mph] or higher) are possible in a stated area. Experts announce hurricane
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U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide the fate of 650,000 'Dreamers.' Nearly 650,000 undocumented "Dreamers" are awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court that will determine whether they will be allowed to continue to receive temporary protection from deportation and work permits under an Obama-era program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals that President Donald Trump wants to end. Trump tried to end the DACA program in September 2017, saying that the program was an overreach of former President Barack Obama's executive authority. But Trump's effort to rescind the program was stymied by a flurry of lawsuits by DACA advocates who argue the program is legal and that the Trump administration improperly tried to end it without adequate consideration of the disruptions it would create in the lives of DACA recipients and others. When will the Supreme Court announce a decision? It's impossible to predict exactly when the Supreme Court will announce its decision on the DACA program. Analysts and court-watchers speculate that the ruling on DACA may be one of the last decisions the Supreme Court announces near the end of June, when the high court's session ends. In the meantime, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will continue to accept applications for renewal of 2-year deportation protections and work permits after lower courts issued preliminary injunctions blocking the Trump administration from ending the program. What is at stake? There were approximately 649,070 active DACA recipients as of Dec. 21, 2019, according to the most recent USCIS data. That is down from the more than 825,000 people who have been approved for DACA since the program started in 2012. The number has declined because some undocumented immigrants who were approved for DACA have been able to legalize their status, others decided not to renew and others became ineligible, said Veronica Garcia, a special projects attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. In the years since young undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children have received deportation protections and work permits under the DACA program, many have had children in the U.S., bought homes, graduated from college and held jobs. There are about 254,000 children born in the U.S. who have at least one DACA parent, according to a study by the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. About 56,100 own homes and pay $566.9 million annually in mortgage payments. Other DACA recipients pay $2.3 billion in rent each year, according to the study. The households of DACA recipients pay $5.6 billion in federal taxes and $3.1 billion in state and local taxes, each year, the study said. What questions will the Supreme Court decide? There are two main legal questions in front of the Supreme Court. The first is whether the Trump administration's ending of the program is even subject to review by the court, said Garcia at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. If the Supreme Court decides that it does have the authority to review the termination, the justices must decide if the Trump administration terminated the program lawfully, she said. Lawyers for the Trump administration argue the case is not reviewable by the Supreme Court because the president had the executive authority to end it.
At the same time, lawyers for the Trump administration say that if the Supreme Court decides the ending of the program is reviewable, the justices should find that the Obama administration unlawfully created the program and therefore the Trump administration was correct to end it. On the other side, lawyers representing DACA recipients argue the DACA program was created lawfully by the Obama administration. They don't dispute that the Trump administration has the authority to end the program. Rather, lawyers for DACA advocates argue the Trump administration ended the program illegally by failing to follow procedures under the Administrative Procedures Act, which stipulates how federal agencies make regulations, said Evelyn Cruz, clinical law professor at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. In April, lawyers filed legal briefs asking the Supreme Court to consider blocking the Trump administration's attempt to end the DACA program in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legal briefs pointed out that many DACA recipients are working as health care providers on the front lines in the battle against the pandemic. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of four liberal-leaning judges on the Supreme Court, summed up the gravity of the Trump administration's push to end the DACA program with these words: "This is not about the law. This is about our choice to destroy lives." The Supreme Court could decide that the Trump administration's rescinding of the program is reviewable and send the case back down to a lower court to determine whether the Trump administration correctly followed the Administrative Procedures Act, Cruz said. This would spell a victory of sorts for DACA recipients because the Supreme Court would likely keep the injunction in place allowing the DACA program to continue while the litigation was pending in a lower court. For the DACA program to be fully restored, the Supreme Court would have to find that the issue is reviewable by the court and agree with lower court rulings that the Obama administration had the authority to create it, and that the Trump administration improperly tried to rescind it, according to an American Bar Association analysis of the case written by Luis Cortes Romero, a lawyer who is representing one of the plaintiffs and is himself a DACA recipient. What will happen to DACA recipients Supreme Court ends the DACA program?
if
the
If a Supreme Court decision results in the ending of the DACA program, some 650,000 young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children would again be subject to deportation to the countries where they were born. If DACA ends, some dreamers may decide to return to the countries where they were born, but the majority would likely choose to remain in the U.S. living "in the shadows" without legal status because this is the country where they were raised. That would mean living in fear that a simple traffic stop could lead to them being turned over to immigration authorities and deported. There is concern that the personal information DACA
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Happiness, health, and well-being during COVID-19 by Aleia Roberts Happiness is an overarching characteristic of typical feelings and thoughts about life. Happiness is NOT: o a fixed trait, something a person can be born with or without o a momentary feeling or emotion, such as pleasure, amusement, enthusiasm, or cheerfulness o a constant string of those emotions o a consequence of acquiring desirable possessions A misconstrued definition of happiness can make you less ‘happy’ than a person who believes in a whole-life definition of happiness. Prior to covid-19, an estimated 20% of Americans felt feelings of loneliness. These feelings – and the proportion of individuals being impacted - has only been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s more, feelings of loneliness and isolation can have severe negative consequences on health. Loneliness and social isolation (which can stem from poor social relationships) are actually risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke. Deaths of despair are also on the rise. The term “deaths of despair” generally refers to deaths that are drug & alcohol related, or suicide. Large, policy level issues such as systemic racism and widespread poverty contribute to worsened feelings of isolation and despair, and therefore cannot solely be addressed on individual levels. However, it is important to note that this is NOT a call for the lifting of social distancing policies! Rather, it’s a call to action for individuals, organizations, and politicians to play an active role in addressing health disparities and the role of poverty and social isolation in exacerbating negative health outcomes.
While we continue to practice social distancing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a reality for many that must be kept in mind. Here are some small efforts you can make to combat feelings of isolation while practicing social distancing: Prioritize time together o Make an effort to connect with people who you are no longer seeing face to face via phone, FaceTime, WhatsApp, etc. Capitalize on positive events o Ask people what’s going well, actively listen, and express sincere and specific gratitude Engage in small talk with strangers o This can be with people in the grocery store checkout line, employees at essential businesses, and more Participate in random acts of kindness o Random acts of kindness make you, the recipient, and witnesses feel good o Send photos, letters, art, donate and support local businesses Extend compassion o Offer sincere consolation to those around you who are experiencing loss and hardship due to COVID-19 Address and resolve conflict o Arguments within your household are bond to ensue. Realize that much of the frustration behind them is likely due to external pressure.
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Preparing for a Hurricane or Other Tropical Storm Continued from page 14
Get your car ready. Make sure your car is ready before the storm hits. • • • •
Fill your car’s gas tank. Move cars and trucks into your garage or under cover. Always keep an emergency kit in your car. Visit Ready.gov for information on how to prepare your car and what to include in your kit. • If you don’t own a car, consider making plans with friends or family or call authorities to get a ride if you need to evacuate. Get your family and pets ready. • Go over your emergency plan with your family. • Keep checking for updates about the storm. Watch TV, listen to the radio, or check online. • Call the hospital, public health department, or the police about special needs. If you or a loved one is older or disabled and won’t be able to leave quickly, get advice on what to do. • Put pets and farm animals in a safe place. Get your home ready. • Clear your yard. Make sure there’s nothing that could blow around during the storm and damage your home. Move bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, and building material inside or under shelter. • Cover up windows and doors. Use storm shutters or nail pieces of plywood to the outside window frames to protect your windows. This can help keep you safe from pieces of shattered glass. • Be ready to turn off your power. If you see flooding, downed power lines, or you have to leave your home, switch your power off. • Fill clean water containers with drinking water. You’ll want to do this in case you lose your water supply during the storm. You can also fill up your sinks and bathtubs with water for washing. • Check your carbon monoxide (CO) detector’s battery to prevent CO poisoning Be ready to evacuate or stay at home. Always listen to authorities regarding whether you should evacuate or stay at home. If a hurricane is coming, you may hear an order from authorities to evacuate (leave your home). Never ignore an order to evacuate.
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Even sturdy, well-built houses may not hold up against a hurricane. Staying home to protect your property is not worth risking your health and safety. You may hear an order to stay at home. If driving conditions are dangerous, staying at home might be safer than leaving. If you need to evacuate: Grab your emergency supply kit and only take what you really need with you (cell phone, chargers, medicines, identification like a passport or license, and cash). Unplug your appliances. If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water. Follow the roads that emergency workers recommend even if there’s traffic. Other routes might be blocked or flooded. Never drive through flooded areas—cars and other vehicles can be swept away or may stall in just 6 inches of moving water. Contact your local emergency management office and ask if they offer accommodations for owners and their pets. Learn more about evacuating with your pet. If you need to stay home: Keep your emergency supply kit in a place you can easily access. Listen to the radio or TV for updates on the hurricane. Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don’t go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message that the hurricane is over. Stay away from windows—you could get hurt by pieces of broken glass or flying debris during a storm. Stay in a room with no windows, or go inside a closet. Be ready to leave.
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Between a Rock and a Hard Place
It is said that just before the COVID-19 lockdown, there was
a United Nations cocktail party in Port-of-Spain. The Mexican ambassador walked over to a group of guests and asked, “Pardon me, gentlemen, but what is your opinion of the meat shortage?” The American ambassador scratched his head quizzically and asked, “What’s a shortage?” The Indian ambassador thought for a moment and replied, “What’s meat?” And the Trinidad minister of national security, completely stunned, asked loudly, “What’s ‘pardon me’?” Even if you’re just a minister but your status demands fraternising with diplomats, you should at least try to learn and understand their language enough not to embarrass yourself or your country. The essence of diplomacy is communication, and you have to be careful and clear on what not to say. Misunderstood words led to the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. The allies sent Japan a document threatening prompt and utter destruction if the country did not surrender. The Japanese reply included the word mokusatsu, which is derived from the Japanese term for ‘silence’. The media, instead of reporting that the Japanese were “withholding comment”, said the Japanese response to the ultimatum was that it “was not worthy of comment”. Eleven days later, the bomb dropped. As the great American humourist Will Rogers said, “Diplomacy is the art of saying, ‘Nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.” There are a lot of other pertinent definitions for the impertinent. Diplomacy is “the art of nearly deceiving all your friends but not quite deceiving all your enemies”. Some are even more forthright. “Diplomacy is lying in state.” An Indian diplomat, K.M. Pannikar, advised, “If an ambassador says yes, it means perhaps; if he says perhaps, it means no; if he ever said no, he would cease to be an ambassador.” Other definitions include: “A true diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in a way that makes you look forward to the trip”, “Diplomacy is letting someone else have your own way”, and “A diplomat is a person who can step on someone’s toes without spoiling the shine of their shoes.” REFINED LANGUAGE OF DIPLOMACY The British have refined the language of diplomacy into an art form. When British diplomats tell you, “I hear what you say,” they mean, “I disagree and do not want to discuss it further.” Worse, “With the greatest respect,” a phrase that the present Trinidad minister of foreign affairs must hear often, means, “I think you’re an idiot”. When the response is, “Very interesting,” you’re actually being told, “That is clearly nonsense.” When they are at their most urbane and tell you, “Correct me if I’m wrong,” what they really mean is, “I’m right. Don’t contradict me.” The truly powerful and civilised diplomats never betray anger or disrespect. One of my favourite examples is how a Chinese ambassador in Australia dealt with a truly insensitive comment by the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Gareth Evans. The governor of Hong Kong had complained that his pet dog was missing, and Evans promptly advised the governor to check the nearest Chinese restaurant. He made the suggestion worse by adding, “They’ll turn it into hors d’oeuvres for Deng Xiaoping, who I am told eats four puppies a day.” Until he retired in 1993, Deng was the paramount leader of the
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by Tony Deyal
Republic of China. Instead of getting angry and blasting the minister, the Chinese embassy responded with, “We are unable to comment on Mr Deng’s culinary habits, but four puppies a day seems a little excessive.” This is diplomacy at its best. Then there is the story about the time former British prime minister Harold Macmillan paid a social visit with his wife to the then French president, Charles de Gaulle. At the end of dinner, Macmillan turned to Madame de Gaulle and asked politely what she was looking forward to in her retirement. Quick as a flash, the elderly lady replied, “A penis.” Macmillan, a true diplomat, had been trained all his life never to appear shocked, but even he was a bit taken aback. After he drawled out, “Don’t have much time for that sort of thing nowadays,” there was an embarrassed silence, which, fortunately, the president broke by murmuring to his wife, “My dear, I think the English don’t pronounce the word quite like that. It’s ‘appiness’.” EMBARRASSING GAFFES There are many other embarrassing diplomatic gaffes, even by the best of politicians. At the 2011 G20 summit, French and US presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama insulted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in what they thought was a private conversation. Unfortunately, their mics were still on. Some members of the press heard Sarkozy say, “I cannot bear him. He’s a liar.” Obama replied, “You are fed up with him, but I have to deal with him more often than you do.” In 2008, Italy’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, praised Obama as “young, handsome, and tanned” and compared European Union regulations with what “mosquitoes do on elephants’ backsides, with little result but annoying all the same”. This might perhaps be the best way to describe the impact of recent diplomatic gaffes by the Trinidad government. It started with Minister of National Security Stuart Young, who publicly criticised CARICOM partner and neighbour Barbados. Young then triggered a first for Trinidad and Tobago’s diplomacy when his disclosure in Parliament of what was supposedly said in a conversation with the American ambassador caused the embassy to issue a news release clarifying the discussion. One of my fishing friends commented, “Tony, boy, in Guyana, a ‘gaffe’ is what Trinis call ‘old talk’ or ‘small talk.’ In fishing, a ‘gaff’ is a pole with a sharp hook on the end that is used to stab a big fish to bring it into your boat. But Stuart Young mistakes too big for a gaff, it more like the harpoons in Moby Dick.” Now, Trinidad and Tobago is using strong language to defy the Americans, insisting that it is not bound by a treaty that the US contends irrevocably commits to all the parties who signed it, whether or not they voted in favour of any specific measure. There is an African saying that when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers most. In this case, Trinidad and Tobago, already catching its grass, needs to watch it. Worse, given the size of its adversary, diplomacy demands that instead of reaching for a rock and saying, “Nice doggie,” it should find a really huge one to hide behind. Tony Deyal was last seen repeating a secret cable sent from Armenia to Syria: “If we attacked Turkey from the rear, do you think Greece will help?”
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