Desert Star Weekly April 24, 2020 issue!

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Friday, April 24, 2020 Vol. 24 No. 32

Move More Month In a survey by UnitedHealthcare, more than 50% of respondents said walking is their preferred way to exercise. (Adobe stock)

Walk to Stay Active During Pandemic

By Desert Star Staff Even though Marylanders are housebound because of the coronavirus pandemic, health experts say getting out for a stroll is something people still can do to

maintain good health.

April is Move More Month, which aims to get people to create daily walking plans to improve their well-being.

Dr. Michael Bess, vice president for health care

strategies at UnitedHealthcare, says he’s encouraging folks to walk more at home or outside either solo or with immediate family members, which will help folks stay healthy during the outbreak.

“Walking remains a generally safe option to help support emotional or physical

well-being, and especially because studies show walking may help boost your immune system, which is specifically important during this COVID-19 crisis,” he states.

Bess says walking can help to ward off depression while isolated, and help to manage chronic conditions

such as heart disease, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

For cardiovascular fitness, Bess recommends walking a total of 10,000 total steps each day. He says if that seems overwhelming, Continues on Page 3

Two DSUSD Educators Named Riverside County Teacher of the Year

NBC PS Olivia Sandusky Two Desert Sands Unified School District educators were named Riverside County’s Teachers of the Year.

They’re two of four to be given this award from the county.

One of the winners is Tom Buck, who teaches career and technical education at Indio High School.

“One of my student’s favorite things is that I do a lot of very cheesy jokes in the classroom, and I’m not afraid to make a fool of myself in front of them,” said Buck.

“All of the cheesy humor and all of the public failing is a good way to kind of building

a family relationship.”

The other winner is Jodie Fecera, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Palm Desert Charter Middle School.

“It’s indescribable because I’m still friends with students that I taught my first year at Indio High School, and they keep in contact, and kids check-in constantly,” said Fecera.

Both have been working hard this year to navigate the uncertain world of education, including closed classrooms and distant learning.

“It’s really difficult coming up with lessons for a food Continues on Page 3

COVID-19 Worsens Water Crisis for Families in Rural California

By Claudia Boyd Barrett As Californians shelter at home amid the COVID-19 outbreak, an estimated 1 million of them lack access to clean drinking water, one of the most fundamental resources for maintaining health and hygiene.

Lucy Hernandez knew something was wrong when she arrived at a Walmart store in Visalia, California, last month, shortly before Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

On the usually wellstocked shelves, Hernandez couldn’t find bottled water.

Alarmed, she jumped back in her car and headed to Costco. No water. She tried the 99 Cents Only store, the Dollar Tree and Target. No water.

Desperate, Hernandez drove 20 miles to Hanford, but still couldn’t find water for sale.

A grandmother of three, Hernandez lives with nine other family members in the tiny community of West Goshen, just east of Visalia. Residents in the predominantly lowincome Latino community distrust the local tap water because it has a history of contamination. Some rely on groundwater from private wells that haven’t been tested for safety. Like thousands of other residents across the Central Valley without access to safe water through their taps, many people in West Goshen rely on bottled water to drink.

“I was in shock,” Hernandez says. “I said, ‘How can this happen? How can we be without water bottles if we need water?’

“A lot of our residents, they depend on this kind of water, and there was nothing, nothing.”

As Californians across the state shelter at home amid the COVID-19 outbreak, an estimated 1 million of them lack access to clean drinking water, one of the most fundamental resources for maintaining health and hygiene.

Many of these residents are concentrated in rural parts of the state, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley, where dozens of small public water systems fail to meet safety standards, data shows.

Nationwide, millions more are exposed to unsafe tap water each year, often from small community water systems that primarily serve rural and low-income communities of color. Lead from aging pipes and other toxic chemicals have turned up in urban water supplies as well, most notoriously in Flint, Michigan, in 2014. And a recent report by the Environmental Working Group detected widespread contamination of U.S. drinking water supplies with man-made “forever chemicals,” including in cities such as Miami, Philadelphia, and New Orleans.

Contaminated water isn’t the

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only issue. A third of Americans struggle to pay their water bills, a situation expected to worsen with the economic downturn.

That’s especially an issue in Detroit, one of the COVID-19 hot spots, where until recently, thousands of residents were without running water. However, some states, including Michigan and California, are now prohibiting water shutoffs during the pandemic.

Infrastructure woes Last year, California’s governor signed into law Senate Bill 200, creating a $130 million a year Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund to support improvements to community water infrastructure.

Implementation of that bill is underway, but it hasn’t come in time to help the thousands of people who now find themselves without safe tap water amid the coronavirus pandemic, advocates say.

“The issue of lack of access to tap water is huge in California,” says Michael K. Claiborne, senior attorney with the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, a community organizing group based in the San Joaquin and Eastern Coachella Valleys. “This new COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated and magnified these problems that communities in California already face.”

Typical pollutants found in noncompliant Central Valley water supplies include residual agricultural and industrial chemicals such as nitrates, arsenic, and a compound known as 1,2,3-TCP. These contaminants have been linked to severe health problems such as liver and kidney damage, respiratory ailments, blood pressure disorders, and cancer.

Susana De Anda, executive director of the Community Water Center, which works with communities in the San Joaquin Valley, says she’s worried people with the contaminated tap water could resort to cooking with it or-even worsedrinking it. Her organization is hearing from many people in the same situation as Hernandez, she says.

“We’re getting calls and residents are asking, ‘Where can I get water? I’ve been going to multiple stores, and they have no water,’” De Anda says. “That’s a problem. This is California in 2020. The reality is, we need to be able to prioritize this resource for our at-risk communities.”

De Anda and Claiborne say the state should provide funding for emergency bottled water delivery to areas with shortages. Some communities with unsafe tap water already have bottled water distribution programs, Community Water Center Policy Director Jonathan Nelson explains.

These programs need to be more widely publicized and

Bottled water is being distributed to needy families in areas where water supplies are compromised, mainly in the San Joaquin and eastern Coachella Valleys. (Isabel Solorio) applications streamlined so that people can get water supplies as soon as possible, he says.

The advocates applauded Newsom’s recent moratorium on water shut-offs for unpaid water bills during the coronavirus crisis, as well as the restoration of water service to people who had their water, turned off for lack of payment since March 4. Nevertheless, that doesn’t resolve the problem for those who lack clean tap water, they say. It also doesn’t address people living without water because of shut-offs that happened before the pandemic, they add.

‘Water is something that everybody needs to live.’

Democratic House leaders have proposed including $25 billion in the next COVID-19

April 24, 2020

stimulus bill to fund clean water infrastructure projects and provide funding for American households struggling to pay their water and sewer bills.

Back in West Goshen, Hernandez is still struggling to find bottled water for her family and neighbors. She searches the stores regularly -- even though she fears going out could expose her to the virus -- and networks with residents and relatives in other towns through phone and social media to find people with bottled water that they’re willing to share.

She says she wishes the county would have an emergency number people could call to get water instead of her and her neighbors trying to solve

the problem themselves.

“We’re trying to help each other, but if we don’t have the resources, then how can we help?” Hernandez says. “Water is something that everybody needs to live. We need to have water to drink, no matter what.”

Claudia Boyd Barrett wrote this article for YES! Magazine in collaboration with the California Health Report.

Claudia Boyd Barrett is a long-time journalist based in southern California. She writes on topics related to health care, social justice, and maternal and child well-being.

Her investigative stories on access to mental health care have resulted in legislative and policy changes. Follow her on Twitter @reporteratlarge.

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Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce Pamela Scannell new CEO

By Desert Star Staff The Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Pamela Scannell as its new President and CEO. Pam is an experienced leader, speaker and innovator. As President and CEO, Pam has a responsibility for the attraction, engagement, development and support of local businesses and the community, along with forming a strong relationship with local government to provide a unified message.

“With recent events, I am determined to provide member businesses with the support and resources they need to succeed, and innovate ways to help this community to recover, “ said Pam whose

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & MANAGING EDITOR Max Liebermann __________________________ OFFICE MANAGER Mindy Salas ART DIRECTOR Dina Rivera CONTRIBUTORS Beverly Cohn, Janice Gough, Jack Lyons, Kelly G. Richardson, Pamela Price, Pat Krause, Risa D’Angeles, Robert Kinsler, Theda Kleinhans Reichman PHOTOGRAPHERS Pat Krause ADVERTISING ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Please Call 760-671-6604

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Arlette Capel

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passion can be tracked back to England where she spent many years working on improving conditions for employees while serving as a volunteer on the Branch Council of the business she was employed at, contributing ideas and content to the branch and business’s magazines.

With a well-rounded and lengthy career, Pam brings experience across multiple industries, geographies and scale of businesses, specializing in communication, analysis of profit and loss accounts, community relations, financials and nonprofits. Prior to joining the PDACC, Pam served as a banking VP of Business and Community Development, Executive Director of the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, and in England with the retail giant John Lewis, as

a Manager of Branch Audit, Production Manager of Custom Furnishings and as Retail Management. In addition to her primary job functions, Pam has previously been recognized by the Senate, Congress, State Assembly and City of Big Bear Lake for her extraordinary commitment and contributions to her previous community.

She is also noted among the top 20,000 Businesswomen in America, as filed in the Library of Congress for 2017.

The Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors began its new CEO search in January of 2020 and is grateful to have had the leadership and guidance of interim CEO Rob Ballew during these critical past few months. Rob will remain engaged with the Chamber and help bring Pam up to speed over the next few weeks.

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to its members and potential members, virtually at first.

Visit PDACC.org to register for the next virtual event and find more information.

About the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce The Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce is focused on creating a strong local economy through speakers, seminars, networking, promotion, and advocating on issues important to member businesses. PDACC is a corporation organized and dedicated to promote, support, and enhance business prosperity, civic vitality, and quality of life. To get more involved, please call 760-3466111, email ceo@pdacc.org, visit pdacc.org or LIKE the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page.

OR Businesses Ensure Janitors’ Work is Secure During COVID-19

By Desert Star Staff PORTLAND, Ore. -The coronavirus outbreak has left many Oregonians unemployed, but some businesses are working to preserve an often-overlooked group of workers -- janitors.

Companies such as Nike and Intel have committed to keeping their janitorial staff working and not cutting hours. Janitors are deemed essential workers.

Norma Martinez is a member of the union SEIU Local 49 and a janitor at Moda Tower, owned by Portland’s largest landlord, Unico Properties.

She says it’s been scary to watch other folks lose their jobs during this pandemic.

“I feel really happy because we continue to work -- and not just me, but all of my coworkers in the building,” she states.

Nearly 300,000 Oregonians have filed for unemployment over the last month. SEIU Local 49 has applauded companies for their commitments, and says these workers can least afford to lose their jobs and are disproportionately people of color and immigrants.

With employment, workers also have been able to keep their health insurance.

Keren Eichen, director of real estate services for Unico Properties, says the company redeployed some janitorial staff to work on sanitizing buildings in order to preserve jobs.

“We want them to not worry about potentially losing their job when they’re performing such a vital service,” she stresses.

For Martinez, being employed also means the ability to support her children.

“My daughter is a student

Move More Month Continued from Page 1

it’s easy to break it up into several short walks each day.

“We kind of look at

frequency, a complete 500 steps within seven minutes six times a day,” he explains. “And then intensity, a brisk 3,000-step walk

Norma Martinez, a janitor in Portland, has been able to keep her health insurance because she is employed during the pandemic. (SEIU Local 49) at the University of Portland,” Disclosure: SEIU Local she relates. “She’s at home right 49 contributes to our fund for now studying, but I am still able reporting on Livable Wages/ to make that payment every Working Families, Social Justice. month because I have a job.”

for about 30 minutes.”

To boost motivation, Marylanders can sign a pledge to walk more and possibly win a prize by entering UnitedHealthcare’s Step Up for Better Health Sweepstakes.

Go online to

UHCwalkingmaps.com for more information and to see 10,000-step walking routes for more than 50 cities.

Disclosure: United Healthcare-MD contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues.

Two DSUSD Educators Named Riv. County Teacher of the Year

Continued from Page 1 All advertising in the Desert Star Weekly newspaper subject to current rate card.

The newspaper reserves the right not to accept an advertiser’s order.

The entire contents of the Desert Star Weekly newspaper © 2013. All rights reserved.

The Board of Directors weighed the decision to move forward with hiring a new CEO during these unprecedented times carefully, given the uncertainty around how long this health and economic crisis will continue. The board felt ultimately that it was in the best interest of its members and the community to have a permanent, experienced leader in place to help steer the organization’s membership to a fuller and faster recovery.

“Helping our businesses and this community recover from this crisis and connect with the resources they need during this critical time are essential to the mission of the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce,” explained the current board chair, Eric Morcus of Kaiser Grille – Palm Desert.

The Chamber looks forward to introducing Pam

transition was unexpected but fairly smooth. class because you don’t know “Some of them just have financially how the families are their phones, and some don’t doing, and you don’t want to have anything, but we’re doing cause any other issues that a little bit of everything. That they’re already facing,” said could be an article for our Fecera. “But I’ve had so many website or a YouTube channel students and parents sending critique of the design or the me pictures of students that marketing of it,” said Buck. are helping with meals.”

But teachers say their While teaching a relatively jobs are about much more digital class, Buck said the than the subject matter.

April 24, 2020

“The students are great, they have a great sense of humor, and you never know what to expect in a cooking class,” said Fecera.

Buck also points to his students as the reason behind his success.

“My favorite thing is that I can give a place to students who don’t really feel like they can belong anywhere.

We all come together and

have a place where we all belong, we just build our own place, and I think that that’s magical,” said Buck.

The two educators are now contenders for the 2020 California Teacher of the Year award.

That title has gone to Riverside County educators for the last four years.

•••••••••••••• DesertSTAR

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California’s Cool Must-Visit Five

By Pam Price California is so big that it could almost be a separate country from the rest of America. Indeed it once was, albeit briefly, and the state flag still says, “The California Republic.” While L.A. and Hollywood, as well as San Francisco, are probably the most iconic places, there’s a lot more behind the scenes, as it were.

A vast Western state, California encompasses everything from wildly beautiful beaches and majestic Sierra Nevada mountain peaks to enormous desert vistas.

With the geography of this caliber, it’s no surprise there are plenty of hidden gem small towns in the mix that

draw visitors on account of their history and settings.

Here are five cool California towns you should consider for your next Cal-itinerary.

Pismo Beach: Pismo Beach, a legendary coastal resort area, is the epitome of California cool and a microcosm of the Golden State with expansive beaches and wineries and even a monarch butterfly preserve. Though the moniker is no longer in use, Pismo Beach used to be called the Clam Capital of the World.

One of the most fun things to do here is to rent an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) to cruise the dunes next to the vast Pacific Ocean. Also in San Luis Obispo county but farther north, you’ll find the famous

Hearst Castle at San Simeon.

Carlsbad: This oceanside city in San Diego County is a perennial family favorite. For starters, there are beautiful beaches like South Carlsbad State Beach and Tamarack Surf Beach, behind which is the famous Carlsbad Sea Wall Walk. Carlsbad is also the home of the Legoland California theme park.

There’s also the seasonal Flower Fields celebration at Carlsbad Ranch, which transforms sixty acres of undulating North San Diego County hills into sprawling flights of floral fantasy every spring. The flowers inspire lavish displays such as Flower Field’s classic American flag.

Murphys: Murphys, in

the Sierra Nevada foothills of Calaveras County, was one of California’s richest “Diggins” during the California Gold Rush of the 1840s—hence its former name of Murphys New Diggings. The keyword today isn’t gold though, it’s quaint, as you’ll see when strolling down the town’s idyllic little Main Street with its clapboard buildings and white picket fences. But were prospectors and gamblers once mingled in between gold-digging expeditions (fit in a visit to the Old Timers Museum if you can), now winemakers hold sway and there are upwards of two dozen wine tasting rooms along Main Street and several vineyards in the vicinity.

As the so-called Queen of the Sierra, Murphys has a small population of around 2,213 but lots of homestyle restaurants and cozy country inns. One such is the Murphys Hotel, whose illustrious guests have included Ulysses S. Grant and Mark Twain.

Ojai: Ojai may be less than 90 miles from downtown Los Angeles, but in many respects, it’s a world away.

This low-key town, nestled in a setting of rolling hills and oak trees, stood in for the mythical paradise of the 1937 film classic Lost Horizon.

Today it’s the ideal destination for those who appreciate an absence of chain stores, fast food, and sprawling shopping malls. Spiritually focused and

resources, get things that are easy for them to digest and to make it appealing for young people to have a conversation about what all of us are experiencing, which is a challenge to our sense of routine and, in some cases, the development of anxiety problems,” Duckworth said.

For tips, go to NAMI’s Instagram account at NAMICommunicate or call their hotline at 1-800-950-NAMI. If you’re feeling anxious

while stuck inside alone during the pandemic, Duckworth recommends limiting news intake and avoiding social media before bed. He said social distancing doesn’t have to mean social isolation and recommended reaching out and strengthening relationships.

“If you have an elderly neighbor you can shop for or you want to reach out to a nephew you haven’t talked to in a while - if you can find

scenically seductive, this rustic hamlet is where visitors wait for the “pink moment” as the sun sets on in the east over the Topa Topa mountains (they do, and the peaks do glow pink). Artisans populate Ojai, actors, architects, and those on the cusp of retiring, and several meditation and music festivals now are staged here.

Avalon: Avalon, a small resort port on the island of Santa Catalina, is the southernmost city in Los Angeles County—Catalina is one of the eight Channel Islands of California, accessible via a ferry ride from Long Beach (about one hour), Dana Point or San Pedro. Much of Avalon developed thanks to the largesse of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. in the 1920s, and the iconic island has a star-studded history. The 1929 Catalina Casino remains a landmark perched at water’s edge, and Lover’s Cove Marine Reserve lures snorkelers year-round. Catalina’s classic glass-bottom boat tours are a touristy but time-honored tradition, popular with families.

Much of Avalon clings to the waterfront facing scenic Avalon Bay. A small group tour, such as Catalina Island’s Avalon Scenic Tours operated by the Catalina Island Company, serves as an excellent introduction to this unique SoCal town.

NAMI Partners with Instagram to Boost Mental Health During COVID-19

By Desert Star Staff With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing folks to cope with loneliness, job loss and grief, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is teaming up with Instagram to connect young people to mental health support resources during this challenging time.

On its Instagram page, NAMI is posting tips and

recommendations to help folks feel less vulnerable and more connected. The organization’s chief medical officer Ken Duckworth said the project is targeting young people because three quarters of all mental-health vulnerabilities begin before age 25, and social distancing could intensify those feelings.

“Our goal is to get

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meaning in adversity, that seems to predict long-term well-being from adverse situations,” he said.

According to a 2017 report, 30% of Maryland high school students surveyed said they had symptoms of depression for two or more weeks in a row. The NAMI Maryland chapter has more resources if you’re feeling anxious or depressed.

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E N T E RTA I N M E N T

WITH LADY BEVERLY COHN

A Special Story About A Special Man Doing Special Work

Jason and Jacob receive instructions from teacher, Lee Stockner.

Photo Courtesy of Max Watkins I wonder if I could take your mind off COVID-19 for a few minutes to tell you about Lee Stockner, a very special young man in New York who teaches piano primarily to Autistic children.

Understanding the limited attention span, Lee developed a system using colors as a teaching tool. His system is called “Occupational Octaves” and was the subject of a recent 10-minute, 8 seconds documentary that was in the top 100 of over 5,000 worldwide submissions. This short film was scheduled to screen at Pasadena Film Festival, which

was cancelled due to the CoronaVirus. We do need to see something that uplifts the human spirit so below is a link to the documentary and I invite you to take a few minutes and watch the this joyful film.

This is the story in Lee’s own words: “Ten years into my piano teaching career, I met a young man with Autism. Although I had no experience in special education, his mom asked me to give him piano lessons and we began working together. That student had comprehension skills strong enough to learn to read

traditional music notation.

However, once I began working with K-12 students with Autism, many lacked those skills and could never learn to read music.” “ I let necessity be the mother of innovation and created a new language of music where the students wear color-coded finger bands with matching colors on the keyboard. Although the teaching approach is different, my students learn and perform the same pieces of music you’d learn in traditional piano lessons, ranging from Bach to Beethoven.”

Gabe, one of Lee’s students, wears the color-coded rings around his fingers, aiding him in learning how to effectively read music for the piano. Photo by Courtesy of Max Watkins Please note: Although I have a strong policy of not reviewing material from family or friends, I made an exception in this case as Lee Stockner is my nephew, but I decided to not hold that against him

as his work is pioneering and deserves attention.

Link to film: https:// youtu.be/PBBDKKtSoWg For further information: http://www. occupationaloctavespiano.com/

Protesters: Open the state. Legislators: Include us.

By Desert Star Staff On Monday, several hundred protesters gathered outside the Capitol demanding Gov. Gavin Newsom lift his stayat-home order, while inside, state lawmakers expressed frustration at the governor keeping them out of the loop in key coronavirus decisions.

The Sacramento protest, organized by a group that opposed a California law last year that makes it more difficult for people to exempt their children from mandatory vaccines, came on the heels of weekend protests in San Diego, San Clemente, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach.

Natalie Hutchison, a Capitol protestor: “Our freedoms are being stripped. They tell you, like, ‘Oh, we don’t know when we’re going to let you out.’ What do you mean you’re not going to let me out? I’m not a rat in a cage.”

Some local governments are loosening restrictions. Ventura County began Saturday to ease shelter-in-place restrictions, and Placerville and San Luis Obispo are now urging Newsom to www.desertstarweekly.com

allow businesses to reopen.

And in an Assembly hearing Monday on the state’s COVID-19 spending, three areas emerged where lawmakers are frustrated with Newsom.

A general lack of information from the Newsom administration. Assemblyman Jim Wood, a Democrat from Healdsburg: “We often, as legislators, hear maybe five minutes before an executive order comes out, or watching live the governor’s daily updates to get information.”

Lawmakers want to play a greater role in non-emergency decisions, like helping rebuild the social safety net after COVID-19.

And that $1 billion deal to buy medical-grade protective equipment: Newsom’s administration refuses to release the contract, despite repeated requests from lawmakers.

The governor has said it could jeopardize a critical supply chain.

1. Two CA studies: Coronavirus far more widespread and less lethal than previously thought.

But questions remain.

Coronavirus is far more

People pass a social distancing awareness sign in Alameda on April 15. Photo by Jane Tyska, Bay Area News Group widespread and has a much lower fatality rate than previously thought, according to two new studies focused on Santa Clara and Los Angeles counties. A Stanford study published Friday concluded that 2.5% to 4.2% of Santa Clara residents have virus antibodies in their blood, suggesting 50 to 85 times more people were infected than the county thought. A April 24, 2020

study of Los Angeles County released Monday by USC found 2.8% to 5.6% of adults had antibodies, or roughly 221,000 to 442,000 have recovered from infection — 17 to 34 times the county’s official tally.

If the findings are accurate, the COVID-19 death rate in both counties would be about 0.2% — much smaller than what governments have been

preparing for. But statistical experts have questioned the methodology, and researchers in both cases say more studies are needed.

The Bottom Line: As of 9:30 p.m. Monday night, California had 33,840 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,226 deaths from the virus, according to a Los Angeles Times tracker. Source: CalMatters

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Life Insurance Settlements can help in a Market Downturn…

By Janice Gough For business owners and individuals who were caught off guard, without sufficient cash resources, the months ahead may be difficult as you adapt to the new reality of this unprecedented economic crisis.

But perhaps, those hardest hit are retired seniors, whose nest eggs have lost a quarter of their value. Most people forget about life insurance as an asset.

That’s why selling an unwanted life insurance policy, especially policies with escalating premiums or those on the verge of lapsing, is often a smart strategy for seniors who want to generate immediate cash flow. I would never suggest replacing needed insurance protection, especially at this time in which our future is much in question.

Many times, executives have left their company with portable life insurance with a high death benefit. They own a policy, in which the annual premium is a burden to their own cash flow. They may consider lapsing the policy because it has no cash surrender value, however, selling the policy in the secondary market for a substantial cash payment equivalent to nearly 30% of the policy’s face amount can aid in meeting one’s objectives.

A financial broker using life

settlements can increase one’s net worth substantially by selling the unwanted asset, many times, thought to have no value. With this kind of cash windfall, it is a great time to invest back into the market.

During market downturns, having sufficient liquidity facilitates the ability to achieve a wide range of financial goals depending upon the senior’s net worth, emergency reserves, and cash flow objectives.

Some “market savvy” seniors want extra cash to invest back into the market while stock values are low. They recognize an opportunity to leverage the financial crisis and need liquidity to seize it. Whereas, a senior who needs to rebuild their financial security may use unwanted life ins. As a source of cash to purchase a guaranteed income stream, such as investing in an income annuity. Their goal is to enjoy a comfortable retirement, free from the financial anxiety caused by market losses.

Other seniors who are cash depleted may want to shore up their emergency reserves to get through the crisis without making withdrawals from their investments. For them, money is not the only king, but cash flow is essential for long term survival. The scenarios listed may be readily achievable (for seniors who are over age 65 and who qualify) by selling an

unwanted life insurance policy in the secondary market.

Another consideration is to use the proceeds to purchase a Guaranteed Income Annuity.

Awareness of annuities as part of a comprehensive retirement strategy also gained traction recently when President Trump signed into law the SECURE Act. The new law makes it easier for employers to include annuities in their retirement plan investment options for company employees.

Purchasing an annuity takes cash, which, for many, is scarce now. That’s where the proceeds from a life settlement can help. Many of our clients have been attracted to indexed income annuities because their

monthly income can increase based on market performance, but that income will never decrease. By having a portion of retirement assets invested in income, annuities brings the best of both worlds.

We are experiencing a financial crisis and need relevant sound solutions. And for senior clients who must rely on portfolio withdrawals for monthly cash flow, the ability to use the cash proceeds from a life settlement is undoubtedly a more prudent course of action than allowing clients to lock in losses. A correction is never the time to sell, your better option is to ride the market back up because once you sell your loss is locked in. There are

many better options to take.

Whatever your financial and liquidity challenges, maybe during the current economic crisis, now is the time to consider whether selling an unwanted life insurance policy is the most suitable option to generate cash flow.

Janice Gough is a Financial Advisor. We are located in Palm Springs and can be reached by calling (760) 251-7724 or (650) 200-8291 or via email at Janice@GoughFinancialSvcs. com. Visit our website to sign up for our Financial newsletter, offering cutting edge information on ways to improve financial outcomes.

Report: Jails Could Add 100K COVID-19 Deaths

By Desert Star Staff NEW YORK -- A new epidemiological model released by the American Civil Liberties Union says unless jail populations are reduced immediately, the COVID-19 pandemic could claim about 100,000 more American lives, doubling current projections.

There are almost 740,000 people in American jails where social distancing and other preventive measures are difficult if not impossible.

According to Lucia Tian, the

ACLU’s chief analytics officer, one person is being incarcerated every three seconds.

“What that means is that both incarcerated people and also staff go in and out of jails, and when they come in and out of jail, they’re also transmitting that disease to the community,” she points out.

The report says ending the 95% of arrests that, according to the FBI, do not involve violent crime and doubling the rate of release from jail could save 23,000 lives in jail and 76,000

in the broader community.

Every year, about 10.3 million people are arrested in the United States. But Udi Ofer, director of the ACLU’s Justice Division, notes that only 5% of those arrests are for violent crime while the most common charge by far is drug possession.

“Before COVID-19, we didn’t think people should be arrested for this,” he states. “But particularly post COVID-19, no one should get arrested and sent to jail for

plays in American society.

“We’ve taken drastic measures to shut down other high density hubs like schools, these types of offenses.” like workplaces, like stores,” Ofer adds that about she points out. “But we haven’t 70% of people in American taken that same kind of action jails are pre-trail detainees with jails, and that’s what this who have not been convicted mechanism is capturing.” of a crime and many simply Tian emphasizes can’t afford to pay cash bail. that the new model only Tian says estimates of the addresses jail populations, COVID-19 death toll vary widely, not immigration detention or from less than 100,000 to more prisons that bring the total than 1 million. But none of number of people incarcerated those models take into account to more than 2 million. the large role incarceration

A one-week delay in reducing jail populations could mean 18,000 lives lost to COVID-19, according to a new report. (Lightfield Studios/Adobe Stock)

6

DesertSTAR

April 24, 2020

www.desertstarweekly.com

Desert Star Weekly Legals PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

by appointment at the City of Desert Hot Springs City Hall, 65950 Pierson Boulevard, during regular business hours (Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM). INTERESTED PERSONS MAY be heard or provide written comments may be sent to the City Council prior to the hearing. Written comments may be mailed or delivered prior to the Public Hearing: Community Development Department City of Desert Hot Springs 65950 Pierson Blvd., Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240 rdeming@cityofdhs.org QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES may be addressed to Rebecca Deming, Community Development Director, at (760) 329-6411 or via email to rdeming@ cityofdhs.org Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (760) 329-6411 or via email at jsoriano@ cityofdhs.org. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting will enable the City to make reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility.

Publish April 24, 2020. DSW20-5080

City of Desert Hot Springs NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND ENVIROMENTAL DETERMINATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council will conduct a Public Hearing to consider Development Permit No. 20-5. The Public Hearing will be held as follows: DATE: Tuesday, May 5th, 2020 TIME: 6:00 P.M. (or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard) LOCATION: Video Conference CASE(S): Development Permit No. 20-5. LOCATION: The project site is located north of Mission Lakes Blvd on the south side of Sonora Drive within the Sunset Springs Residential Development within the Residential Low-Density Zoning District (R-L).

APPLICANT/REPRESENTATIVE: Watermarke Homes, LLC PROPOSAL: The applicant has filed an application to develop 11 single-family residences on vacant lots that were not completed in Tract Map No. 31235. ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: In accordance with the provisions of the Pursuant to Section 15162(a) of the CEQA regulations, once an MND has been adopted for a project, no subsequent environmental review needs to be completed unless there are substantial changes in the project that warrant additional review. The planning commission only needs to make a finding that the request is consistent with the original MND and no further analysis is required. On May 5th, 2020, the City Council, at the public hearing or during deliberation, may approve, deny, or propose changes to the project or to the environmental determination. INTERESTED PERSONS MAY be heard or written comments may be submitted prior to the Public Hearing(s). Written comments will be made a part of the public record. If you challenge this matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Desert Hot Springs, at or prior to, the public hearing. Notice Regarding COVID-19 and Public Participation at Planning Commission Meetings. Pursuant to California Governor Newsom’s Executive Orders N-25-20 issued on March 4, 2020 and N-29-20 issued on March 18, 2020, the City Council regular meeting will be conducted remotely through Zoom and broadcast live on the City’s YouTube channel.

Access to the zoom meeting will be available with the published agenda. Pursuant to the Executive Orders, and to ensure the health and safety of the public by limiting human contact that could spread the COVID-19 virus, the Carl May Center/Council Chamber will not be open for the meeting. The City Council and Staff will be participating remotely and will not be physically present in the Council Chamber. All information regarding the proposed project is available for public review by appointment at the City of Desert Hot Springs City Hall, 65950 Pierson Boulevard, during regular business hours (Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM).

QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES regarding this matter or to review information for the above-described project: Contact Person: Patricia M. Villagomez City of Desert Hot Springs 65950 Pierson Blvd., Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240 Phone: (760) 329-6411, Ext. 243 Email: pvillagomez@cityofdhs.org. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (760) 329-6411 or via email at jsoriano@cityofdhs.org. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting(s) will enable the City to make reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility. Publish April 24, 2020. DSW20-5081 CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the CITY COUNCIL of the City of Desert Hot Springs will conduct a Public Hearing to consider the following Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS, AMENDING CHAPTER 17.180 “DEFINITIONS” OF TESTING FACILITY, TO ALLOW FOR CANNABIS FACILITIES THAT ARE LICENSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ITSELF OR BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT ITSELF. It is the purpose and intent of this Ordinance to review and adjust the definition for Testing Facilities within the City of Desert Hot Springs. The Public Hearing will be held as follows: Location: Video Conference Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 Time: 6:00 P.M. (or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard). Notice Regarding COVID-19 and Public Participation at City Council Meetings. Pursuant to California Governor Newsom’s Executive Orders N-25-20 issued on March 4, 2020 and N-29-20 issued on March 18, 2020, the City Council regular meeting will be conducted remotely through Zoom and broadcast live on the City’s YouTube channel. Access to the zoom meeting will be available with the published agenda.

Pursuant to the Executive Orders, and to ensure the health and safety of the public by limiting human contact that could spread the COVID-19 virus, the Carl May Center/Council Chamber will not be open for the meeting. The City Council and Staff will be participating remotely and will not be physically present in the Council Chamber. All information regarding the proposed project is available for public review

CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the CITY COUNCIL of the City of Desert Hot Springs will conduct a Public Hearing to consider the following Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA AMENDING DESERT HOT SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 17.40.110 FENCES, WALLS AND HEDGES. It is the purpose and intent of this Ordinance to review and adjust the requirements for wall and Fencing within the City of Desert Hot Springs. The Public Hearing will be held as follows: Location: Video Conference Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 Time: 6:00 P.M. (or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard). Notice Regarding COVID-19 and Public Participation at City Council Meetings. Pursuant to California Governor Newsom’s Executive Orders N-25-20 issued on March 4, 2020 and N-29-20 issued on March 18, 2020, the City Council regular meeting will be conducted remotely through Zoom and broadcast live on the City’s YouTube channel. Access to the zoom meeting will be available with the published agenda.

Pursuant to the Executive Orders, and to ensure the health and safety of the public by limiting human contact that could spread the COVID-19 virus, the Carl May Center/Council Chamber will not be open for the meeting. The City Council and Staff will be participating remotely and will not be physically present in the Council Chamber. All information regarding the proposed project is available for public review by appointment at the City of Desert Hot Springs City Hall, 65950 Pierson Boulevard, during regular business hours (Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM). INTERESTED PERSONS MAY be heard or provide written comments may be sent to the City Council prior to the hearing. Written comments may be mailed or delivered prior to the Public Hearing: Community Development Department City of Desert Hot Springs 65950 Pierson Blvd., Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240 rdeming@cityofdhs.org.

QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES may be addressed to Rebecca Deming, Community Development Director, at (760) 329-6411 or via email to rdeming@ cityofdhs.org Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (760) 329-6411 or via email at jsoriano@ cityofdhs.org. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting will enable the City to make reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility.

Publish April 24, 2020. DSW20-5079 CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the CITY COUNCIL of the City of Desert Hot Springs will conduct a Public Hearing to consider the following Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS AMENDING SECTIONS 17.12.080 (CONVENIENCE STORES - COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS) AND 17.16.060 (CONVENIENCE STORES- INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS) OF THE DESERT HOT SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING CONVENIENCE STORES It is the purpose and intent of this Ordinance to review and adjust the requirements for Convenience Stores within the City of Desert Hot Springs. The Public Hearing will be held as follows: Location: Video Conference Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2020 Time: 6:00 P.M. (or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard). Notice Regarding COVID-19 and Public Participation at City Council Meetings.

Pursuant to California Governor Newsom’s Executive Orders N-25-20 issued on March 4, 2020 and N-29-20 issued on March 18, 2020, the City Council regular meeting will be conducted remotely through Zoom and broadcast live on the City’s YouTube channel. Access to the zoom meeting will be available with the published agenda. Pursuant to the Executive Orders, and to ensure the health and safety of the public by limiting human contact that could spread the COVID-19 virus, the Carl May Center/Council Chamber will not be open for the meeting. The City Council and Staff will be participating remotely and will not be physically present in the Council Chamber. All information regarding the proposed project is available for public review by appointment at the City of Desert Hot Springs City Hall, 65950 Pierson Boulevard, during regular business hours (Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM).INTERESTED PERSONS MAY be heard or provide written comments may be sent to the City Council prior to the hearing. Written comments may be mailed or delivered prior to the Public Hearing: Community Development Department City of Desert Hot Springs 65950 Pierson Blvd., Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240 rdeming@cityofdhs.org QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES may be addressed to Rebecca Deming, Community Development Director, at (760) 329-6411 or via email to rdeming@ cityofdhs.org Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (760) 329-6411 or via email at jsoriano@ cityofdhs.org. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting will enable the City to make reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility.

Publish April 24, 2020. DSW20-5078 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS MISSION MARKET, 5448 BLVD, JURUPA VALLEY, CA 92509. Riverside County. Full name of registrant LUCKY 8 MARKET, INC., 5448 MISSION BLVD, JURUPA VALLEY, CA 92509/CA. Business is conducted by CORPORATION. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above on 01/01/2017. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime) Signed NITABEN PATEL, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 03/12/2020. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202003871. NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATE-

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PUBLIC NOTICE

April 24, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE

MENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINESSAND PROFESSIONS CODE). Publish April 10, 17, 24, May 1, 2020 DSW20-5077 AMENDED FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSI¬NESS AS: Anhui Acupuncture & TCM Inc., 850 E Vista Chino, #24, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Riverside County. Full name of registrant: Anhui Acu¬puncture & TCM Inc., 850 E Vista Chino #24, Palm Springs, CA 92262/CA. Business is conducted by: Corporation. Registrant has not yet begun to trans¬act business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime).

Signed: Christopher Thomas Burnett, President.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on February 18, 2020. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202002516. NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATE¬MENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS STATE OF A FICTI¬TIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE). DSW20-5060 March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2020, April 10, 17, 24, May 1, 2020 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS YELLOW BIRCH, 5935 SAGUARO ST, RIVERSIDE, CA 92509. Riverside County. Full name of registrant BRIANNA MONIQUE HERNANDEZ, 7739 LAKESIDE DR, RIVERSIDE, CA 92509/CA. Business is conducted by INDIVIDUAL. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above on 11/31/2019. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime) Signed BRIANNA MONIQUE HERNANDEZ. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 03/04/2020. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202003392. NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINESSAND PROFESSIONS CODE). Publish March 27, April 3, 10, 17, 2020 DSW20-5070 AMENDED STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME The following fictitious business name(s) PUBELO SERENO MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY, 25521 LINCOLN AVENUE, HEMET, CA 92544, RIVERSIDE COUNTY. Riverside County has been abandoned by the following person(s): BKKS HOLDINGS, LLC 25521 S. ELK STREET, HEMET, CA 92544/CA. This business is conducted by: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY The fictitious business name(s) referred to above was filed in Riverside County on: 1/28/16 I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime. Signed: LOGAN A. BOGGS, BKKS HOLDINGS, LLC, A CALIFORNIA LIMITIED LIABILITY COMPANY BY: LAB MANAGEMENT, LP, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ITS: MEMBER BY: LOGAN A. BOGGS, TRUSTEE OF THE LOGAN A. BOGGS 1998 PRIMARY TRUST FBO LOGAN A. BOGGS, JR. ITS: MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County, signed by, Peter Aldana Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder on January 02/2020 File No. R-201601188. Publish January 15, 22, 29, February 5, 2020, March 27, April 3, 10, 17, 2020. DSW20-2015

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At least 6 killed as tornadoes rip through TX and OK

By Desert Star Staff At least six people have been killed after nearly two dozen tornadoes ripped through the south-central region of the United states, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

Three people were killed and some 20 injured by a fearsome tornado in Onalaska, Texas located roughly 90 miles north of Houston. Two others were killed by another violent storm system in southern Oklahoma while another fatality occurred in Louisiana.

The National Weather Service confirmed the presence of a “large and extremely dangerous tornado,” which touched down at approximately 6pm local time. Eyewitness

video shows the full scale of the colossal twister as it formed and tore through the countryside.

Search and rescue crews are sifting through the wreckage of entire neighborhoods to look for any residents who may not have made it out in time.

“At this time, search and rescue is ongoing, and we have 20-30 injuries and three deaths,” Polk County emergency management said in a statement which also requested no “spontaneous volunteers,” asking the public instead to avoid the area as traffic has hampered the response at times.

Some 9,000 people were left without power according to an area power company,

which said that the tornado had inflicted extreme damage to power lines and that it was unclear how long it would take crews to bring the power back online.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma was also lashed by Mother Nature, with such force that a semitruck was thrown on its side.

Another tornado was confirmed in Jasper, Texas near the Louisiana border.

One woman reportedly died as a result of the violent storms in Louisiana.

As of 10:30pm eastern time Wednesday night, there had been a total of 21 tornadoes reported across Texas and Oklahoma.

Desert Distilling Inc Now Manufacturing and Selling Sanitizer

The company has a new sales inventory of sanitizer for local residents, re-opening businesses, healthcare providers & first responders

By Desert Star Staff Desert Distilling Inc, a local small-batch craft distillery recently started providing alcohol-based liquid sanitizer to local communities across Riverside County and Coachella Valley. The company has successfully replenished its inventory and is pleased to announce that bottled liquid sanitizer is

again now available for sale.

John Lotz, owner-operator at Desert Distilling, said: “We are pleased to have bulk supplies of our sanitizer back in stock after last week’s unprecedented demand, which took us from vigorous sales to a back-order situation in the space of only a few days. We know the need for sanitizer is outpacing demand, and we

have been working hard every day to make more bottled and bulk product available in our local community.”

The liquid alcohol-based sanitizer is manufactured to the World Health Organization standard formula. The sanitizer is available in onegallon containers for $45 each; 55-gallon drums and 270-gallon totes are also

available. Customers should place an advance order on the Desert Distilling website www.desertdistilling.com, where they can pay online, or when picking up. The sanitizer is also available in one-gallon containers at Ace Hardware in Palm Springs.

Inquiries can be made by calling Desert Distilling directly at 760-770-3135,

or by emailing info@ desertdistilling.com.

Desert Distilling is located at 34300 Gateway Drive, Suite 100, Palm Desert, CA 92276.

Pickup is available Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Customers are advised to place an order online and pick up by driving to the back door with their order number available.

Fauci ‘Convinced’ US should brace for return of coronavirus in fall

By Desert Star Staff A top member of the White House Covid-19 task force, Dr Anthony Fauci, said there is practically no chance the virus would leave the nation for good, predicting a resurgence in the fall which may overlap with the flu season.

“We will have coronavirus in the fall. I am convinced of that, because of the degree of transmissibility that it has, the global nature,” Fauci said at Wednesday’s White House briefing, adding that while the next outbreak will be “complicated by influenza season,” the country will be “much, much better prepared to do the kind of containment compared to what happened to us this winter.”

Whether or not it’s going to be big or small is going to depend on our response… Nobody can predict what’s going to happen with an outbreak.

Earlier in the same briefing, Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was asked to clarify comments given to the Washington Post for a recent article with a headline blaring “CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus is likely to be even more

8

DesertSTAR

devastating.” Though Redfield said he was not misquoted in the story itself, he noted that its headline was “inappropriate” as he never suggested the next wave would be “devastating,” but rather “more difficult” to handle, with the virus coming back just in time for flu season.

“The issue I’m talking about, it being more ‘difficult’ in the second wave, is that we’ll have two viruses circulating at the same time, whereas this time the flu season has ended so we can use all our flu surveillance system,” Redfield said.

The Post has yet to amend its headline.

While US President Donald Trump repeatedly tried to mediate Redfield’s exchange with reporters, cutting in to stress that the virus may not return at all – or only in “smaller doses” that will be easy to contain – senior health officials were less optimistic. Like Fauci and Redfield, Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator for the White House task force, also warned there could be a “next time,” but reiterated that the US would be better prepared to deal with another wave of Covid-19.

Though the US remains the worst-affected nation amid the coronavirus pandemic, health

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top member of the Covid-19 task force, addresses a daily coronavirus response briefing at the White House in Washington, DC. officials have pointed to a falling number of infections across several major hotspots in the country, such as New York City and Detroit, suggesting the outbreak may be winding down. The virus has afflicted more than 800,000 people in the US, killing over 46,000, while sweeping lockdown measures imposed in dozens of states have put tens of millions of residents out of work.

April 24, 2020

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