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STAR W E E K L Y
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID Desert Hot Springs, CA
States with the Biggest Increases in Unemployment Rates see page 4
PERMIT NO 00005
May 27, 2020 Vol. 16 No. 40
‘Lost Everything’
4-alarm fire at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf
Fishermen meet with San Francisco port officials to discuss loss, industry impact from Pier 45 fire. By Desert Star Staff SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Fishermen met with San Francisco port officials Monday morning to discuss equipment lost in Saturday morning’s fire at Pier 45. Larry “Duck” Collins, President of San Francisco Community Fishing
Association, said it would be a couple of days before fishermen can return. He said the main focus needs to be on how to help families that are experiencing a significant loss. “I’d say 30 different fishermen lost everything,” Collins said. Right now, fishermen
are in the middle of salmon season, and crab season is four months away. “You know crab pots are $250 just for the stuff and five hours of work to put together. So if you had 400 crab traps, you can imagine what these guys lost,” Collins said. Juan Rodriguez sent
Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Testing Sites Open Across Coachella Valley
By Desert Star Staff PALM SPRINGS – The first of 10,000 rapid COVID-19 antibody tests funded by the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation are being put to use at 10 sites that opened recently across the Coachella Valley. The tests are free and available to all. The antibody test requires a small blood sample and produces results in about 10 minutes. The test checks for a type of antibody called immunoglobulin G (IgG) that is the result of past exposure to COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus. The human
body produces IgG antibodies as part of the immune response to the virus. It usually takes about 10 to 18 days to produce enough antibodies to be detected in the blood. Experts believe that people who have recovered from the virus have some protection in the short term, but the long-term reinfection risk is still unknown. “This is a very important tool for helping us better establish the real rate of infection in the community and determine who might be able to return to work safely when the economy reopens,”
said Dr. Conrado Bárzaga, CEO of Desert Healthcare District. “From a public health perspective, the findings will also help the District develop plans for dealing with COVID-19 over the coming months, particularly as it relates to the 80,000 people in the valley who don’t have medical insurance.” The District’s Board of Directors approved allocating $350,000 for the rapid antibody tests at a special meeting on April 3. The three federally qualified health centers that Continues on Page 10
ABC7 video of the damage up close from Monday morning, where you can still see smoke. He works for Ocomar Seafoods, a company that delivers to restaurants. Collins says what comes through Pier 45 affects the entire Bay Area. “The amount of food that
comes over that port, that gets distributed locally gets everybody their fresh salmon, fresh crab, the black cod, albacore. This is a tragedy, and everybody has got to step up. And we got to take care of this problem,” Collins said. There is a GoFundMe page which you can donate to https://www.gofundme. com/f/pier-45-rebuilding-fund