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UN chief warns of ‘epidemic of misinformation’ about coronavirus

GOPIO-CT delivers food items for healthcare workers Helping hospitals with COVID-19 patients

S

TAMFORD, CT Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, Connecticut Chapter (GOPIO-CT) volunteers headed by its Trustee and Past President Shelly Nichani delivered food for healthcare workers at the Stamford Hospital on Friday April 10th, 2020.

The chapter plans to deliver food to other hospitals in the Fairfield County in Connecticut, which is the most affected county in Connecticut, in the next few days. Healthcare workers find it difficult to get food items while working since public cafeterias in hospitals are closed.

Over the last 14 years, GOPIO-CT, a chapter of GOPIO

International has become an active and dynamic organization hosting interactive sessions with policy makers and academicians, community events, youth mentoring and networking workshops, and working with other area organizations to help create a better future.

GOPIO-CT serves as a non-partisan, secular, civic and community service organization – promoting awareness of Indian culture, customs and contributions of PIOs through community programs, forums, events and youth activities. It seeks to strengthen partnerships and create an ongoing dialogue with local communities.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned about an ‘epidemic of misinformation’ surrounding the coronavirus outbreak Angela Weiss (AFP/File Photo)

U

NITED NATIONS, United States | AFP | 4/14/2020 - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday about a “dangerous epidemic of misinformation” surrounding the global coronavirus outbreak.

Left: GOPIO-CT Past President and Trustee Shelly Nichani and his team delivering food items for the healthcare workers at Stamford Hospital.

Trump eyes reopening US economy but assailed over ‘king’ powers

by Sebastian Smith

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ASHINGTON | AFP | Tuesday 4/14/2020 - President Donald Trump was accused Tuesday of seeking king-like powers ahead of unveiling a task force for reopening the US economy despite fears in hard-hit states that he will rush the decision.

Facing a tough reelection in November, the Republican president is eager to get the world’s biggest economy back on its feet as quickly as possible.

But his threat to invoke disput-

ed “total” constitutional powers forcing state governors to follow his orders has prompted an outcry.

“We don’t have King Trump, we have President Trump,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on CNN. A combative Trump then responded by likening skeptical governors to rebellious sailors in the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty.”

He has so far bowed -- often reluctantly -- to resistance from

medical experts who argue that relaxing social distancing and allowing people back to work prematurely would spark a coronavirus second wave.

But with Tuesday’s expected White House announcement of the team tasked with setting up the reopening, Trump was taking the first step in what he calls the “biggest decision” of his life.

For weeks, Trump has veered between supporting a sudden, large-scale reopening and a cautious, case-by-case relaxation of mitigation measures. Recent-

ly he has hinted at some sort of shift in the situation starting May 1.

Reflecting the sense of instability, economic powerhouses California and New York, both led by Democrats, are developing their own reopening plans, insisting that Trump will not set the pace.

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, who has joined forces with Oregon and Washington state, said he would not announce any concrete timing for at least another two weeks.

“This is a time for science and solidarity,” Guterres said in a statement and video message.

“As the world fights the deadly COVID-19 pandemic -– the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War –- we are also seeing another epidemic, a dangerous epidemic of misinformation,” he said.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves,” he said. “I don’t want to make a political decision that puts people’s lives at risk and puts the economy at even more risk.”

Guterres did not cite any specific countries or media outlets but he said that “harmful health advice and snake-oil solutions are proliferating.

“Falsehoods are filling the airwaves,” he said. “Wild conspiracy theories are infecting the Internet.

“Hatred is going viral, stigmatizing and vilifying people and groups,” Guterres said.

“The world must unite against this disease, too,” he said.

“The vaccine is trust,” Guterres said, calling on people to “trust in science.”

The UN secretary general praised journalists and fact-checkers and called on social media companies to do “more to root out hate and harmful assertions about COVID-19.”

“Together, let’s reject the lies and nonsense out there,” he said, and “build a healthier, more equitable, just and resilient world.”

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World Hindu Council of America’s initiative: Food for the Frontliners

by Manu Shah

Worcester says, “I was touched by their humility and by the efforts they took to express their gratitude and support for Health care workers.”

V

olunteers from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) of America contributed to the fight against the Corona virus in their own way - by feeding the Fighters on the frontlines of the fight.

Called “Food for the Front Liners”, this effort is raising funds to buy food and deliver to the doctors and nurses who are directly treating the Covid-19 patients in Emergency rooms and tents outside the hospitals across Massachusetts.

The idea came from one of the volunteers talking casually with one of her friends, who was a doctor who was directly involved. She said she got so hungry during the day, because the line of patients needing attention was so long, there was not even time during the day to stop to get food. It was not only her, all the people in these “Covid Tents” as they are called, do not have time to stop for anything. As a result, they keep working, sometimes late into the afternoon, until

Three days after this was started, we are already starting to see the results of this initiative. Food has been delivered by dedicated volunteers to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, and Lowell General Hospital. Anit Gupta, one of the first volunteers to deliver the food, said, “it was a very satisfying feeling to think that I could do something for our doctors and nurses, who are putting their lives at risk for us during this Covid-19 pandemic.”

Anit Gupta delivering food to UMass Memorial, Worcester.

someone stops and buys food for them.

From this casual conversation was born this idea of buying food for these brave doctors and nurses and delivering it to them.

A flyer was created and circulat-

ed amongst the community. Various restaurants and sandwich shops were approached, and sandwiches, chips were bought and delivered to area hospitals, starting with UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. Apeksha Tripathi M.D, from UMass

I could help someone who is doing so much for the community.”

This is an ongoing effort to provide much-needed nourishment to the weary healthcare workers who are risking their own safety and health to keep the public safe. Please donate

generously to this initiative, so that the work can continue as long as it is needed. This is also an opportunity to do your part by volunteering to deliver the food to the various area hospitals.

To donate please visit: https:// www.vhp-america.org/donation/

Katherine Fredette, R.N from UMass Hospital Emergency room, expressed her appreciation to the volunteers. She said, “We can’t express enough gratitude to the organization and its members.”

Abhishek Singh, volunteer, thought it was “very rewarding to be able to help someone who was helping so many people stay healthy during these tough times.”

Sangeeta Singh also echoed other volunteers. She said, “It was a great feeling knowing that

Food delivered to Lowell General Hospital.

VOICE OF ASIA 3

OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES N

EW DELHI: PTI Apr 15, 2020, – As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, researchers have found the presence of a different kind of coronavirus -- bat coronavirus (BtCoV) -- in two bat species from Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, according to a first of its study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

According to the study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, there is no evidence or research to claim that these bat coronaviruses can cause disease in humans, said Dr Pragya D Yadav, Scientist at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune and also the first author of study.

Twenty-five bats of Rousettus and Pteropus species from Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu were found positive for BtCoV. “These bat coronaviruses have no relation with SARS-CoV2 responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic,” Yadav said, adding that Pteropus bat species were earlier found positive for Nipah virus in 2018 and 2019 in Kerala.

“Bats are considered to be the natural reservoir for many viruses, of which some are potential human pathogens. In India, an association of Pteroby Paul Handley

W

ASHINGTON | AFP | 4/14/2020 - President Donald Trump sparked controversy when he claimed Monday he had the “absolute” power to force state governors and big-city mayors to lift quarantine and distancing policies.

Determined to quickly reopen the US economy when the coronavirus threat eases, Trump warned governors and local leaders he would step in, if they insist on maintaining their own rules to prevent the spread of the virus beyond what he believes is necessary.

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- China infections rise China reported 108 new virus cases, 98 of which were imported from overseas, its highest figure since early March.

The country where the disease first emerged has largely brought its domestic outbreak under control, but it faces a fresh battle against imported infections, mostly Chinese nationals returning home.

- Oil rally fizzles An oil price rally sparked by an international deal to slash production fizzled out, with traders doubtful the agreement would provide much support to steady coronavirus-ravaged energy markets.

Asian stock markets mostly fell.

- Jakarta train stations crowded despite lockdown Hundreds of passengers flocked to train stations on commuter lines in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, despite a partial lockdown announced by authorities last week.

People were seen waiting in long queues, struggling to board trains. The transport ministry is now considering allowing motorbike taxis to take passengers

“In the present scenario of changing demography and ecological manipulations, it is challenging to have checks on the encounters of bats with other animals and humans,” the study stated, highlighting that the need for active and continuous surveillance remains crucial for outbreak alerts for bat-associated viral agents with epidemic potential, which would be helpful in timely interventions.

“Although CoVs in the subfamily coronavirinae do not usually produce clinical symptoms in their natural hosts (bats), accidental transmission of these viruses to humans and other animals may result in respiratory,

The scientists stressed on the need of proactive surveillance of zoonotic infections in bats.

The scientists stressed on the need of proactive surveillance of zoonotic infections in bats.

The detection and identification of such viruses from bats also recommends cross-sectional antibody surveys (human and domestic animals) in localities where the viruses have been detected.

Similarly, if the epidemiological situation demands, evidence-based surveillance should also be conducted, the study said while emphasing on the need of developing strong mechanisms for working jointly with various stakeholders such as wildlife, poultry, animal husbandry and human health departments.

“In conclusion, our study showed detection of bat CoVs in two species of Indian bats. Continuous active surveillance is required to identify the emerging novel viruses with epidemic potential,” Dr Yadav said.

Elaborating on the study, Dr Yadav said throat and rectal swab samples of two bat species -- Rousettus and Pteropus -- from seven states werescreened for the bat coronvirus during which the representative samples collected from Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu tested positive while those from Karnataka, Chandigarh, Punjab, Telengana, Gujarat and Odisha came out negative.

The everse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) tests and sequencing were used for the confirmation of the findings.

“This is an ongoing study to understand the prevalence of the Nipah virus in bats,” she said.

The US Constitution’s 10th amendment says that powers not specifically granted to the federal government or the president are reserved for the 50 states.

“When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total,” he said. “I would rather work with the states... But I have the absolute right to do it if I want to.”

Nothing in US law says the president or federal government can force a state to lift its own sequestration, quarantine and distancing policies, say legal experts.

Can Trump force the end of quarantine policies when local leaders say it’s not yet safe to do so?

In a federal emergency, which Trump declared on March 13, the president’s powers are expanded. He can then unilaterally mobilize federal funds, deploy troops for law enforcement and order businesses to support requirements of the emergency.

22,000 deaths.

In contrast South Korea was once the hardest-hit country outside China, but appears to have brought its outbreak under control with a huge “trace, test and treat” strategy.

- Sri Lanka extends restrictions Sri Lanka extended restrictions under which people must work from home by one week, to April 20, while an indefinite curfew remains in place to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The reopening of schools, which was scheduled for April 20, has been postponed until May 11.

- China football squad ‘anxious, homesick’ China coach Li Tie has revealed the psychological toll coronavirus took on the national football squad during a fiveweek training camp prolonged by the pandemic.

Li’s men spent much of March in Dubai, where many Chinese Super League (CSL) teams also took refuge, before returning home when the outbreak began to subside in China.

- ‘Medibot’ to do rounds on Malaysian wards Malaysian scientists have created a barrel-shaped robot on wheels that they hope will make the rounds on hospital wards to check on coronavirus patients, reducing health workers’ risk of

enteric, hepatic or neurologic diseases of variable severity. It is still not understood as to why only certain CoVs can infect people,” the study said.

Does Trump have ‘absolute’ power to end social distancing?

‘No,’ say experts

“They can’t do anything without the approval of the president,” Trump said.

Asia virus latest: China infections rise, oil rally fizzles again, after they were banned from doing so as part of the curbs.

- Virus scares at Vietnam factories Dozens of workers at a Samsung factory in northern Vietnam have been ordered into quarantine after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

The announcement came as a factory in the south owned by one of the world’s largest sports shoe manufacturers prepared to close for two days, according to local media.

Tens of thousands of workers at Pou Yuen Vietnam have a high risk of contracting the virus, said Ho Chi Minh City authorities, who will close the factory from midnight.

There are more than 70,000 workers at Pou Yuen Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh, according to local media, with the factory producing trainers for Nike and Adidas among others.

- South Korea to ship coronavirus tests to US South Korean firms will make their first shipment of coronavirus tests to the United States this week after a request by US President Donald Trump, Yonhap news agency reported.

The US has more confirmed COVID-19 cases than anywhere else in the world and also has the highest toll, with more than

pus medius bats with the Nipah virus was reported in the past.

It is suspected that the recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) also has its association with bats,” the objective of the study titled ‘Detection of coronaviruses in Pteropus and Rousettus species of bats from different states of India’ stated.

That has sparked many high court battles over the years on which side can do what, most recently in Trump’s efforts to force states to crack down on illegal immigrants.

In a word, no.

INGAPORE | AFP | Monday 4/13/2020 - Here are the latest developments in Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:

ICMR study finds presence of ‘bat coronavirus’ in two Indian bat species

The federal government -specifically the Department of Health and Human Services and

infection.

“Medibot” is a 1.5 metre (five-foot) tall white robot that is mounted with a camera and screen via which patients can communicate remotely with medics.

- Papua problems The virus has sharpened distrust between Indonesia’s central government in Jakarta and its eastern-most province of Papua, while intensifying locals’ feelings of victimisation, according

President Donald Trump claims he has absolute power to force the states to ease social distancing in the coronavirus epidemic to help revive the battered economy (AFP Photo / Mandel Ngan)

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- also has the power to declare quarantines in states and localities to battle epidemics, under the 1944 Public Health Service Act. But in the COVID-19 emer-

gency, it has been the governors and mayors across the country who have been the main drivers of distancing policies, issuing their own orders to close schools and businesses, implementing local curfews and requiring the wearing of masks.

to a report from think-tank the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict.

The pandemic, combined with a worsening in a long-running separatist insurgency, has increased the number of vulnerable people in the province, according to the Jakarta-based think-tank.

- Japan PM video sparks online mockery Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has appeared in a video playing with

his dog and watching TV as part of efforts to encourage Japanese people to stay at home, but was attacked online with many using the hashtag “Who do you think you are?”.

In the video posted online, Abe cuddled a miniature dachshund, sipped a drink from a mug, read a book and watched TV with a message saying “You cannot see your friends. You cannot go drinking. But such actions by everyone are definitely saving many lives”.

VOICE OF ASIA 4

Section 2

Family Health

Email: voiceasia@aol.com

How to Flatten the Corona Curve?

Prof. Samba Reddy.

by Dr. Samba Reddy

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OUSTON- (April 9, 2020). In these trying times, with the COVID-19 situation changing daily, everyone should be vigilant to thwart the Corona infection and minimize its risk at all levels.

One question making rounds in many people’s minds is whether the country is about to hit the “peak” for cases of COVID-19. That kind of rapid surge tends to start in a few “hotspot” regions because of

rapid community transmission and limited mitigation. The peaks are associated with dire consequences to the population, much like the situations in Italy, Spain, USA, China, and other countries.

To avoid these devastating peaks, communities are looking to “flatten the curve” in newly-emerging hot spots. The goal is to keep the number of cases more spread out and consistent over time, so that healthcare systems do not get overwhelmed with too many cases at once. Plus, a flatter curve allows more time to formulate better treatment strategies. According to top experts, proper mitigation plans can flatten the curve, including: (1) testing and quarantine; and (2) social distancing to stop the spread.

Draconian mitigation measures, such as total lockdown

of hotspots or even entire regions and strict implementation of health advisory (stay home, good hygiene, etc.), can most effectively stop transmission and help flatten the curve. Public awareness, cooperation, and medical preparation are critical to achieve these goals, as per the scientific advice on Corona curve.

We need to learn from the experience of other hotspots. The metropolitan Wuhan, the original epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in China, was sealed off totally for 76 days to contain the outbreak. While reported numbers are disputed, after implementing these measures, very few new cases were reported afterwards. This is also evident in California’s bold efforts with ‘stay home’ which appear to be working to flatten the curve, as compared to New York.

A coordinated effort of the government and public is essential to flattening the curve. This

is a paradigm shift for rapid control of the infection, like in South Korea. Strong, competent advice can make all the difference in flattening the curve.

The emphasis on flattening the curve greatly reduces the impending surge, protecting health care providers and facilitating access to critical medical and essential services. A simple way to contribute to this goal is to always wear a mask when outside.

Even people without symptoms may still carry the virus and account for a significant amount of transmission, which can be partially protected against by wearing a mask. Keep in mind, however, that a mask alone does not offer complete protection because there are other methods of infection. This is why social distancing and good hygiene are critical for reducing the spread of the virus.

Social distancing, alongside

other health practices like washing hands and wearing masks, can actually save live. These practices also help protect the people in our community who are on the front lines of this battle, like security personnel and healthcare workers. As we learned from Italy and USA, the total number of confirmed cases is lower than the total actual cases because of limited testing. Thus, prevention efforts can have exponential effects far beyond that of a single spread.

Preventing even one infection can mean avoiding dozens or even hundreds of infections later on; these savings can accumulate and eventually stop the outbreak in its tracks.

So far, the coronavirus has resulted in serious injury in about 15% of cases and death in about 5%, according to the latest reports, making it one of the deadliest viruses in human history. This “mahammari-like” virus cannot thrive without live

human cells, so the best way to kill this virus is to stop it from spreading to new cells. If anyone is suspected of symptoms, temporarily quarantine suspects until test results come back. Although emotions like fear and panic are understandable at this time, maintain hope and resilience during this crisis.

Ultimately, if we follow recommendations well, we will make a difference for many. If we stop trying, we will fail. So, for flattening the curve, please stay home and stop the spread.

Eleven days later, they discovered the patient had covid-19, and 121 staff had been exposed to the virus, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on the case.

Of the 43 staffers who subsequently experienced flu-like symptoms and were tested with nasal swabs, three had confirmed infections — making them among the first known cases of occupational transmission in a hospital. While two of those three workers were involved in higher-risk procedures that tend to kick the virus into the air, the third was not.

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Tel: 713-774-5140

CMS encourages Medicare Advantage Insurance Plans to remove barriers to COVID-19 care

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he CMS has encouraged Medicare Advantage plans to eliminate or reduce cost-sharing for their members affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Medicare Advantage, the private alternative to the traditional Medicare program, serves roughly 22 million seniors and disabled adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions are at a higher risk of becoming very sick from COVID-19.

The CMS issued information that outlines the flexibilities Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans have to waive requirements to “help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Plans may waive or reduce cost-sharing for coronavirus tests and treatments delivered in doctor’s offices, emergency departments or via telehealth, the agency said. They may also remove prior authorization requirements, lift limits on prescription refills, relax restrictions on home delivery of prescription drugs, and expand access to certain telehealth services, according to the memo.

“These waivers break down barriers to beneficiaries accessing care and allow plans to work with pharmacies and providers to treat patients without burdensome requirements limiting their options during this outbreak,” the CMS said in a news release announcing the guidance.

Medicare has previously said it would cover a vaccine for COVID-19 if one becomes available.

Though the steps outlined by the CMS are voluntary, many health insurers have already pledged to eliminate out-ofpocket costs for tests and telehealth visits for their members affected by coronavirus, including Medicare Advantage enrollees. Some have gone farther by promising to waive cost-sharing for the related doctor’s visit.

Also in the guidance, the CMS outlined special requirements for health insurers in states that have declared a state of emergency. So far, at least eight states have done so. Medicare Advantage insurers in those states must immediately cover Medicare Parts A, B and C benefits at out-of-network facilities and provide the same cost-sharing for the plan member as if the service had been provided at an in-network facility. Plans also must waive requirements for referrals, the CMS said.

Further, Medicare will pay doctors and hospitals for a broad range of telehealth services on a temporary basis, effective March 6. The program will pay for office and hospital telehealth visits and include a wide range of providers including nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists and social workers. Telehealth visits will be reimbursed for the same amount as in-person visits.

“These services can also be provided in a variety of settings, including nursing homes, hospital outpatient departments and more,” CMS Administrator Seema Verma said.

HHS will also temporarily relax some HIPAA requirements to allow doctors to provide telehealth services with their person-

Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900

al phones and use enforcement discretion related to copays “so that cost won’t be a barrier,” Verma said. HHS’ Office for Civil Rights will allow providers to deliver telehealth services for any diagnostic or treatment purpose, even it’s unrelated to COVID-19, so long as they do so “in good faith.”

“Providers are encouraged to notify patients that these third-party applications potentially introduce privacy risks, and providers should enable all available encryption and privacy modes when using such applications,” HHS’ Office for Civil Rights said in a notice. Source: Modern Health Care and CMS To choose right Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Supplement plan, Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or any other health care coverage contact Sudhir Mathuria-713-771-2900

Diseases shoot up as national security concern to Americans

The author, Dr. Samba Reddy, is a reputed medical scientist in Texas.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization with which he is affiliated.

L

can health-care workers with covid-19 has spiraled upward ever since. About 9,000 have had positive coronavirus tests as of April 9, according to a separate CDC analysis released Tuesday that provides an early snapshot of infections in healthcare workers across the country. They are mostly white, female and in their 40s, the report found. Although most were not sick enough to be hospitalized, 27 died, the CDC said. As with the rest of the U.S. population, most of the deaths occurred among those age 65 or older.

These numbers are believed to be a gross undercount of infections due to the continuing lack of available tests in many areas.

Some regions and institutions are no longer testing health-care

------------------------------

More than 9,000 U.S. health-care workers have been infected with the coronavirus OS ANGELES, CA - A patient with respiratory issues arrived Feb. 15 at a hospital in Solano County, Calif. It was a different time — before social distancing, masks and lockdowns. During a four-day hospital stay, doctors, nurses and other workers interacted with the person and performed multiple aerosol-generating procedures without special protective gear.

www.voiceofasia.news

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

workers, reserving kits for the sickest patients.

The Solano patient’s story shows the sheer number of people involved in a single patient’s care and the web of interactions in a hospital that makes social distancing all but impossible.

In this case, those tested included 22 nurses, four respiratory therapists, four phlebotomists, three nursing assistants, three physicians, three environmental service workers, two nutrition services workers and one pharmacist.

The CDC noted that of the three who became infected, two had “frequent, close contact with the index patient.” These two were considered at high risk. One was present for three

Medical workers push an empty stretcher after delivering a body from the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center to a refrigerated truck on April 2, 2020 in New York. (AFP Photo/Angela Weiss)

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ASHINGTON | AFP | 4/13/2020 - Americans are more likely to consider infectious diseases a top national threat than any other issue, a sharp upturn as the coronavirus pandemic rattles the world, a survey said Monday.

The Pew Research Center found that 79 percent described the spread of infectious diseases as a major threat to the United States, edging out the 73 percent who said the same about terrorism or the spread of nuclear weapons.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed perceptions dramatically. Only 52 percent ranked

hours while the patient was on a breathing machine. The other participated in placing the machine and in intubating the patient.

“Neither wore a facemask, respirator, eye protection, or gown,” according to the report.

The third staff member, considered to be at medium risk, had close contact with the patient for two hours and wore a face mask and gloves but removed the mask sometimes to speak.

infectious disease as a major threat in 2014 when Pew asked the question amid the Ebola outbreak in Africa, which was quickly contained in the United States.

A number of experts have already predicted that the new coronavirus will alter priorities for US national security and academia, much like the September 11, 2001 attacks brought an overwhelming focus on terrorism and the Islamic world.

Pew, which surveyed 1,000 Americans, found that concerns about infectious disease crossed partisan and generational lines.

Seventy-seven percent of

Americans who support or lean toward President Donald Trump’s Republican Party viewed infectious diseases as a serious concern, only slightly below the 82 percent of Democrats who said likewise.

The gap was massive when asked about climate change, which 88 percent of Democrats saw as a major threat as opposed to only 31 percent of Republicans.

The survey was based on telephone interviews conducted from March 3-27 and had a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.

The report does not offer any hypotheses for why the 38 other staffers considered high or medium risk were not infected.

The patient was subsequently transferred to another hospital for care, where she was on a ventilator until receiving a positive test result for covid-19.

None of the 146 health-care workers who interacted with the person at the second hospital were infected at the time.

“These findings underscore

the heightened covid-19 transmission risk associated with prolonged, unprotected patient contact,” wrote the CDC, which also called for early recognition and prompt isolation of patients who are infected.

These measures are crucial to protect and “preserve the health care workforce in the face of an outbreak already straining the U.S. health care system,” the CDC report said.

- Washington Post

VOICE OF ASIA 5

COMMUNITY

Harris County Sheriff’s of- Coronavirus: Indian fice confirmed COVID-19 Consulate in Houston cases reaches 76 helps stranded Indians

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OUSTON - (April 13, 2020 – The number of Harris County) Sheriff’s Office employees diagnosed with coronavirus has climbed to 76 as long-awaited test results begin arriving.

Most of those testing positive – 63 – are employees who work in the Harris County Jail. Three HCSO employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalized.

There are currently 252 Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies, detention officers and support staff on quarantine for possible COVID-19 exposure. Three of these employees are currently in the hospital. The Sheriff’s Office has now seen 108 previously quarantined employees return to duty. Seventy Sheriff’s Office employees have been tested, but are still awaiting results. Thirty-five employees have received negative test results.

Test results for dozens of jail inmates who have been in quarantine with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 are now in, as well. These tests have con firmed that a total of 46 inmates are positive for the virus. These inmates were already in quarantine because of their symptoms.

The number of inmates in observational quarantine – meaning they have no symptoms but may have been exposed to the virus – now stands at 1,592.

The Sheriff’s Office is working with Harris County Public Health to identify co-workers, inmates, and members of the public who may have had close contact with the diagnosed employees so they can take necessary precautions, including quarantine and testing for those with symptoms.

All jail employees have been issued protective masks and are instructed to wear them while on duty. All inmates have also been issued masks. Regular temperature checks are performed daily on all employees as they report for duty. Other measures taken in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 among Sheriff’s

Office staff and inmates include: • Early isolation of arrestees with COVID-1 9 symptoms entering the jail at intake • Masking all arrestees at JPC jail intake • 7-day “buffer isolation” of all new inmates prior to releasing to general population • Social distancing of inmates (as much as possible), detention staff, and medical staff, even in break rooms • Increased availability of soap, water, and hand sanitizer • Increased frequency of facility sanitization efforts • Increased cleaning supplies provided for inmate use • Inmate education at the Joint Processing Center screening on mask wearing, social distancing, and frequent hand washing • Suspended fees for inmate sick call requests • Aggressive quarantining of a tank when an inmate is moved to isolation for COVID 19 symptoms • Daily temperature screenings of worker inmates prior to leaving their tanks • Examining ways to reduce inmate move ment • Replacing live meetings to conference calls • Holding court hearings via video • Implementing video inmate visitation • Temperature screening all inmates released from jail • Homeless screening all inmates leaving jail for hotel or shelter placement • Screening homeless inmates with COVID-19 symptoms and placing them COVID-19 hotels • Advising all inmates to go home and self-quarantine for 14 days after they leave jail • All inmates are wearing masks upon jail discharge and have COVID-19 discharge instructions and resources

Mayor Turner designates arts funding to support artists Thirteen service organizations join forces on relief fund

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OUSTON - In response to the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is adding $25,000 of restricted arts funding to programs to support artists and others affected by the public health crisis..

our help. HAA’s new disaster resilience program gives us a much-needed way to organize local fundraising and leverage our existing grant making system for this part of our response.”

To ensure the greatest impact for the Greater Houston Area Grants from the Greater Hous- arts community, the following ton Area Arts Relief Fund will organizations are partnering tohelp artists and arts workers who gether on the Fund: lost wages and opportunities as a result of COVID-19.

City of Houston’s Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs ♦ The Fund is housed at the Dance Source Houston ♦ East Houston Arts Alliance (HAA), End Cultural District ♦ 5th Ward a 501(c)(3) public charity, and Cultural Arts District ♦ Fresh local arts agency under contract Arts/Arts District Houston ♦ with the Mayor’s Office of Cul- Galveston Historical Foundatural Affairs (MOCA). Tax-de- tion ♦ Houston Arts Alliance ductible contributions to the Re- ♦ Houston First Corporation lief Fund can be made by going ♦ Houston Museum District ♦ to bit.ly/GHAAReliefFund.

Mid-America Arts Alliance’s Engage Houston ♦ Midtown “Artists and the cultural com- Cultural District ♦ Theater Dismunity are deeply woven into trict Houston ♦ University of the fabric of Houston—they Houston, the Kathrine G. Mcgive our city its soul,” said May- Govern College of the Arts or Sylvester Turner. “They were among the first to cancel events This is the first of several and gatherings to help protect opportunities that will be anresidents from COVID-19, and nounced over the coming weeks many have stepped forward in to accelerate art projects in reresponse to the crisis with virtu- sponse to the economic crisis al programs to promote critical caused by the COVID-19 emersocial distancing and by making gency. MOCA recently invited protective masks.” artists to submit qualifications to be considered for commisArtists often function as sions for the new Alief Comself-employed workers doing munity Center and in an earlier commissioned projects, freelance message, MOCA urged the cregigs and contract work for indi- ative sector to take immediate vidual patrons, art and cultural steps to secure federal aid. nonprofits and for-profit businesses. Like other self-employed Residents and families can workers and small businesses, find more information about they are a particularly vulnerable COVID-19 related resources group during times of crisis. and financial assistance at houstonrecovers.org/covid19.

“Artists and arts workers are uniquely able to help Houston by MOCA grants are funded providing entertainment, respite, through a portion of the Hotel and a kind of therapy,” said Deb- Occupancy Tax that is dedicatbie McNulty, Mayor’s Office of ed to the arts. For more informaCultural Affairs director. “The tion about the Mayor’s Office of city needs their creativity now Cultural affairs go to www.Houmore than ever, and they need CityArt.org

by Seema Hakhu Kachru

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OUSTON, April 10, 2020 (PTI) There are no evacuation plans by India at this point as some believe, said Aseem Mahajan, the Indian Consul-General in Houston.

The Indian consulate here has come to the rescue of stranded Indians in America amidst the coronavirus pandemic and the resultant lockdown in many countries.

The sudden cancellation of commercial flights to India and other parts of the world has left several Indian students, business travellers and family visitors stranded in many U.S. states.

The Consulate General of India here, which looks after the Indo-U.S. diplomatic matters in the American states of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, has been providing them support.

The consulate has been responding to the flood of inquiries and providing assistance.

However, there are no evacuation plans by India at this point as some believe. There are no flights going to India till April 14 and things may change depending on the situation, Aseem Mahajan, the Indian Consul-General in Houston, told PTI. Those stranded are facing problems like lack of boarding and lodging and medical issues.

Some students had to vacate college dorms and are struggling to

find food and shelter because of limited resources and no flights to return to India. Their parents are equally worried and have been continuously contacting the consulate for help, he said.

Online classes Mr. Mahajan urged the students to stay positive and focus on their studies as all schools have resumed classes online.

Many universities are providing all possible help to students. They have been put up in residence halls with access to dining services and campuses are secure, he said.

Some Indians, including researchers and project engineers, on a short visit to the U.S., were scheduled to return after their project completion but are stranded now and facing visa issues. Others visiting their aged parents, with pre-existing health issues, are facing difficulty procuring medications as their Indian prescription does not work here,” Mr. Mahajan said.

He said various private bodies such as the American Association of Physicians of Indian Orgin are offering medical consultations.

Globally, over 1.5 million people have been infected so far by the coronavirus and the fatalities stands at nearly 95,000. The United States accounts for nearly 30% of the all the COVID-19 positive cases and over 17% of all fatalities.

In the U.S., the virus has claimed over 16,000 lives and infected over 4,60,000 people

Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge provide extension in response to COVID-19 Application deadline extended for college scholarships and school grants from American Heart Association’s school-based programs

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ALLAS, April 14, 2020 – The American Heart Association has extended the deadline for individual scholarships and school grants offered through Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge to June 30. As schools nationwide moved to remote learning, the American Heart Association’s traditional inschool youth programs also went virtual. The scholarship extension affords applicants additional time to complete the new virtual program and meet eligibility criteria.

“The American Heart Association is deeply grateful for the role our educators play in shaping future generations by providing a strong foundation of health and physical activity through the Kids Heart Challenge or American Heart Challenge,” said Kim Slone, executive vice president of development and community health for the American Heart Association. “With many schools adjusting to closures and remote learning, this application extension allows our participating schools and educators the additional time needed to submit their grant requests which support their efforts to have a lasting health impact with students and local communities.”

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, engages 1 million students through Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge to change the course of heart disease and stroke by teaching physical and emotional well-being and community service while funding critical research.

American Heart Challenge scholarship for high school students: The American Heart Challenge awards 15 $1,000 college scholarships for high school juniors and seniors who completed the program and demonstrate exemplary leadership and commitment to physical and emotional well-being. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria: current high school junior or senior, demonstrated leadership skills within their school’s 2019-2020 American Heart Challenge event and

passion for impacting community health. Applications require a letter of support from their American Heart Challenge advisor. Students can apply at www. heart.org/scholarship.

Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge grants for schools: The Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs offers $400,000 in grants to support physical activity and emotional well-being programs for students and teachers. The funds are used for equipment and supplies needed to establish or enhance wellness opportunities on school campus. All schools that participate in the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge (middle school) are eligible to apply for up to $3,500. Participating schools will receive grant application link upon completion of their Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge program.

Scholarship and grant recipients will be announced on August 19, 2020.

Kids Heart Challenge supports elementary age students while the American Heart Challenge engages middle and high school students. In response to COVID-19, both school programs transitioned to virtual events to assist parents and educators with solutions to help keep kids connected in a safe way to reduce stress and anxiety, that can happen while away from friends and school. The turnkey online campaign, Kick Cabin Fever to the Curb, includes two weeks of home activities, recipes and tips for parents to prioritize mental health and physical activity.

Active kids learn better. When kids are active, they focus more, think more clearly, react to stress more calmly and perform and behave better in -and out- of school. The US Department of Health and Human Services’ latest Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans show that kids ages 6 to 17 who are physically active improve cognitive function and have heathier weight, lower cardiovascular risk and fewer symptoms of depression.

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

US allows visa extension for H-1B visa holders, tourists The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that given the immigration related-challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, non-immigrants could apply for an extension of stay (EOS) or change of status (COS) permit. The move would also benefit Indian tourists on B1/B2 visas who are unable to fly back home.

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ASHINGTON, Apr 14, 2020, PTI - Indian IT engineers working in the United States whose H-1B visas are due to expire can extend their stay for up to eight months by applying for a visa extension because of the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent travel restrictions.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that given the immigration related-challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, non-immigrants could apply for an extension of stay (EOS) or change of status (COS) permit.

The move would also benefit Indian tourists on B1/B2 visas who are unable to fly back home.

“Non-immigrants generally do not accrue unlawful presence while the timely-filed, non-frivolous EOS/COS application is pending,” United States Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a media release on Monday. “Where applicable, employment authorisation with the same employer, subject to the same terms and conditions of the prior approval, is automatically extended for up to 240 days after I-94 expiration when an extension of stay request is filed on time.”

Indian software industry body Nasscom, which has been lobbying for more flexibility around immigration policies, however, said the memo merely restates existing policy and does not offer any special Covid-19 relief for non-immigrants seeking a change or extension of stay.

“The ‘up to’ is meant to carry the person through the adjudication of his/her extension petition. This is the current policy,” said Shivendra Singh, vice president, global trade, at Nasscom.

“In those cases where the visa expired and the above criteria were not met, the guidance does not provide any relief per se. It does instead say that the agency has discretionary authority that it may decide to exercise on a caseby-case basis. In other words, the sponsor must file a detailed petition explaining the circumstances and requesting relief in the form of an extension and no penalties. This would be done on a case-by-case basis. There is no blanket relief,” he said.

Immigration lawyers said the visa extension should have happened automatically instead of requiring an additional application, considering the current circumstances.

Nandini Nair, an immigration attorney with Greenspoon Marder, said in case the application was not filed in time, then the applicant would have to submit ‘credible evidence’ as to the delay in filing.

The move would also come as a relief to immigrants in the US who may have recently lost their jobs as it buys them additional time to look for alternative employment in the US. Currently, Indians account for two-thirds of H-1B visas.

“Nonimmigrants generally do not accrue unlawful presence while the timely-filed, non-frivolous EOS/COS application is pending. Where applicable, employment authorization with the same employer, subject to the same terms and conditions of the prior approval, is automatically extended for up to 240 days after I-94 expiration when an extension of stay request is filed on time,” said the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in a media release on Monday.

Industry body NASSCOM which has been lobbying for more flexibility for H-1B visa holders said that the memo merely restates existing policy and does not offer any special Covid relief for non-immigrants seeking a change or extension of stay. “The “up to” is meant to carry the person through the adjudication of his/her extension petition. This is the current policy,” said Shivendra Singh, VO, Global Trade, NASSCOM. “In those cases where the visa expired and the above criteria were not met, the guidance does not provide any relief per se. It does instead say that the agency has discretionary authority that it may decide to exercise on a case-by-case basis. In other words, the sponsor must file a detailed petition explaining the circumstances and requesting relief in the form of an extension and no penalties. This would be done on a case-by-case basis.

There is no blanket relief.”

Immigration lawyers said that while this move was welcome, the visa extension should have happened automatically instead of requiring an additional application. Nandini Nair, an immigration attorney with Greenspoon Marder said that in case the application was not filed in time, then the applicant would have to submit ‘credible evidence’ as to the delay in filing.

US Indian diaspora stands in solidarity with India on the fight against COVID-19

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ndian American Communities have expressed their solidarity with Prime Minister Modi in India’s fight against COVID-19. Close to 200 Indian American organizations including national, regional, ethnic, cultural, religious, foundations and more have expressed their solidarity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his government’s proactive initiatives to curb the COVID-19 spread in India.

save precious human life”.

Additionally, they wrote, “we would especially like to commend the mammoth efforts of the Indian government and states working cohesively under the able leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji for the wide-ranging and timely measures to address this issue and to alleviate the inevitable hardship that they will endure during this time of lockdown. We salute the citizens of The deadly Coronavirus pan- India for your fortitude, patience, demic is having devastating ef- discipline, and social consciousfects worldwide. It is creating ness at this testing time”. pressure on families, communities, and businesses in unpreceThese organizations have apdented ways and at an unprece- pealed to the people of India to dented scale. continue to keep their faith and trust, keep strong, and follow the The Indian Diaspora organi- advice and guidance of Prime zations representing millions Minister Modi during these testof people of Indian origin from ing times. the US wrote, “We salute the efforts of all those individuals who They said, “all of us in the along with international organi- USA and the rest of the world zations; national governments; share in the suffering and stand and private, public and social united in our resolve to see the sector organizations are working world through this crisis for a tirelessly often at a huge person- brighter and better tomorrow”. al risk to tackle this crisis and

VOICE OF ASIA 6

Fort Bend View

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

Sugar Land, Katy, Stafford, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg and Meadows Place Email: voiceasia@aol.com

www.voiceofasia.news

Tel: 713-774-5140

Sewa International to have weekly Fort Bend ISD students not returning to distribution of masks and hand sanitizer in in-person classrooms for rest of year Houston, Fort Bend, hospitals and other areas

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ICHMOND, April 14, 2020 - Fort Bend ISD students won’t be returning to their in-person classrooms this school year, according to the district.

Students will continue their online classes for the remainder of the year, said Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre on Tuesday. He also said graduations for the class of 2020 will be postponed until July.

“We have built systems and structures to deliver learning online for the time being, and

while we recognize this system is not perfect, we believe it will allow us to successfully complete the year while we focus on our planning for the reopening of school in August and re-strategizing to make up for any lost learning in the current year,” said Dupre in a statement.

The district previously said they were considering handing out diplomas on May 28, the last day of school.

The district also told ABC13 it’s trying to help seniors get their transcripts for college or

Fort Bend ISD names 2020 District Teachers of the Year

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Sewa International’s Houston chapter team distributing gloves and hand sanitizer.

by Nikhil Jain

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fter distributing 30,000 masks, 3,000 gloves and 135 gallons of hand sanitizer across the nation in its effort to help the community during the COVID19 pandemic, Sewa International’s Houston chapter will be donating a significant number of Masks & Hand Sanitizer to several local Hospitals, Caregivers, First Responders and Emergency personnel. This drive-through distribution in the parking lot of Sewa International’s office located in West Oaks Mall will happen every Saturday, starting April 18th. Organizations & agencies interested in receiving should text their email ID to 281 909 7392 so that they can be sent the request form.

Recipients of PPE’s include doctors at MD Anderson, Fort Bend County, Alief ISD, Hospice Cares, Sheriff Office of various counties and other agencies. J.W. Caldwell, Deputy Chief - Command Operations of Waller County Constable Department Pct.3 said, “On behalf of Constable Herschel C. Smith, and the deputies and civilians of Waller county, please allow me to begin by expressing our most sincere thanks and gratitude for Sewa International’s overly generous contributions to those of us so desperately in need during this pandemic.”

Sewa International has established the first of its kind US National Registry for Plasma Donors/ Recipients. As of today, the Sewa Plasma Registry (www.sewacovidplasma.org ) is the only 24/7 service that offers a national registry for both donors and recipients under the Convalescent Plasma Therapy program with live phone and social media support. The first donor who came forward in Houston was from the efforts made by their local team.

Sewa International is also operating helpline, 281 909 SEWA (7392). for non-medical related issues. So far, it has addressed 300 calls since the operation began in early March. Sewa International has delivered more than 2000 meals to the First responders with the help of its food partners. It continues to conduct Education, Wellness & Awareness Webinars on a regular basis. Past week they had a Q & A with Consul General of India Mr. Aseem Mahajan and with Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls, both of them addressed questions & concerns from the community members. Sewa Sankalp movement, which is about partnering with

Gloves and 135 gallons of hand sanitizer donated by Sewa being received at various centers.

ORT BEND ISD, April 13, 2020 - Fort Bend ISD is proud to announce the 2020 FBISD Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year. This morning, Board President Jason Burdine and Superintendent Dr. Charles E. Dupre surprised both teachers during virtual campus staff meetings. Kelly Stavinoha of Madden Elementary is the 2020 District Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Janet Menzie of Clements High School is the 2020 District Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Kelly Stavinoha is the STEM outclass teacher at Madden Elementary. He believes it’s important to prepare our next generation of scientists, programmers, engineers, and mathematicians from a young age.

Stavinoha understands that every one of his students may not have a career in STEM, but the challenges in his STEM class teaches them grit and determination. He knows that all teachers can make a life-long impact on their students.

Janet Menzie serves as the head choir director for Clements High School. Her goal as an educator is to prepare her students to have a productive and meaningful adulthood. Menzie understands that many of her students will not pursue a music degree in college, but her hope is that they will find a place to continue their passion for singing. It is important to her that they use the lessons they have learned in the choir program to express themselves and work hard for their goals and dreams.

The two honorees will advance to the regional Teacher of the Year competition, with an opportunity to advance to the Texas Teacher of the Year Program. Fort Bend ISD will announce plans to honor all the Teachers of the Year when the District returns to normal operating procedures.

Congratulations to all of the 2020 Teacher of the Year finalists!

District Elementary TOY Finalists: Bonnie Gommel, Neill Elementary Manuel Lagos, Jones Elementary

J.W. Caldwell, Deputy Chief - Command Operations of Waller County Constable Department Pct.3 receiving PPE.

organizations to provide a combined response to this situation, is also in full swing. Nationally, 200+ organizations have signed

up for this Details can be viewed at sewausa.org/sewasankalpa.

the military so they can continue with their lives.

Meanwhile, FBISD said it’s in the process of scheduling dates at the Smart Financial Center for graduation, which will be announced “in the very near future,” according to the district.

“High school campus principals will be sharing information about end of year events for seniors, including information about refunds for cancelled events,” said Dupre.

- KTRK-TV, Channel 13

Katy ISD Named “2020 Best Communities for Music Education”

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Kelly Stavinoha Madden Elementary Elementary Teacher of the Year

Janet Menzie Clements High School Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Paige Parker, Ridgemont Early Literacy Center Meagan Rebler, Walker Station Elementary Nidhi Rehman, Quail Valley Elementary District Secondary TOY Finalists: Blair Bedner, Sugar Land Middle School Emory Blackmon, First Colony Middle School Geordie Daniel, Garcia Middle School Lowell Edkins, Ridge Point High School Jana Roberds, Thornton Middle School

ATY, April 13, 2019 – It has been a historical year of nominations and awards for the Katy Independent School District.

For the past 16 years, Katy ISD has received the “Best Communities for Music Education” designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Of NAMM’s 21 years of announcing the recognition, the District has been awarded the designation 18 times total.

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is presented to districts that demonstrate outstanding efforts by school communities in supporting music education as part of the school district’s core curriculum.

This year, NAMM Foundation recognized 724 school districts and 98 individual schools.

“No matter what type of music you like, playing or listening to music has its benefits for our students, such as brain development, increasing human connections and even helping to relieve stress,” said Katy ISD Executive Director of Fine Arts Mike Ouellette.

“Our Katy ISD fine arts educators continually demonstrate an outstanding achievement in their efforts to provide music access,” added Ouellette.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Katy ISD answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs.

Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed

by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Fort Bend ISD to hold virtual All Star Talent Draft as it seeks top talent for the 2020-21 school year

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ORT BEND ISD, April 14, 2020 – Fort Bend ISD will hold its seventh annual All Star Talent Draft in a virtual format this month, as it continues to prepare for the 202021 school year.

The District is committed to attracting the very best talent to join its team and has openings for teachers, campus and District administrators, paraprofessionals, auxiliary support and central office staff.

Each year, Fort Bend ISD’s All Star Talent Draft offers prospective candidates a chance to meet face-to-face with District and school leaders in a fun and engaging atmosphere. However, due to the District’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event will take place in an innovative virtual format.

“While the current situation prevents us from holding an in-person event, I am proud to

work with a Human Resources team that is forward thinking,” said FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre.

“And I am thrilled that our leaders will still have the ability to identify and hire the best and brightest candidates to join our team that is dedicated to providing an exemplary education for our nearly 79,000 students.”

Applicants who register before Wednesday, April 22 may be invited to participate in video interviews with school and District leaders and departments.

Interested applicants should register for the virtual event at https://groupmatics.events/ event/2020FBISD.

VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

US/WORLD

Trump says OPEC+ planning to cut production 20mn bpd

G7 favors debt standstill for poorest countries, if G20 agrees

ASHINGTON | AFP | 4/13/2020 - Top global oil producers are considering cutting production by 20 million barrels per day under the terms of a deal to boost prices, US President Donald Trump said on Monday.

ASHINGTON | AFP | Tuesday 4/14/2020 - The Group of Seven advanced nations favors a temporary halt to debt payments from the world’s poorest countries, but only if G20 governments also agree, G7 finance ministers said Tuesday.

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Trump, who took credit for brokering the deal, said the agreement was bigger than expected and will help the energy industry recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Having been involved in the negotiations, to put it mildly, the number that OPEC+ is looking to cut is 20 Million Barrels a day, not the 10 Million that is generally being reported,” Trump tweeted.

“Thank you to all of those who worked with me on getting this very big business back on track, in particular Russia and Saudi Arabia.”

Oil prices have been hammered by a slump in global economic activity caused by the pandemic, as well as a price war between Saudi Arabia and

President Donald Trump said the OPEC+ agreement to cut production was bigger than expected. (AFP Photo/Jim Watson)

Russia.

Top producers have been inching towards a deal for days, with an agreement announced on Friday and Trump saying he would help Mexico, which had resisted cutting production, meet its end of the deal.

OPEC producers dominated

by Saudi Arabia and allies led

Amazon fills 100k jobs, will add 75,000 more

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ASHINGTON | AFP | Monday 4/13/2020 - Amazon said Monday it had filled the 100,000 US jobs it promised a month ago to meet demands from the coronavirus outbreak, and was ready to take on 75,000 more.

The announcement by the technology and retail colossus highlighted surging demand for online commerce with the pandemic forcing people to shelter in place.

Amazon’s hiring spree, which is being mirrored by other firms in food and retail sectors, comes amid news that US unemployment claims surged by some 17 million over the past month.

“Today, we are proud to announce that our original 100,000 jobs pledge is filled and those new employees are working at sites across the US helping to serve customers,” Amazon said in a blog post.

“We continue to see increased demand as our teams support their communities, and are going to continue to hire, creating an additional 75,000 jobs to help serve customers during this unprecedented time.”

The company began the year with nearly 800,000 full- and part-time workers, in addition to contractors used for some delivery services.

Amazon said it would welcome people furloughed during the crisis on a temporary basis until they can get their old jobs back.

As it faces unprecedented demand, Amazon has also faced protests at its warehouses and stores where workers face risks due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

Amazon’s announcement last month was followed by Walmart’s move to add 150,000 workers and delivery service Instacart’s seeking 300,000 contract workers.

Russia braces for worst as coronavirus spreads to hinterland

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OSCOW, Russia | AFP | Tuesday 4/14/2020 - Russia has been seeing an increase in coronavirus infections despite a series of confinement measures, prompting President Vladimir Putin to warn of “extraordinary” scenarios.

Here are five things to know about the epidemic in Russia: - Where is the virus spreading? Moscow, with a population of more than 12 million people, is the coronavirus epicentre in Russia and has so far reported just over 13,000 cases out of the nationwide tally of 21,102.

The Moscow region, where many of those working in the capital live, has registered a much higher than average rate of infection, with 36 percent of new cases on Monday against a national average of about 16 percent.

Consumer health watchdog chief Anna Popova warned that infections in Russia’s regions were spreading through hotspots, over half of them in healthcare facilities.

Clinics have become the main spreaders in the northern Komi republic, which has reported one of the highest per capita rates in the country. Komi governor resigned this month amid accusations that he had failed to contain the outbreak.

- Putin concerned President Vladimir Putin, who initially insisted the contagion was “under control”, on Monday warned that Russia should be ready for “the most compli-

cated and extraordinary” scenarios.

Since the start of the outbreak, the Kremlin chief has addressed the public several times, urging Russians to stay at home but telling their employers to continue paying their salaries without giving the companies any support.

He acknowledged on Tuesday that the lockdown was a “shock” to industries and said more anti-crisis measures were needed.

- Measures taken In an effort to battle the epidemic, the government has mobilised additional healthcare workers, recruiting medical school teachers, researchers and post-graduate medical students and providing 1.1 million medics with additional online courses.

Some 33 billion rubles ($449 million) has been allocated to preparing 95,000 additional hospital beds.

Russia reported having carried out 1.4 million coronavirus tests, becoming one of the “leading countries” in terms of people tested, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said.

Popova, the consumer health watchdog chief, has claimed the result is 98 percent accurate.

But some experts have voiced concern over the quality of the tests, with one senior doctor saying last week that up to 30 percent may return false negative results.

On Tuesday the health watch-

by Russia again met by videoconference on Sunday to cement the agreement.

Oil prices rose in Asian trading Monday but slipped back as markets closed, with traders fearing that the deal wouldn’t cut production enough to support prices and make up for lost demand.

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Noting that these countries face the most hardship in trying to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, the G7 members “stand ready to provide a timebound suspension on debt service payments” owed to their governments “if joined by all bilateral official creditors in the G20 and as agreed with the Paris Club.”

The G20 includes major emerging market economies like China and Russia.

The heads of the World Bank and the IMF took a first step toward putting such a standstill in place when they called for official creditors to suspend debt repayments from the very poor countries eligible for support from the World Bank Group’s International Development As-

New York governor says ‘worst is over’ as virus toll tops 10,000

Andrew Cuomo provided some positive news at his daily briefing on April 13, 2020, but warned New Yorkers that all the gains achieved through social distancing could be undone if “we do something stupid” and relax those restrictions too quickly. (AFP Photo)

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EW YORK | AFP | Monday 4/13/2020 - New York’s governor declared Monday that the “worst is over” for its coronavirus outbreak providing the state moves sensibly, despite reporting its death toll had passed 10,000.

Andrew Cuomo said lower average hospitalization rates and intubations suggested a “plateauing” of the epidemic and that he was working on a plan to gradually reopen the economy.

“I believe we can now start on the path to normalcy,” Cuomo told reporters, warning though that the outbreak could get worse again if confinement measures are lifted too quickly.

The governor announced that 671 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in America’s hardest-hit state to 10,056.

It was the lowest single-day toll in New York since April 5.

The highest of 799 was reported on Thursday of last week.

dog was due to begin testing Moscow healthcare workers for antibodies to the coronavirus.

- Economic consequences The lockdown could leave some eight million people jobless this year, warned Alexei Kudrin, head of the state Audit Chamber and a former finance minister.

A report called Coronacrisis-2020 published by a group of liberal Russian economists on Monday predicted that the country’s economy could shrink by up to nine percent this year.

Government support measures announced so far amounted to just 2.5 percent of the GDP and paled in comparison to those in Western countries, they said.

According to a study by the Center for Strategic Research, a think tank with links to the government, a third of surveyed companies have forced employees to go on unpaid leave. Nine percent expected to go bankrupt this year.

“The worst is over if we continue to be smart going forward,” said Cuomo, adding that he would speak to neighboring governors later on Monday to come up with a reopening plan.

He promised an announcement later in the day after speaking to his counterparts in New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

He said a reopening would be gradual, would involve easing isolation measures and could start with recalibrating who is an essential worker.

It would also require an increase in testing to monitor infection rates.

“This is a delicate balance,” Cuomo said.

“It’s not going to be, we flip the switch, and everybody comes out of their house, gets in their car, waves and hugs each other, and the economy will start.”

“Do it carefully, do it slowly and do it intelligently,” he added, The governor described restarting New York’s shuttered economy as like “opening a valve,” and implored people to “do it carefully, do it slowly and do it intelligently.”

“If you see that infection rates start ticking up, which would be undermining everything we have accomplished thus far, then you know you’ve opened the valve too fast,” he said.

Cuomo encouraged New York’s 19.5 million inhabitants to continue to follow social distancing guidelines, saying “two or three days of reckless behavior” could set the fight against the pandemic back.

New York state -- the epicenter of the US outbreak -- accounts for almost half of the country’s 22,861 deaths, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The virus has particularly spread among Latino and African-American communities living in deprived neighborhoods where many residents work in service sectors and often lack comprehensive health insurance.

sociation.

Since then, it has become apparent that COVID-19 will deliver a debt shock for a broader set of countries, including

emerging markets unable to refinance their debt in the frozen credit markets, The Peterson Institute for International Economics reports.

Indian Consulate launches telemedicine, counselling service in UAE

A total of nine volunteer doctors are providing medical as well as psychological counselling.

by Dhanusha Gokulan

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UBAI, April 13, 2020 - The Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai has launched a telemedicine service for Indian expatriates seeking medical advice about the Covid19 coronavirus in the UAE.

“Starting April 13, Indian Consulate in Dubai is starting telemedicine consultation and counselling for Indian nationals from 9 am to 6 pm related to COVID19 coronavirus on the flowing numbers 054 3090 571 and 054 3090 572,” the CGI announced over Twitter.

Consulate officials said a to-

tal of nine volunteer doctors are providing medical as well as psychological counselling to distressed Indian expatriates.

Neeraj Agrawal Consul, Press, Information, and Culture told Khaleej Times a total of nine volunteer doctors are working in three separate shifts and will provide mostly Covid-19 related medical and psychological advice.

“Calls from people who are suffering from job-related stresses and anxieties are also encouraged to call,” said Agarwal.

- Gulf News

Coronavirus: Emirates extends validity of tickets up to 24 months Dubai-based airline offers ‘new options’ for passengers affected by COVID-19

by Sharmila Dhal, Assistant Editor, Gulf news

D

UBAI, April 13, 2020 Dubai-based Emirates airline has said that its passengers can extend the validity of their tickets up to 24 months from the date they have made their original bookings.

The advisory comes in the wake of “new options” announced for passengers affected

by COVID-19.

The policy announcement, available on its website, says, “We’d like you to know that you now have two new options that offer you the flexibility to fly with us again when you’re ready if you booked a ticket before May 31 for travel on or before August 31, 2020.”

Going into details on how the tickets can remain valid, the airline covers the following points: How can passengers keep their ticket for the future?

According to Emirates, passengers can choose to keep their ticket and the airline will extend its validity to 24 months from the date of original booking. The fare amount paid for the original booking will be accepted for any flight to the same destination/region* at any time with no fees during this period.

How does the ‘Keep your ticket’ option work?

Passengers don’t have to call the airline if they have a cancelled booking. “We’ve now extended the validity of your ticket for up to 24 months so you can just call us to reschedule your flight whenever you’re ready to travel again,” the airline says.

What do passengers need to do to select this option?

Passengers don’t need to do anything, the airline will keep the booking status as open and they can reschedule the flight whenever they are ready to travel again.

What is the “travel voucher”

option for?

Passengers can also convert their original booking into a travel voucher. The value of the travel voucher will be equivalent to the amount paid for your original booking. “We can only provide a travel voucher for the part of your booked itinerary that you have not completed,” says the airline.

“The travel voucher will be valid for one year from the date of issue, and you can use it for flights or other Emirates products and services up to its value and can be extended for another year,” it adds.

Can passengers use the travel voucher for other products and services?

“Yes, with the travel voucher, you convert the amount you paid for your ticket and any add-ons into credit for your future trips. You can also use it to pay for other Emirates services.

The travel voucher gives you the flexibility to make as many transactions as you need until you have completely used up its value,” says Emirates.

Can passengers change their destination with ‘Keep your ticket’ or a travel voucher?

Yes, they can change their destination with either options.

It will be valid for one year from the date it is issued and can be extended for another year.

The fare paid will be accepted for any flight to the same destination or within the same region. “For example, if your original booking was for London, you can rebook it for Amsterdam at no extra charges,” explains the airline.

Are there any change fees with either option?

There are no change fees when passngers rebook within the 24-month period either if they simply keep the ticket or with the travel voucher, so they have more flexibility for planning ahead.

VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

VOICE OF ASIA 9

ASIA/SOUTH ASIA

‘Starving’ Bangladesh garment workers protest for pay during lockdown

D

HAKA, Bangladesh | AFP | - Thousands of garment workers who produce items for top Western fast fashion brands protested against unpaid wages in Bangladesh’s streets Monday, saying they were more afraid of starving than contracting coronavirus.

Bangladesh’s apparel factories account for some 84 percent of the country’s $40 billion export sector, which is facing its worst crisis in decades after retailers including H&M, Walmart and Tesco cancelled orders because of the pandemic.

Protesting workers say many factories have not paid them after the orders were cut.

Workers shouted slogans such as “we want our wages” and “break the black hands of the owners” as they blocked roads despite a nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of the deadly disease.

“We are afraid of the coronavirus. We heard a lot of people are dying of this disease,” protesting worker Sajedul Islam, 21, told AFP. “But we don’t have any choice. We are starving. If we

N

Garment workers protested on Monday, saying factories had not paid them since companies cancelled their orders. (Photo: Munir Uz Zaman / AFP)

stay at home, we may save ourselves from the virus. But who will save us from starvation?”

The lockdown, which started

on March 26, also forced the closure of the vast majority of the country’s garment factories.

“We have not been paid for

Cancer patient Mohammed Shan-e-Alam said: ‘Now I can’t go home and I can’t go to the hospital.’ (AFP Photo/Prakash Singh)

N

EW DELHI, India | AFP | 4/11/2020 -Liver patient Shahjahan’s family feared the worst when a New Delhi public hospital told her to leave because her bed was needed in a coronavirus unit.

The 40-year-old mother had been on a ventilator with an acute infection for almost two weeks when she left Lok Nayak hospital on Tuesday night.

She died at her family home in Delhi the next morning. Other hospitals had turned her away because of the pandemic.

“The authorities just left her to die. Even when they referred us to another hospital, they refused to give us an ambulance,” said Mohammad Khalid, a relative of Shahjahan.

The capacity of medical facilities around the world has been stretched by the surge of COVID-19 patients as outbreaks worsen in many countries.

It can cause people with other life-threatening diseases to miss

World’s smallest woman in India stay-at-home virus appeal

Jyoti Amge encouraged people to wash their hands as she made appearances across the western Indian city of Nagpur. (AFP Photo/STR)

Pandemic spells death sentence for India’s non-virus patients

by Aishwarya Kumar

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

out on vital care -- especially in places like India, where healthcare systems are shakier.

Dozens of people with serious medical conditions are camped outside India’s national medical institute in tents set up by the Delhi government.

Many of them had travelled from other cities for now-cancelled appointments and can’t go back due to transport restrictions under the nationwide lockdown that began on March 25.

Outpatient departments at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) closed, forcing cancer patients and others with deadly ailments to take shelter in a grimy pedestrian subway and under canvas.

Though aid groups have provided some food and medicines, it had been 12 hours since Saryu Das had eaten when AFP met him.

- Subway death His son, who had mouth cancer, lay on a thin mattress with his face covered by a scarf. Flies hovered around him. Four days

later, he died.

Waste littered the subway floor that is now home to more than 10 families unable to get back to their hometowns, with the mattresses so close that social distancing was impossible.

The AIIMS did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the death and the patients outside. But hospitals across the vast country of 1.3 billion people have been put on alert and its virus death toll is now above 280.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the lockdown, he gave millions of Indians taking life-saving drugs only four hours’ notice.

Amulya Nidhi, a health activist based in Madhya Pradesh state, told AFP the government knew that vulnerable patients -– including those with silicosis and tuberculosis, which kills tens of thousands each year in India, as well as pregnant women -- were at risk.

“I’m getting distress calls from across India over access to basic medicines and treatment,”

two months. We are starving,” said another protester, who gave her name as Brishti, from the Tex Apparel factory in the capital Dhaka.

“If we don’t have food in our stomach, what’s the use of observing this lockdown?”

Some 5,500 workers protested on Monday while 20,000 turned out on Sunday, police inspector Islam Hossain told AFP. “Some workers broke doors and glasses of a factory. But they were largely peaceful,” Hossain told AFP. No one was arrested.

Bangladesh has announced $590 million in loans for export-oriented factories to pay workers.

The South Asian nation is the world’s second-biggest garment maker after China, with $35 billion dollars of exports a year.

said Nidhi.

- Shut out “It is important to expand healthcare facilities to fight COVID-19. At the same time, hospitals and ambulances have to be available for patients with other problems,” he said.

In February, 39-year-old Maitri Lakra was found to be in the initial stages of tongue cancer.

Being HIV-positive only added to her woes.

Doctors at AIIMS referred her to their campus in Haryana state for pre-surgery tests, which started mid-March. But 10 days later, she was told that all radiology appointments were postponed.

As her condition deteriorated -– bleeding from the tongue and in unbearable pain -– she filed a petition with the Delhi High Court and has finally been admitted to AIIMS. “Her cancer is at stage three now. Had she received treatment on time, this would not have happened,” her son Debashish Dag said.

And time is already running out for Shahjahan’s fellow patients in the subway and tents outside AIIMS. “The doctors told me they could not do my chemotherapy session now and that they’ll call me when the lockdown is lifted.

That call may take weeks,” said 25-year old Rampur resident Mohammed Shan-e-Alam.

“Now I can’t go home and I can’t go to the hospital.”

ew Delhi | AFP | The world’s shortest woman took to the streets in central India Monday to call on people to stay at home, after police appealed for help enforcing a coronavirus lockdown.

Jyoti Amge, who is just 62.8 centimetres tall, encouraged people to wash their hands and wear a mask and gloves when they leave their homes as she made appearances across Nagpur city, in Maharashtra state.

“Our police officers, healthcare workers, military officers are on the frontline battling the virus and saving lives and I wanted to contribute in my own way, however small,” the 26-year-old told AFP. “I asked people to maintain social distancing and stay home

to cut the virus transmission chain.”

Amge has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia and is the world’s shortest woman according to the Guinness World Records.

She has worked in television -- both in India and the United States -- after taking the title in 2011.

India is in a nationwide lockdown since late March, with residents permitted to leave their homes only for essential services such as buying groceries and medicine.

The world’s second-most populous nation of 1.3 billion people has reported more than 9,300 coronavirus cases including 324 deaths from the disease.

Jeremy Lin pledges up to $1mn to virus battle

Jeremy Lin, pictured during 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend, urged people all over the world, irrespective of race or country, to pull together during the coronavirus pandemimc (AFP Photo/Ronald Martinez)

B

EIJING, China | AFP | 4/13/2020 - Former NBA guard Jeremy Lin, the first Asian-American to win an NBA title, pledged up to $1 million to coronavirus relief efforts on Monday.

The 31-year-old, whose 2012 heroics for the New York Knicks were dubbed “Linsanity”, will donate $500,000 and said he would also match all donations up to an additional $500,000.

Lin, who now plays for Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) after winning the 2019 NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors, last month tore into US President Donald Trump for “empowering” racism by calling coronavirus a Chinese disease.

Coronavirus emerged in central China in December before spreading across the world as a pandemic, with the United States increasingly hard hit.

Lin on Monday returned to the same theme on The Players’ Tribune website in a first-person piece titled “The Darkness Has Not Overcome It”.

“One simple way to be the light is to support organisations doing crucial work during the crisis,” Lin wrote in making his pledge.

“You know, my whole life, I’ve been treated a certain way because I’m Asian,” Lin added, mentioning some of the racial stereotypes he has been subjected to.

“I’ve even been asked if I can see. I’ve been told to go back to where I came from.

“During the height of ‘Linsanity’ I was still the butt of many Asian jokes.”

Lin, in Beijing awaiting the restart of the CBA season after the health emergency eased in China, urged people all over the world, irrespective of race or country, to pull together.

“No one knows how devastating the impact of this crisis will be, but the projections aren’t good,” Lin wrote.

“We’re going to be recovering from this for a long time.

“But in the process, there will be so, so many opportunities to choose light.”

VOICE OF ASIA 10

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

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Week of April 17, 2020 Your self-confidence could soar as the sun aspects jovial Jupiter in your career zone midweek. If you were wondering about your choices at the start of the week, you may feel more self-assured by Wednesday. Are you eager to connect with new people? Convivial Mercury’s connections with luscious Venus and sassy Mars can improve your social life.

21 April to 20 May The sun continues its journey through your spiritual zone, so there are still opportunities to find closure around a key issue.

And this may be encouraged by Tuesday’s quarter moon and its connection to underworld Pluto.

Key insights might inspire you to dig deeper and perhaps connect with someone who can help you find the healing you seek.

21 May to 20 June Does a friendship need some attention? If so, you may feel moved to do something about it, especially around Tuesday. This can be a chance to reach out and talk things over, especially if you’ve had words and feel at odds with each other.

Making the decision to forgive and forget can work wonders and restore your bond to its former friendly state. The sun’s angle to jovial Jupiter can put you in a upbeat mood.

21 June to 22 July Do you need to get someone on board with a plan? If so, Tuesday’s dynamic sun-moon tie can push things forward. Don’t beat around the bush. Instead, present the facts as openly and honestly as possible and things can swing your way. As the sun angles toward jovial Jupiter midweek, someone may compliment you on a job well done.

23 July to 22 August Work or play? Should you take a break and go traveling or relish a shorter trip and stick with your responsibilities? The quarter moon on Tuesday, which aligns with powerful Pluto, could encourage a decision. This combination suggests that you may be at the tail end of a project, and if you tie up any loose ends, you might feasibly get away. If you can delegate any other work, so much the better.

23 August to 22 Sept Are you eager to take a budding romance further? A dynamic sun-moon angle on Tuesday, which engages with obsessive Pluto, could find you rather too eager for your own good. If you’re in too much of a hurry, you could end this before it has a chance to begin. Patience is the key here.

READ DAILY! 15 - 30 minutes of reading daily helps your brain focus better. Grab a novel!

A Community message from Voice of Asia Group

Maritime ACS LLC, Houston, Tx

21 March to 20 April

When you find some time, READ!

HOROSCOPE.COM

23 September to 22 Oct Your relationship sector is in focus this week, so you may be doing more socializing, interacting with key people, and collaborating on new ideas and projects. However, as the sun angles toward powerful Pluto in your home zone, you might need to make a family-related decision. If you and your partner are at loggerheads, a compromise may be the only way out.

23 October to 21 Nov Are you having a disagreement with someone at work? An edgy sun-Pluto angle on Tuesday could find you at odds with each other. Unless you can agree to compromise, you may never see eye to eye. This aspect also ties in with a quarter moon in your sector of talk and thought, so there might be a way to resolve this with a shift in perspective.

22 November to 21 Dec Do you want to have fun or save money?

The start of the week could pose a dilemma that may not be easy to resolve. Is it really worth shelling out your hard-earned cash for an experience that might be positive but hardly qualifies as an investment? Sometimes you just have to kick back and enjoy life, and this could be one of those opportunities that’s too good to pass up.

22 December to 20 Jan The start of the week could see you working to complete a domestic project, but perhaps you need to make some key decisions so you can tie up any loose ends.

You might also need to get everyone’s input. If everyone is happy, it’s full steam ahead. Jovial Jupiter is still within range of powerful Pluto in your sign, so there are still options for taking on new challenges and opportunities.

21 January to 19 Feb Should you trust your gut regarding a key issue? A quarter moon on Tuesday that aligns with Pluto could leave you undecided. However, with a strong Jupiter-Pluto tie ongoing in your spiritual zone, this is very much a time to tune in and listen to those intuitive nudges. Doing so could leave you in no doubt as to what to do next. Saturn continues its journey through your sign, so you may be putting more emphasis on your goals.

20 February to 20 Mar Do you have an urge to splurge? The early part of the week could see you eager to impress your friends. Whether you take out an expensive membership or show up at an event after a complete makeover, consider your motives. If you can afford such a thing, no problem.

If you can’t, then just showing up as you are is more than enough.

Accounting Assistant

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Harris County Attorney ready to take on price gouging

P

rice gouging during a declared emergency, such as the one Texans are currently experiencing with the Coronavirus, is ILLEGAL.

Price gouging is defined by the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act as: (1) selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine, lodging, building materials, construction tools, or another necessity at an exorbitant or excessive price; OR (2) demanding an exorbitant or excessive price in connection with the sale or lease of fuel, food, medicine, lodging, building materials, construction tools, or another necessity.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT HIGH PRICES: A “high priced” item is not necessarily the same as price gouging.

Businesses often offer the same item at different prices. This is a legal act.

For “price gouging” to occur, a disaster or state of emergency must be declared by either the Governor of the state of Texas or the President of the United States. Texas is currently in a declared state of emergency. If a business has raised the price of fuel, food, medicine, lodging, building materials, construction tools, or another necessity to an exorbitant or excessive amount, this is “price gouging” and it is illegal.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Respectfully raise the issue with the business. Take photographs and hold onto your receipts. If you are unable to resolve the matter on your own, submit a complaint to our office.

PREPARE YOUR COMPLAINT AND FILE IT WITH THE OFFICE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY: Before you file your complaint with us, please take a moment to make sure you have all the necessary information in order to properly submit your complaint. The more details you are able to provide will allow us to effectively review and act upon your complaint. To file a complaint please contact the office of the Harris County Attorney at ConsumerHelp@cao.hctx.net.

Important details include: Name and email address or phone number of Reportee: The name of the business you are filing a complaint against; The full address of the business including the zip code; The name(s) of individuals you spoke with at the business; A brief but detailed description of your complaint; Date of transaction or occurrence; Amount of item; Receipt or picture of item and price if available; How you attempted to resolve the dispute.

If your complaint pertains to an internet seller, please contact the Attorney General Office Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-621-0508.

VOICE OF ASIA 11

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

www.voiceofasia.news

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Attorneys, legal assistants and support staff will be available via phone and / or video conferencing between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM CST. Thursday free consultations can also be scheduled by phone and video.

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VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, April 17, 2020

Home&Real Estate Working from home?

Here are some tips...

The Texas real estate market is headed for a slowdown. The question is for how long.

Experts are concerned for markets like Houston which might feel the economic effects not only of the pandemic, but also of the low price of oil.

A

s Texans adjust to life under orders to stay at home during the new coronavirus pandemic — and scramble to cover expenses with incomes that were drastically cut or abruptly shut off — housing and real estate experts say it’s hard to predict what the parallel public health and economic crises will do to home values and sales.

A lot depends on how long the twin troubles last.

“We definitely will have a slowdown, but the question is how much and how long,” said Scott Norman, executive director of the Texas Association of Builders.

That’s a sudden about-face for what had been, until now, one of the most dynamic real estate markets in the country. The state has had five consecutive years breaking records in terms of numbers of houses sold and median prices, according to Texas Realtors. And Texas’ homebuilding industry has been solid, too; no other state had more building permits in 2019, according to census data.

Luis Torres, an economist with the Texas A&M Real Estate Center, said that the housing sector can be a barometer for the economy as a whole because it affects jobs of laborers, builders, realtors and a litany of other professions.

“And it has a multiplier effect

into the rest of the economy, from moving companies to furniture stores,” Torres said.

Already, experts are seeing slowdowns in home showings — which are now largely done virtually — and expect that permits for new construction might also drop. For regions whose residents rely largely on the energy industry for work, like Houston or the Permian Basin, or on cross-border trade, like the Rio Grande Valley, home values and sales may dip more than in other Texas regions. And those areas may take longer to recover, too.

In Houston, there are already fewer people putting homes on the market, but home values among houses sold have actually improved. According to the Houston Association of Realtors, new home listings of single-family homes decreased 4.8% last month when compared with March 2019. But, at the same time, home prices increased 3.6%.

“Housing markets will be hit differently depending on the region. Yes, Houston would be hit harder, but Midland-Odessa would be hit even more,” said Torres. “Smaller economies are more volatile because they are less diversified.”

Statewide, physical home showings are down between 38% and 44%.

- NPR

CCO Angie Myung converted her guest room into her home office, incorporating cheery details to keep morale up. (Photo: Cat Dash)

Agnie Myung, co-founder and chief creative officer at Poketo WFH setup: “I’m used to working at home on my phone or my laptop on weekday mornings and evenings outside of my office so the idea of working at home wasn’t challenging, but bringing my desktop from the office and setting up the standing desk really felt more official.

Now, this guest room is my new office now.”

WFH tip: “I wanted to infuse our home office with cheerful colors that are reminiscent of Poketo, so I brought home our Spectrum Wall Planner and Geometric Sticky Notes—our go-to items for keeping the creative office on schedule. And, in addition to my favorite notebooks and desk pads, I’ve placed some joyful and beautiful items on the desk—as a reminder that

better days will come.

“Make your workspace comfortable with as much natural light as possible to keep up the vitamin–D endorphins, and be flexible with where you work.

Some people only like to work from one space but personally, I like mixing it up and changing spots so it doesn’t feel stagnant.

“First things first, I always get dressed as I would if I were to go out. I do this for myself to set the mood for each day. Changing at the end of the day into sweats creates a separation of work and life that I always appreciate, especially when work and home life can be so blurred. I make a point not to work in my bedroom, and charge my phone each night out in the living room so that the first and last moments of each day are not work related.”

- Dwell

DIFFERENT NATIONAL ORIGINS.

SAME FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS.

It is illegal for landlords and real estate agents to deny you housing opportunities because of your ethnicity. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on national origin. If you believe you have experienced a violation of your rights, file a complaint.

Go to hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777 Federal Relay Service 1-800-877-8339

FAIR HOUSING: THE LAW IS ON YOUR SIDE. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability.