Nationwide — La’nisha and Ron’nisha Richardson, two graduating seniors from Yazoo City, Mississippi, have made history after they both graduated from their high school with 4.1 GPAs. Not only that, they both earned top honors as both valedictorian and salutatorian.
La’nisha has already been accepted at Mississippi State to become a physical therapist, and Ron’nisha is planning to join the Air Force to pursue a medical career.
“We definitely credit our mom when it comes to making sure we are on top,” Ron’nisha told WAPT. “It’s our work and we have to get it done, she makes sure we get it done and if we don’t get it done, it’s gonna be a problem.”
The twins admit that they are disappointed about not being able to have a prom or a traditional graduation, but they are still very much excited about starting their new life as college students.
Davidson County Chancellor Anne C. Martin rules from the bench on Thursday as she denied the state’s motion to lift her earlier order halting Tennessee’s education savings account program.
By Marta W. Aldrich
NASHVILLE, TN — A Nashville judge on Thursday blocked Tennessee from rolling out its school voucher program while appealing her ruling that overturned the state’s 2019 education savings account law.
Davidson County Chancellor Anne C. Martin also scolded the state education department for “mixed messaging” for not alerting interested parents about the legal status of the program.
Martin said the state could continue accepting applications through Thursday’s deadline from eligible families in Memphis and Nashville who want to use public funding to send their children to private schools. But she ordered the department to post a notice on its application website that the program has been halted pending an appeal.
“Whatever happens on appeal will happen. But the current status is the program is not going forward and parents need to be told to have a Plan B,” she said of the 683 completed applications on track to receive education savings accounts. As of Wednesday, another 1,226 applications were incomplete.
The judge was more forgiving of Gov. Bill Lee, who encouraged parents to continue to apply a day after Martin declared the law unconstitutional. Lee’s comments came on Tuesday during a news conference about the coronavirus when a reporter asked about the judge’s voucher ruling.
“The court does not take offense,” Martin said at the close of a 1½-hour hearing. “Honestly, things are moving very quickly. The decision had just come out the evening before. And the court assumes Gov. Lee was not prepared for the question, particularly at a COVID-19 press conference.”
The judge ruled from the bench after hearing from a dozen attorneys meeting by video conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Her decision is another setback for Lee, who said he wants parents to have more education choices for their children and made education savings accounts a legislative priority during his first year in office.
“While we are disappointed the larger stay was denied, we are pleased that Tennessee families were allowed to continue applying to the program through today’s deadline,” said Gillum Ferguson, the governor’s press secretary. “We are working closely with the Attorney General to pursue an immediate appeal of the ruling.”
The case began with a legal challenge by local governments for Nashville and Shelby County, along with Nashville’s school board, arguing the law arbitrarily targets Tennessee’s two largest cities with a program that would saddle them with an unfair financial burden by transferring state and local funds from struggling public schools to private schools.
On Monday, Martin said the law violated the constitution’s “home rule” provision, which prohibits the legislature from singling out individual counties unless approved by two-thirds of the members of those counties’ legislative bodies, or a majority of voters. Local officials in Memphis and Nashville have consistently opposed private school vouchers.
The state filed documents on Wednesday seeking to appeal the case to a higher court. It argues the state is responsible for education policy and that local governments don’t have standing to sue. The state also said halting the program now “will result in irreparable injury” to students and parents who have begun the application process and face “the prospect of returning to underperforming schools.”
Attorneys representing Metropolitan Nashville and Shelby County governments, which challenged the law, noted that Lee ordered the program to launch this fall, a year earlier than required by law.
“The State has created the so-called ‘irreparable harm’ by rushing the Act’s implementation contrary to legislative intent,” they argued in documents filed with the court.
Earlier this week, Martin gave the state permission to seek an appeal.
“The court has moved as quickly as possible to hear motions and issue its opinions,” she said Thursday. “While I know the defendants do not agree with the court’s opinions and are appealing it, I … did my best to tee up this case for immediate review.”
But she warned Lee’s administration to be transparent with parents about the legal status of the program. “It is not helpful when representatives of the state make statements to the public and press that are inconsistent with the court’s ruling and the true status of the program,” she said. “It is confusing to parents and indicates a disregard of the court and the rule of law.”
Erin DiCaprio, Assistant Specialist in Cooperative Extension and Food Virology Researcher, University of California, Davis
Wearing a mask helps reduce how far droplets that can carry the coronavirus travel when the wearer talks or sneezes.
Wear a mask, but skip the gloves. Don’t sanitize the apples. And if you are older than 65, it’s probably best to still order your groceries online.
As a food virologist, I hear a lot of questions from people about the coronavirus risks in grocery stores and how to stay safe while shopping for food amid the pandemic. Here are answers to some of the common questions.
Can I touch the tomatoes?
What you touch on the grocery shelves is less of a concern than who breathes on you and other surfaces you might come in contact with in a store. In fact, there is currently no evidence of the virus being transmitted by food or food packaging.
You may have heard about studies showing that the virus can remain infectious for up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to 72 hours on plastic or stainless steel. These are controlled laboratory studies, in which high levels of infectious virus are applied to the surfaces and humidity and temperature held constant. In these experiments, the level of infectious virus – virus capable of causing disease – decreased even after a few hours, indicating that the virus does not survive well on these surfaces.
The highest risk is close contact with other people who may be shedding virus in droplets as they sneeze, talk or breathe nearby.
Next would be high-touch surfaces, like door handles, where someone not practicing good hand hygiene might have transferred the virus to the surface. In this scenario, you would have to touch this surface and then touch your own mucus membranes – your eyes, mouth or ears – to contract the illness.
Think about how often a surface is touched, and then decide if you can avoid the riskiest spots or use hand sanitizer after touching them. Significantly more people touch door handles and credit card machines compared to a tomato in a bin.
Do I need to sanitize my food when I get home?
No, you do not need to sanitize your food when you get home, and trying to do so can actually be dangerous.
Chemicals and soaps are not labeled for use use on food. This means we do not know if they are safe or even effective when directly applied to food.
Moreover, some of these practices might create food safety hazards. For example, if you filled a sink with water and then submerged your vegetables in it, pathogenic microorganisms in your sink – say, trapped in the drain from the raw chicken you cut up the night before – might contaminate your produce.
You should instead wash you produce under cool running water and then dry it with a clean towel.
Washing your hands frequently, using soap and water and drying with a clean towel, is really the best defense for protecting yourself from this virus and many other infectious diseases that might be on a surface or package.
Should I wear gloves in the grocery store?
Gloves are not currently recommended for a visit to the grocery store, in part because they may help spread germs.
If you are wearing gloves, know that disposable gloves are meant for a single use and you should throw them out after you are done shopping.
To take off gloves, grab the band at the wrist on one hand, making sure not to have gloved fingers touch your skin, and pull the glove up over your hand and fingers turning it inside out as you remove. Best practice is to wash your hands after the gloves are removed. If soap and water is not available, use a hand sanitizer.
How should I deal with other people?
We wear masks to protect others. You can have COVID-19 and not know it, so wearing a mask can help keep you from spreading the virus if you’re asymptomatic.
Wearing a mask can also provide some level of protection to the person wearing it, but it does not keep out all droplets and is not 100% effective in preventing disease.
Following social distancing guidelines – keeping 6 feet between you and the next person – is very important when you are in a store or any other space with other people.
If you’re over 65 or have a compromised immune system, see if the grocery has special hours for high-risk populations, and consider having groceries delivered to your home instead.
Can I still bring my own bags?
Many grocery stores have stopped allowing the use of reusable bags because of the potential risks to their workers.
If you are using a reusable nylon or plastic bag, clean inside and outside of the bag with soapy water and rinse. Spray or wipe down the bag inside and out with diluted bleach solution or disinfectant, then allow the bag to air dry completely. For cloth bags, wash the bag in warm water with normal laundry detergent, then dry it on the warmest setting possible.
Everyone has to be more aware of their surroundings to stay safe during this pandemic. Remember to wear your mask and keep your distance from others and you can minimize the risks. (The CONVERSATION)
Members of Lookout Masonic Lodge #29 PHA F&AM last Saturday helped two East Brainerd families clean up their properties damaged by the deadly Easter Sunday tornadoes.
With nearly 145 mph winds, the tornadoes tore through Chattanooga more than a month ago, ripping the roofs off of homes, uprooting trees and bringing down power lines throughout the area.
“There was a great deal of damage, and a lot of people still need assistance,” said Lodge Worshipful Master James Howard. “Our job in a time of crisis is to just do our due diligence and assist people who need help.”
Howard said eight Lodge members, or “brothers,” and three volunteers “cut trees, cleared limbs and picked up debris” at two residential properties near Harvest Oak Lane in East Brainerd.
“We are glad to be a blessing and contribute to our communities,” said Lodge member Ezzard C. Robinson, who participated in the cleanup. “This was the best Saturday we had together in a long time.”
Howard said the Lodge recently partnered with District 9 City Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod to provide 200 lunches for the needy. The Lodge also has plans in the near future to clean up designated area cemeteries which have fallen into disrepair, he added. According to a website, “Freemasonry is a fraternity of brothers who share one common goal: to help each other become better men. We strengthen and improve our character by learning and practicing basic virtues of fraternal love, charity, and truth.”
Members of Lookout Masonic Lodge #29 PHA F&AM last Saturday helped two East Brainerd families clean up their properties damaged by the deadly Easter Sunday tornadoes. (photos: Contributed by Ezzard C. Robinson)
Atlanta, GA — Monique Cook was 8 months pregnant with twins when she tested positive for the coronavirus. While in a coma, she had to undergo an emergency procedure to give birth to healthy twins.
“My contractions started coming two minutes apart, so I knew something was wrong,” she told Today about her experience last March while 34 weeks pregnant.
Monique was taken to the hospital, where she had to be placed in the intensive care unit. She was then diagnosed with COVID-19 and doctors encouraged her to consider delivery via cesarean section. She said she remembered being told to count down from 10 before everything went black.
She woke up from a coma 5 days later.
“The worst part of that waking up, I look down and I have no big stomach. No babies,” she said. “I remember asking like, ‘Where are my babies?’ That’s when the young nurse said, ‘Oh, your babies, they’re fine.’”
Monique was sad that she was not able to hold her babies named August Sky and Angel Renee after giving birth or even see her husband while she had coronavirus. For 9 days, she was only able to see them from pictures given to her by a nurse.
Now, Monique is relieved to be at home with her newborn daughters as well as her older daughters 17-year old Isis and 4-year old Winter. She has, “It has just been awesome ever since.”
Moreover, she is expressing her gratitude to the doctors and nurses who took care of her and her babies. “This story could have ended differently, listening to how many deaths from this, the COVID-19 like, the numbers go higher and higher just about every day. I actually survived,” She added.
Nationwide — Federal data has already confirmed that most of the deadly victims of COVID-19 in the United States are African American. However, many news reports are failing to report that many of those who have died from the virus were also denied tests. In fact, some were denied a test multiple times. Here are six cases:
1 – Bassey Offiong: a 25-year old Nigerian American college student at Western Michigan University who died from the virus just a few weeks before his graduation. Detroit News reports that he was denied a test multiple times.
2 – Gary Fowler: a 56-year old from Detroit who died at home from the virus. USA Today reports that he literally “begged” for a test, but was rejected on multiple occasions.
3 – Rana Zoe Mungin: a 30-year old social studies teacher from Brooklyn who died from the virus after being on life support for almost a month. CBS News reports that she was rushed to the hospital three different times and was denied a test each and every time.
4 – Kayla Williams: a 36-year old mother from London, UK with three children who died from the virus just 24 hours after she called for an ambulance. The Guardian reports that was initially told that she was not a “priority”.
5 – Deborah Gatewood: a 63-year old from Detroit who died from the virus just two weeks after testing positive. NBC News reports that she was denied a test three times from the very hospital where she worked.
6 – Thomas Fields Jr: a 32-year old Navy sailor who was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, who died from the virus. However, his story is a bit different. He himself was not denied a test, but prior to him feeling sick, his mom began to show the symptoms of the virus and was denied a test. WTKR reports that Thomas took care of his mom when she was sent home untested, but sadly he contracted the virus from her. As she got better, he got worse. Had she been given a test, she would have been in the hospital and would not have exposed her son to the virus.
There’s even a song about it As to be expected, these stories have created a national uproar within the nationwide Black community. Activists, educators, preachers and even media personalities have been speaking up about it. One musician, whose son was denied a test, even talks about it in a viral R&B song he wrote (Listen to the song at CoronavirusSong.com). The way of delivery may be different, but their message is the same: Black and brown people are being discriminated against when it comes to who gets or doesn’t get a COVID-19 test… and it’s killing them!
HAMILTON COUNTY, TN – The following list details free COVID-19 community testing sites and events offered across Hamilton County. The Health Department operates the Bonnyshire site and the Homeless Healthcare Center site, and has partnered with Clinica Medicos and Cempa to provide support for their testing operations. These sites only test for current COVID-19 infection. They do not test for the COVID-19 antibody. The Health Department has created a web page on their website to list testing sites around the county, they will be updated as the information becomes available.
Hamilton County Health Department Testing Site – Bonnyshire – Bonny Oaks
7460 Bonnyshire Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416
Monday – Friday, 9:00am-10:30am, maximum 125 tests per day.
Open to the public without an appointment.
Call the COVID-19 hotline at (423)-209-8383 for questions.
Homeless Healthcare Center (Hamilton County Health Department campus on 11th Street)
The Hamilton County Health Department partners with various organizations to offer the following “pop-up” community COVID-19 testing events across Hamilton County.
Monday, May 18; 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Mary Walker Towers
No appointment needed.
Partnering Organizations: UTC School Of Nursing
Tuesday, May 19; 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Eastwood Manor
Partnering Organizations: UTC School Of Nursing
Wednesday, May 20
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Avondale YFD Center
No appointment needed.
Partnering Organization: CEMPA
12:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Homeless Healthcare Center (Hamilton County Health Department campus on 11th Street)
Walk-up for homeless/transient. No appointment needed.
Wednesday, May 20 through Friday, May 22
9:00 am to 4:30 pm
Parking lot of Camp Jordan Park, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge, TN
Scheduling an appointment via www.krogerhealth.com/covidtesting is required to receive a test.
Partnering organizations: Kroger, City of East Ridge, Cherokee Health Systems
Thursday, May 21
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Whiteside Faith Manor
No appointment needed
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Emma Wheeler Homes
East Lake Courts
Partnering Organizations: UTC School Of Nursing
Friday, May 22
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Riverview
Partnering Organization: UTC School Of Nursing/CHI Memorial
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
College Hill Courts at James A. Henry School Gym
Greenwood Terrace at Community Room on Dee Drive
Residents from Missionary Heights, Fairmount Apartments, Cromwell Hills Apartments, Woodside Apartments, Glenwood North and East are all invited to get tested at Greenwood Terrace. Walk-up and drive-thru
Partnering Organizations: UTC School Of Nursing/CHI Memorial
Wednesday, May 27
9:00 am – 11:30 am
Homeless Healthcare Center (Hamilton County Health Department campus on 11th Street)
Walk-up for homeless/transient, no appointment needed.
For COVID-19 information, visit the Health Department’s COVID-19 Community Testing webpage or call the hotline at 209-8383.
The U.S. government has committed hundreds of billions of dollars to help small businesses weather the coronavirus pandemic. But early reports suggest larger companies are gobbling up much of the aid, while many of the neediest ones – particularly those with only a few dozen employees – aren’t benefiting.
For example, large, generally profitable companies like Shake Shack, Potbelly and even the Los Angeles Lakers, with access to other lines of credit, have received millions of dollars in loans, even as mom-and-pop stores across the U.S. say they are still waiting to hear back about their applications.
Very small businesses, particularly those operating on small profit margins, are especially vulnerable, since they may not have the cash reserves to weather periods of economic uncertainty and typically have fewer ways to access financing. A recent poll by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that one in four U.S. businesses is two months away from permanently shutting down.
The Small Business Administration has a designated disaster relief program intended to help small companies recover through low-interest loans. Despite the devastation, we found that most small businesses in Galveston that applied for federal assistance were unable to get aid. In fact, the approval rate for low-interest disaster loans was only around 22%.
The trouble is, even though this is intended as aid, it’s still a loan – and the SBA needs to make sure borrowers will pay it back. One of the main ways any lender determines whether a borrower will do so is through its credit history, which many very small businesses lack.
As you might expect, we found that the most common reasons the SBA denied loans were unsatisfactory credit and lack of repayment ability.
Older businesses, corporations and companies with more employees received the highest loan amounts after Hurricane Ike, even when controlling for damage. These types of companies were already in a much better position to survive a disaster like a hurricane – which is likely why the SBA deemed them less financially risky and worthy of a disaster loan.
Getting those loans made a big difference in survival rates. My research found that companies that secured an SBA loan were significantly more likely to be around nine years later.
Paperwork and fuzzy guidelines
But the approval rate tells only a part of the story, since it doesn’t capture businesses who never made it through the application process.
Many businesses in Galveston described applying for federal funds as “difficult” and “cumbersome,” leading many to simply withdraw their applications.
This is again where larger businesses have an advantage because they are more likely to have the necessary documents digitized – vital when a disaster destroyed the physical copies. They also have specialized staff that are familiar with financial paperwork and know how to navigate the loan process without having to take away from the day-to-day operational needs of the business. This also helps them capitalize on fuzzy guidelines about who is eligible.
A report to Congress from the House Committee on Small Business suggests that some businesses actually refused loans after they had been approved due to lengthy delays. As one Galveston business owner told us, “by the time you get the money your small business may be broke.” Average wait times for Hurricane Ike were 11 months after landfall.
The city of Galveston offered local companies a bridge loan intended to tide them over until the disaster loan came through, but my interviews indicated that though helpful, this mostly benefited businesses with an existing relationship with affiliated banks.
Similar themes in coronavirus aid
To combat the economic impact of the coronavirus, in late March Congress passed the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program in addition to replenishing the coffers of the SBA’s disaster loan fund.
The idea with the new program is that small businesses, especially those that have had to close during the crisis, can get very low-interest loans that turn into grants as long as they meet certain conditions, like not laying off staff.
After the money was drained in two weeks – and reports surfaced of larger companies getting some of the aid – Congress topped it off with $310 billion and tightened its restrictions on which businesses can use it.
But so far, smaller companies seem to be encountering the same problems I uncovered following Hurricane Ike.
For example, businesses are still finding it difficult to apply for assistance. Unclear guidelines led to confusion in how the process would be rolled out and executed, even in the second round.
Like after Hurricane Ike, businesses with existing relationships with banks, such as having open lines of credit, seem to be benefiting. The assistance is grounded in a loan program, which favors larger businesses. This has the potential to be exacerbated by the high competition for funds and the need for businesses to apply quickly.
And although COVID-19 assistance is different from previous disasters in that the loans are potentially forgivable, they are still loans that – if not turned into grants – must be paid back and could compound the issues businesses are already facing from a likely sharp drop in revenue.
Unfortunately, if history is any guide, it may not be enough to ensure these small businesses are getting the help they desperately need.The Conversation has received funds from the Paycheck Protection Program.
A vice president with Chattanooga company Transcard has been fired after reportedly posting this offensive photo of former President Barack Obama on his personal Facebook page.
A vice president with Chattanooga company Transcard has been fired after reportedly posting an offensive photo of former President Barack Obama on his personal Facebook page.
The photo, which depicted President Obama with a noose around his neck and a caption “#PayPerView” was reportedly posted by Gary Casper last week.
According to screen captures before Casper’s personal Facebook and LinkedIn pages were removed, his position was listed as “VP of IT” with Transcard, as well as previous employment with US Xpress.
Transcard’s Facebook page last week posted this message confirming the situation, “The views reflected in posts made by individuals do not reflect the views or values of Transcard. This issue is being handled according to company policy. The individual of recent concern is no longer employed with the company. Thank you for your concern.”
Although Casper has apparently been fired, his post–which has since been shared hundreds of times–continues to generate a groundswell of angry social media comments.
Just a few that are suitable for print include: “He was stupid enough to have his own photo, employer and FB (Facebook) information attached to it,” “He is a racist piece of crap who strongly endorsed the lynching of the only black president in US history and deleted his post later” and “I always end up in Facebook jail! But this foolishness can continue.”
Many other posts simply state, “Lock him up,” noting that threatening to harm or kill a former president is a felony with a penalty of up to five years in prison.
According to its website, Transcard, which is based in downtown Chattanooga, is a company which specializes in providing innovative, cloud-based payment solutions to the transportation, healthcare, insurance and financial services industries. It was originally founded in 2005.
By press time, attempts to reach Transcard via phone for comment were unsuccessful, as the company’s phone system was “temporarily unavailable,” according to a recorded message.
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic poses a grave and imminent public health risk, with more than 1.4 million documented cases and 90,000 recorded fatalities in the United States alone; and
WHEREAS, early data released by the CDC have reported that African- Americans have accounted for nearly 30 percent of all COVID-19 related cases, and fully 1/3 of all COVID-19 deaths; and
WHEREAS, racial ethic groups are experiencing a disproportionately higher level of COVID-19 transmissions, infections and deaths including widespread outbreaks in LATINX communities and in the Sioux and Navajo indigenous nations; and
WHEREAS, pre- COVID-19, African- Americans and communities of color had already suffered significant health disparities at disproportionate levels due to numerous preexisting and underlying conditions which include: hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sickle cell, cancer, chronic lung syndromes (asthma), stroke (cerebrovascular disease), HIV and other severe medical ailments, many because of the lack of environmental justice; and
WHEREAS, in the research study, “COVID-19 Racial Disparities in U.S. Counties,” amFar, the PATH’s Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access and researchers at Emory, John Hopkins, Georgetown and the University of Mississippi found that majority black U. S. counties, “accounted for nearly half of COVID-19 cases and 58% of COVID-19 deaths. ” They further surmised, “Structural factors including health care access, density of households, unemployment, pervasive discrimination and others drive these disparities, not intrinsic characteristics of black communities or individual-level factors.”; and
WHEREAS, the CDC notes that “living conditions” is a primary factor that contributes to the spread of COVID-19 in underserved communities because for many these locations are dense, racially segregated , multi-generational, in food deserts, and have populations that are overly represented in prisons, jails and juvenile detention centers; and
WHEREAS, the CDC and Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Current Population Survey list working conditions as a primary factor in contracting the virus as workers of color are disproportionately represented in health care, transportation, manufacturing, service industry, agricultural, and other face to face jobs that have not only been deemed as essential but often times fail to provide adequate health insurance and paid sick leave; and
WHEREAS, according to the APM Research Lab, the latest available COVID-19 mortality rate for Black Americans is, “2.2 times higher than the rate for Latinos, 2.3 times higher than the rate for Asians and 2.6 times higher than the rate for Whites.” The APM also asserts, “If all Americans had died of COVID-19 at the same rate as White Americans, at least 10,500 Black Americans, 1,400 Latino Americans and 300 Asian Americans would still be alive.”; and
WHEREAS, groups such as the National Employment Law Project have stressed the need for “Protecting Worker Safety & Health.” These recommendations state that all industries should comply with workplace standards that includes: (1) Social Distancing; (2) Free availability of face masks; (3) Hand Sanitizing, Hand Washing, and Gloves; (4) Regular Disinfection; (5) Increase ventilation rates; (6) Notification of Workers on confirmed COVID cases; and (7) Deep Cleaning after Confirmed Cases. This also includes whistleblower protections and the right to refuse to work under dangerous conditions; and
WHEREAS, in the critical analysis ROADMAP TO PANDEMIC RESILIENCE, Harvard University stated that the country needs to deliver 5 million tests per day by early June to deliver a safe social reopening, and that number will need to increase over time (ideally by late July) to 20 million a day to fully remobilize the economy; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Unity Group calls upon the Hamilton County Government and Hamilton County Department of Health to work in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration in order to find meaningful solutions that would help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in communities of color, and those that are disadvantaged, vulnerable and underserved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we agree and call for the recommendations that the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services and call for these to be subsequently enacted by the Hamilton County Department of Health:
“Prompt release of all existing data related to COVID-19 tests for all by race and ethnicity because in the absence of this data, officials and lawmakers are not properly equipped to develop targeted and tailored public health responses and strategies to address barriers to testing and the unique needs and concerns of communities of color. “
“Prioritize ongoing release of comprehensive, complete and robust race and ethnicity data collection for all tests, cases and outcomes.”
“Develop concrete action plans to address racial disparities in Black communities and other communities of color by targeting these communities to provide free access to widespread testing and healthcare.”
FURTHER, we agree with numerous aspects of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and National Medical Association on the Joint Statement of the Response to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic: A Public Health Manifesto, and call for these to be speedily implemented:
“State and local health departments and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must be required to collect and publicly report COVID-19 testing, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and outcomes data, stratified by demographics (including race, ethnicity, gender, and 9-digit ZIP codes).”
“To date, less than one-percent (1%) of the population has been tested for COVID-19, and the numbers are skewed based on race and socioeconomic status (SES). Access to testing must be expanded, to ensure timely access to COVID-19 testing stations, and prioritize testing in medically underserved areas, and with populations and neighborhoods impacted by limited/restricted access to public transportation. The expanded use of mobile testing units and providing for “walk-up” testing at drive-up testing stations must be immediately employed to help ensure equitable access to testing for underserved populations. The walk-up capabilities must meet the following requirements: A.)Testing stations should be no more than one quarter mile (5-minute walk) from the nearest operating bus stop, train, or subway station.”
“Information concerning walk-up and drive-up testing stations must be widely disseminated, and must include multilingual, culturally sensitive, public service announcements within African American, Latinx, and American Indian/Alaskan Native communities.”
Further, we call for the meat and poultry processing plants in this county, in lieu of the fact that more than 14,000 workers nationally have contracted the virus, to immediately comply with standards as outlined by OSHA, and to implement best practices that have been given by groups such as the CDC and NELP, which includes: (1) social distancing; (2) Free availability of face masks; (3) Hand Sanitizing, Hand Washing, and Gloves; (4) Regular Disinfection; (5) Increase ventilation rates; (6) Notification of Workers on confirmed COVID cases; and (7) Deep Cleaning after Confirmed Cases; and
Finally, the lack of proactive remedies that would help mitigate the spread of COVID- 19 has been deeply “disconcerting and discombobulating”, and is on the path of becoming a botched Reopening if the science, data and evidence provided by medical experts continues to be blatantly disregarded, and if the needs of essential workers and vulnerable populations is left unattended and unaddressed.
