STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 03-19-20
CHAIN STORES ESTABLISH SPECIAL ELDERLY SHOPPING HOURS
[RALEIGH] In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, major grocery chains have set up special hours for the elderly to come and do their shopping. Chains like Whole Foods, Dollar General, and Target are allowing persons 60 years of age and older to shop at least one hour before they open their doors to the general public. Many of those store are also closing early to allow more time for deep cleaning of their facilities. Check a stories website for more details.
NORTH CAROLINA LISTS 63 POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES AS OF WEDNESDAY
[RALEIGH] Sixty-three patients have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus as of Wednesday of this week, state health officials say. On Tuesday, the number of known cases were 40. At that rate, the state could easily see it’s 100th case by this weekend. Experts say now that more testing is being done, expect the number of COVID-19 cases to rise dramatically in the coming weeks.
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE BLASTS LT. GOV. FOREST FOR COUNTERING COOPER’S ORDER
[RALEIGH] A spokesperson for Gov. Roy Cooper blasted Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest to alleging publicly that Cooper did not have the authority top order the closing of bars and restaurants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spokesperson Sadie Weiner said, ‘ it’s one thing o disagree. It’s another to create a chaotic situation in the middle of a pandemic. The Governor is taking action to protect the health and safety of North Carolinians and does not need concurrence. The Governor and the Secretary of DHHS have the authority to do this under state public health and emergency powers law.” Rep. Yvonne Lewis Holley, Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor in November, confirmed that Gov. Cooper has the legal authority do what is necessary to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public. “I stand with him,” she said.
-30-
DO THE U.S. CENSUS
RACE/GENDER QUESTION
DEFAULT TO “WHITE” & “MALE”
IF YOU REFUSE TO ANSWER?
By Cash Michaels
Staff writer
A New Hanover County commissioner sent a “formal request’ to the director of the U. S. Census Bureau last month, asking if it was true if a citizen refused to answer a question about either their race or gender, the survey would automatically default to “white” and “male.”
“I write to you as a member of the New Hanover county Board of Commissioners and as the co-chairman of the New Hanover County Complete Count Committee,” Com. Barfield wrote to Steven Dillingham, director of the U.S. Census Bureau on March 11th.
“During our March 5th Complete Count Committee meeting, we were alarmed to learn from our Census Bureau partners that a person who declines to answer the survey’s questions regarding racial background and gender would be defaulted to “white” and “male,” Barfield continued.
“As an African-American man who is a leader in this community, I found the revelation troubling and something I sincerely hope the census Bureau will reconsider,” Barfield continued. “Our committee consists of community leaders from a variety of races and ethnic backgrounds.”
“Every member was shocked to learn this development.”
But what is the U.S. Census?
As mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the country conducts a headcount of it’s population once every ten years.
“The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data,” the U.S. Census website states.
“The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts,” the U.S. Census website states.
Thus, the reason why Com. Barfield was so concerned about what was discussed during his committee meeting.
Defaulting non-answers to “white” and “male”could skew the data that will be used for the next ten years to determine federal spending and representation, Barfield wrote.
So is the census survey allegation true?
According to a statement from the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau, no.
“There is no automatic default for missing responses to the race and sex questions, the Census Bureau said. “Questionnaires with incomplete information are still counted, but we highly encourage people to fill out the census as completely and accurately as possible.”
“In the 2020 Census we are planning to use administrative information, such as from some federal and state records or previous census responses, to fill in missing data. We may also use other information provided about the household or persons living in the household. As a last resort, we use statistical techniques to impute for missing responses. The only way to ensure we tabulate the choice that most closely aligns with how you identify is for you to respond.”
Com. Barfield did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
-30-
NC DHHS DEVELOPS WEB PAGE
TO HELP DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES DURING COVID-19
CRISIS
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
As COVID-19 continues to spread across North Carolina, revealing more and more cases. the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services has developed a useful webpage to assists communities in dealing with the crisis, providing access to needed resources, and updating ever-evolving health policies.
That webpage address is https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina.
For detailed guidance on specific areas of interest and concern, please refer to the following webpages per category:
Business and Employers
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/businesses-employers
Colleges and Universities, K-12 Schools, Childcare Centers
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/covid-19-colleges
Community, Faith-based Organizations, Mass Transit and Mass Gatherings
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/community-events
Correctional Facilities, First Responders, Migrant Farm Workers and People with Disabilities
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/community-events
Human Service Providers, Homeless Shelters, and Syringe Service Providers
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/human-services
Health Care Providers, Hospitals and Laboratories
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/health-care
Local Health Departments
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/local-health-departments
Long-Term Facilities
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/covid-19-long-term
Malls and Shopping Centers
https://files.nc.gov/ncdhhs/documents/files/covid-19/NC-Interim-Guidance-for-Malls-and-Shopping-Centers-3-14-20.pdf
Public-facing Agencies and Businesses
https://files.nc.gov/ncdhhs/documents/files/covid-19/Interim-Guidance-for-Public-Facing-Businesses-and-Agencies-3-14-20.pdf
Restaurants and Bars
https://files.nc.gov/ncdhhs/documents/files/covid-19/NC-Interim-Guidance-for-Restaurants-and-Bars-3-14-20.pdf
-30-
BLACK COMMUNITY WRESTLES
WITH COVID-19 PANDEMIC
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
When Gov. Roy Cooper ordered no public gatherings of 100 or more people in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), black churches across the state knew they immediately had a problem.
“I’m going to just say it,” opined one prominent North Carolina black minister on Facebook. “Science has defeated faith in America, as of this day! These cancellations are too much. Megachurches, I understand. But your 20, 30, 50 member churches are small groups, to an extent anyway. For those size churches, maybe divide into smaller groups, A, B, and, C. Groups of 10 or 20 folks could have a more devotional type worship together in different spots of the church such as Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, Bible Study Classroom. Come on, people of faith!”
Still, many black churches last weekend posted notices on their websites, advising their congregations and visitors that because of the health crisis, their services were either temporarily cancelled, or would be live-streamed online so that they could be watched from home.
“Coronavirus Update,” bellowed the full screen advisory for Guilford Baptist Church in Greensboro. “Our region is being impacted by the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) illness. Federal and state health officials have advised local organizations to minimize public gatherings as this is one of the primary venues by which this virus spreads.”
The Guilford Baptist Church website advisory continued, “It is imperative that organizations loo to the health of their members as well as take whatever steps are necessary to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system. Out of concern for our congregation and guests, Guilford Baptist is implementing the following changes effective March 13, 2020 through at least March 29th, 2020.”
The advisory went on to announce that all church activities other than Sunday Morning Worship had been suspended, and the church campus would be closed except for 10:30 a.m. worship service, which would be streamed later at 3 p.m. online.
“Because this illness disproportionately impacted the elderly, those with chronic respiratory conditions, cardiac disease and other chronic illnesses, those in this category are encouraged to consider staying home.”
No doubt, with states, including North Carolina, increasing restrictions on public movements and gatherings, the African-American community is feeling the heat as well. Schools statewide have been ordered closed. Major grocery stores are closing earlier in order to limit access and provide more off-time for cleaning.
Local community centers and public buildings have been closed. District court cases postponed. People have been ordered to work from home.
But most importantly, black communities have a disproportionate rate of poverty and poor health - both interchangeably undermining the other generationally, health experts say. Couple that with undernourished young people and a plethora of elderly residence, and COVID-19 serves to ascorbate an already tentative health desert.
With mostly large families already occupying small spaces in urban public housing or in rural communities, following advisories of the constant washing of hands, and covering coughs or sneezes, is about the best the can be done to safeguard the further spread of the virus in poorer communities of color.
-30-
No comments:
Post a Comment