"WW C"- COVID-19, GLOBAL CASES SURPASS 676 MILLION...CASES 676,609,955 DEATHS 6,881,955 US CASES 103,804,263 US DEATHS 1,123,836 8:30pm 1/28/24
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Iowa's vaccination rate is 47th in the US
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa continues to have the third-worst vaccination rate per capita in the nation as the state reached a milestone Thursday of more than 5,000 people killed by the virus.
Speaking at her weekly news conference, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa has been improving its vaccination efforts, which she argued have been slowed in part by lack of available vaccine. That uncertainty has made counties and healthcare providers hesitant to set up appointments, fearing they won’t have the vaccine available and be forced to cancel appointments, she said
5`
CONTINUED:
Iowa's vaccination rate is 47th in the US (kcci.com)
A more infectious U.K. variant of coronavirus is found in Iowa, confirmed in three residents
COVID-19 in Iowa: U.K. coronavirus variant found in state, 3 positive (desmoinesregister.com)
And yet......... they do THIS
Gov. Kim Reynolds lifting Iowa's mask requirements, gathering limits Sunday
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will lift the state's limited mask requirement on Sunday, along with the social distancing requirements and other COVID-19 mitigation measures she had in place for businesses and social gatherings.
Many states had already mask mandates for months before Reynolds ordered Iowans to wear masks in certain social settings in November. According to reports, 36 states still require people to wear masks, although North Dakota's requirement expired last month and Mississippi's mandate only covers counties with high virus infection rates.
Reynolds latest coronavirus emergency proclamation, issued Friday afternoon and effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, instead "strongly encourages Iowans, businesses and organizations to take reasonable public health measures consistent with guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health," Reynolds' spokesperson, Pat Garrett, said in an email.
A news release from Reynolds' office did not explain why she is relaxing the restrictions.
The lifted requirements come as Iowa's daily reported case numbers and hospitalizations have shown declines since their spike in November, and less than a week after the state opened up vaccine eligibility to hundreds of thousands of Iowans.
Still, the state reported another 804 confirmed cases Friday morning, and on Thursday the state surpassed the 5,000 deaths mark. Meanwhile, the coronavirus vaccine supply remains limited and in high demand, with Reynolds on Thursday saying Iowa ranks 47th in the nation in per capita vaccine distribution from the federal government and 46th in the rate of administering vaccines to residents.
Also, on Monday, state officials confirmed a new, more transmissible version of the coronavirus was now in Iowa.
More:A more infectious U.K. variant of coronavirus is found in Iowa, confirmed in three residents
Public health leader: 'This isn't the time to let our guards down'
Lina Tucker Reinders, executive director of the Iowa Public Health Association, said Friday evening that Reynolds is lifting the restrictions prematurely.
"I don't think it's a good idea, to put it bluntly," she said. "We're not out of the pandemic yet."
She said although coronavirus test positivity rates have decreased, they could spike again. As new variants of the virus surface, she said people need to continue taking the same recommended precautions they have been to slow the spread.
"We have so many people wanting a vaccine, which is fantastic," she said. "This isn't the time to let our guards down. This is the time to just, head-down, trudge on as we have been to make sure we get everybody through it."
U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, the only Democratic member of Iowa's congressional delegation, said Reynolds' new order was "short-sighted, ill-conceived, and dangerous."
"In recent weeks, I’ve spoken to the governor and our federal health partners about increasing Iowa’s vaccine allocations to bring us closer to ending this crisis," Axne said in a statement. "But this new proclamation undermines all of those efforts — disregarding the lagging vaccinations of our seniors and other vulnerable populations and skipping ahead to a return to normalcy that is unwarranted."
Since mid-November, Reynolds had required Iowans two years of age and older to wear masks if they were in indoor areas and spent 15 minutes or more within 6 feet of a person not in their households. The rule carried several exceptions.
Coronavirus in Iowa:Updated COVID-19 maps and charts track cases and data in Iowa and across the U.S.
Bars and restaurants now encouraged to be safe, not mandated to social distance
The governor's previous proclamation also required social distancing between groups at bars, restaurants, casinos, fitness centers and other establishments, as well as at social gatherings and sporting events.
"I strongly encourage that all businesses or other employers remaining open with in-person operations take reasonable measures under the circumstances of each establishment to ensure the health of employees, patrons and members of the public, including social distancing practices, increased hygiene practices and other public health measures," Reynolds' latest proclamation states.
The lifted restrictions drew immediate praise Friday from Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association.
Dunker said while Reynolds had not imposed specific capacity limits in businesses, the requirements for social distancing between groups had effectively limited the number of patrons a restaurant could serve.
She said most operators had been worried that the first quarter of the year would bring a further decrease in business, but she said the new order, "may well give us the lift we need to be able to see this thing to the other side."
"Quite frankly, it allows us to go back to doing business at a really critical time," she said. "We are … one day before the Super Bowl, which opens up a lot of businesses for crowds to come in and safely watch the big game."
Jeff Bruning, co-owner of Full Court Press, which operates El Bait Shop, the Iowa Taproom and other Des Moines metro restaurants, said "any snap decisions right now would be a little premature."
He said he doesn't see ownership removing barriers erected between booths or putting filling to capacity immediately.
"I'm not a doctor and (not) a disease specialist, so I don't know all these things, but I can say that the strength of the restaurant and bar business depends on us coming out of this the right way," he said.
More:Getting the COVID-19 vaccine: How to schedule an appointment in Iowa
Tobi Parks, co-owner of xBk Live, a music venue in the Drake business district, said she and her business partner had already made the decision to remain closed until April.
"We'll continue to monitor infection rates and make decisions on when and how to reopen based on the best scientific guidance we have at the time," she said.
Adam Flack, spokesperson for the Iowa Events Center, said lifting of restrictions will not affect Iowa Wild games or other events happening at the venue. The Iowa Events Center has been using a pod-seating system in which family groups may sit together but are separated by at least six feet from other groups.
"Our health and safety protocols, including physical distancing and mandating masks, will remain in effect until we have had time to consult with Polk County, Spectra's corporate office and our upcoming event and meeting clients," he said.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds lifts mask requirement, other restrictions starting Sunday (desmoinesregister.com)
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa continues to have the third-worst vaccination rate per capita in the nation as the state reached a milestone Thursday of more than 5,000 people killed by the virus.
Speaking at her weekly news conference, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa has been improving its vaccination efforts, which she argued have been slowed in part by lack of available vaccine. That uncertainty has made counties and healthcare providers hesitant to set up appointments, fearing they won’t have the vaccine available and be forced to cancel appointments, she said
5`
CONTINUED:
Iowa's vaccination rate is 47th in the US (kcci.com)
A more infectious U.K. variant of coronavirus is found in Iowa, confirmed in three residents
COVID-19 in Iowa: U.K. coronavirus variant found in state, 3 positive (desmoinesregister.com)
And yet......... they do THIS
Gov. Kim Reynolds lifting Iowa's mask requirements, gathering limits Sunday
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will lift the state's limited mask requirement on Sunday, along with the social distancing requirements and other COVID-19 mitigation measures she had in place for businesses and social gatherings.
Many states had already mask mandates for months before Reynolds ordered Iowans to wear masks in certain social settings in November. According to reports, 36 states still require people to wear masks, although North Dakota's requirement expired last month and Mississippi's mandate only covers counties with high virus infection rates.
Reynolds latest coronavirus emergency proclamation, issued Friday afternoon and effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, instead "strongly encourages Iowans, businesses and organizations to take reasonable public health measures consistent with guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health," Reynolds' spokesperson, Pat Garrett, said in an email.
A news release from Reynolds' office did not explain why she is relaxing the restrictions.
The lifted requirements come as Iowa's daily reported case numbers and hospitalizations have shown declines since their spike in November, and less than a week after the state opened up vaccine eligibility to hundreds of thousands of Iowans.
Still, the state reported another 804 confirmed cases Friday morning, and on Thursday the state surpassed the 5,000 deaths mark. Meanwhile, the coronavirus vaccine supply remains limited and in high demand, with Reynolds on Thursday saying Iowa ranks 47th in the nation in per capita vaccine distribution from the federal government and 46th in the rate of administering vaccines to residents.
Also, on Monday, state officials confirmed a new, more transmissible version of the coronavirus was now in Iowa.
More:A more infectious U.K. variant of coronavirus is found in Iowa, confirmed in three residents
Public health leader: 'This isn't the time to let our guards down'
Lina Tucker Reinders, executive director of the Iowa Public Health Association, said Friday evening that Reynolds is lifting the restrictions prematurely.
"I don't think it's a good idea, to put it bluntly," she said. "We're not out of the pandemic yet."
She said although coronavirus test positivity rates have decreased, they could spike again. As new variants of the virus surface, she said people need to continue taking the same recommended precautions they have been to slow the spread.
"We have so many people wanting a vaccine, which is fantastic," she said. "This isn't the time to let our guards down. This is the time to just, head-down, trudge on as we have been to make sure we get everybody through it."
U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, the only Democratic member of Iowa's congressional delegation, said Reynolds' new order was "short-sighted, ill-conceived, and dangerous."
"In recent weeks, I’ve spoken to the governor and our federal health partners about increasing Iowa’s vaccine allocations to bring us closer to ending this crisis," Axne said in a statement. "But this new proclamation undermines all of those efforts — disregarding the lagging vaccinations of our seniors and other vulnerable populations and skipping ahead to a return to normalcy that is unwarranted."
Since mid-November, Reynolds had required Iowans two years of age and older to wear masks if they were in indoor areas and spent 15 minutes or more within 6 feet of a person not in their households. The rule carried several exceptions.
Coronavirus in Iowa:Updated COVID-19 maps and charts track cases and data in Iowa and across the U.S.
Bars and restaurants now encouraged to be safe, not mandated to social distance
The governor's previous proclamation also required social distancing between groups at bars, restaurants, casinos, fitness centers and other establishments, as well as at social gatherings and sporting events.
"I strongly encourage that all businesses or other employers remaining open with in-person operations take reasonable measures under the circumstances of each establishment to ensure the health of employees, patrons and members of the public, including social distancing practices, increased hygiene practices and other public health measures," Reynolds' latest proclamation states.
The lifted restrictions drew immediate praise Friday from Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association.
Dunker said while Reynolds had not imposed specific capacity limits in businesses, the requirements for social distancing between groups had effectively limited the number of patrons a restaurant could serve.
She said most operators had been worried that the first quarter of the year would bring a further decrease in business, but she said the new order, "may well give us the lift we need to be able to see this thing to the other side."
"Quite frankly, it allows us to go back to doing business at a really critical time," she said. "We are … one day before the Super Bowl, which opens up a lot of businesses for crowds to come in and safely watch the big game."
Jeff Bruning, co-owner of Full Court Press, which operates El Bait Shop, the Iowa Taproom and other Des Moines metro restaurants, said "any snap decisions right now would be a little premature."
He said he doesn't see ownership removing barriers erected between booths or putting filling to capacity immediately.
"I'm not a doctor and (not) a disease specialist, so I don't know all these things, but I can say that the strength of the restaurant and bar business depends on us coming out of this the right way," he said.
More:Getting the COVID-19 vaccine: How to schedule an appointment in Iowa
Tobi Parks, co-owner of xBk Live, a music venue in the Drake business district, said she and her business partner had already made the decision to remain closed until April.
"We'll continue to monitor infection rates and make decisions on when and how to reopen based on the best scientific guidance we have at the time," she said.
Adam Flack, spokesperson for the Iowa Events Center, said lifting of restrictions will not affect Iowa Wild games or other events happening at the venue. The Iowa Events Center has been using a pod-seating system in which family groups may sit together but are separated by at least six feet from other groups.
"Our health and safety protocols, including physical distancing and mandating masks, will remain in effect until we have had time to consult with Polk County, Spectra's corporate office and our upcoming event and meeting clients," he said.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds lifts mask requirement, other restrictions starting Sunday (desmoinesregister.com)
The next wave is starting in the mid west againIowa's vaccination rate is 47th in the US
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa continues to have the third-worst vaccination rate per capita in the nation as the state reached a milestone Thursday of more than 5,000 people killed by the virus.
Speaking at her weekly news conference, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowa has been improving its vaccination efforts, which she argued have been slowed in part by lack of available vaccine. That uncertainty has made counties and healthcare providers hesitant to set up appointments, fearing they won’t have the vaccine available and be forced to cancel appointments, she said
5`
CONTINUED:
Iowa's vaccination rate is 47th in the US (kcci.com)
A more infectious U.K. variant of coronavirus is found in Iowa, confirmed in three residents
COVID-19 in Iowa: U.K. coronavirus variant found in state, 3 positive (desmoinesregister.com)
And yet......... they do THIS
Gov. Kim Reynolds lifting Iowa's mask requirements, gathering limits Sunday
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will lift the state's limited mask requirement on Sunday, along with the social distancing requirements and other COVID-19 mitigation measures she had in place for businesses and social gatherings.
Many states had already mask mandates for months before Reynolds ordered Iowans to wear masks in certain social settings in November. According to reports, 36 states still require people to wear masks, although North Dakota's requirement expired last month and Mississippi's mandate only covers counties with high virus infection rates.
Reynolds latest coronavirus emergency proclamation, issued Friday afternoon and effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, instead "strongly encourages Iowans, businesses and organizations to take reasonable public health measures consistent with guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health," Reynolds' spokesperson, Pat Garrett, said in an email.
A news release from Reynolds' office did not explain why she is relaxing the restrictions.
The lifted requirements come as Iowa's daily reported case numbers and hospitalizations have shown declines since their spike in November, and less than a week after the state opened up vaccine eligibility to hundreds of thousands of Iowans.
Still, the state reported another 804 confirmed cases Friday morning, and on Thursday the state surpassed the 5,000 deaths mark. Meanwhile, the coronavirus vaccine supply remains limited and in high demand, with Reynolds on Thursday saying Iowa ranks 47th in the nation in per capita vaccine distribution from the federal government and 46th in the rate of administering vaccines to residents.
Also, on Monday, state officials confirmed a new, more transmissible version of the coronavirus was now in Iowa.
More:A more infectious U.K. variant of coronavirus is found in Iowa, confirmed in three residents
Public health leader: 'This isn't the time to let our guards down'
Lina Tucker Reinders, executive director of the Iowa Public Health Association, said Friday evening that Reynolds is lifting the restrictions prematurely.
"I don't think it's a good idea, to put it bluntly," she said. "We're not out of the pandemic yet."
She said although coronavirus test positivity rates have decreased, they could spike again. As new variants of the virus surface, she said people need to continue taking the same recommended precautions they have been to slow the spread.
"We have so many people wanting a vaccine, which is fantastic," she said. "This isn't the time to let our guards down. This is the time to just, head-down, trudge on as we have been to make sure we get everybody through it."
U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, the only Democratic member of Iowa's congressional delegation, said Reynolds' new order was "short-sighted, ill-conceived, and dangerous."
"In recent weeks, I’ve spoken to the governor and our federal health partners about increasing Iowa’s vaccine allocations to bring us closer to ending this crisis," Axne said in a statement. "But this new proclamation undermines all of those efforts — disregarding the lagging vaccinations of our seniors and other vulnerable populations and skipping ahead to a return to normalcy that is unwarranted."
Since mid-November, Reynolds had required Iowans two years of age and older to wear masks if they were in indoor areas and spent 15 minutes or more within 6 feet of a person not in their households. The rule carried several exceptions.
Coronavirus in Iowa:Updated COVID-19 maps and charts track cases and data in Iowa and across the U.S.
Bars and restaurants now encouraged to be safe, not mandated to social distance
The governor's previous proclamation also required social distancing between groups at bars, restaurants, casinos, fitness centers and other establishments, as well as at social gatherings and sporting events.
"I strongly encourage that all businesses or other employers remaining open with in-person operations take reasonable measures under the circumstances of each establishment to ensure the health of employees, patrons and members of the public, including social distancing practices, increased hygiene practices and other public health measures," Reynolds' latest proclamation states.
The lifted restrictions drew immediate praise Friday from Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association.
Dunker said while Reynolds had not imposed specific capacity limits in businesses, the requirements for social distancing between groups had effectively limited the number of patrons a restaurant could serve.
She said most operators had been worried that the first quarter of the year would bring a further decrease in business, but she said the new order, "may well give us the lift we need to be able to see this thing to the other side."
"Quite frankly, it allows us to go back to doing business at a really critical time," she said. "We are … one day before the Super Bowl, which opens up a lot of businesses for crowds to come in and safely watch the big game."
Jeff Bruning, co-owner of Full Court Press, which operates El Bait Shop, the Iowa Taproom and other Des Moines metro restaurants, said "any snap decisions right now would be a little premature."
He said he doesn't see ownership removing barriers erected between booths or putting filling to capacity immediately.
"I'm not a doctor and (not) a disease specialist, so I don't know all these things, but I can say that the strength of the restaurant and bar business depends on us coming out of this the right way," he said.
More:Getting the COVID-19 vaccine: How to schedule an appointment in Iowa
Tobi Parks, co-owner of xBk Live, a music venue in the Drake business district, said she and her business partner had already made the decision to remain closed until April.
"We'll continue to monitor infection rates and make decisions on when and how to reopen based on the best scientific guidance we have at the time," she said.
Adam Flack, spokesperson for the Iowa Events Center, said lifting of restrictions will not affect Iowa Wild games or other events happening at the venue. The Iowa Events Center has been using a pod-seating system in which family groups may sit together but are separated by at least six feet from other groups.
"Our health and safety protocols, including physical distancing and mandating masks, will remain in effect until we have had time to consult with Polk County, Spectra's corporate office and our upcoming event and meeting clients," he said.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds lifts mask requirement, other restrictions starting Sunday (desmoinesregister.com)
Whistler RCMP hand out 5 COVID-19 fines, ticket driver for violating Quarantine Act
As Whistler struggles with a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases, local police have been busy with COVID-19-related calls.
bc.ctvnews.ca
Nova Scotia reports one new COVID-19 case; bringing total active in province to eight
Health officials in Nova Scotia identified one new case of COVID-19 as of Sunday. This brings the province's total active case count to eight. Sunday's case was identified in the province's Central Zone and is related to travel outside of Atlantic Canada. The person is self-isolating.
atlantic.ctvnews.ca
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A Vancouver restaurant owner is trying to fight back against the major food delivery apps by starting his own.
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Operator of 'makeshift nightclub' in Vancouver arrested, $17K in COVID-19 fines issued
Police in Vancouver have issued more than $17,000 in fines to partygoers discovered at a "makeshift nightclub" in a downtown penthouse in the early hours of Sunday morning.
bc.ctvnews.ca
Coronavirus vaccination tracker: How many people in Canada have received shots?
Canada has administered 86,063,579 doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far, in a landmark effort against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Recycling program for used face masks launched at select health facilities in Metro Vancouver
For frontline health-care workers, single-use personal protective equipment is a necessity as they support those who may be infected with the coronavirus.
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New BCCDC map shows full year's worth of COVID-19 case location data
Surrey residents accounted for nearly one-third of all COVID-19 cases recorded in B.C. in 2020, but the disease touched every corner of the province, according to new geographic data released by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
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Some B.C. regions now have 10 times as many COVID-19 cases as they had at the end of December
A new map showing cumulative COVID-19 cases in B.C. since the start of the pandemic highlights significant surges in infection rates in certain regions over the last month.
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New York City broadband providers won praise last year for giving students free internet service after the pandemic hit and schools went remote. Then came the bills.
The “free internet” deals were mostly limited-time promotions that brought new subscribers to companies like Optimum parent Altice USA Inc. and Spectrum parent Charter Communications Inc.
The companies’ internet divisions have reported double-digit growth during the pandemic thanks to soaring broadband demand. But some new subscribers say they were duped.
“They shouldn’t be charging now,” said Bibiana Hoyos, a Brooklyn parent who said she’s forgoing electricity payments to cover the internet fees that allow her children to stay in school.
Hoyos is one of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers living on the margins of access to the internet nearly a year into the pandemic. The crisis elevated connectivity from convenience to a necessity on par with water or heat.
Lack of broadband access is a problem across the U.S., where about a quarter of Americans don’t have service at home, according to 2019 data from Pew Research Center. But 1.5 million New Yorkers lack both home and mobile access, or about a fifth of residents, in what’s arguably the busiest, most connected city in the U.S.
‘Doing The Impossible’
Before the pandemic, Hoyos’s children -- Juan, 19; Gabriela, 18; and 12-year-old Joseph -- finished their community college and middle-school homework at school or at a library. That’s no longer an option. Her husband, a plumber and the family’s sole breadwinner, saw business drop 40% when Covid-19 hit. With only $1,500 coming in each month, they can no longer afford their $1,900 monthly rent.
So when Hoyos got an email from P.S. 299 in Brooklyn advertising a free service to get families online, she rushed to sign up. Optimum sent her a router. At first, Hoyos got invoices for $0. Then, the company began charging the family $14.99
That’s still a discounted rate, but Hoyos says she has to scrimp to make sure she has “$15 in my account, because if not, the bank charges me an overdraft fee,” said Hoyos, who’s behind on her electricity bills by about $1,000. “We’ve been doing the impossible to avoid that.”
It’s not just New York.
In Mississippi, New Mexico and Arkansas, the worst-ranked states, more than a fifth of households don’t have internet access, according to 2018 data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau.
Nonetheless, the pandemic pushed students across the country into virtual-only schooling. Without a reliable connection, logging on for live video instruction can be stressful. Many districts reported falling enrollment, and some teachers say many students just don’t show up.
In response, internet providers rolled out short-term promotional programs with two months of free Wi-Fi.
Spokespeople for the companies said they connected hundreds of thousands of students without broadband. John Bonomo, a Charter Communications spokesman, said the company connected 450,000 students, teachers, and families and forgave $85 million in overdue balances. The company declined to say how many people who signed up as first-time customers through the program have become paying customers. Altice spokeswoman Janet Meahan said the company “offers a variety of solutions to ensure students in the communities we serve have reliable access to broadband connectivity.”
Divide
A teacher instructs from her laptop on her roof in New York City.
Photographer: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Mayor’s Personal Appeal
Nearly three-quarters of the 1.1 million students in New York public schools, the nation’s largest system, are “economically disadvantaged,” according to the city’s Department of Education. Officials say the companies haven’t gone far enough to serve the most vulnerable.
“It’s nothing more than marketing,” said Jessica Tisch, New York City’s commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. “It’s promotion.”
Tisch said the city has been trying to persuade companies to grant free or reduced pricing to more families in need for years and that Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed to create universal broadband back in 2014.
The commissioner said the city is hamstrung. Although New York chooses companies for service charters, it primarily grants charters based on coverage rather than price. That reduces price competition, Tisch said.
Without formal authority, the city is merely an “aggressive advocate,” Tisch said.
Indeed, de Blasio sent letters to chief executives at Altice, Charter and Verizon Communications in October pleading with companies to extend their service to students in need.
“I am asking, on behalf of New Yorkers disproportionately impacted by this devastating pandemic, for Altice to do more for our city’s students,” de Blasio wrote in one of the letters seen by Bloomberg News. “We need broadband providers to step up and do their part. It’s time to provide free internet service to all New York City public school families who cannot afford an internet connection at home.”
The companies didn’t oblige. Instead, the city said Altice donated 250 iPads to the city and said it would give teachers a $5 monthly discount. Verizon also donated 20,000 portable hot spots, which use mobile phone service to create areas with Wi-Fi. Altice, Charter and Verizon all said they have discount programs for low-income customers that offer reduced prices for internet.
The city delivered 450,000 cellular-enabled iPads to students in need between March and December, and ordered 50,000 more, according to the education department. A spokeswoman said schools have ordered 100,000 additional mobile devices and that the city plans to install Wi-Fi in 200 homeless and domestic violence shelters.
“We have some students trying to follow lessons on their cellphones,” said Jasmine Gripper, who runs advocacy group Alliance for Quality Education. “There were kids in shelters who weren’t allowed to use the shelter’s Wi-Fi, or the shelter was in a dead zone.”
Adding to the confusion were offers of “free internet” that parents didn’t realize were limited-time promotions, Gripper said.
Copies of the promotions reviewed by Bloomberg News delineate that they were 60-day trials, and that service will cost $14.99 thereafter. But parents “weren’t clear on what they had signed up for,” she said.
Digital Divide
Closing the digital divide during the pandemic has been a Herculean lift for state and local governments. California, like New York, has called for universal broadband and providers have offered discounts or temporary free service.
Chicago Public Schools recently said all low-income public-school students will be eligible for free high-speed internet and that it plans to enroll 100,000 students by the school year’s end. The program was funded, in part, by billionaire hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin.
Uneven Access
Roughly a quarter of American homes don't have broadband service
Source: Pew Research Center surveys conducted between 2000-2019.
In Washington, more than 800 companies and associations signed a voluntary disconnection ban with the Federal Communications Commission, but that expired over the summer. U.S. lawmakers have asked internet providers for data on how many customers they’ve disconnected from service since.
“It just underscores in such a huge way the layers of inequity,” said Eilis Klein, director of operations at Yonkers Partners in Education, a nonprofit. “Some students just hit a wall.”
Read More: Coronavirus Exposes How Bad America’s Homework Gap Really Is
In the Bronx, Grisel Cardona said she signed up for what she thought was a free program so her daughter could attend virtual classes. But she could no longer afford her bill, so her 10-year-old daughter began tuning into class via cellular signals on an iPad. The poor connection has made her miss classes and she’s falling behind, Cardona said.
For now, Hoyos, the Brooklyn parent, said she has to prioritize Wi-Fi bills to avoid calls from the school.
“When the teacher calls me to tell me he’s not in class, it feels like my ground is shaken,” she said. “Why would he ever do that on purpose? The connection just fails.”
The “free internet” deals were mostly limited-time promotions that brought new subscribers to companies like Optimum parent Altice USA Inc. and Spectrum parent Charter Communications Inc.
The companies’ internet divisions have reported double-digit growth during the pandemic thanks to soaring broadband demand. But some new subscribers say they were duped.
“They shouldn’t be charging now,” said Bibiana Hoyos, a Brooklyn parent who said she’s forgoing electricity payments to cover the internet fees that allow her children to stay in school.
Hoyos is one of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers living on the margins of access to the internet nearly a year into the pandemic. The crisis elevated connectivity from convenience to a necessity on par with water or heat.
Lack of broadband access is a problem across the U.S., where about a quarter of Americans don’t have service at home, according to 2019 data from Pew Research Center. But 1.5 million New Yorkers lack both home and mobile access, or about a fifth of residents, in what’s arguably the busiest, most connected city in the U.S.
‘Doing The Impossible’
Before the pandemic, Hoyos’s children -- Juan, 19; Gabriela, 18; and 12-year-old Joseph -- finished their community college and middle-school homework at school or at a library. That’s no longer an option. Her husband, a plumber and the family’s sole breadwinner, saw business drop 40% when Covid-19 hit. With only $1,500 coming in each month, they can no longer afford their $1,900 monthly rent.
So when Hoyos got an email from P.S. 299 in Brooklyn advertising a free service to get families online, she rushed to sign up. Optimum sent her a router. At first, Hoyos got invoices for $0. Then, the company began charging the family $14.99
That’s still a discounted rate, but Hoyos says she has to scrimp to make sure she has “$15 in my account, because if not, the bank charges me an overdraft fee,” said Hoyos, who’s behind on her electricity bills by about $1,000. “We’ve been doing the impossible to avoid that.”
It’s not just New York.
In Mississippi, New Mexico and Arkansas, the worst-ranked states, more than a fifth of households don’t have internet access, according to 2018 data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau.
Nonetheless, the pandemic pushed students across the country into virtual-only schooling. Without a reliable connection, logging on for live video instruction can be stressful. Many districts reported falling enrollment, and some teachers say many students just don’t show up.
In response, internet providers rolled out short-term promotional programs with two months of free Wi-Fi.
Spokespeople for the companies said they connected hundreds of thousands of students without broadband. John Bonomo, a Charter Communications spokesman, said the company connected 450,000 students, teachers, and families and forgave $85 million in overdue balances. The company declined to say how many people who signed up as first-time customers through the program have become paying customers. Altice spokeswoman Janet Meahan said the company “offers a variety of solutions to ensure students in the communities we serve have reliable access to broadband connectivity.”
Divide
A teacher instructs from her laptop on her roof in New York City.
Photographer: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Mayor’s Personal Appeal
Nearly three-quarters of the 1.1 million students in New York public schools, the nation’s largest system, are “economically disadvantaged,” according to the city’s Department of Education. Officials say the companies haven’t gone far enough to serve the most vulnerable.
“It’s nothing more than marketing,” said Jessica Tisch, New York City’s commissioner of the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. “It’s promotion.”
Tisch said the city has been trying to persuade companies to grant free or reduced pricing to more families in need for years and that Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed to create universal broadband back in 2014.
The commissioner said the city is hamstrung. Although New York chooses companies for service charters, it primarily grants charters based on coverage rather than price. That reduces price competition, Tisch said.
Without formal authority, the city is merely an “aggressive advocate,” Tisch said.
Indeed, de Blasio sent letters to chief executives at Altice, Charter and Verizon Communications in October pleading with companies to extend their service to students in need.
“I am asking, on behalf of New Yorkers disproportionately impacted by this devastating pandemic, for Altice to do more for our city’s students,” de Blasio wrote in one of the letters seen by Bloomberg News. “We need broadband providers to step up and do their part. It’s time to provide free internet service to all New York City public school families who cannot afford an internet connection at home.”
The companies didn’t oblige. Instead, the city said Altice donated 250 iPads to the city and said it would give teachers a $5 monthly discount. Verizon also donated 20,000 portable hot spots, which use mobile phone service to create areas with Wi-Fi. Altice, Charter and Verizon all said they have discount programs for low-income customers that offer reduced prices for internet.
The city delivered 450,000 cellular-enabled iPads to students in need between March and December, and ordered 50,000 more, according to the education department. A spokeswoman said schools have ordered 100,000 additional mobile devices and that the city plans to install Wi-Fi in 200 homeless and domestic violence shelters.
“We have some students trying to follow lessons on their cellphones,” said Jasmine Gripper, who runs advocacy group Alliance for Quality Education. “There were kids in shelters who weren’t allowed to use the shelter’s Wi-Fi, or the shelter was in a dead zone.”
Adding to the confusion were offers of “free internet” that parents didn’t realize were limited-time promotions, Gripper said.
Copies of the promotions reviewed by Bloomberg News delineate that they were 60-day trials, and that service will cost $14.99 thereafter. But parents “weren’t clear on what they had signed up for,” she said.
Digital Divide
Closing the digital divide during the pandemic has been a Herculean lift for state and local governments. California, like New York, has called for universal broadband and providers have offered discounts or temporary free service.
Chicago Public Schools recently said all low-income public-school students will be eligible for free high-speed internet and that it plans to enroll 100,000 students by the school year’s end. The program was funded, in part, by billionaire hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin.
Uneven Access
Roughly a quarter of American homes don't have broadband service
Source: Pew Research Center surveys conducted between 2000-2019.
In Washington, more than 800 companies and associations signed a voluntary disconnection ban with the Federal Communications Commission, but that expired over the summer. U.S. lawmakers have asked internet providers for data on how many customers they’ve disconnected from service since.
“It just underscores in such a huge way the layers of inequity,” said Eilis Klein, director of operations at Yonkers Partners in Education, a nonprofit. “Some students just hit a wall.”
Read More: Coronavirus Exposes How Bad America’s Homework Gap Really Is
In the Bronx, Grisel Cardona said she signed up for what she thought was a free program so her daughter could attend virtual classes. But she could no longer afford her bill, so her 10-year-old daughter began tuning into class via cellular signals on an iPad. The poor connection has made her miss classes and she’s falling behind, Cardona said.
For now, Hoyos, the Brooklyn parent, said she has to prioritize Wi-Fi bills to avoid calls from the school.
“When the teacher calls me to tell me he’s not in class, it feels like my ground is shaken,” she said. “Why would he ever do that on purpose? The connection just fails.”
I couldn't remember if her story had been posted here before...
majesticpr.com
A no-bid contract to track vaccinations leads to frustration and a cease-and-desist letter. - Majestic PR
World|A no-bid contract to track vaccinations leads to frustration and a cease-and-desist letter.Tiffany Tate, executive director of the Maryland Partnership for Prevention, is accusing Deloitte and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of stealing her intellectual...
majesticpr.com
This fucker was on that bullshit with one foot in the grave and other about to step on the banana peel.
They have to do this
Or they may have you swipe your vaccination card and only the vaccinated can fly.
They should. Abso-fuckin'-lutely. Folks been traveling slangin' that shit back and forth between da states and abroad.
WHO says Covid 'most likely' originated in animals and spread to humans, dismisses lab leak theory
Scientists have been working in the Chinese city of Wuhan for the past four weeks as part of their search for clues to the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
WHO says Covid 'most likely' originated in animals and spread to humans, dismisses lab leak theory
Scientists have been working in the Chinese city of Wuhan for the past four weeks as part of their search for clues to the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.www.cnbc.com
WHO can't be trusted.
WHO says Covid 'most likely' originated in animals and spread to humans, dismisses lab leak theory
Scientists have been working in the Chinese city of Wuhan for the past four weeks as part of their search for clues to the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Motherfuckers are lying their assess off. No fucking way a naturally occurring virus is this transmissible, this globally deadly and then have the ability to mutate so many times, so quickly. Fuck China.
At this point let the culling begin. It's been an absolute messfess from top to bottom.
Yup
Negative COVID-19 test required at Canada's land borders starting Feb. 15
Anyone coming into Canada via a land border will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test starting Monday, Feb. 15.
www.citynews1130.com
B.C. doctors building network to treat, study COVID-19 'long-haulers' | CityNews Vancouver
The network is made up of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, OT, and social workers across the province.
www.citynews1130.com
Assault charges considered after worker spat in the face in Vancouver | CityNews Vancouver
Vancouver Police say when a convenience store worker refused to serve a man because he wouldn't wear a mask, the man spat in the employee's face.
www.citynews1130.com
B.C. health officer seeks injunction against churches violating COVID-19 ban on services
British Columbia's provincial health officer and attorney general are asking for a court injunction ordering three churches to follow public health rules banning in-person religious services.
www.citynews1130.com
CEO of B.C. health authority leaves organization after report into misspending
The head of a health authority in British Columbia is no longer with the organization following allegations related to misspending on various items including $7 million for respirators that didn't meet provincial standards.
www.citynews1130.com
Interview: Da 5 Blood director Spike Lee On Covid Vaccine, Trump Impeach Trial, Heading 2021 Cannes Jury more
‘Da 5 Blood’s Spike Lee On Covid Vaccine, Trump Impeach Trial, Heading 2021 Cannes Jury & What’s Needed To Keep Film Inclusion Wave From Crashing By Mike Fleming Jr Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, Film @DeadlineMikeMore Stories By Mike ‘Da 5 Blood’s Spike Lee On Covid Vaccine, Trump Impeach...
www.bgol.us
Fully vaccinated people can skip Covid quarantines, CDC says | CNN
People who have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus -- right now that means with two doses of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine -- can skip quarantine if they are exposed to someone infected with the virus, CDC said Wednesday.
That is really concerning me it goes down over the weekend but doing a week it goes right back up over 3000 this is a huge problem
CDC confirms that double-masking significantly helps prevent the spread of COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new report on Wednesday confirming what many experts had already suggested: wearing two masks prevents the spread of COVID-19 more than wearing just one mask. The CDC also reports that a tight mask fit is important and significantly protects the wearer from contracting COVID-19.
To double mask or not to double mask? Here's what one doctor says
With new variants of COVID-19 popping up, some people have started wearing two masks.
AUSTIN, Texas — Have you noticed people wearing two masks? KVUE's Molly Oak has. So she asked Dr. Brian Metzger, the medical director of infectious diseases at St. David's Medical Center, whether two masks are better than one.
"I think what's new to this right now is the fact that there are these new variants that are out there that are slightly more transmissible, that are, we're seeing in other countries around the world," Metzger said. "We're starting to pick them up here in the United States. And so, people are looking to add that added level of protection. And the CDC has been clear about the type of mask you should use, it's one that has two or three layers. And, typically, that's a mask that has those two or three layers kind of embedded in itself with a tight fabric. But this just adds that extra layer of fabric on top of your surgical mask."
However, Metzger said there isn't much research behind doubling up on your mask.
"It's not something that's backed by a significant amount of data at this point. Other than that, what has been studied are the multi-layers," Metzger said. "So, two layers is better than one and three better than two because it's all about blocking those droplets and viral particles with a barrier. And so, the more barriers you can add – obviously, up to a point, you need to still breathe – then the more that you're going to block either that you're expelling or that you're breathing in."
Metzger said he does see a benefit to wearing two masks in some situations.
"I think it's good to use in certain high-risk situations where you can't completely distance or you're in an indoor environment with several people. I think those are the better situations rather than double masking outside, which is a much lower risk environment," Metzger said.
He said grocery trips or shopping indoors are two examples of when a second mask could be beneficial.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new report on Wednesday confirming what many experts had already suggested: wearing two masks prevents the spread of COVID-19 more than wearing just one mask. The CDC also reports that a tight mask fit is important and significantly protects the wearer from contracting COVID-19.
To double mask or not to double mask? Here's what one doctor says
With new variants of COVID-19 popping up, some people have started wearing two masks.
AUSTIN, Texas — Have you noticed people wearing two masks? KVUE's Molly Oak has. So she asked Dr. Brian Metzger, the medical director of infectious diseases at St. David's Medical Center, whether two masks are better than one.
"I think what's new to this right now is the fact that there are these new variants that are out there that are slightly more transmissible, that are, we're seeing in other countries around the world," Metzger said. "We're starting to pick them up here in the United States. And so, people are looking to add that added level of protection. And the CDC has been clear about the type of mask you should use, it's one that has two or three layers. And, typically, that's a mask that has those two or three layers kind of embedded in itself with a tight fabric. But this just adds that extra layer of fabric on top of your surgical mask."
However, Metzger said there isn't much research behind doubling up on your mask.
"It's not something that's backed by a significant amount of data at this point. Other than that, what has been studied are the multi-layers," Metzger said. "So, two layers is better than one and three better than two because it's all about blocking those droplets and viral particles with a barrier. And so, the more barriers you can add – obviously, up to a point, you need to still breathe – then the more that you're going to block either that you're expelling or that you're breathing in."
Metzger said he does see a benefit to wearing two masks in some situations.
"I think it's good to use in certain high-risk situations where you can't completely distance or you're in an indoor environment with several people. I think those are the better situations rather than double masking outside, which is a much lower risk environment," Metzger said.
He said grocery trips or shopping indoors are two examples of when a second mask could be beneficial.
Instagram bans Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for false claims about COVID-19
The move comes just days after Facebook announced a tougher stance on misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines.
www.cnet.com
Instagram bans Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for false claims about COVID-19
Nephew of President John F. Kennedy recently linked baseball great Hank Aaron's death to "a wave of suspicious deaths among elderly closely following" vaccination.