New Jersey state to expand it's testing New York

NYC Streetball courts silenced due to pandemic and may continue to be empty for long

The pandemic had caused widespread silence in all forms of sports. The playgrounds and court are empty, and the familiar sounds which came on bouncing of balls, smashing of shoes to floor and ringing sound of balls careening off rims have not heard since long.

The emptiness of courts is more visible for New York streetball as it was a part of life for many people as they get into the courts and get their clothes dirty even after returning from work or school.

Since New York Mayor Bill de Blasio passed the order, some of the iconic streetball landmarks, including Rucker Park in Harlem, Brooklyn's Gersh Park, "The Cage" on West 4th Street in Greenwich Village are empty, and the familiar soundtrack is also missing.

On March 26, de Blasio ordered to remove the rims 80 playground basketball courts in the city to stop people from coming to these places, which weren't adhering to the order of social distancing and stay-at-home.

New York State's current stay-at-home order will end on Friday as the Phase 1 starts to reopen the state gradually. Three more phases are planned until now, but the recreation activities may not be allowed until the fourth or final phase.

Priest on Virus Front Lines With Embattled Congregation

Raul Luis López was a young man of 39 years old whose native in Mexico. He married a woman named Sara Cruz who is from Queens, Newyork. He was analyzed to get attacked by the deadly virus Covid-19 and admitted in the hospital on April 3rd. He also suffered from Diabetes which puts his health in an even risky state. That was the last day his wife saw him. Unfortunately, he passed away. López was not given a chance to bid goodbye to his family.

It is a tradition to do a funeral service to make the soul rest in peace. Rev. Fabian Arias, a Catholic priest from Argentina was longing to get a funeral home to do the last service of López. Most Funeral homes denied the request. Some homes accepted, but with a huge amount of money saying “10,000 $ or 15,000 $”.

It is impossible to pay such a huge amount by a very common family. At last, the funeral service takes place very calmly in the living room of the widow, where her husband’s ash is kept in a black box surrounded by flowers and candles. His cousin made a note that they would have sent the corpse to Mexico where his parent lives, but the International flights are not available. Only a dozen of family members gathered there with masks, gloves and the service took place by maintaining very good social distancing. After the service they all had dinner maintaining as much distance they can. Finally, father Fabian was satisfied that the funeral service was completed in a good manner and now the soul of López will rest in peace.

Homeless moving to buses for shelter when being removed from subways, some had taken support from government

The subways are now clear after the trains come to a halt after there last trip. New York City subways were never seen so clear and without homeless people taking shelter here. After the trains stop every night, those are disinfected and cleaned for next day use.

NYPD and city outreach workers are trying to provide help to homeless people by sending them to shelters, especially those who live on subways for the night. Mayor Bill De Blasio said that 139 homeless of 252 engaged in the first night of MTA shutdown accepted to take support and gone to stay at the shelters. Around 882 people living on subways and stations had been removed, and 60% chose the accommodations provided by the government.

Still, many refused help and feel safer at subways or just change the modes of transport.

Many had started taking shelter in the city's buses instead of subways. Some people have begun using shuttle buses for essential workers. According to transit workers, as the trains come to a halt from 1 am to 5 am to get disinfected, refugees from subway head to buses to take a ride.

"We have never seen results like this in our history, that this many people accepted services, and came in a single night. And it's happened three nights in a row," the mayor said.

Man and his pregnant girlfriend died in Action triple shooting

A man and his pregnant girlfriend killed in a triple shooting on Staten Island, and a man was taken in police custody, according to Police Department. According to fire officials, the incident happened around 5 p.m. inside a house on Grandview Drive in the Mariners Harbor neighborhood. When Police arrived after being reported about the occurrence, they saw three people suffering gunshot wounds.

Three victims included Alafia Rodriguez,46, and Ana Desousa,33 who were dating and living together in the house, and it was also considered that Desousa was pregnant, said Police. Both were declared dead on the spot. Another victim, a 45-year-old woman, was shot in the torso and was immediately taken to the hospital. She had injuries but was stable, said Police. A 1-year-old girl was also found in the house, but she was safe.

The suspect of the crime Phillip Moreno, 45, was caught by the Police while trying to leave the house when Police arrived. Police also found a semi-automatic gun from him, with a silencer. The reason for the shooting is still unclear, and the investigation is still going on. The charges are still pending against Moreno. According to Police, Moreno was out on parole after serving 14 years of imprisonment for the 1992 killing of Theodis Watson in the Mariners Harbor Houses when he was 17.

Vulnerability makes the nurses quit amidst pandemic

With the tangibly impending threat of getting infected with the fatal COVID-19 virus not only encompassing themselves but their family members as well in wake of working in genuinely straining and medically incapacitated conditions in the hospitals, the nurses who were earlier being touted as heroes in America have decided to quit with a heavy heart; all thanks to the newly laid protocols from Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

The necessary guidelines regarding personal protective equipment were willingly decided to be in a forswear mode under the new protocols with CDC sanctioning replacement of N95 masks through commercial-grade masks, surgical masks as well as homemade masks, such as scarves and bandanas, jeopardising the previous acceptable standard of protective care for both patients and medical personnel when the nation paid substantial heed to the withering medical supplies during the early stage of the ongoing pandemic. The nurses who were fighting the disease on the front line with sweat and sincerity were, thus, vulnerable enough to let go of their jobs along with facing black lashes as the new guidelines lacked any exhibit or assurance of significant protection.

McArthur airport uses new technology to keep airport safe and increase number of passengers

The total number of flights flying from or to Long Island' Mac Arthur Airport had reduced to four every day, which is an 89% drop in numbers after the pandemic had started to spread.

According to officials, the new device which is installed in MacArthur airport around terminals can have many benefits for safety and sanitation.

The device is named CASPR-Continuous Air and Surface Pathogen Reduction – and it kills 99.9% pathogens present in the air and the surfaces nearby. According to MacArthur Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken, this device will be useful in bringing back passengers and create a belief of safety amongst them.

CASPR converts oxygen and moisture into hydrogen peroxide, which, when released in the air and on the surfaces, kills any pathogens present.

"It's not new, it's proven in the medical environment, and there's data behind it," said airport consultant Edward Shelswell-White. According to him, hospitals still use such devices, and levels of hydrogen peroxide are not harmful.

LaRose-Arken said that MacArthur is the first airport to use this technology, and shortly other bigger airports can also use this to increase the number of passengers. Eight units were installed in the terminals and cost roughly $10,000.

Tempe Mayor demands restaurants to report safety measures they intend to follow

Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell announced an emergency on Tuesday calling out all the restaurants

to report the safety measures they are going to put in implementation as they reopen their

businesses.

This decision is the effect of pictures of people eating and drinking at a popular restaurant in

Mill Avenue, C.A.S.A. that went viral, questioning the safety precautions.

Tempe police responded to the situation and visited the restaurant on Monday night and found

that the restaurant management and the visitors are following the safety guidelines.

Though no citations were given, the restaurant management was advised to increase distance

between a couple of tables.

Mitchell said “This did not meet my expectations for what it looks like to re-open safely and

responsibly, this is an opportunity to work together and educate people on what is being

required of them during the COVID-19 pandemic so that we can all remain safe.”

The Governer also said the police have the right ask for a copy of the safety measures in

implementation in case of any concerns regarding physical distancing and health. In case of an

establishment not providing the information will be considered as class one misdemeanour.

Fort Bend County is among top 10 locations to watch

According to the new White House Coronavirus Task Force report, NBC News reports, Fort Bend

County stands among the top 10 locations to watch owing to it recording a 64.8 per cent increase

in the number of coronavirus cases.

According to the data, Houston county has 272 fresh coronavirus cases reported in the last

seven days and as of May 11th, Fort Bend County has reported 1404 fresh cases.

"From day one we put a lot of focus on testing because that’s the only way we can find out

how deep this problem,’ said Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George in an interview with KPRC 2

Tuesday.

George said that the spike has been anticipated due to poor testing availability and added,

"When you test more people you are going to find more people that are positive for COVID-19.”

Arizona to reopen its state economy

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Tuesday that pools, gyms, fitness centres, spas, and massage

therapists would be able to reopen for business on Wednesday, May 13, part of his phased-in

approach to reopening the state's economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona announced on Tuesday that the City's pools, gyms, spas and

massage therapists may reopen their businesses from Wednesday, May 13th.

This reopening is a part of the phase-wise reopening of the state's economy and the stay at home

order will end on May 15th but the people are advised to continue practising all the safety

measures whatsoever.

Since nothing was mentioned about the reopening of movie theatre’s and bar's in the press

conference, the Governor office later stated that they may as well reopen from May 16th if they

wish to.

Las aerolíneas latinoamericanas buscan un rescate para evitar el destino de Avianca - elEconomistaAmérica (Argentina)

Avianca Holdings sabía desde marzo que la liquidez de la aerolínea colombiana solo conseguiría cubrir sus gastos por unos cuantos meses mientras su flota se encontrara totalmente en tierra por causa de las cuarentenas para frenar la propagación del coronaviru…

Iglesia de Miami niega implicaciones en atentado a embajada de Cuba en Washington - CiberCuba

"Lo único que sabemos es que asistió por varios meses a nuestra iglesia en el 2018. Luego supimos que se había mudado de la ciudad" dijo el pastor.

El pastor Frank López, de la Iglesia Doral Jesus Worship Center, negó las supuestas implicaciones de él y su congregación con el atacante a la embajada de Cuba en Estados Unidos, como aseguró este martes el canciller Bruno Rodríguez desde La Habana. "Lo único que sabemos es que asistió por varios meses a nuestra iglesia en el 2018. Luego supimos que se había mudado de la ciudad", dijo el religioso sobre Alexander Alazo, el hombre detenido en Washington por disparar al cuerpo diplomático cubano.  En un comunicado obtenido por CiberCuba, López lamenta la situación por la que pasa este cubano y su familia, a quienes tienen presente en sus oraciones. "Nuestro mensaje como iglesia está basado 100% en los principios bíblicos y en el mensaje de Salvación del Señor Jesucristo. Es un lugar donde las puertas están abiertas para todo aquel que quiera venir a adorar y buscar comunión con Dios, sin importar ideales políticos", apuntó. Su respuesta viene después de que el máximo funcionario del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MINREX) de Cuba acusó a EE.UU. de ocultar información sobre el atentado a la embajada cubana en Washington.  Rodríguez incluyó a la Iglesia Doral Jesus Worship Center, en el noroeste de Miami, y su pastor López entre los supuestos lazos de Alazo con "individuos que pertenecen a agrupaciones que apoyan al actual gobierno de Estados Unidos, pero que también incitan constantemente a la violencia y el odio contra Cuba", según dijo en la conferencia de prensa.  El diplomático cubano apuntó que en esa iglesia "se reúnen regularmente personas con conocidas conductas a favor de la agresión, la hostilidad, la violencia y el extremismo contra Cuba".  Otra de los acusados por Rodríguez, la opositora cubana Yoaxis Marcheco, también desmintió los supuestos vínculos con Alazo y defendió al pastor López. "No puedo dejar de mencionar la bajeza de este figurín del régimen castristra al mencionar al pastor Frank López de la Iglesia Jesus Worship Center del Doral como alguien que instigó al tirador, no se puede ser más burdo en las acusaciones", escribió en Facebook. Las autoridades de Cuba fueron prudentes en el primer momento que se conoció el ataque de Alazo a la embajada. Sin embargo, posteriormente volvieron al tono habitual de culpar a Estados Unidos y acusarlo incluso de proteger a un terrorista. El canciller cubano fue uno de los primeros en señalar a la administración de Donald Trump y luego el gobernante designado Miguel Díaz-Canel afirmó, en la misma línea, que fue un acto de odio. "No compartir con país atacado toda la información equivale a tolerancia y revive historia de terrorismo contra Cuba", agregó. Por su parte, un alto funcionario del Departamento de Estado ratificó a CiberCuba el compromiso de EE.UU. con la protección de sedes diplomáticas y la embajada estadounidense en Cuba condenó el atentado contra el cuerpo diplomático.  El Servicio Secreto y la policía de Washington, por su parte, investigan al cubano implicado en el incidente, quien permanece en prisión preventiva y deberá comparecer este jueves ante el juez.  Hasta ahora la información divulgada por documentos judiciales, señala que Alazo padece de esquizofrenia y temor constante a ser perseguido por agentes de la Seguridad del Estado de Cuba. Esa paranoia lo llevó a dormir durante semanas en su automóvil y en la madrugada del 30 de abril atacó al cuerpo diplomático de la isla en Washington con un fusil AK-47. Sin embargo, José Ramón Cabañas, embajador cubano en EE.UU., duda del perfil divulgado del sospechoso y señaló en una entrevista con medios estatales que la información fue filtrada para crear "una matriz de opinión incluso antes de que se conozca la información de manera oficial". Alexander Alazo está acusado de atacar con violencia a funcionarios e instalaciones extranjeras, dañar de forma intencional la propiedad de un gobierno extranjero y usar un arma no registrada, según el documento de acusación del gobierno de EE.UU.

Carmen Meléndez: En unos pocos días vamos a ir normalizando la administración de carga #13May - El Impulso

Este miércoles Carmen Melendez indicó a través de su programa de radial sobre la COVID-19 en el estado Lara, que su equipo se encuentra evaluando los sistemas de generación eléctrica en la región a propósito de los constantes apagones que afectan al estado La…

Este miércoles Carmen Melendez indicó a través de su programa de radial sobre la COVID-19 en el estado Lara, que su equipo se encuentra evaluando los sistemas de generación eléctrica en la región a propósito de los constantes apagones que afectan al estado Lara en medio de la cuarentena social. En unos pocos días vamos a ir normalizando la administración de carga, un día sí u otro no, o disminuyendo los tiempos, aseguró Carmen Meléndez al final de su programa de radio. Meléndez también destacó que la implementación de una nueva ruta de transporte desde Cabudare hasta Barquisimeto a partir de este jueves 14 de mayo. La ruta tendrá parada única en ambos municipios. La parada de Cabudare estará ubicada en la avenida La Mata con calle 1 y la parada en Barquisimeto estará en los alrededores de la Plaza La Mora en la carrera 24 con calle 23. El costo del pasaje será de Bs. 10 mil bolívares. Por su parte, el General de división José Santiago Moreno Martínez, jefe de la Zona Operativa de Defensa Integral (ZODI) informó sobre la captura de individuos presuntamente pertenecientes a grupos delincuenciales en la región, durante un operativo en el sector Lomade León en el oeste de Barquisimeto. En otro orden de ideas, Carmen Meléndez hizo un llamado a los comerciantes del centro de Barquisimeto a mantener limpios el frente de sus negocios. Hay negocios que ayer dejaron el basurero regado en la calle y no lo vamos a permitir. Negocios que no recojan su basura serán cerrados individualmente. De igual forma informó que continúan recibiendo migrantes en las instalaciones de la Villa Bolivariana recibiendo la atención necesaria y aplicandoles las pruebas correspondientes.