APRIL 11-14, 2020 Volume 30 - No. 28 • 2 Sections – 20 Pages
LA County’s stay-at-home order, business closures extended until May 15 Virus cases reach over 8K, with 500 Asians testing positive by AJPRESS
This comes as 18 new deaths and 475 new cases of COVIDLOS ANGELES County officials 19 were reported on Friday. To on Friday, April 10 announced date, 8,430 positive cases and that the stay-at-home order will 241 deaths have been recorded be extended until at least May 15 since early March when the outas new incidences of the novel break first hit the county. “We are announcing an extencoronavirus continue to be resion of our current order to May ported in the region. The previous directive, which 15, 2020 and the extension inwas announced a month ago, cludes a couple new measures,” said LA County Department of was set to expire on April 16.
USA
Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer during the daily briefing on Friday. She reminded that all indoor and outdoor private gatherings and events continue to be prohibited; beaches, parks, trails remain closed; nonessential businesses will continue to be closed. “Not because it isn’t working…It’s because it is working, u PAGE A2
THANK YOU FRONT-LINERS. Los Angeles City Hall lit up in blue on Thursday night, April 9 in honor of health care professionals and other essential workers braving the front lines amid the coronavirus pandemic. LA County has the highest number of positive cases in California, reaching over 8,400 as of Friday. Photo courtesy of the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
Health chief: PH has one of lowest How small Fil-Am businesses are nourishing virus infection rates in the world HOSPITALITY, ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AND PAN DE SAL
DATELINE front-liners of the coronavirus pandemic LA increases measures on workplace protection for non-medical essential businesses FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
Garcetti expresses support for AAPI community, condemns uptick in COVID-19-related discrimination
THE City of Los Angeles has increased worker protections and requirements for “non-medical essential” employees across the city, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced in a press briefing on Tuesday, April 7. Effective Friday, April 10, the new order requires employees at grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants, hotels, taxis and rideshare vehicles, construction sites and other essential businesses to wear cloth-based coverings over their mouths and noses while on the job. Employers are required to provide these coverings or reimburse the cost of these facial coverings which are becoming more readily available. The order also requires that these workplaces u PAGE A5
Fil-Am front-liners in the East Coast perish in fight against coronavirus AMONG the highest number of casualties in this global public health crisis are on the front lines and since the coronavirus outbreak across the globe began, over 100 doctors and nurses around the world have died. In the 10 states covered by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the reported number is less than 10, according to Consul Arman Talbo who also issued a correction on earlier media reports that said 40 doctors and nurses have died because of COVID-19. The number as of press time stands at 22 deaths in the community and that includes the front-liners. This number only represents the deaths reported to the Consulate by different sources in the community. But because of some restrictions and some deaths have been u PAGE A4
THIS current moment has been described as many things: a chance for selfreflection, a practice of selflessness, a collective meditative mental health reset. And, it is most certainly all those things. But it is also a case study in entrepreneurial spirit and how maintaining a sense of community — even during a period of physical distance — is crucial. Since the threat of the COVID-19 virus ballooned in the last several weeks, hospitals and medical workers have been work-
ing nonstop to treat patients and maintain a productive and healthy workspace. As a response to that, a wide scope of organizations as well as businesses have been putting forth efforts to give back and try to weather through a time of economic precarity. Despite being among the hardest hit during pandemic emergency measures, local Filipino American business owners have begun supporting community frontliners who have had their own lives and jobs flipped upside down since the outbreak. u PAGE A3
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
THE Philippines reportedly has a “low” number confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases compared to other countries, according to claims by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. The country’s ratio of COVID-19 infection is two for every one million of the population, the secretary said on Thursday, April 9. “‘Pagka ihahambing po natin ang bilang ng mga may impeksyon sa Pilipinas ay isa po tayo sa may pinakamababa na
bilang, sa 3,764 as of [Thursday]. At ito pong bilang na ito ay lumalabas dalawa ang total case per 1 million population. Isa po tayo sa pinakamababa (If we compare the number of infections in the Philippines, we are one of those with the lowest number, with 3,764 as of Tuesday. This figure shows a total of two cases per 1 million population. We are one of those with the lowest number),” he said. Duque noted that having the lowest number of infections was a result of the preventive measures implemented by President u PAGE A4
440 Filipino seafarers return to the PH those onboard the the Norwegian Pearl, Sky, and Sun cruise ships, the Department of Foreign AROUND 440 Filipino seafar- Affairs (DFA) said in a release. ers who worked on several ships A total of 1,000 overseas Filipino in the United States returned to workers (OFWs) from the U.S. and the Philippines on Friday, April Europe are slated to come home 10 amid the novel coronavirus as part of the DFA’s repatriation efforts. The group will be quaranFil-Am bakery Creme Caramel LA partnered with Kindness + Mischief Coffee to deliver pan de sal and beverages to hospitals, (COVID-19) pandemic. The individuals were among including the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital and Sherman Oaks Hospital. u PAGE A2 by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
Fil-Am supporters lament end of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign by CHRISTINA
M. ORIEL
AJPress
ADRIEN Salazar knocked on hundreds of doors ahead of the New Hampshire primary and organized #FilipinosforBernie gatherings in Oakland and Los Angeles leading up to Super Tuesday this past March. Salazar was one of the thousands of Filipino Americans across the country who rallied behind Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, actively shared his platform on social media and volunteered for the campaign. The senator’s progressive proposals of Medicare For All, free public college, student debt cancellation, and raising the minimum wage seemed to resonate with them, as noted by Fil-Am supporters — including elected officials — the Asian Journal has interviewed through the primary cycle. The slogan “Not Me, Us,” as well as campaign signs and materials in Tagalog, made them
feel seen and heard. “He made it from the very beginning that a vision for transforming America is what he was about. I was really excited about that. He was a candidate that could potentially do it and get to the root of these problems so that’s why I volunteered for the campaign,” said Salazar, a climate justice advocate based in New York. Jollene Levid, a union organizer for United Teacher Los Angeles, was a Sanders supporter in 2016 and jumped on board from the get-go when he announced his 2020 bid. She spent several days in Las Vegas precinct walking and volunteering during the Nevada caucuses last February. Like Salazar and Levid, #FilipinosforBernie believed in the “political revolution” and did their part in hopes of propelling Sanders to the White House this time around The campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders had signs in various languages, including come November. one in Tagalog, which said “Magkaisa Tayo Para Kay Bernie (Let’s Unite for Bernie).” u PAGE A4 Photo courtesy of Adrien Salazar