Misdemeanor if Caught Outdoors, While Mercy Arrives to LA
The battle to contain coronavirus (COVID-19) continued this week, as the number of fatalities and number of people infected increased. According to Worldometer, the United States is now has the most cases worldwide, with more than 130 thousand cases and over two thousand deaths and counting.
“My biggest concern right now is people not listening to social distancing and making the virus last longer than it should,” said Santa Monica College (SMC) history major Daniel Kohanghadosh. “If everyone listens and actually practices what is being asked of them like washing hands, staying home if feeling sick, and social distancing I know that we will all get out of this together.
Two More SMC Students Test Positive
Superintendent Dr. Kathryn Jeffery announced on March 23 that two more students from SMC tested positive, and she highlighted the importance of taking precautions and “obeying the ‘Safer at Home’ order issued for Los Angeles until April 19.”
One of the SMC students diagnosed with COVID-19 has not been on campus since last spring 2019, as this student is currently attending East Los Angeles College (ELAC). The other student “was last at SMC on Wednesday, March 4,” according to SMC’s News Release.
Students in the cafeteria on the Santa Monica College (SMC) main campus, in the morning of the first day after the college's administration announced plans to initiate online classes in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday, March 12th 2020. (Marco Pallotti/The Corsair)
Attempts to Contain COVID-19 as California Adopts Tough Rules
Mayor Garcetti began to enforce the "Safer at Home" order on March 19, halting all non-essential movement outdoors. This week, the order expanded through a statement from the City of Los Angeles.
“We’re all safer at home, and that’s not a suggestion – it is the law,” said Garcetti. “Failure to obey this law would result to a misdemeanor that could be followed by “‘fines or jail time.’”
The City of Santa Monica also adopted these new measures as of March 23, clarifying that they are not adding new provisions but they are following the Governor's orders. Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole highlighted the possibility of getting fined if one does not conform to the safety orders.
“This will flatten the curve of infection and save lives in our community. Stay calm, stay informed, and stay healthy,” said Cole in an online press release.
By the end of the week that the measures were instated, Mayor Garcetti tweeted that he “is closing all public trails, beaches and piers within the county,” in order to increase measures against COVID-19.
“These are difficult decisions, but I agree they are vitally needed steps to protect the health and safety of our communities and save lives," said Garcetti.
Kohanghadosh said that “it is very saddening to be spending so much time in isolation during our prime years of making connections,” when he is motivated to go on campus to tutor students and help as many people as possible.
“I definitely miss getting on a grand piano," said SMC student Aviana Tiara Brown music major. “I'm very grateful for the small keyboards that were loaned out to students who had no keyboard at home, I was one of them.”
Police officers at the entrance to Santa Monica Pier, during the afternoon of its first day closed because of the Coronavirus pandemic, in Santa Monica, California, on Monday, March 16th 2020. (Marco Pallott/The Corsair)
2.2 Trillion to the Rescue for the Economical Downward Spiral Amid COVID-19
As a ripple effect that followed schools and business closures, the economy has been on shaky ground, as the filling for unemployment numbers increased in the week ending March 21, according to the online News Release from the Department of Labor.
In the meantime, President Donald Trump urged this week to reopen economical segments earlier than what was originally projected.
“Our people want to return to work. They will practice Social Distancing and all else, and Seniors will be watched over protectively & lovingly. We can do two things together. The cure cannot be worse (by far) than the problem,” President Trump tweeted on March 24.
“Makes no sense to me,” said SMC student Melonye Mizuno, a mother of two children, “because we haven't reached our peak yet with the pandemic spreading as fast as it is and to me that shows that he doesn’t care about our health or our future. Health has to improve first before our economy.”
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act was introduced on March 19 and was signed by the end of this week to help individuals, families and businesses financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the 2.2 trillion emergency aid at a press release on March 27, from the U.S. House of Representatives, as she thanked the Congressional Democratic leaders who “transformed [the bill] from corporate-focused to workers-first.”
This emergency financial aid expanded Unemployment Insurance (UI) and direct payments will be distributed among the working class of America. In addition, small businesses will also receive relief and the aid made “payroll costs, rent, mortgage interest and utility costs eligible for SBA loan forgiveness.” Student’s loans payments have also been ceased.
“I think it helps, but unfortunately it's not enough for those that would be out of work and the ones that lost their jobs and now have to stress to find means to provide for themselves or their families month after month, not knowing when this pandemic is safe to return back to our normal lives," said Mizuno.
The Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy docked on March 27 in the Port of Los Angeles. (Maxim Elramsisy/The Corsair)
Mercy Arrives to Los Angeles to Help Save Lives
On the medical side of the COVID-19 matters, the Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy docked on March 27 in the Port of Los Angeles in order to relieve medical facilities who are treating coronavirus patients. The USNS will not be treating coronavirus patients but instead will take patients battling health issues other than COVID-19 on board. Navy Rear Adm. John E. Gumbleton, Expeditionary Strike Group 3 commander, said the Mercy will enable local hospitals to concentrate their resources primarily to patients of COVID-19.
As the world is turning into a battlefield fighting to contain a pandemic virus, there is an uncertainty for how long this is going to last. Nonetheless, unity under the same conditions prevails as it unites people globally.
“My biggest concern is that this will never end and we will all live in the unknown, especially for my kids’ future,” said Mizuno. “I feel like we are all faced with the same stress and it makes us feel united as one, having to deal with this pandemic together.”
