washingtontimes--2020-10-14--The Latest: India reports over 63,000 new coronavirus cases

CANBERRA , Australia - Australia ’ s prime minister said on Thursday his government was giving priority to reopening air services to Japan , Singapore and South Korea .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had discussed reopening air routes with the leaders of all three countries .
He described Japan and South Korea as “ two countries that have done particularly well ” in dealing with the pandemic .
“ There are a number of countries we ’ re looking at to see what we can do probably next year .
We ’ re not going to rush into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three Asian countries “ are my current priorities in how we would pursue that , ” he added .
Australia will allow travelers from neighboring New Zealand to arrive without hotel quarantine from Friday .
New Zealand has eradicated community transmission of COVID-19 .
But New Zealand will continue to insist travelers from Australia quarantine for two weeks on arrival .
Australia reported only 12 new cases of community transmission of the virus on Thursday .
Australia ’ s most populous states , New South Wales and Victoria , reported six each .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : - Russian President Vladimir Putin announces regulatory approval for a second coronavirus vaccine after early-stage studies .
- Scientists say among 21 developed countries at start of the coronavirus pandemic , those with early lockdowns , solid national health systems avoided more deaths .
- Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is back in Italy after testing positive for the coronavirus in Portugal .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has reported 110 new cases of the coronavirus as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s latest cluster of infections .
The numbers released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Thursday brought the national caseload to 24,988 , including 439 deaths .
Half of the new cases were reported from Busan , a southern port city where at least 54 infections were tied to a hospital for the elderly .
More than 40 cases were reported from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area , where health workers have struggled to track infections tied to various places and groups , including hospitals , churches , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in infections is a cause of concern in a country that has just lowered it social distancing measures , allowing high-risk venues like nightclubs and karaoke bars to reopen and spectators to return to professional sports .
Health officials are planning to test 160,000 employees at hospitals , nursing homes and welfare centers for senior citizens in Seoul and nearby areas in part of efforts to prevent outbreaks at these facilities .
MEXICO CITY - Mexico reported Wednesday that a total of 1,744 health-care workers have died so far of COVID-19 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it but their test results are still pending .
The number of doctors , nurses , technicians and hospital employees confirmed to have been infected with the novel coronavirus in Mexico now amounts to 127,053 .
That means health care professionals account for about 15 % of all Mexico ’ s confirmed coronavirus cases , and about 18 % of all COVID-19 deaths .
The Health Department said that of those who died , 42 % were nurses , 26 % were doctors , and 32 % were technicians , cleaning staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the highest rates of medical-personnel deaths in the world , and hospital employees have staged a number of demonstrations in Mexico to protest insufficient personal protective equipment .
But Health Department officials denied the death rates was because of a lack of protective gear .
To support its point , the department issued figures showing that furloughed workers - those granted leave because they had pre-existing conditions that put them at risk - had fallen ill and died with greater frequency than health care workers who remained on the job .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ job did not translate into higher infection rates .
Active-service health care workers largely mirrored Mexico ’ s over-all fatality rate of almost 67 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants .
But health professionals on leave died at a rate of about 126 per 100,000 .
SWAMPSCOTT , Mass .
- Housing activists marched to Gov .
Charlie Baker ’ s home on Wednesday to call on him to support more robust protections against evictions and foreclosures during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
About 100 to 150 protesters said the Republican governor and Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back a comprehensive eviction prevention measure intended to help stabilize renters , homeowners and small landlords for a year as Massachusetts weathers the ongoing crisis .
The bill would ensure tenants can not be evicted because of missed rent if the nonpayment was because of COVID-19 , giving them time to get owed rental payments and other assistance in place .
It would also prevent “ no fault ” evictions and rent increases for 12 months following the state of emergency , guard against foreclosure and strengthen forbearance protections , allowing homeowners and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pause their mortgage and put missed payments on the end of the loan .
Baker on Monday unveiled a $ 171 million initiative that he said will help tenants and landlords cope with the fiscal challenges of the ongoing pandemic .
The goal of the initiative is to keep tenants in their homes and ease the ongoing expenses of landlords once the state ’ s pause on evictions and foreclosures expires on Saturday , Baker said .
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota health officials reported 29 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday , the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June , as the coronavirus spreads at high levels across the state .
The Minnesota Department of Health also reported 1,254 new coronavirus cases , a number boosted by the department ’ s decision to start reporting probable cases , as determined by newer technology antigen tests , in addition to confirmed cases identified by the more common and more accurate PCR tests , also known as molecular tests .
The grand case total reported Wednesday included 40 probable cases on top of 1,214 new confirmed cases , which raised Minnesota ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 115,943 , including 180 total probable cases to date .
The state ’ s death toll rose to 2,180 , including six deaths from probable cases .
The department said in its announcement that antigen tests are less accurate PCR tests , which are considered the gold standard .
But antigen tests have the advantages of producing faster results and being usable by providers that don ’ t have full laboratories .
Both technologies look at whether someone is actively infected with the virus .
BISMARCK , N.D. - Gov .
Doug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level in several North Dakota counties but issued no mandated restrictions , even as the state ’ s number of active COVID-19 cases has risen to record levels every day for the past week .
Burgum moved 16 counties from moderate risk to high under the state ’ s five-level plan to set coronavirus management protocols for everything from businesses to family gatherings .
The guidance for high-risk counties includes limiting businesses occupancy to 25 % with a cap of 50 people and encouraging businesses to require masks .
The guidelines are only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the goal is “ decreasing transmissible moments.
” The guidance for moderate-risk counties includes cutting capacity at businesses to 50 % , with a cap of 100 people .
Burgum has avoided statewide mandates such as mask-wearing , instead stressing a personal responsibility message .
He has said the five-level color-coded guidelines are to be used by local leaders “ as a baseline for their own policies.
” Earlier Wednesday , North Dakota health officials confirmed 713 new positive COVID-19 cases and 159 new active cases , along with eight additional deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in North Dakota over the past two weeks , which ranks first in the country for new cases per capita .
BERLIN - Chancellor Angela Merkel and the governors of Germany ’ s 16 states have agreed to tighten mask-wearing rules and make bars close early in areas where coronavirus infection rates are high .
Wednesday ’ s meeting came hours after the country reported more than 5,000 infections in one day for the first time since mid-April .
While Germany is still in better shape than many other European countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Officials recommended that mask-wearing — already required since April on public transport and in shops — should also be made obligatory in public places where people are packed closely together in districts where there are more than 35 new infections per 100,000 residents per week .
They also called for bars in those districts to be closed early .
In areas where infections top 50 infections per 100,000 people over seven days — until now the point at which local authorities have had to take action — gatherings in public and private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many of Germany ’ s major cities have exceeded the 50 mark in recent days , among them Berlin , Cologne , Duesseldorf , Frankfurt , Stuttgart and Munich .
State governments are responsible for imposing and lifting virus-related restrictions .
PHOENIX - An Arizona State University public health expert has raised concerns after the average number of confirmed daily coronavirus cases in Arizona has risen over the last two weeks .
The state ’ s average number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased from 476 cases a day on Sept. 29 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ averaged more than 4,000 additional cases a day in late June and early July when it was experiencing its most serious spread of the virus .
ASU Biodesign Institute Executive Director Dr. Joshua LaBaer said Wednesday that the current situation reminds him of June .
Arizona has recorded 227,635 confirmed virus cases and 5,772 deaths since the pandemic began in March .
ST. LOUIS - Fifty-six residents of Missouri veterans homes have died of COVID-19 since Sept. 1 , including 25 at one facility in southeast Missouri .
Missouri Veterans Commission spokesperson Jamie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the deadliest outbreak was in Cape Girardeau , where 20 residents died in September and five more have died in October , through Monday .
Melchert said 13 residents died at another veterans home in the southwestern Missouri town of Mt .
Vernon , 12 others died in St. James and six more died in Warrensburg .
He said 38 of the deaths occurred in September .
Before then , the only confirmed coronavirus death in a Missouri veterans home was in April in north St. Louis County .
Republican Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of operations at the veterans homes on Oct. 2 , but didn ’ t say how many veterans had died .
Melchert said the St. Louis law firm Armstrong Teasdale will handle the review .
WASHINGTON - First lady Melania Trump says Barron Trump tested positive at one point for the coronavirus but has subsequently tested negative .
The first lady says in a post on the White House website that “ my fear came true ” when 14-year-old Barron tested positive for the virus .
She says “ luckily he is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump announced nearly two weeks ago that he and the first lady had tested positive for the virus .
The president ended up going to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment and has since returned to the White House and to the campaign trial , while the first lady quarantined at the White House .
The first lady says that in one way she was glad “ the three of us went through this at the same time so we could take care of one another and spend time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s happy to report she has tested negative and that she hopes to resume her duties as soon as she can , adding that “ along with this good news , I want people to know that I understand just how fortunate my family is to have received the kind of care that we did.
” TOPEKA , Kan. - Kansas has reported its largest seven-day increases in both COVID-19-related deaths and new coronavirus cases .
The state Department of Health and Environment said Wednesday that Kansas had another 67 deaths since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % , to bring the total for the pandemic to 838 .
But it wasn ’ t clear how many of those fatalities were older and just being reported now as local and state health officials examine death certificates from previous months .
The state also said it had 1,293 new confirmed or probable cases over two days , a 1.9 % increase that brought the total for the pandemic to 69,155 .
The state averaged 743 new cases a day for the seven days ending Wednesday , surpassing the record of 736 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
OMAHA , Neb .
- Nebraska officials say Halloween celebrations may need to be tweaked this year because of the coronavirus pandemic as the state continues to set records for the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations .
Gov .
Pete Ricketts said Wednesday that he thinks children will still be able to go trick-or-treating for Halloween but people may decide to leave candy on their porches for kids to pick up instead of handing it out themselves this year .
Ricketts , who eliminated most of the state ’ s restrictions related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t likely to impose new rules for Halloween , but he encouraged people to follow the recommendations of public health officials who have called traditional trick-or-treating a high risk activity .
In the state ’ s most populous county , Douglas County health officials said Wednesday that people can reduce the risks associated with trick-or-treating by setting out goodie bags for families to grab while maintaining a safe distance and staying in small groups .
Foregoing trick-or-treating altogether in favor of planning scavenger hunts or other activities only with your own family would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Department Director Adi Pour recommended that people avoid large indoor parties or big gatherings at haunted houses to limit risks .
GRAND RAPIDS , Mich. - U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga said he tested positive for the coronavirus before he was scheduled to appear Wednesday at a Michigan campaign rally with Vice President Mike Pence .
Huizenga said on Twitter that he took a rapid test and was isolating himself while awaiting results from a second test .
Pence spoke for about an hour outdoors at Lacks Enterprises in Cascade Township , near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican running for Congress , greeted and introduced Pence .
“ The road to victory runs right through Michigan , ” Pence said .
OKLAHOMA CITY - The White House Coronavirus Task Force says Oklahoma remains in the red zone for newly reported coronavirus cases , which recommends residents wear masks among the ways to slow the virus ’ spread .
“ Community spread continues in Oklahoma in both rural and urban areas , ” according to the task force report released Wednesday by the Oklahoma State Department of Health .
“ Mitigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical distancing , hand hygiene , and avoiding crowds in public and social gatherings in private to stop the increasing spread among residents of Oklahoma.
” The health department said there were 749 people hospitalized Wednesday , down from a record high 760 reported Tuesday .
There were an additional 1,121 confirmed cases , bringing the total to 102,614 since the pandemic began .
Health officials also reported 13 additional deaths from COVID-19 , the illness caused by the disease , bringing the death toll to 1,132 .

CANBERRA, Australia - Australia’s prime minister said on Thursday his government was giving priority to reopening air services to Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had discussed reopening air routes with the leaders of all three countries.
He described Japan and South Korea as “two countries that have done particularly well” in dealing with the pandemic.
“There are a number of countries we’re looking at to see what we can do probably next year. We’re not going to rush into this,” Morrison said.
The three Asian countries “are my current priorities in how we would pursue that,” he added.
Australia will allow travelers from neighboring New Zealand to arrive without hotel quarantine from Friday. New Zealand has eradicated community transmission of COVID-19.
But New Zealand will continue to insist travelers from Australia quarantine for two weeks on arrival.
Australia reported only 12 new cases of community transmission of the virus on Thursday. Australia’s most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, reported six each.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
- French President Macron sets curfew, restores state of emergency
- Spain 1st European Union nation to reach 900,000 virus cases
- World Bank OKs $12B for coronavirus vaccines, tests
- Russian President Vladimir Putin announces regulatory approval for a second coronavirus vaccine after early-stage studies.
- Scientists say among 21 developed countries at start of the coronavirus pandemic, those with early lockdowns, solid national health systems avoided more deaths.
- Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is back in Italy after testing positive for the coronavirus in Portugal.
- Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 110 new cases of the coronavirus as a hospital in Busan emerged as the country’s latest cluster of infections.
The numbers released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Thursday brought the national caseload to 24,988, including 439 deaths.
Half of the new cases were reported from Busan, a southern port city where at least 54 infections were tied to a hospital for the elderly.
More than 40 cases were reported from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health workers have struggled to track infections tied to various places and groups, including hospitals, churches, schools and workers.
The steady rise in infections is a cause of concern in a country that has just lowered it social distancing measures, allowing high-risk venues like nightclubs and karaoke bars to reopen and spectators to return to professional sports.
Health officials are planning to test 160,000 employees at hospitals, nursing homes and welfare centers for senior citizens in Seoul and nearby areas in part of efforts to prevent outbreaks at these facilities.
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MEXICO CITY - Mexico reported Wednesday that a total of 1,744 health-care workers have died so far of COVID-19, and another 164 are suspected to have died of it but their test results are still pending.
The number of doctors, nurses, technicians and hospital employees confirmed to have been infected with the novel coronavirus in Mexico now amounts to 127,053. That means health care professionals account for about 15% of all Mexico’s confirmed coronavirus cases, and about 18% of all COVID-19 deaths.
The Health Department said that of those who died, 42% were nurses, 26% were doctors, and 32% were technicians, cleaning staff or other hospital employees.
Mexico has one of the highest rates of medical-personnel deaths in the world, and hospital employees have staged a number of demonstrations in Mexico to protest insufficient personal protective equipment. But Health Department officials denied the death rates was because of a lack of protective gear.
To support its point, the department issued figures showing that furloughed workers - those granted leave because they had pre-existing conditions that put them at risk - had fallen ill and died with greater frequency than health care workers who remained on the job. Officials said that suggested exposure on the job did not translate into higher infection rates.
Active-service health care workers largely mirrored Mexico’s over-all fatality rate of almost 67 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. But health professionals on leave died at a rate of about 126 per 100,000.
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SWAMPSCOTT, Mass. - Housing activists marched to Gov. Charlie Baker’s home on Wednesday to call on him to support more robust protections against evictions and foreclosures during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
About 100 to 150 protesters said the Republican governor and Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts Legislature need to back a comprehensive eviction prevention measure intended to help stabilize renters, homeowners and small landlords for a year as Massachusetts weathers the ongoing crisis.
The bill would ensure tenants cannot be evicted because of missed rent if the nonpayment was because of COVID-19, giving them time to get owed rental payments and other assistance in place.
It would also prevent “no fault” evictions and rent increases for 12 months following the state of emergency, guard against foreclosure and strengthen forbearance protections, allowing homeowners and landlords with up to 15 units to pause their mortgage and put missed payments on the end of the loan.
Baker on Monday unveiled a $171 million initiative that he said will help tenants and landlords cope with the fiscal challenges of the ongoing pandemic.
The goal of the initiative is to keep tenants in their homes and ease the ongoing expenses of landlords once the state’s pause on evictions and foreclosures expires on Saturday, Baker said.
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MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota health officials reported 29 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, the state’s highest one-day death toll since early June, as the coronavirus spreads at high levels across the state.
The Minnesota Department of Health also reported 1,254 new coronavirus cases, a number boosted by the department’s decision to start reporting probable cases, as determined by newer technology antigen tests, in addition to confirmed cases identified by the more common and more accurate PCR tests, also known as molecular tests.
The grand case total reported Wednesday included 40 probable cases on top of 1,214 new confirmed cases, which raised Minnesota’s total case count since the pandemic began to 115,943, including 180 total probable cases to date. The state’s death toll rose to 2,180, including six deaths from probable cases.
The department said in its announcement that antigen tests are less accurate PCR tests, which are considered the gold standard. But antigen tests have the advantages of producing faster results and being usable by providers that don’t have full laboratories. Both technologies look at whether someone is actively infected with the virus.
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BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. Doug Burgum on Wednesday raised the coronavirus risk level in several North Dakota counties but issued no mandated restrictions, even as the state’s number of active COVID-19 cases has risen to record levels every day for the past week.
Burgum moved 16 counties from moderate risk to high under the state’s five-level plan to set coronavirus management protocols for everything from businesses to family gatherings. The guidance for high-risk counties includes limiting businesses occupancy to 25% with a cap of 50 people and encouraging businesses to require masks. The guidelines are only recommendations and not enforced.
Burgum said the goal is “decreasing transmissible moments.”
The guidance for moderate-risk counties includes cutting capacity at businesses to 50%, with a cap of 100 people.
Burgum has avoided statewide mandates such as mask-wearing, instead stressing a personal responsibility message. He has said the five-level color-coded guidelines are to be used by local leaders “as a baseline for their own policies.”
Earlier Wednesday, North Dakota health officials confirmed 713 new positive COVID-19 cases and 159 new active cases, along with eight additional deaths. There were 900.3 new cases per 100,000 people in North Dakota over the past two weeks, which ranks first in the country for new cases per capita.
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BERLIN - Chancellor Angela Merkel and the governors of Germany’s 16 states have agreed to tighten mask-wearing rules and make bars close early in areas where coronavirus infection rates are high.
Wednesday’s meeting came hours after the country reported more than 5,000 infections in one day for the first time since mid-April. While Germany is still in better shape than many other European countries, infections have accelerated rapidly in recent weeks.
Officials recommended that mask-wearing — already required since April on public transport and in shops — should also be made obligatory in public places where people are packed closely together in districts where there are more than 35 new infections per 100,000 residents per week. They also called for bars in those districts to be closed early.
In areas where infections top 50 infections per 100,000 people over seven days — until now the point at which local authorities have had to take action — gatherings in public and private parties should be limited to 10 people.
Many of Germany’s major cities have exceeded the 50 mark in recent days, among them Berlin, Cologne, Duesseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich. State governments are responsible for imposing and lifting virus-related restrictions.
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PHOENIX - An Arizona State University public health expert has raised concerns after the average number of confirmed daily coronavirus cases in Arizona has risen over the last two weeks.
The state’s average number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased from 476 cases a day on Sept. 29 to 685 cases on Oct. 13. Arizona averaged more than 4,000 additional cases a day in late June and early July when it was experiencing its most serious spread of the virus.
ASU Biodesign Institute Executive Director Dr. Joshua LaBaer said Wednesday that the current situation reminds him of June. Arizona has recorded 227,635 confirmed virus cases and 5,772 deaths since the pandemic began in March.
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ST. LOUIS - Fifty-six residents of Missouri veterans homes have died of COVID-19 since Sept. 1, including 25 at one facility in southeast Missouri.
Missouri Veterans Commission spokesperson Jamie Melchert told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Wednesday that the deadliest outbreak was in Cape Girardeau, where 20 residents died in September and five more have died in October, through Monday.
Melchert said 13 residents died at another veterans home in the southwestern Missouri town of Mt. Vernon, 12 others died in St. James and six more died in Warrensburg.
He said 38 of the deaths occurred in September. Before then, the only confirmed coronavirus death in a Missouri veterans home was in April in north St. Louis County.
Republican Gov. Mike Parson called for an external review of operations at the veterans homes on Oct. 2, but didn’t say how many veterans had died. Melchert said the St. Louis law firm Armstrong Teasdale will handle the review.
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WASHINGTON - First lady Melania Trump says Barron Trump tested positive at one point for the coronavirus but has subsequently tested negative.
The first lady says in a post on the White House website that “my fear came true” when 14-year-old Barron tested positive for the virus. She says “luckily he is a strong teenager and exhibited no symptoms.”
President Donald Trump announced nearly two weeks ago that he and the first lady had tested positive for the virus. The president ended up going to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment and has since returned to the White House and to the campaign trial, while the first lady quarantined at the White House.
The first lady says that in one way she was glad “the three of us went through this at the same time so we could take care of one another and spend time together.”
The first lady said she’s happy to report she has tested negative and that she hopes to resume her duties as soon as she can, adding that “along with this good news, I want people to know that I understand just how fortunate my family is to have received the kind of care that we did.”
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TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas has reported its largest seven-day increases in both COVID-19-related deaths and new coronavirus cases.
The state Department of Health and Environment said Wednesday that Kansas had another 67 deaths since only Monday, an increase of 8.7%, to bring the total for the pandemic to 838. But it wasn’t clear how many of those fatalities were older and just being reported now as local and state health officials examine death certificates from previous months.
The state also said it had 1,293 new confirmed or probable cases over two days, a 1.9% increase that brought the total for the pandemic to 69,155.
The state averaged 743 new cases a day for the seven days ending Wednesday, surpassing the record of 736 set for the seven days ending Monday.
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OMAHA, Neb. - Nebraska officials say Halloween celebrations may need to be tweaked this year because of the coronavirus pandemic as the state continues to set records for the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Gov. Pete Ricketts said Wednesday that he thinks children will still be able to go trick-or-treating for Halloween but people may decide to leave candy on their porches for kids to pick up instead of handing it out themselves this year.
Ricketts, who eliminated most of the state’s restrictions related to the virus last month, isn’t likely to impose new rules for Halloween, but he encouraged people to follow the recommendations of public health officials who have called traditional trick-or-treating a high risk activity.
In the state’s most populous county, Douglas County health officials said Wednesday that people can reduce the risks associated with trick-or-treating by setting out goodie bags for families to grab while maintaining a safe distance and staying in small groups. Foregoing trick-or-treating altogether in favor of planning scavenger hunts or other activities only with your own family would reduce the risk further.
Douglas County Health Department Director Adi Pour recommended that people avoid large indoor parties or big gatherings at haunted houses to limit risks.
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga said he tested positive for the coronavirus before he was scheduled to appear Wednesday at a Michigan campaign rally with Vice President Mike Pence.
Huizenga said on Twitter that he took a rapid test and was isolating himself while awaiting results from a second test.
Pence spoke for about an hour outdoors at Lacks Enterprises in Cascade Township, near Grand Rapids. Peter Meijer, a Republican running for Congress, greeted and introduced Pence.
“The road to victory runs right through Michigan,” Pence said.
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OKLAHOMA CITY - The White House Coronavirus Task Force says Oklahoma remains in the red zone for newly reported coronavirus cases, which recommends residents wear masks among the ways to slow the virus’ spread.
“Community spread continues in Oklahoma in both rural and urban areas,” according to the task force report released Wednesday by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. “Mitigation efforts should … include mask wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and avoiding crowds in public and social gatherings in private to stop the increasing spread among residents of Oklahoma.”
The health department said there were 749 people hospitalized Wednesday, down from a record high 760 reported Tuesday. There were an additional 1,121 confirmed cases, bringing the total to 102,614 since the pandemic began.
Health officials also reported 13 additional deaths from COVID-19, the illness caused by the disease, bringing the death toll to 1,132.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Lives Lost: Indian doctor embodied his family's dreams

NEW DELHI ( AP ) - To his family , Joginder Chaudhary was the star son .
The 27-year-old was a doctor , the first from their tiny village in central India .
He was the eldest son , counted on to send money back to support his parents .
He was a dreamer who wanted to open the first clinic to serve his village .
Chaudhary carried those hopes and dreams with him as he began working at a New Delhi hospital , aware of the risks of his profession as the coronavirus marched through India ’ s cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When the pandemic first started , we were very worried , ” said his father , Rajendra Chaudhary .
“ But he said to us that this is his duty , and he would have to deal with things like this all throughout his career.
” By late July , Joginder Chaudhary was dead – one of the more than 100,000 deaths from the virus in India .
“ He never had the ego of a doctor .
He talked to everyone politely , and treated the nursing staff and patients with utter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Chaudhary ’ s mentor at Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital , where he worked .
Racked with grief , his mother , Premlata , 50 , cried constantly and wished that she too would die .
Weeks after his death , she contracted the virus and died in August .
Her husband said she never went out so he suspects that she may have caught it from him .
Now , the family is mourning her loss – and the absence of the son who was going to bring the family financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NOTE : This is part of an ongoing series of stories remembering people who have died from the coronavirus around the world .
“ When he was in grade five , I told him I wanted him to study medicine and become a doctor , ” his father recalled .
“ Because I noticed he was very interested in reading and learning.
” Since the school in his sparsely populated village in Madhya Pradesh state didn ’ t teach in English , his father sent him to a private school in the neighboring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chaudhary lived in a boy ’ s hostel .
Like most of his friends , he wanted to study at a medical school in China after finishing high school .
He appealed to his father .
Though Chaudhary received a partial scholarship , his father , a poor farmer with a half an acre of farmland , sold the family home and moved them into a rented house so he could pay the cost of his son ’ s education .
At medical school , he quickly made friends because of his down-to-earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his best friend and classmate .
His friends lovingly nicknamed him “ Jackie , ” a reference to Chinese actor Jackie Chan .
“ Jackie was extremely smart , ” Kumar said .
“ Coursework that took us an hour to understand , he would understand in 15 minutes.
” On returning to India in 2019 , Chaudhary was on a mission .
While pursuing post-graduate medical education , he found his first job as a junior resident at the government hospital in New Delhi .
He wanted to specialize in orthopedics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salary on a new motorbike for his father .
The family ’ s financial burden was finally lightening .
His parents were also planning their son ’ s wedding .
Following the Indian cultural preference for arranged marriages , the parents had set up virtual meetings between him and the prospective bride , another young doctor .
The couple had agreed to marry in August .
But in late June , during routine tests , Chaudhary found that he was infected with the virus .
After his condition began deteriorating , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital where he worked .
“ I told him he would easily recover since he was a young and fit man , ” Sangwan said .
But his condition worsened over the ensuing few weeks as he was shuttled to a private hospital of his choice .
After battling the disease for more than a month , Chaudhary died on July 26 from multiple organ failure , after an infection in his lungs caused pneumonia .
Doctors at Ambedkar Hospital , his friends and other donors pooled their money to start a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Later , Sir Ganga Ram Hospital , where he breathed his last , waived all his fees .
His mother didn ’ t get a chance to see her son or participate in the Hindu cremation ceremony , which due to COVID-19 , had few mourners .
Mother and son last spoke a few days before his death on a video call .
He had assured her he would recover and come home soon .
After his death , she was inconsolable and had a nervous breakdown , said Chaudhary ’ s younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eating and would “ constantly complain that she too wanted to die , ” he said .
The Delhi government gave the family USD $ 135,000 as part of compensation it gives to the families of frontline workers who die of COVID-19 .
Officials also promised a job for Chaudhary ’ s younger brother .
While the compensation will help the family , Chaudhary ’ s father said the absence of his “ star son ” and wife weighs on him .
“ This pandemic has ruined my family , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our dreams , everything is finished .
”

NEW DELHI (AP) - To his family, Joginder Chaudhary was the star son.
The 27-year-old was a doctor, the first from their tiny village in central India. He was the eldest son, counted on to send money back to support his parents. He was a dreamer who wanted to open the first clinic to serve his village.
Chaudhary carried those hopes and dreams with him as he began working at a New Delhi hospital, aware of the risks of his profession as the coronavirus marched through India’s cities and distant villages this summer.
“When the pandemic first started, we were very worried,” said his father, Rajendra Chaudhary. “But he said to us that this is his duty, and he would have to deal with things like this all throughout his career.”
By late July, Joginder Chaudhary was dead – one of the more than 100,000 deaths from the virus in India.
“He never had the ego of a doctor. He talked to everyone politely, and treated the nursing staff and patients with utter kindness,” said Dr. Rameshwar Sangwan, Chaudhary’s mentor at Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, where he worked.
Racked with grief, his mother, Premlata, 50, cried constantly and wished that she too would die. Weeks after his death, she contracted the virus and died in August. Her husband said she never went out so he suspects that she may have caught it from him.
Now, the family is mourning her loss – and the absence of the son who was going to bring the family financial security and prestige.
___
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of an ongoing series of stories remembering people who have died from the coronavirus around the world.
___
“When he was in grade five, I told him I wanted him to study medicine and become a doctor,” his father recalled. “Because I noticed he was very interested in reading and learning.”
Since the school in his sparsely populated village in Madhya Pradesh state didn’t teach in English, his father sent him to a private school in the neighboring state of Rajasthan, where the younger Chaudhary lived in a boy’s hostel.
Like most of his friends, he wanted to study at a medical school in China after finishing high school. He appealed to his father.
Though Chaudhary received a partial scholarship, his father, a poor farmer with a half an acre of farmland, sold the family home and moved them into a rented house so he could pay the cost of his son’s education.
At medical school, he quickly made friends because of his down-to-earth and amicable nature, said Aravind Kumar, his best friend and classmate. His friends lovingly nicknamed him “Jackie,” a reference to Chinese actor Jackie Chan.
“Jackie was extremely smart,” Kumar said. “Coursework that took us an hour to understand, he would understand in 15 minutes.”
On returning to India in 2019, Chaudhary was on a mission. While pursuing post-graduate medical education, he found his first job as a junior resident at the government hospital in New Delhi. He wanted to specialize in orthopedics or anesthesia.
Chaudhary spent his first salary on a new motorbike for his father. The family’s financial burden was finally lightening.
His parents were also planning their son’s wedding. Following the Indian cultural preference for arranged marriages, the parents had set up virtual meetings between him and the prospective bride, another young doctor. The couple had agreed to marry in August.
But in late June, during routine tests, Chaudhary found that he was infected with the virus. After his condition began deteriorating, he was admitted into the COVID-19 isolation ward at the hospital where he worked.
“I told him he would easily recover since he was a young and fit man,” Sangwan said.
But his condition worsened over the ensuing few weeks as he was shuttled to a private hospital of his choice. After battling the disease for more than a month, Chaudhary died on July 26 from multiple organ failure, after an infection in his lungs caused pneumonia.
Doctors at Ambedkar Hospital, his friends and other donors pooled their money to start a fund to pay for his treatment. Later, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where he breathed his last, waived all his fees.
His mother didn’t get a chance to see her son or participate in the Hindu cremation ceremony, which due to COVID-19, had few mourners. Mother and son last spoke a few days before his death on a video call. He had assured her he would recover and come home soon.
After his death, she was inconsolable and had a nervous breakdown, said Chaudhary’s younger brother Kapil. She stopped talking or eating and would “constantly complain that she too wanted to die,” he said.
The Delhi government gave the family USD $135,000 as part of compensation it gives to the families of frontline workers who die of COVID-19. Officials also promised a job for Chaudhary’s younger brother.
While the compensation will help the family, Chaudhary’s father said the absence of his “star son” and wife weighs on him. “This pandemic has ruined my family,” he said between sobs. “All our aspirations, our dreams, everything is finished.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Racial justice movement a factor for 5 state ballot measures

The Black Lives Matter movement isn ’ t named in any of the 120 statewide ballot measures up for a vote on Nov. 3 .
But this year ’ s nationwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice are major factors in the campaigns in several states for measures with distinctive racial themes .
In California , voters will decide whether to allow affirmative action in public hiring , contracting and college admissions - 24 years after Californians approved an initiative outlawing programs that give preference based on race and gender .
Elsewhere , the topics include a replacement for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a proposed change in Rhode Island ’ s official name to remove the word “ plantations , ” and efforts in Nebraska and Utah to strip language from the state constitutions providing an exemption to the ban on slavery .
In California , key supporters of the new affirmative-action measure - Proposition 16 - said they weren ’ t sure they could get the needed two-thirds support in both legislative chambers to move forward .
That changed , they said , amid the nationwide outcry over the death of George Floyd at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Before his death , it was touch and go , ” said Black businessman and civil rights activist Walter Wilson .
“ Now there ’ s been a sea change .
…Social justice and racial reform are on the ballot.
” Ward Connerly , a Black businessman and former University of California regent who pushed for the 1996 ban , leads the campaign against Prop 16 .
He acknowledges that the Black Lives Matter movement has energized his opponents .
“ It may give them impetus but that doesn ’ t make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The response should be looking at law enforcement and police tactics - it doesn ’ t justify discrimination.
” In Mississippi , where legislators voted in June to retire the last state flag in the U.S. bearing the Confederate battle emblem , voters will decide whether to accept a new flag with a magnolia design .
If they vote “ No , ” another new design will be proposed - and there would be a chance for supporters of the Confederate-themed flag to seek its reinstatement via a ballot measure next year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is “ Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , ” voters will have an opportunity to eliminate the last three words .
The measure ’ s proponents say the word “ plantations ” evokes the grim legacy of slavery , even though that wasn ’ t the connotation when the full name was adopted in 1636 .
Near-identical measures in Nebraska and Utah also deal with wording - they propose eliminating passages in the state constitutions , dating from the 19th century , that allow slavery as punishment for a crime .
In neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the measures , which advanced through the legislatures on unanimous votes .
In Mississippi and Rhode Island , Black supporters of the ballot measures hope this year ’ s nationwide spotlight on racial injustice will bring a different outcome than when similar proposals were on the ballot previously .
In Mississippi , 64 % of voters in a 2001 referendum opted to keep the Confederate-themed flag .
This time , there was overwhelming support for a new flag among legislators and government leaders .
They faced intense pressure from business , religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests against Confederate symbols .
Not all Mississippians are on board .
Hundreds of people attended a Statehouse rally in August organized by Let Mississippi Vote , the group hoping to have a measure on the 2021 ballot that would offer a chance to reinstate the Confederate-themed flag .
“ In my mind , it is not about a flag at all - this is about the people having a voice , ” said state Sen. Chris McDaniel , a leader of the campaign .
“ Ultimately we will be pleased with whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may vote against the proposed new magnolia flag for a different reason , said Marquise Hunt , a senior at Tougaloo College and former president of the Mississippi NAACP ’ s Youth & College Division .
As mandated by the Legislature , the proposed new flag bears the words “ In God We Trust.
” “ There are a lot of Black people asking , ‘ Is that a God of continued white supremacy ?
’ ” said Hunt , 22 .
“ I think we can do better than this.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player in the global slave trade during colonial times , a proposal to delete “ Providence Plantations ” from the state ’ s name was soundly defeated in 2010 .
Supporters of the change believe they have a better chance of prevailing this time , in part because of the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement and other campaigns for racial justice .
“ I think this time people will say ‘ Yes , ’ ” said Ray Rickman , a Black civic leader and former deputy secretary of state .
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good about themselves.
” “ I wish it were something bigger and better - like getting the first Black justice on the state Supreme Court , ” he said .
“ But this would be a start .
It ’ s an easy , symbolic gesture.
” In Nebraska , state Sen. Justin Wayne proposed the amendment to strip the slavery provision from the state constitution back in January 2019 - 16 months before George Floyd ’ s death .
But Wayne said this year ’ s dramatic race-related events made it all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspects of its past .
He noted that Nebraska ’ s efforts to join the union in 1866 were complicated by its unsuccessful efforts to limit voting rights to white men only .
“ With all that we ’ ve seen going on with race this year , it ’ s critical that we remove the legacy and the tentacles of slavery from our founding documents , ” Wayne said .
The provision allowing slavery as punishment for a crime hasn ’ t been used in many decades ; it was used long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unpaid labor for private parties .
In Utah , the slavery measure ’ s lead sponsor was Rep. Sandra Hollins , the only Black person now serving in the Legislature .
There was little debate on the measure itself , but Hollins hopes national developments will prompt her colleagues to address issues of racism and police reform .
“ It ’ s a conversation you can no longer avoid , ” she said .

The Black Lives Matter movement isn’t named in any of the 120 statewide ballot measures up for a vote on Nov. 3. But this year’s nationwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice are major factors in the campaigns in several states for measures with distinctive racial themes.
In California, voters will decide whether to allow affirmative action in public hiring, contracting and college admissions - 24 years after Californians approved an initiative outlawing programs that give preference based on race and gender.
Elsewhere, the topics include a replacement for Mississippi’s Confederate-themed state flag, a proposed change in Rhode Island’s official name to remove the word “plantations,” and efforts in Nebraska and Utah to strip language from the state constitutions providing an exemption to the ban on slavery.
In California, key supporters of the new affirmative-action measure - Proposition 16 - said they weren’t sure they could get the needed two-thirds support in both legislative chambers to move forward. That changed, they said, amid the nationwide outcry over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May.
“Before his death, it was touch and go,” said Black businessman and civil rights activist Walter Wilson. “Now there’s been a sea change. …Social justice and racial reform are on the ballot.”
Ward Connerly, a Black businessman and former University of California regent who pushed for the 1996 ban, leads the campaign against Prop 16. He acknowledges that the Black Lives Matter movement has energized his opponents.
“It may give them impetus but that doesn’t make it right.” Connerly said. “The response should be looking at law enforcement and police tactics - it doesn’t justify discrimination.”
In Mississippi, where legislators voted in June to retire the last state flag in the U.S. bearing the Confederate battle emblem, voters will decide whether to accept a new flag with a magnolia design. If they vote “No,” another new design will be proposed - and there would be a chance for supporters of the Confederate-themed flag to seek its reinstatement via a ballot measure next year.
In Rhode Island, whose official name is “Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,” voters will have an opportunity to eliminate the last three words. The measure’s proponents say the word “plantations” evokes the grim legacy of slavery, even though that wasn’t the connotation when the full name was adopted in 1636.
Near-identical measures in Nebraska and Utah also deal with wording - they propose eliminating passages in the state constitutions, dating from the 19th century, that allow slavery as punishment for a crime. In neither of those states is there organized opposition to the measures, which advanced through the legislatures on unanimous votes.
In Mississippi and Rhode Island, Black supporters of the ballot measures hope this year’s nationwide spotlight on racial injustice will bring a different outcome than when similar proposals were on the ballot previously.
In Mississippi, 64% of voters in a 2001 referendum opted to keep the Confederate-themed flag.
This time, there was overwhelming support for a new flag among legislators and government leaders. They faced intense pressure from business, religious, education and sports groups amid widespread protests against Confederate symbols.
Not all Mississippians are on board. Hundreds of people attended a Statehouse rally in August organized by Let Mississippi Vote, the group hoping to have a measure on the 2021 ballot that would offer a chance to reinstate the Confederate-themed flag.
“In my mind, it is not about a flag at all - this is about the people having a voice,” said state Sen. Chris McDaniel, a leader of the campaign. “Ultimately we will be pleased with whatever the people decide.”
Some Black residents may vote against the proposed new magnolia flag for a different reason, said Marquise Hunt, a senior at Tougaloo College and former president of the Mississippi NAACP’s Youth & College Division.
As mandated by the Legislature, the proposed new flag bears the words “In God We Trust.”
“There are a lot of Black people asking, ‘Is that a God of continued white supremacy?’” said Hunt, 22. “I think we can do better than this.”
In Rhode Island, which was a major player in the global slave trade during colonial times, a proposal to delete “Providence Plantations” from the state’s name was soundly defeated in 2010.
Supporters of the change believe they have a better chance of prevailing this time, in part because of the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement and other campaigns for racial justice.
“I think this time people will say ‘Yes,’” said Ray Rickman, a Black civic leader and former deputy secretary of state. ”It will be about white folks feeling good about themselves.”
“I wish it were something bigger and better - like getting the first Black justice on the state Supreme Court,” he said. “But this would be a start. It’s an easy, symbolic gesture.”
In Nebraska, state Sen. Justin Wayne proposed the amendment to strip the slavery provision from the state constitution back in January 2019 - 16 months before George Floyd’s death. But Wayne said this year’s dramatic race-related events made it all the more important that Nebraska address racist aspects of its past.
He noted that Nebraska’s efforts to join the union in 1866 were complicated by its unsuccessful efforts to limit voting rights to white men only.
“With all that we’ve seen going on with race this year, it’s critical that we remove the legacy and the tentacles of slavery from our founding documents,” Wayne said.
The provision allowing slavery as punishment for a crime hasn’t been used in many decades; it was used long ago to force former slaves back into unpaid labor for private parties.
In Utah, the slavery measure’s lead sponsor was Rep. Sandra Hollins, the only Black person now serving in the Legislature. There was little debate on the measure itself, but Hollins hopes national developments will prompt her colleagues to address issues of racism and police reform.
“It’s a conversation you can no longer avoid,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Pandemic leaves American Samoa residents stranded, homesick

PAGO PAGO , American Samoa ( AP ) - Makerita Iosefo Vaʻa hasn ’ t been home for nearly eight months - the longest she ’ s ever been away from American Samoa .
She longs for the breezes that cool island humidity and the ocean sounds and smells that permeate her home in the village of Tula .
She also misses the food that ’ s impossible to recreate in Tracy , California , where the coronavirus pandemic has left her and her husband stranded .
“ Every time I talk about it , I just cry , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory in the Pacific in February with her husband for medical treatment .
They planned to fly home in March from San Francisco but decided to postpone after hearing a security worker at the airport had contracted the virus .
Since then , they haven ’ t been able to leave because American Samoa Gov .
Lolo Matalasi Moliga closed the territory on March 13 to protect those on the islands from COVID-19 - and it hasn ’ t reported any cases .
In July , after the order was extended , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are awaiting word from government officials about when they can come home .
“ The interests of the 60,000 residents on-island and protecting their lives outweighs the interest of the 600 or more residents stranded in the United States , ” said Iulogologo Joseph Pereira , chairman of the territorial government COVID-19 task force .
“ As the governor has continuously pointed out , more healthcare facilities are available in Hawaii and mainland states that they can access if they contract the virus.
” Some people from American Samoa were stranded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel .
A Facebook page started by Vaʻa and others to share information has turned into a support system for those who long to go back to American Samoa , said Kueni Aumoeualogo-Hisatake .
She went to Honolulu with her husband for their bi-annual medical checkups on the last flight out of the territory on March 26 - not anticipating they would not be able to return .
Aumoeualogo-Hisatake said the situation makes her “ feel abandoned and neglected.
” Epifania Rapozo lives in Washington state and returned to the territory in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to visit her ailing grandfather , who later died .
Unable to return to the U.S. , Rapozo ’ s 10-year-old daughter has been taking online classes and her 6-year-old son is enrolled in a local school .
“ I am grateful that we are COVID-free but also quite disappointed on how the government is handling the issue , ” Rapozo said .
“ There is absolutely no excuse as to why there hasn ’ t been any action implemented to repatriate not only us U.S. citizens but our own people.
” Moliga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding repatriation .
But amid a spike in coronavirus cases in Hawaii , he has asked Hawaiian Airlines - the only carrier with regularly scheduled service between Honolulu and Pago Pago - to suspend flights through November .
The territory is controlling its ports by quarantining crew members on boats , and essential workers arriving from the U.S. are tested for the virus .
Officials did arrange a free charter flight in July to take 150 Medicaid patients and support staff to the United States for medical treatment .
There were enough extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. for college and 79 people who had been stranded on the island since March .
The nonmedical passengers paid $ 884 for their one-way ticket , a price that prevented Rapozo from taking the flight .
There were no passengers on the charter ’ s return flight to Pago Pago .
“ In the beginning , everybody was happy that our government closed the borders , you know , for safety , ” Aumoeualogo-Hisatake said .
“ But now , as time has accumulated , there ’ s more understanding about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all that stuff and how to deal with it.
” She and others say they don ’ t want American Samoa to open its borders , just bring them home safely .
As they wait , the Vaʻas are living with relatives but fear they have overstayed their welcome and are making plans to move in with other family in Seattle .
They consider themselves lucky among the stranded .
Makerita Iosefo Vaʻa is a manager at American Samoa ’ s Medicaid office and her husband Shaun Vaʻa is a member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While away , they ’ re able to work remotely without losing income and they have rented a car so they can get out of their family ’ s hair once in awhile .
“ We have each other .
We don ’ t have children , ” she said .
“ There are people I know who have lost their jobs.
” “ It ’ s nice here , but home is home , ” she added , pointing out that California , with its dry heat and isolation is much different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we don ’ t really know people , versus back home you have a village .
… We have family here , but with COVID , you can ’ t really go visit them.
” Back home , not everyone wears a mask and social distancing is still catching on , especially in tight-knit Samoan cultures .
Many people wonder what will happen when American Samoa opens its borders .
Ilalio Polevia and his 16-year-old daughter , Rita , were essentially homeless in Honolulu , when a group that helps Hawaii visitors put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had left American Samoa in November so she could go to high school in Washington state .
He stayed and got a job at a bagged salad company .
When the pandemic was declared in March , they decided it was time to go home and left Tacoma for Honolulu , but their flight to Pago Pago had been canceled .
“ I ’ m surprised there ’ s people here in Hawaii that care about us , ” Polevia said .
After the father and daughter stayed at three different hotels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samoan church and they have been living at the reverend ’ s house for the past month .
Rita enrolled at Waipahu High School and is taking classes online .
They are living off church donations and hope they can be home by Christmas .

FILI SAGAPOLUTELE and JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) - Makerita Iosefo Vaʻa hasn’t been home for nearly eight months - the longest she’s ever been away from American Samoa.
She longs for the breezes that cool island humidity and the ocean sounds and smells that permeate her home in the village of Tula. She also misses the food that’s impossible to recreate in Tracy, California, where the coronavirus pandemic has left her and her husband stranded.
“Every time I talk about it, I just cry,” she said.
Vaʻa left the U.S. territory in the Pacific in February with her husband for medical treatment. They planned to fly home in March from San Francisco but decided to postpone after hearing a security worker at the airport had contracted the virus.
Since then, they haven’t been able to leave because American Samoa Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga closed the territory on March 13 to protect those on the islands from COVID-19 - and it hasn’t reported any cases.
In July, after the order was extended, the Vaʻas stopped bothering to make travel plans and are awaiting word from government officials about when they can come home.
“The interests of the 60,000 residents on-island and protecting their lives outweighs the interest of the 600 or more residents stranded in the United States,” said Iulogologo Joseph Pereira, chairman of the territorial government COVID-19 task force. “As the governor has continuously pointed out, more healthcare facilities are available in Hawaii and mainland states that they can access if they contract the virus.”
Some people from American Samoa were stranded in the midst of family visits or business travel. A Facebook page started by Vaʻa and others to share information has turned into a support system for those who long to go back to American Samoa, said Kueni Aumoeualogo-Hisatake. She went to Honolulu with her husband for their bi-annual medical checkups on the last flight out of the territory on March 26 - not anticipating they would not be able to return.
Aumoeualogo-Hisatake said the situation makes her “feel abandoned and neglected.”
Other people can’t leave American Samoa.
Epifania Rapozo lives in Washington state and returned to the territory in February for the first time in 20 years to visit her ailing grandfather, who later died. Unable to return to the U.S., Rapozo’s 10-year-old daughter has been taking online classes and her 6-year-old son is enrolled in a local school.
“I am grateful that we are COVID-free but also quite disappointed on how the government is handling the issue,” Rapozo said. “There is absolutely no excuse as to why there hasn’t been any action implemented to repatriate not only us U.S. citizens but our own people.”
Moliga is reviewing a petition by stranded residents demanding repatriation. But amid a spike in coronavirus cases in Hawaii, he has asked Hawaiian Airlines - the only carrier with regularly scheduled service between Honolulu and Pago Pago - to suspend flights through November.
The territory is controlling its ports by quarantining crew members on boats, and essential workers arriving from the U.S. are tested for the virus.
Officials did arrange a free charter flight in July to take 150 Medicaid patients and support staff to the United States for medical treatment. There were enough extra seats to accommodate 45 students heading to the U.S. for college and 79 people who had been stranded on the island since March.
The nonmedical passengers paid $884 for their one-way ticket, a price that prevented Rapozo from taking the flight. There were no passengers on the charter’s return flight to Pago Pago.
“In the beginning, everybody was happy that our government closed the borders, you know, for safety,” Aumoeualogo-Hisatake said. “But now, as time has accumulated, there’s more understanding about the virus and the preventive measures and all that stuff and how to deal with it.”
She and others say they don’t want American Samoa to open its borders, just bring them home safely.
As they wait, the Vaʻas are living with relatives but fear they have overstayed their welcome and are making plans to move in with other family in Seattle.
They consider themselves lucky among the stranded. Makerita Iosefo Vaʻa is a manager at American Samoa’s Medicaid office and her husband Shaun Vaʻa is a member of the territory’s House of Representatives. While away, they’re able to work remotely without losing income and they have rented a car so they can get out of their family’s hair once in awhile.
“We have each other. We don’t have children,” she said. “There are people I know who have lost their jobs.”
“It’s nice here, but home is home,” she added, pointing out that California, with its dry heat and isolation is much different than American Samoa. “Here, we don’t really know people, versus back home you have a village. … We have family here, but with COVID, you can’t really go visit them.”
Back home, not everyone wears a mask and social distancing is still catching on, especially in tight-knit Samoan cultures. Many people wonder what will happen when American Samoa opens its borders.
Ilalio Polevia and his 16-year-old daughter, Rita, were essentially homeless in Honolulu, when a group that helps Hawaii visitors put them up in a hotel. They had left American Samoa in November so she could go to high school in Washington state. He stayed and got a job at a bagged salad company.
When the pandemic was declared in March, they decided it was time to go home and left Tacoma for Honolulu, but their flight to Pago Pago had been canceled.
“I’m surprised there’s people here in Hawaii that care about us,” Polevia said.
After the father and daughter stayed at three different hotels, the visitors group connected them with a Samoan church and they have been living at the reverend’s house for the past month.
Rita enrolled at Waipahu High School and is taking classes online. They are living off church donations and hope they can be home by Christmas.
___
Kelleher reported from Honolulu.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--Pompeo defends 12 Hong Kongers detained by China

HONG KONG ( AP ) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the 12 Hong Kong residents who were detained by China while allegedly trying to flee to Taiwan by boat in August , saying that they had “ committed no crime.
” “ They simply believe that they are worthy of freedom and the unalienable rights due to every person , ” Pompeo said in virtual remarks delivered at the John S. McCain Freedom Award Ceremony on Wednesday .
“ They aren ’ t alone in that belief .
America stands with them.
” The 12 , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and were facing charges in Hong Kong prior to their arrest , are being held in the southern city of Shenzhen where they await prosecution .
Two of them are suspected of organizing an illegal border crossing , while the other 10 are suspected of entering mainland waters illegally .
The group was believed to have been headed for self-governed Taiwan when they were arrested , following China ’ s imposition of a sweeping national security law targeting political expression in semi-autonomous Hong Kong .
Taiwan is a popular choice among Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Relatives say that they are being held incommunicado and have not been granted access to family-appointed lawyers .
Pompeo ’ s remarks come as Hong Kong police last week arrested nine others who are suspected of assisting the 12 to leave the city .
The group of nine is believed to have provided accommodation and transport .
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has repeatedly said that the 12 people detained must face the law in mainland China , as they were arrested for offences there .
Though Hong Kong is part of China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration system from the mainland , with separate border controls .

HONG KONG (AP) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the 12 Hong Kong residents who were detained by China while allegedly trying to flee to Taiwan by boat in August, saying that they had “committed no crime.”
“They simply believe that they are worthy of freedom and the unalienable rights due to every person,” Pompeo said in virtual remarks delivered at the John S. McCain Freedom Award Ceremony on Wednesday. “They aren’t alone in that belief. America stands with them.”
The 12, some of whom are linked to anti-government protests and were facing charges in Hong Kong prior to their arrest, are being held in the southern city of Shenzhen where they await prosecution.
Two of them are suspected of organizing an illegal border crossing, while the other 10 are suspected of entering mainland waters illegally.
The group was believed to have been headed for self-governed Taiwan when they were arrested, following China’s imposition of a sweeping national security law targeting political expression in semi-autonomous Hong Kong. Taiwan is a popular choice among Hong Kong residents looking to leave the city.
Relatives say that they are being held incommunicado and have not been granted access to family-appointed lawyers.
Pompeo’s remarks come as Hong Kong police last week arrested nine others who are suspected of assisting the 12 to leave the city. The group of nine is believed to have provided accommodation and transport.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has repeatedly said that the 12 people detained must face the law in mainland China, as they were arrested for offences there. Though Hong Kong is part of China, it has a separate judicial and immigration system from the mainland, with separate border controls.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--California braces for renewed fire threat from windy weather

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - Pacific Gas & Electric began turning off power to more than 50,000 Northern California customers Wednesday evening as dry , windy conditions renewed the threat of fire in a season already marked by deadly , devastating blazes .
The utility announced that it had begun cutting power to up to 33,000 customers , with about another 20,000 to follow in a few hours .
The shutoffs will affect portions of nearly two dozen counties , mostly in the Sierras and San Francisco Bay Area , and could last 48 hours .
Preemptive electricity cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from being started by power lines that have been damaged or knocked down amid high winds .
PG & E ; equipment sparked several massive blazes that destroyed tens of thousands of homes and killed more than 100 people since 2017 .
“ These are challenging times .
Not only are we right in the peak of the wildfire season … many of us are working from home , schooling from home as well .
We recognize that hardships are introduced when we shut off power , ” said Mark Quinlan , PG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s our last resort option.
” The figure represents about 1 % of PG & E ; ’ s 5.1 million customers .
The nation ’ s largest utility said last month that it is using smarter and shorter power shutoffs after receiving widespread criticism from the public and regulators last year when it turned off electricity to 2 million people to prevent its equipment from sparking wildfires .
A second shutoff for around 700 customers was expected Thursday afternoon in far northern counties as winds were expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued a red-flag warning for extreme fire danger through Friday morning in many areas .
Hundreds of firefighters from across the state were being deployed to Northern California because of the weather , with bone-dry humidity and winds possibly hitting 55 mph ( 88.5 kph ) with gusts to 70 mph ( 112.7 kph ) possible in the Bay Area .
PG & E ; senior meteorologist Scott Strenfel said the forecast calls for two “ back-to-back ” periods when so-called Diablo winds sweep the region .
In addition to high winds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essentially suck the moisture out of vegetation , ” leaving it tinder-dry and vulnerable to burning .
Several of the counties falling under the PG & E ; shutoffs already were hit by massive wildfires .
The Glass Fire that ravaged the Northern California wine country of Napa and Sonoma counties was surrounded Wednesday after destroying more than 1,500 homes and other buildings .
Farther north , the Zogg Fire in Shasta and Tehama counties was fully contained .
Four people died in that blaze .
Hot weather also prompted California ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flex Alert , urging people to conserve energy between 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday by turning down their air conditioners and not using major appliances .
Previous conservation efforts this summer were praised for reducing the power demand and avoiding rolling blackouts .
More than 8,500 wildfires have burned more than 6,400 square miles ( 16,000 square kilometers ) in California since the start of the year , most since mid-August .
Thirty-one people have died , and more than 9,200 buildings have been destroyed .
Most of the huge fires that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now fully or significantly contained and skies once stained orange by heavy smoke are blue again .
But the gains made by thousands of firefighters assigned to the blazes that have scorched more than 4.1 million acres this year could be hampered if new fires ignite , said Daniel Berlant , assistant deputy director with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , known as Cal Fire .
“ If a new fire breaks out , that fire will be able to grow very quickly under these conditions , ” Berlant said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 years last month after a blaze razed her tiny foothills community of Berry Creek , about 160 miles ( 260 kilometers ) northeast of San Francisco in rural Butte County .
The night before , PG & E ; cut off power and she and her husband couldn ’ t use their well to get water and hose down their home .
Bethune , who has multiple sclerosis , said cutting power is a double-edged sword because it can help prevent fires from starting but it causes other issues .
“ Whenever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main concern is the heat because I can ’ t handle it without air conditioning due to my medical needs , ” she said .
Since being displaced , Bethune , her husband and three dogs have been living in a trailer they parked on her son ’ s orchard near the city of Chico that has its own power source .
PG & E ; ’ s aging equipment has sparked several major fires in recent years , including a 2018 blaze that destroyed much of the town of Paradise and killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter - one death was ruled a suicide - and paid $ 25.5 billion in settlements to cover the losses from that and other recent power line-sparked catastrophes .
Numerous studies have linked bigger wildfires in America to climate change from the burning of coal , oil and gas .
Scientists have said climate change has made California much drier , meaning trees and other plants are more flammable .
Experts say nine out 10 wildfires are caused by people either accidentally or deliberately .

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Pacific Gas & Electric began turning off power to more than 50,000 Northern California customers Wednesday evening as dry, windy conditions renewed the threat of fire in a season already marked by deadly, devastating blazes.
The utility announced that it had begun cutting power to up to 33,000 customers, with about another 20,000 to follow in a few hours.
The shutoffs will affect portions of nearly two dozen counties, mostly in the Sierras and San Francisco Bay Area, and could last 48 hours.
Preemptive electricity cuts are a strategy aimed at preventing fires from being started by power lines that have been damaged or knocked down amid high winds. PG&E equipment sparked several massive blazes that destroyed tens of thousands of homes and killed more than 100 people since 2017.
“These are challenging times. Not only are we right in the peak of the wildfire season … many of us are working from home, schooling from home as well. We recognize that hardships are introduced when we shut off power,” said Mark Quinlan, PG&E’s incident commander. “It’s our last resort option.”
The figure represents about 1% of PG&E’s 5.1 million customers. The nation’s largest utility said last month that it is using smarter and shorter power shutoffs after receiving widespread criticism from the public and regulators last year when it turned off electricity to 2 million people to prevent its equipment from sparking wildfires.
A second shutoff for around 700 customers was expected Thursday afternoon in far northern counties as winds were expected to arrive there.
The National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning for extreme fire danger through Friday morning in many areas. Hundreds of firefighters from across the state were being deployed to Northern California because of the weather, with bone-dry humidity and winds possibly hitting 55 mph (88.5 kph) with gusts to 70 mph (112.7 kph) possible in the Bay Area.
PG&E senior meteorologist Scott Strenfel said the forecast calls for two “back-to-back” periods when so-called Diablo winds sweep the region. In addition to high winds, they bring very dry air “and essentially suck the moisture out of vegetation,” leaving it tinder-dry and vulnerable to burning.
Several of the counties falling under the PG&E shutoffs already were hit by massive wildfires.
The Glass Fire that ravaged the Northern California wine country of Napa and Sonoma counties was surrounded Wednesday after destroying more than 1,500 homes and other buildings.
Farther north, the Zogg Fire in Shasta and Tehama counties was fully contained. Four people died in that blaze.
Hot weather also prompted California’s electric grid operator to issue a statewide Flex Alert, urging people to conserve energy between 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday by turning down their air conditioners and not using major appliances. Previous conservation efforts this summer were praised for reducing the power demand and avoiding rolling blackouts.
More than 8,500 wildfires have burned more than 6,400 square miles (16,000 square kilometers) in California since the start of the year, most since mid-August. Thirty-one people have died, and more than 9,200 buildings have been destroyed.
Most of the huge fires that erupted over the past eight weeks are now fully or significantly contained and skies once stained orange by heavy smoke are blue again.
But the gains made by thousands of firefighters assigned to the blazes that have scorched more than 4.1 million acres this year could be hampered if new fires ignite, said Daniel Berlant, assistant deputy director with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.
“If a new fire breaks out, that fire will be able to grow very quickly under these conditions,” Berlant said.
Denise Bethune lost her home of 12 years last month after a blaze razed her tiny foothills community of Berry Creek, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco in rural Butte County. The night before, PG&E cut off power and she and her husband couldn’t use their well to get water and hose down their home.
Bethune, who has multiple sclerosis, said cutting power is a double-edged sword because it can help prevent fires from starting but it causes other issues.
“Whenever there is a power outage, my main concern is the heat because I can’t handle it without air conditioning due to my medical needs,” she said.
Since being displaced, Bethune, her husband and three dogs have been living in a trailer they parked on her son’s orchard near the city of Chico that has its own power source.
PG&E’s aging equipment has sparked several major fires in recent years, including a 2018 blaze that destroyed much of the town of Paradise and killed 85 people. The utility pleaded guilty in June to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter - one death was ruled a suicide - and paid $25.5 billion in settlements to cover the losses from that and other recent power line-sparked catastrophes.
Numerous studies have linked bigger wildfires in America to climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas. Scientists have said climate change has made California much drier, meaning trees and other plants are more flammable.
Experts say nine out 10 wildfires are caused by people either accidentally or deliberately.


washingtontimes--2020-10-14--8 dead as house collapses amid record rain in southern India

HYDERABAD , India ( AP ) - Record rains and heavy flooding in the southern Indian state of Telangana collapsed houses and killed at least 15 people , police said Wednesday .
Four other people were injured in Hyderabad , the state ’ s capital , when a house ’ s boundary wall fell on a neighboring house , which collapsed with the impact , police officer Gaja Bhopal Rao said .
The first house to collapse in Hyderabad was in a hilly area of the city where the soil was loosened by more than 25 centimeters ( 9.8 inches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours , said Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar .
That left eight people dead .
Five other people were killed in two other house collapses in the city , Kumar said .
Two other people were swept away by flood waters elsewhere in the state .
The rain washed away part of the highway linking the city to the airport .
Thirty cars and trucks were washed away when a lake in the city overflowed , district administrator Amoy Kumar said .
The heavy rain in Hyderabad , caused by a deep depression in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set 20 years ago .
It caused flooding in low lying areas of the city , where authorities used boats to evacuate people .
More than 9.6 million people across South Asia have been affected by severe floods this year , with hundreds of thousands struggling to get food and medicine .
About 550 people have died in India , Bangladesh and Nepal , while millions have been displaced from their homes since the flooding began in June .

HYDERABAD, India (AP) - Record rains and heavy flooding in the southern Indian state of Telangana collapsed houses and killed at least 15 people, police said Wednesday.
Four other people were injured in Hyderabad, the state’s capital, when a house’s boundary wall fell on a neighboring house, which collapsed with the impact, police officer Gaja Bhopal Rao said.
The first house to collapse in Hyderabad was in a hilly area of the city where the soil was loosened by more than 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) of rain in the past 24 hours, said Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar. That left eight people dead.
Five other people were killed in two other house collapses in the city, Kumar said. Two other people were swept away by flood waters elsewhere in the state.
The rain washed away part of the highway linking the city to the airport.
Thirty cars and trucks were washed away when a lake in the city overflowed, district administrator Amoy Kumar said.
The heavy rain in Hyderabad, caused by a deep depression in Bay of Bengal, broke a record set 20 years ago. It caused flooding in low lying areas of the city, where authorities used boats to evacuate people.
More than 9.6 million people across South Asia have been affected by severe floods this year, with hundreds of thousands struggling to get food and medicine.
About 550 people have died in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, while millions have been displaced from their homes since the flooding began in June.