4 • March 19, 2020 - March 25, 2020
Biden sweeps Super
Tuesday III
By HERB BOYD
-----
Special to theAmNews
There m ay be pressing u n ­
certainties about the im pact
of the coronavirus, but Joe
Biden’s quest to be the D em ­
ocratic nom inee appears
to be almost settled after
taking three more primaries
on Tuesday. With resound­
ing victories in Arizona,
Florida, and Illinois, Biden
added considerably to his
delegate count, am ass­
ing a lead of over 300. That
num ber could have possi­
bly been more if Ohio hadn’t
put off its prim ary until later
this summer.
In the devastating grip of
COVID-19, there was little
celebratory tone to Biden’s
victory speech from his
hom e in Wilmington, DE.
“Today, it looks like once
again, in Florida and Illi­
nois—we're still awaiting
to hear from Arizona—our
campaign has had a very
good night. We’ve moved
closer to securing the D em ­
ocratic Party’s nom ination
Supporfiiigyour m ental health during COVID-19
By AMBER BORDEN
Special to theAmNews
COVID-19 is dominating
the world’s conversation.
With constant updates re­
garding the virus, the mental
health effects on Ameri­
cans have been neglected.
Many are aware of practic­
ing proper hygiene but do
not know how to handle the
anxiety and stress that comes
with a crisis like COVID-19.
The world’s response to
the coronavirus varies from
person to person. People
react differently to high
stress situations and those
who are at a greater risk to
respond to COVID-19 are the
elderly, children and teens,
doctors, healthcare provid­
ers, and first responders as
well as those who suffer from
mental health conditions
and those dealing with sub­
stance abuse.
Anxiety about the corona­
virus, like people’s reactions,
does not have one face. Anx­
iety can look like fear and
worry about one’s person­
al health and the health of
loved ones. According to
the CDC, anxiety and stress
for president, and we’re
doing it by building a broad
coalition that we need to
win in November."
The m uted tones included
another olive branch to Sen.
Bernie Sanders, stating that
he and his opponent “share
a com m on vision” and are
in agreement about provid­
ing affordable healthcare as
well as “tackling the existen­
tial threat of our time, cli­
m ate change.”
Moreover, Biden added,
“Sen. Sanders and his sup­
porters have brought a
remarkable passion and te­
nacity to all of these issues.
Together, they have shift­
ed the fundam ental con­
versation in this country. So
let me say, especially to the
young voters who have been
inspired by Sen. Sanders: I
hear you. I know w hat’s at
stake. 1 know what we have
to do.”
Chief am ong the prob­
lems in the wake of the p a n ­
dem ic is will the prim aries
be concluded before the
scheduled convention in
from COVID-19 can look like
changes in sleep and eating
patterns, difficulty concen­
trating, and increased use of
alcohol, tobacco, and other
drugs.
Solutions the CDC recom­
mends for those suffering
from anxiety about corona­
virus are to take breaks from
watching, reading, or listen­
ing to news stories including
social media. “Hearing about
die pandemic repeatedly
can be upsetting,” said the
CDC. When negative words
are consistently being con­
sumed, it is easy for the gen­
eral public to develop fear. It
is also recommended that it
is important to take care of
your body through stretch­
ing, meditation, eating a bal­
anced diet, getting plenty of
sleep and avoiding alcohol
and drugs. “Keeping a reg­
ular routine is important
during this unpredictable
time,” said psychologist, Dr.
Jeff Gardere.
Staying connected to those
close can help ease the lone­
liness from being isolated.
Calling, video chatting and
using social media allows
for there to be a connection
THE NEWYORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
July in Milwaukee. Ohio’s
may come within weeks of
the convention, by which
time the race should be
Biden’s given his standing
in the remaining state pri­
maries.
Meanwhile, the pandem ­
ic continues to spread with
rum ors that Trump may
order a nationwide shelter-
in-place, as is already u n ­
derway in San Francisco.
How this and other m ea­
sures will flatten the out­
break’s curve rem ains a
critical question.
The Trump adm inistra­
tion, with an aim toward
relieving the burdens of
m any Americans, has pro­
posed two waves of direct
paym ents to Americans to­
taling $500 billion, which is
part of a $1 trillion stimulus
plan. And even that may
not be enough.
Getting an estim ate of the
cost and im plications of the
pandem ic is beyond com ­
prehension at the m om ent
as global leaders struggle to
contain the virus.
even though it is not physi­
cal. Over isolating can lead
to bad habits like overeating,
drinking too much alcohol
and drug use. Staying in­
formed about COVID-19 vail
allow individuals to know
how to handle the virus. The
language used when talk­
ing about the coronavirus
should be kept age appro­
priate, if speaking with chil­
dren and teens, and to just
speak about the facts rather
than using words that insight
fear. “Being able to talk in a
constructive and produc­
tive way Instead of being
fear bound, it is important
to share factual information
to get through this time,”
said Dr. Gardere. Parents of
young children and teens
should remain as calm as
possible to help guide them
during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Let them know that one
thing does not change and
it is the love they have for
them. They need to see us
[parents/guardians] not lose
our minds. We have to keep
a rational m ind for our chil­
dren. Prayer, faith, and spir­
ituality' is im portant as well,”
said Dr. Gardere.
NewJerseyNews
Murphy announces social
distancing m easures to quell
spread of COVID-19 in New lersey
By CYRIL JOSH BARKER ‘ My administration continues
Amsterdam News Staff to work closely with our com ­
munities, stakeholders, union
Gov. Phil Murphy recently representatives, and busi­
signed an executive order im ­ ness leaders to ensure that we
plementing aggressive social all do our part to win the fight
distancing measures to mitigate against the novel coronavirus
further spread of COVID-19 in and emerge stronger than ever,”
New Jersey Murphy said.
Among die directives, the order In Newark, Mayor Ras Baraka
indefinitely closes all public and announced a series of sweep­
private preschool, elementary ing measures this week to ad­
and secondary schools, and in­ dress the threat of COVID-19,
stitutions of higher education, which include minimal staffing
as well as closes all casinos, race­ at City Hall, services offered to
tracks, gyms, movie theaters, residents there by appointm ent
and performing arts centers. only, closing of non-essential
“In order to slow the spread businesses by 8 p.m., and the
of COVID-19, we must take banning of crowds of more than
aggressive and direct social 50 people.
distancing action to curtail non- “While these regulations are
essential activities in the state,” necessarily stringent, we want to
said Murphy. “Our param ount urge residents to stay informed
priority is to ‘flatten the curve’ and for everyone to do their part
of new cases, so we do not over­ to help us contain this coro­
whelm our healthcare system navirus. We all have a deep re­
and overload our health care sponsibility to help mitigate the
professionals who are on the spread,” Baraka said. "Newark is
frontlines of the response.” strong—we will get through this
The order also m andates that —but we m ust work together.”
all non-essential retail, rec­ Baraka and Director of Health
reational, and entertainment and Community Wellness Dr.
businesses m ust cease daily op­
erations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. All
Mark Wade, M.D., held a Virtual
Town Hall with city residents on
restaurant establishments, with Tuesday. The Virtual Town Hall
or without a liquor license, are discussed the health impact of
limited to offering only delivery coronavirus on Newark, steps
and/or take-out services only, the city is taking to address it,
both during daytime hours and and measures residents can take
after 8 p.m. to protect themselves.
United Way of Greater Newark to set
up and emergency fund to assist
residents affected by COVID-19
By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Organization officials said
Amsterdam News Staff they have the technical capaci­
ty to run a disaster fund for the
The United Way of Greater community of this scale. UWGN
Newark (UWGNJ is setting up a has convened conversations
Community COVID-19 Fund. with partners in their collabor-
The purpose of the fund will be atives as well as partners who
to respond to community needs provide social service relief to
as the organization anticipates vulnerable populations. UWGN
the spread of tire COVID-19 virus also follows the guidelines es­
across Newark and surrounding tablished by FEMA including
communities. preparedness, response, mitiga­
“United Way of Greater Newark tion, and recovery
has long served tire communi­ “We know incidents of the
ty in times of need and disaster mental health crisis, domestic
and COVID-19 is no different,” violence, homelessness, job loss,
said President & CEO Catherine child abuse, and food insecurity
Wilson. “We created this fund to will increase over the next several
help residents, non-profits and weeks and months as we work to
other impacted sectors in our contain and mitigate the virus,”
footprint face the economic, Wilson said. “At United Way of
social and emotional challenges Greater Newark, we’re taking
expected as a result of this public the lead with our non-profit and
health crisis. funding partners to respond.”
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