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Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
A P R I L 15 - A P R I L 21, 2020 • VO L. 21 • N O. 16                WASHINGTON HEIGHTS • INWOOD • HARLEM • EAST HARLEM
N O RT H E R N   M A N H AT TA N ’ S   BILINGUAL   N E W S PA P E R          E L P E R I O D I C O B I L I N G U E D E L N O R T E D E M A N H AT TA N

                      NOW EVERY WEDNES DAY
                       TODOS LOS MIERCOLES

                                                                                                                      Corona Exchange
Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
NEW YORKERS:
       STAY HOME TO STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS
           New Yorkers working together and staying home can slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York City.
              When you go out for essential needs, work or to get fresh air, keep distance between yourself and others
                                                and take the following precautions.

                  PROTECT YOURSELF                                                                                               PROTECT THE                                 REDUCE
                                                                                         IF YOU ARE SICK                       MOST VULNERABLE                            OVERCROWDING
                     AND OTHERS

    • Keep at least 6 feet between yourself                             • Stay home.                                 • Stay home if you have lung disease,      • Stay home.
      and others.                                                       • If you have a cough, shortness of            heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a     • Telecommute if possible.
    • Wash your hands with soap and                                       breath, fever, sore throat and do not        weakened immune system.                  If you do go out:
      water often.                                                        feel better after 3-4 days, consult with   • Stay home and call, video chat or text     • Stagger work hours away from peak
    • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue                             your doctor.                                 with family or friends who have one of       travel times.
      or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.                              • If you need help getting medical care,       these conditions.
                                                                                                                                                                  • Walk or bike.
    • Do not touch your face with                                         call 311.
                                                                                                                                                                  • Do not gather in crowds.
      unwashed hands.                                                   • NYC will provide care regardless of
    • Monitor your health more closely than                               immigration status or ability to pay.
      usual for cold or flu symptoms.

    Text COVID to 692-692 for real-time updates or visit nyc.gov/coronavirus.                                                                                                                 Bill de Blasio
                                                                                                                                                                                              Mayor
    Call 311 to report harassment or discrimination. Call 888-NYC-WELL, text "WELL" to 65173 or chat online at nyc.gov/nycwell to connect with a counselor.                                   Oxiris Barbot, MD
                                                                                                                                                                                              Commissioner
    *Messages and data rates may apply. Check your wireless provider plan for details.

2                                                                                  APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com
Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
City Council to hold first-ever remote stated meeting
T   here’ll be a change in the
    chambers.
                                                                                                                                                        lifting up their well-being remain,” added
                                                                                                                                                        Councilmember Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.
                                                                                                                                                        “This remote Stated meeting is symbolic of
   For the first time in over eighty years, the                                                                                                         the amazing resilience of New Yorkers in
New York City Council will hit “remote.”                                                                                                                this difficult moment.”
   On April 22, the Council will conduct a                                                                                                                 Looming before the Council is one major
Stated meeting in remote fashion, a first in                                                                                                            agenda item: finalizing the fiscal year 2021
the Council’s history.                                                                                                                                  budget.
   It will be the legislative body’s first                                                                                                                 When unveiled in January, Mayor Bill
meeting since the coronavirus outbreak.                                                                                                                 de Blasio’s $95.3 billion budget was billed
   Members of the public will be able to                                                                                                                as necessarily limited in scope, due to the
watch the meeting online in real time via the                                                                                                           expected $6 billion deficit in funding from
Council website.                                                                                                                                        Albany. De Blasio’s 2021 budget projections
   “It isn’t easy to get an                                                                                                                             bumped up less than 1 percent from the
82-year-old       legislative                                                                                                                           previous year’s spending ($94.6 billion),
body up and running                                                                                                                                     representing the smallest spending increase
                                                                 The next Council meeting                                                               requested to date. Missing also were the
remotely for the first time                                      will be held remotely.
in its history, but I am                                                                                                                                announcement as in years past of any large-
proud of the work that the                                         used to introduce and vote on                                                        scale programs such as pre-kindergarten
staff put in to make this                                          legislation.                                                                         expansion.
happen in a secure and                                               “My colleagues and I are                                                              “We’ve never seen this kind of state
publicly accessible fashion. I speak for all        proud of the work we’ve done together so far                                                        deficit, we’ve never seen this kind of threat
members in saying we are eager to resume            in the fight against coronavirus,” said Council                                                     to our Medicaid recipients, we’ve never
legislating for the people of New York,”            Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo. “We are                                                               seen this kind of threat to the Health and
said Council Speaker Corey Johnson in the           excited to get back to passing bills and                                                            Hospitals Corporation,” said de Blasio on
announcement, made public on April 15th.            holding hearings on behalf of New Yorkers.                                                          January 16th as he unveiled his spending
“The coming weeks and months will not be            Our constituents need us now more than ever                                                         plan.
easy for us as a city, but I can guarantee that     and we are absolutely here for them in this                                                            De Blasio said then such prudence was
the Council will do everything in its power         trying time.”                                                                                       a necessary outcome of looming fiscal
to help us weather this difficult time.”               “Our legislating, our representing the                                                           concerns – months before New York City
   Since mid-March, all Council meetings            needs of our shared communities, is a key                                                           would become the new epicenter of the
have been cancelled due to COVID-19.                part of our work to protect the vulnerable and                                                      coronavirus crisis.
   Prior to the pandemic, the Council held a        meet urgent needs. With this remote Stated         “The Council will do everything to
                                                    meeting, our work takes on a new form, but         help us weather this difficult time,”              For more information, please visit
stated meeting every two weeks and once a                                                              said Council Speaker Corey Johnson.
month during the summer. The meetings are           the values of protecting our communities and                                                        council.nyc.gov.

 El Ayuntamiento celebrará la primera reunión de forma remota
H   abrá un cambio en las cámaras.
         Por primera vez en más de ochenta
                                                                                                                                                        remota es un símbolo de la increíble
                                                                                                                                                        resiliencia de los neoyorquinos en este
                                                                                                                                                        momento difícil”.
años, el Concejo de la Ciudad de Nueva York                                                                                                                Se avecina ante el Concejo un tema
hará impacto de forma “remota”.                                                                                                                         importante de la agenda: finalizar el
    El 22 de abril, el Concejo llevará a cabo                                                                                                           presupuesto del año fiscal 2021.
una reunión declarada de manera remota, la                                                                                                                 Cuando se dio a conocer en enero, el
primera en su historia.                                                                                                                                 presupuesto de $95.3 mil millones de dólares
    Será la primera reunión del cuerpo                                                                                                                  del alcalde Bill de Blasio fue promocionado
legislativo desde el brote del coronavirus.                                                                                                             como necesariamente limitado en su
    Los miembros del público podrán ver la                                                                                                              alcance, debido al déficit esperado de $6 mil
reunión en línea en tiempo real a través del                                                                                                            millones de dólares en fondos de Albany. Las
sitio web del Concejo.                                                                                                                                  proyecciones presupuestarias del 2021 de de
    “No es fácil lograr que un cuerpo legislativo                                                                                                       Blasio aumentaron menos del 1 por ciento del
de 82 años funcione de manera remota                                                                                                                    gasto del año anterior ($94.6 mil millones),
por primera vez en su historia, pero estoy                                                                                                              lo que representa el aumento de gasto más
orgulloso del trabajo que el personal realizó                                                                                                           pequeño solicitado hasta la fecha. También se
para que esto suceda de manera segura y                                                                                                                 perdió el anuncio, como en años anteriores,
de forma públicamente accesible. Hablo por                                                                                                              de cualquier programa a gran escala, como la
todos los miembros cuando digo que estamos                                                                                                              expansión del pre jardín de infantes.
ansiosos por reanudar la legislación para el                                                                                                               “Nunca hemos visto este tipo de déficit
pueblo de Nueva York”, dijo el presidente del                                                                                                           estatal, nunca hemos visto este tipo de
                                                    “Nuestros electores nos necesitan ahora más                                                         amenaza para nuestros beneficiarios de
Concejo Corey Johnson en el anuncio, hecho          que nunca”, dijo la líder de la mayoría del
público el 15 de abril. “Las próximas semanas                                                          El alcalde Bill de Blasio.
                                                                                                                                                        Medicaid, nunca hemos visto este tipo de
                                                    Concejo, Laurie Cumbo, aquí con Johnson.                                                            amenaza para la Corporación de Salud y
y meses no serán fáciles para nosotros como
ciudad, pero puedo garantizar que el Concejo                                                                                                            Hospitales”, dijo de Blasio el 16 de enero
                                                       “Mis colegas y yo estamos orgullosos del          “Nuestra legislación, nuestra representación   mientras daba a conocer su plan de gastos.
hará todo lo que esté a su alcance para             trabajo que hemos realizado juntos hasta          de las necesidades de nuestras comunidades
ayudarnos a superar este momento difícil”.                                                                                                                 De Blasio dijo que esa prudencia era un
                                                    ahora en la lucha contra el coronavirus”, dijo    compartidas, es una parte clave de nuestra        resultado necesario de las preocupaciones
    Desde mediados de marzo, todas las              la líder de la mayoría del Concejo, Laurie        labor para proteger a los vulnerables y
reuniones del Concejo fueron canceladas                                                                                                                 fiscales que se avecinaban, meses antes de
                                                    Cumbo. “Estamos entusiasmados por volver a        satisfacer las necesidades urgentes. Con esta     que la ciudad de Nueva York se convirtiera en
debido al COVID-19.                                 aprobar proyectos de ley y celebrar audiencias    reunión declarada remota, nuestro trabajo
    Antes de la pandemia, el Concejo celebraba                                                                                                          el nuevo epicentro de la crisis del coronavirus.
                                                    en nombre de los neoyorquinos. Nuestros           adquiere una nueva forma, pero los valores
una reunión declarada cada dos semanas y una        electores nos necesitan ahora más que nunca y     de proteger a nuestras comunidades y elevar
vez al mes durante el verano. Las reuniones se                                                                                                            Para más información, por favor visite
                                                    estamos absolutamente aquí para ellos en este     su bienestar permanecen”, agregó el concejal      council.nyc.gov.
utilizan para presentar y votar leyes.              momento difícil”.                                 Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. “Esta reunión declarada

                                                              APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com                                                                                3
Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
No to Gender Violence                                                                                No a la                                        garantizando refugio alternativo, entre
                                                                                                                                                        otros servicios.
                                                                                                                                                           Llame a la línea directa de violencia

                                                                                                        violencia
                                                                                                                                                        doméstica las 24 horas de la ciudad:
                                                                                                                                                        800-621-HOPE (4673) para obtener una
                                                                                                                                                        planificación de seguridad inmediata,
                                                                                                                                                        asistencia para refugios y otros recursos.

                                                                                                        de género
                                                                                                                                                           Llame a la línea directa de salud mental
                                                                                                                                                        y uso de sustancias las 24 horas de la
                                                                                                                                                        ciudad: 1-888-NYC-WELL para obtener
                                                                                                                                                        asistencia gratuita y confidencial.

                                                                                                      V  ivir con alguien que te causa daño no
                                                                                                         es fácil, especialmente cuando tienes
                                                                                                      que crear un plan de seguridad para
                                                                                                                                                          Visite qtnyccovid.wordpress.com
                                                                                                                                                        para recursos COVID-19 para los
                                                                                                                                                        neoyorquinos LGBTQ.
                                                                                                      buscar refugio en otro lugar.                       Por favor visite nyc.gov/nychope
                                                                                                                                                        para recursos adicionales.
                                                                                                         Las personas que sobreviven a la
                                                                                                      violencia en sus hogares
                                                                                                      pueden estar experimentando
                                                                                                      un mayor aislamiento y una

    L   iving with someone who
        causes you harm is not easy,
    especially when having to create
                                                    whose lines are open and staffed with experts
                                                    ready to offer free and confidential assistance
                                                    with safety planning, securing alternative
                                                                                                      mayor exposición al riesgo
                                                                                                      causado por las medidas
                                                                                                      de distanciamiento social
                                                    shelter, among other services.                    debido a la pandemia del
    a safety plan to seek refuge                    • Call the city’s 24-hour Domestic Violence       COVID-19. Los sobrevivientes
    elsewhere.                                        Hotline: 800-621-HOPE (4673) for                a menudo tienen necesidades
                                                      immediate safety planning, shelter              específicas en materia de
       People who are surviving violence in           assistance, and other resources.                seguridad y confidencialidad.
    their homes may be experiencing increased       • Call the city’s 24-hour Mental Health &            No está solo y el apoyo está
    isolation and increased exposure to risk          Substance Use Hotline: 1-888-NYC-WELL           disponible 24/7. Hay varias
    caused by social distancing measures due          for free and confidential support.              organizaciones sin fines de
    to the COVID-19 pandemic. Survivors             • Visit     qtnyccovid.wordpress.com        for   lucro en los cinco condados,
    often have specific needs around safety and       COVID-19 resources for LGBTQ New                cuyas líneas están abiertas
    confidentiality.                                  Yorkers.                                        y cuentan con expertos
       You are not alone and support is available                                                     listos para ofrecer asistencia
    24/7. There are several not-for-profit            Please visit nyc.gov/nychope for                gratuita y confidencial con
    organizations throughout the five boroughs      additional resources.                             planificación de seguridad,

                                                                                                                                April 6 – April 11
                                                                                                        Uptown Love in the Time of                      eyes of your fellow New Yorkers. The gnawing
                                                                                                       Coronavirus: Clap Because You                    uncertainty of what tomorrow will bring and
                                                                                                       Care                                             the inability to meaningfully interact with one
                                                                                                                                                        another is testing our collective sanity.
                                                                                                          I think I speak for many in this                 And then at 7 p.m., at least for a spell, we
                                                                                                       neighborhood and throughout this great           are not alone. We are united and the clouds
                                                                                                       city when I say that the 7 p.m. clapping and     over this city briefly part and we can see a
                                                                                                       noise-making sessions for our courageous         brighter day on the horizon. The eruption of
                                                                                                       healthcare heroes on the frontlines is the       joy and togetherness provide the sustenance
                                                                                                       highlight of the day, every day. This simple     we all need to survive the pandemic. We are
                                                                                                       act of stopping whatever you are doing           truly all in this together.
                                                                                                       and showing appreciation for those real-life        Great nations need exceptional leadership
                                                                                                       superheroes provides a comfort and solace        in times of crisis. We don’t have that at the
                                                                                                       that is hard to describe. We owe them a debt     federal level where it is so badly needed. The
                                                                                                       that we can never repay. The same can be         American Experiment is in trouble. This is an
                                                                                                       said of all the “essential” workers who keep     existential crisis that goes beyond healthcare.
                                                                                                       this society running and who do not have the     The novel coronavirus is brutally exposing
                                                                                                       privilege of working from home.                  what has become of a once-great country.
                                                                                                          The timing of the daily appreciation          God help us all!
                                                                                                       manifestations could not be any better as
                                                                                                       they usually start after the daily Trump            Pa’lante Siempre Pa’lante!
                                                                                                       propaganda briefings are over. Tyrant Trump
                                                                                                       has turned what is supposed to be a medium          Keep checking us out at
                                                                                                       for crucial information on the nation’s fight       www.uptowncollective.com.
                                                                                                       against the novel coronavirus into a political
                                                                                                       rally whose primary goal is the reelection of       Led Black
                                                                                                       Donald Trump. Let me state this as plainly as       Editor-in-Chief
                                                                                                       I can, America will not survive a second term       The Uptown Collective
                                                                                                       of Donald Trump.
                                                                                                          Our lives have changed profoundly. We no      The UC’s mission is to become “the” definitive, transformative
                                                                                                                                                        and community-based force impacting the arts, culture,
                                                                                                       longer venture outside except for necessities.   business and New York City’s overall perception of Upper
                                                                                                       The once lively Alto Manhattan is eerily         Manhattan. Its objective is to reset, reboot and positively
                                                                                                                                                        redefine Uptown’s artistic, political, cultural and business
                                                                                                       and uncharacteristically quiet. When you do      spheres via the online space as well the collective’s initiatives
                                                                                                       go out you can see the fear and despair in the   and functions.

4                                                            APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com
Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
New benefits agreement for family of fallen transit workers
A    new benefits package has                                                                                                                  help the families left behind and to further
                                                                                                   The ranks of transit workers                honor our lost heroes’ great sacrifice to
     been announced for the                                                                        have been hit hard by the virus.
                                                                                                                                               this city and state.”
family of transit workers whose                                                                                                                   “This is a major step in reassuring our
lives were lost to COVID-19.                                                                                                                   workers out there on the frontlines that
                                                                                                                                               we know the risk they are taking,” said
   The     Metropolitan    Transportation                                                                                                      SMART General Chairman Anthony
Authority (MTA), Transport Workers                                                                                                             Simon.
Union Local 100 (TWU), the International                                                                                                          To help protect workers against
Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and                                                                                                      COVID-19, the MTA has distributed
Transportation Workers (SMART), and                                                                                                            millions of pieces of personal protective
International Brotherhood of Teamsters                                                                                                         equipment, including 2.7 million pairs of
Local 808 (IBT) have announced an                                                                                                              gloves and nearly 750,000 masks, since
agreement to provide benefits for families                                                                                                     March 1. The agency also implemented
of transit workers who died due to the                                                                                                         rear-door bus boarding and is conducting
COVID-19 pandemic.                                                                                                                             comprehensive         disinfecting    efforts
   The benefits include a payment of                                                                                                           systemwide.
$500,000 from the MTA to the surviving                                                                                                            “The work and sacrifice made by our
family of any worker who lost their life                                                                                                       frontline workers during this pandemic
as a result of COVID-19, in                                                                                                                    can never be properly quantified,” said F.
addition to providing health                                                                                                                   Christophe Silvera, Secretary-Treasurer
insurance to the spouse                                                                                                                        of the International Brotherhood of
and dependents to                                                                                                                              Teamsters Local 808. “We mourn with the
the age of 26 of the                                                                                                                           families of those lost and hope that this is
surviving family for                                      our frontline workers have      are ongoing with additional labor unions             a step towards the healing process.”
three years.                                               done during this pandemic is   to extend the COVID-19 family benefits                  “New York wouldn’t have a fighting
   “Transportation                                         nothing short of heroic and    agreement to all members of the agency’s             chance against this virus if transit workers
workers are the                                            we believe this agreement      unionized workforce.                                 weren’t getting the blue collar heroes of
moving heroes of                                           is another crucial step in       The agreement, which is subject to board           this pandemic – nurses, paramedics, food
this public health                                        recognizing their sacrifice.    ratification, will also be extended to all non-      service workers – to the front lines of the
crisis, continuing to                                    The losses the MTA family has    represented employees, the MTA said.                 battle all across the metropolitan region,”
get healthcare workers,                                suffered are heartbreaking and       “We can’t bring back our heroic co-                TWU International President John
first responders and other                           our thoughts are with the families   workers but we can make sure their families          Samuelsen said. “This COVID-19 death
essential personnel where they                    of our beloved colleagues during this   are taken care of,” said TWU Local 100               benefit is a recognition of the incredible
need to go and saving lives,” said MTA       challenging time.”                           President Tony Utano. “We will continue              contributions and sacrifices our workforce
Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye. “What        According to the MTA, discussions          to fight in Albany for additional benefits to        has made.”

                                                                                                Nuevo acuerdo para las
                                                                                                familias de trabajadores
                                                                                                  del tránsito caídos
                                                                                          S   e ha anunciado un nuevo paquete
                                                                                              de prestaciones para las familias de
                                                                                          trabajadores del tránsito cuyas vidas se
                                                                                          perdieron por el COVID-19.
                                                                                             La Autoridad Metropolitana de Tránsito
                                                                                          (MTA, por sus siglas en inglés), el Sindicato de
                                                                                          Trabajadores del Tránsito Local 100 (TWU, por
                                                                                          sus siglas en inglés), la Asociación Internacional
                                                                                          de Trabajadores de Metal Laminado, Aire,
                                                                                          Ferrocarril y Tránsito (SMART, por sus siglas
                                                                                          en inglés), y la Hermandad Internacional de
                                                                                          Camioneros Local 808 (IBT, por sus siglas
                                                                                          en inglés) han anunciado un acuerdo para
                                                                                          proporcionar beneficios para las familias de los
                                                                                          trabajadores de tránsito que murieron debido a la
                                                                                          pandemia de COVID-19.
                                                                                             Las prestaciones incluyen un pago de
                                                                                          $500,000 dólares de la MTA a la familia
                                                                                          sobreviviente de cualquier trabajador que haya
                                                                                          perdido la vida como resultado del COVID-19,          “No podemos traer de vuelta a nuestros
                                                                                          además de proporcionar un seguro de salud al          heroicos compañeros de trabajo, pero
                                                                                          cónyuge y a los dependientes hasta la edad de         podemos asegurarnos de que se
                                                                                          26 años de la familia sobreviviente por tres años.    cuide a sus familias”, dijo el presidente
                                                                                                                                                de TWU Local 100, Tony Utano.
                                                                                                                     Vea FAMILIAS p15

                                                     APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com                                                                          5
Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
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6                                          APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com
Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
Zoo Sick
                                                                                                   Not that kind of party.

        Going viral
        goes global
            By Sherry Mazzocchi

N     ews about tigers stunned the
      world earlier this month.
   And no, it’s not an episode of Tiger King.
   After Nadia, a four-year-old Malaysian
tiger at the Bronx Zoo developed a dry cough                                                          The result was the zoonotic disease, or a     making it easy for these diseases to become
and lost her appetite, she tested positive for                                                     disease transmitted from animals to humans.      pandemics.
COVID-19. She isn’t the only big cat who                                                           “It can go both ways,” explained Walzer,           The huge open air, or “wet” markets are
probably has it. Her sister Azul, two other                                                        Executive Director of WCS’s Global Health        an important part of Chinese life. Fruits,
Amur tigers and three African lions also have                                                      Program.                                                    vegetables, meat and fish are
similar symptoms. A spokesperson from the           Nadia, a four-year-old Malaysian                  He and fellow conservationists                            all sold there. Often, some
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said it         tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has                    recently hosted a “One Health”                               endangered and rare species
is very likely the animals caught the disease       tested positive for COVID-19.                  webinar briefing on COVID-19                                 are sold as items of luxury and
from an asymptomatic worker and they will                                                          that delved into the connections                             others are touted for medicinal
practice social distancing from now on.            people, and domestic animals has made           between wildlife, livestock, and                             value.
   The large cats are improving and are            remaining few tiger populations more            humans.                                                         But the main cause for
expected to make a full recovery. But it           vulnerable to infectious disease.                  Walzer noted that zoonotic                                concern is the section where
reveals how closely the health of people and          Even before the cats started coughing,       diseases have increased over the                             wildlife—including       animals
animals are intertwined.                           the WCS called for an immediate halt in the     past four or five decades.                                   such as bats and illegally traded
   In the past century, wild tigers have lost      trade and consumption of wildlife. While the       Other types of zoonotic disease                           animals like pangolins—are
over 95% of their habitat and are limited          origins of the COVID-19 are “murky,” said       include SARS, MERS, Ebola,                                   openly slaughtered and sold.
to small areas with human communities in           Dr. Christian Walzer, the sequenced genome      and avian-based influenza. Because the world       Walzer called for a worldwide ban on
close proximity.                                   of the coronavirus shows it likely originated   is so much more interconnected, outbreaks
   The increasing contact between tigers,          from bats in an outdoor market in Wuhan,        can spiral across the globe very quickly,                                         See ZOO p13
                                                   China.

 Zoológico
                                                                                                                                                      Walzer, el genoma secuenciado del coronavirus
                                                                                                                               Interconectados.
                                                                                                                                                      muestra que probablemente se originó en
                                                                                                                                                      murciélagos en un mercado al aire libre en
                                                                                                                                                      Wuhan, China.

  enfermo
                                                                                                                                                         El resultado fue la enfermedad zoonótica,
                                                                                                                                                      o una enfermedad transmitida de animales
                                                                                                                                                      a humanos. “Puede ir en ambos sentidos”,
                                                                                                                                                      explicó Walzer, director ejecutivo del Programa
                                                                                                                                                      de Salud Global de WCS.
                                                                                                                                                         Él y sus compañeros conservacionistas
     Lo viral se                                                                                                                                      organizaron recientemente un seminario web
                                                                                                                                                      “One Health” sobre COVID-19 que profundizó
                                                                                                                                                      en las conexiones entre la vida silvestre, el
   vuelve mundial                                                                                                                                     ganado y los humanos.
                                                                                                                                                         Walzer señaló que las enfermedades
            Por Sherry Mazzocchi                                                                                                                      zoonóticas han aumentado en las últimas
                                                                                                                                                      cuatro o cinco décadas.

L  as noticias sobre tigres                                                                                                                              Otros tipos de enfermedades zoonóticas
   sorprendieron al mundo a principios                                                                                                                incluyen SARS, MERS, ébola e influenza
                                                                                                                                                      aviar. Debido a que el mundo está mucho
de este mes.                                                                                                                                          más interconectado, los brotes pueden
                                                                                                                                                            girar en espiral en todo el mundo
   Y no, no es un episodio de Tiger King.                                                                                                                    muy rápidamente, lo que facilita que
   Después de que Nadia, un tigre malayo           están la salud de las personas y de los                                    Los mercados al aire libre     estas enfermedades se conviertan en
de cuatro años en el zoológico del Bronx           animales.                                                                  “húmedos” son un pilar.        pandemias.
desarrollara una tos seca y perdiera el apetito,      En el siglo pasado, los tigres salvajes                                                                   Los enormes mercados al aire libre
dio positivo para COVID-19. Ella no es el único    han perdido más del 95% de su hábitat                                                                     o “húmedos” son una parte importante
gran felino que probablemente lo tiene. Su         y están limitados a pequeñas áreas con                                                                    de la vida china. Ahí se venden frutas,
hermana Azul, otros dos tigres Amur y tres         comunidades humanas muy cercanas.                                                                         verduras, carne y pescado. A menudo,
leones africanos también tienen síntomas              El contacto creciente entre tigres,                                                                    algunas especies raras y en peligro de
similares. Un portavoz de la Sociedad para la      personas y animales domésticos ha                                                                         extinción se venden como artículos de
Conservación de la Vida Silvestre (WCS, por        hecho que las pocas poblaciones de tigres                                                                 lujo y otras se promocionan por su valor
sus siglas en inglés) dijo que es muy probable     restantes sean más vulnerables a las                                                                      medicinal.
que los animales contrajeran la enfermedad         enfermedades infecciosas.                                                                                    Pero la principal causa de
de un trabajador asintomático y que a partir de       Incluso antes de que los felinos                                                                       preocupación es la sección donde la
ahora practicarán el distanciamiento social.       comenzaran a toser, la WCS pidió un alto                                                                  vida silvestre, incluidos los animales
   Los grandes felinos están mejorando y se        inmediato en el comercio y consumo de                                                                     como los murciélagos y los animales
espera que se recuperen por completo. Pero         vida silvestre. Si bien los orígenes del
esto revela cuán estrechamente entrelazadas        COVID-19 son “turbios”, dijo el Dr. Christian                                                                           Vea ZOOLÓGICO P13

                                                             APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com                                                                              7
Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
Plasma, panic
        and pandemics
            Dr. Craig Spencer talks COVID-19
               at online community forum
            By Gregg McQueen                          Spencer, who now serves as an emergency
                                                   room doctor and Director of Global Health

    B lood treatment was a bust for
      Craig Spencer.
                                                   in Emergency Medicine at New York-
                                                   Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical
                                                   Center, warned against over-confidence in
   In 2014, Spencer became Patient Zero –          quick potential cures as the city continues
New York City’s first Ebola patient.               to grapple with the coronavirus crisis.
   Outbreaks of Ebola, a rare but deadly              “Right now, the only thing we know
virus, most commonly surface in sub-               that decreases cases and mortality is                                               Dr. Craig Spencer is an ER
Saharan Africa.                                    staying home. That’s it,” remarked                                                  physician – and Ebola survivor.
   In 2014, approximately eleven cases             Spencer. He noted that medication such as
                                                   hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin have            online Q&A session, hosted by City Council          the ER,” said Spencer, who noted that
surfaced in the United States including                                                                Health Committee Chair Mark Levine, to              medical personnel who don’t normally
Spencer, who had returned from working             shown promise but more research needs to
                                                   be done to confirm their effectiveness.             discuss COVID-19 answer questions from              work in the emergency room are now
with Doctors Without Borders in West                                                                   community members. Also joining in was              being used in that role. “It’s an all-hands-
Africa. He was treated, and recovered, at             “But we don’t have the data yet to prove
                                                   their efficacy,” he said. “We hope that they        Congressman Adriano Espaillat.                      on-deck scenario. Quite frankly, it’s
Bellevue Hospital.                                                                                       During the session, Spencer described             overtaken everything that we’ve done,”
   Among the therapies used to save his            all work, but we don’t know.
                                                      Now the Harlem resident is on the                the high number of coronavirus patients             he said.
life was blood treatment, in which he                                                                  coming into hospital emergency rooms in               Spencer acknowledged that not every
received plasma infusions from an Ebola            frontlines against another deadly virus,
                                                   working directly with COVID-19 patients             recent weeks. He said the deluge has meant          patient who reports to an emergency room
survivor.                                                                                              that most hospitals have turned their entire        with coronavirus symptoms is admitted to
   “It didn’t work. It gave me some                at the ER at New York-Presbyterian
                                                   Hospital.                                           facility into an ICU for COVID-19 patients.         the hospital. Admissions are reserved for
complications,” recalled Spencer.                                                                        “It’s forcing us to recreate and redevelop
                                                      On April 13, Spencer took part in an                                                                                               See PLASMA p12

    El Dr. Craig Spencer
        habla sobre el                             Plasma, pánico y pandemias
       COVID-19 en un
      foro comunitario
            Por Gregg McQueen

E    l tratamiento de sangre fue un
     fracaso para Craig Spencer.
   En 2014, Spencer se convirtió en el Paciente
Cero, el primer paciente con ébola de la ciudad
de Nueva York.
   Los brotes de ébola, un virus raro pero
mortal, aparecen con mayor frecuencia en el
África subsahariana.
   En 2014, surgieron aproximadamente once
casos en los Estados Unidos, incluido Spencer,                                                                                                             El concejal Mark Levine
quien había regresado de trabajar con Médicos                                                                                                              organizó del foro en línea.
sin Fronteras en África Occidental. Fue tratado,
y se recuperó, en el Hospital Bellevue.
   Entre las terapias utilizadas para salvar su                                                                                                            discutir preguntas sobre el COVID-19 de los
vida estuvo el tratamiento de sangre, en el que                                                                                                            miembros de la comunidad. También se unió el
                                                    Las admisiones están reservadas para los pacientes más enfermos, dijo Spencer.                         congresista Adriano Espaillat.
recibió infusiones de plasma de un sobreviviente
del ébola.                                                                                                                                                    Durante la sesión, Spencer describió la gran
                                                   lidiando con la crisis del coronavirus.             pero no lo sabemos”.                                cantidad de pacientes con coronavirus que
   “No funcionó. Me dio algunas                        “En este momento, lo único que sabemos que         Ahora, el residente de Harlem está en la línea
complicaciones”, recordó el médico.                                                                                                                        han ingresado a las salas de emergencia de
                                                   disminuye los casos y la mortalidad es quedarse     de batalla contra otro virus mortal, trabajando     los hospitales en las últimas semanas. Dijo
   Spencer, quien ahora se desempeña como          en casa. Es todo”, comentó Spencer. Señaló que      directamente con pacientes con COVID-19 en la
médico de la sala de emergencias y director                                                                                                                que la avalancha ha significado que la mayoría
                                                   los medicamentos como la hidroxicloroquina y la     sala de emergencias del Hospital Presbyterian de    de los hospitales han convertido todas sus
de Salud Mundial en Medicina de Emergencia         azitromicina han demostrado ser prometedores,       Nueva York.
en el New York-Presbyterian/Centro Médico                                                                                                                  instalaciones en una UCI para pacientes con
                                                   pero se necesita hacer más investigación para          El 13 de abril, Spencer participó en una         COVID-19.
de la Universidad Columbia, advirtió contra        confirmar su efectividad.                           sesión de preguntas y respuestas en línea,
la excesiva confianza en las curas rápidas                                                                                                                    “Nos está obligando a recrear y reconstruir la
                                                       “Aún no tenemos los datos para probar su        organizada por el presidente del Comité de
potenciales a medida que la ciudad continúa        eficacia”, dijo. “Esperamos que todos funcionen,    Salud del Concejo Municipal, Mark Levine, para                                    Vea PLASMA p12

8                                                            APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com
Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
“They                                                                                                                                                       The organization was
                                                                                                                                                              founded over 100 years ago.

  were
  going
 hungry”                                                                                       They were saying they were going hungry,”              To help resolve the food insecurity, the
   Sustenance and                             “We’re going to get through
                                                                                               said Englisher.
                                                                                                  Prior to COVID-19, the Y would serve
                                                                                                                                                   Y made an arrangement with local eatery
                                                                                                                                                   Koko Grill to prepare and deliver meals
                                                                                               lunch for up to 200 seniors per day at              to members with the most pressing food
  solidarity at the Y                         it,” said Martin Englisher, here
                                              with Dr. Ruth Westheimer.                        its Nagle Avenue headquarters. But the              needs. The meals are being paid for by a
                                                                                               pandemic shutdown was preventing many               large private donation.
           By Gregg McQueen                                                                    of them from accessing food.                           “The situation for some is really dire,”
                                                 But even Englisher, the Y’s Chief

M
                                                                                                  While Englisher said that some seniors           remarked Englisher, who said he hopes to
       artin Englisher has seen a lot.        Executive Officer, is floored.                   were obtaining meal deliveries from the             expand the number of meals provided.
                                                 “I’ve faced a lot of things in my 40 years    city’s Department for the Aging (DFTA), he             The Y is currently seeking donations
           For over four decades, Englisher   here, but I’ve never faced this,” he remarked,   said the packages alone were not enough for         to help provide meal services to seniors,
has served at the YM & YWHA of                noting that COVID-10 has presented historic      sustenance.                                         Englisher said.
Washington Heights and Inwood (the Y),        challenges for the staff and members alike.         “It’s not necessarily meant for your                Initially, The Y staff continued to
an organization with an astonishing 103          While New York City remains on pause          diet. It’s meant to be emergency food, not          prepare grab-and-go meals for two weeks
years of history in Northern Manhattan.       due to the coronavirus pandemic, residents       sustaining food,” said Englisher.                   following Governor Andrew Cuomo’s
  The group has endured numerous              remain in need of essential services provided       Also, some of the meal packages include          “pause” order, distributing them to
challenges since its founding, including      by community organizations.                      canned goods that are difficult to open, he         community members at the front entrance
moving locations twice and weathering            This includes Northern Manhattan seniors      said.                                               of their apartment buildings. However,
periods of tumult when crime and violence     reliant upon meals from the Y, which                “That’s been the really frustrating part for     DFTA urged the Y to stop that practice as it
plagued uptown streets. Many of the           provides social services and enrichment          seniors. They receive badly needed food but         was considered unsafe for seniors to leave
organization’s older members are Holocaust    programs for all ages.                           sometimes they can’t even open it,” he said.        their homes.
survivors.                                       “We were getting calls from our members.      “It’s been a real challenge.”                                             See SOLIDARITY p18

                                                                                                La Y ha servido durante mucho tiempo como
                                                                                                un centro de actividad intergeneracional.

                                                                                               "Estaban pasando hambre"
                                                                                                    Sustento y                                        El grupo ha resistido numerosos desafíos
                                                                                                                                                   desde su fundación, incluyendo cambio de
                                                                                                solidaridad en la Y                                ubicación en dos ocasiones y períodos de
                                                                                                                                                   tumulto cuando el crimen y la violencia plagaron
                                                                                                                                                   las calles del Alto Manhattan.
                                                                                                            Por Gregg McQueen                         Pero incluso Englisher, el director general de
                                                                                                                                                   la Y, está pasmado.

                                                                                               M    artin Englisher ha visto mucho.
                                                                                                       Durante más de cuatro décadas,
                                                                                                                                                      "He enfrentado muchas cosas en mis 40
                                                                                                                                                   años aquí, pero nunca esto", comentó, y señaló
                                                                                                                                                   que el COVID-10 ha presentado desafíos
                                                                                               Englisher ha trabajado en la YM & YWHA              históricos tanto para el personal como para
                                                                                               de Washington Heights e Inwood (la Y), una          los miembros, que incluyen sobrevivientes del
                                                                                               organización con 103 años de historia en el norte
                                                                                               de Manhattan.                                                           Vea SOLIDARIDAD p18

                                                       APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com                                                                                   9
Corona Exchange - Manhattan Times
“A harsh renewal”
      Artists in a life                                      As a real estate reporter, he is covering an
                                                             industry in a tailspin. But his literary career
                                                             is on hold.
      of quarantine                                             Sidransky’s first novel, Forgiving Maximo
                                                             Rothman earned a lot of acclaim. His latest
               By Sherry Mazzocchi                           novel The Interpreter, was getting strong
                                                             momentum. Authors and preliminary

T  hese are uncertain times and we                           reviewers were calling it his breakout novel.
                                                             The March 28th publication date came and
   don’t know what the future will                           went. Now he’s not sure what will happen.
bring.                                                       “As a result of the virus, I’ve had to cancel
                                                             20 events,” he said. “I’m trying to rescue
   What we do with our time is important—                    whatever I can of this launch, come up with
                                                             a plan and move some of the launch online.”                   “It’s a lot more hectic,” says author A.J. Sidransky.
whether it’s caring for others in a necessary
job, trying to educate children while working                   Before the crisis, he worked at home
from home, or focusing on that book we’ve                    alone. Now he and his wife are both in their                 come in handy.”                                                     After eight days of illness her
always wanted to write. Or maybe we are                      Washington Heights apartments, typically on                    For more information, please visit                             friend’s fever hadn’t subsided.
just staying home, protecting everyone else                  different conference calls at the same time.                 ajsidransky.com.                                                 On day nine, he took a turn for
by protecting ourselves.                                     “It’s a lot more hectic,” he said.                                                                                            the worse and then died.
   This is the fourth installment in a series                   Sidransky is a creature of habit. He gets up                 Michele W. Miller is grateful to be with                         By the time Miller got to day
focused on the creative community in                         early, goes to the gym and then spends the rest              family and sit on the sofa next to her big dog                   eight, she was doing guided
our midst. We’ve asked some of the most                      of the morning and afternoon writing. “Then                  Hazel. She just recovered from COVID-19.                         meditations.
ingenious artists and creators who’ve graced                 I have my guilty pleasure, which is two hours                   The Washington Heights author of the                             “Besides the sadness of what
these pages in the past to share what they are               of political talk shows on MSNBC so I get my                 crime novel Widows-In-Law, normally                              happened to him, you have a
doing and what they are thinking now – and                   anti-Trump dose. And then I cook dinner,” he                 wakes before the sun. She writes novels on                       condition that you have no way of predicting whether
what might be ahead.                                         said. “That hasn’t really changed.” He still                 the downtown A train and works long hours                        or not it’s going to be turning worse.”
   For more, please visit                                    gets up early. But now goes for a power walk                 as a driven lawyer. But fever, fatigue and                          Now her temperature is normal. She was told that
manhattantimesnews.com.                                      and works out at home. “I have to tell you,                  trouble breathing laid her low. A friend with                    seven days after her fever was gone she could go
                                                             I never thought that the 20 pound weights                    similar symptoms got sick just a couple of                       out. “But I waited more like 14 days. I really wasn’t
   A.J. Sidransky has more work than ever.                   and a chin up bar that my son left here would                days before she did.                                             comfortable with that.”

“A harsh
                                                             Michele W. Miller y su                                                        out at home. “I have to tell you, I never        Miller busca asegurarse de que las personas estén
                                                             labradora chocolate Hazel.                                                    thought that the 20 pound weights and            socialmente distanciadas de la forma adecuada.
                                                                                                                                           a chin up bar that my son left here
                                                                                                                                           would come in handy.”

renewal”
                                                                                                                                              For more information, please visit
                                                                                                                                           ajsidransky.com.

                                                                                                                                                Michele W. Miller is grateful to be
                                                                                                                                            with family and sit on the sofa next to
                                                                                                                                            her big dog Hazel. She just recovered
        Artists in a life                                                                                                                   from COVID-19.
                                                                                                                                                The Washington Heights author
        of quarantine                                                                                                                       of the crime novel Widows-In-Law,
                                                                                                                                            normally wakes before the sun. She
               By Sherry Mazzocchi                                                                                                          writes novels on the downtown A train
                                                                                                                                            and works long hours as a driven

T    hese are uncertain times and we don’t                                                                                                  lawyer. But fever, fatigue and trouble
                                                                                                                                            breathing laid her low. A friend with          campaign. She’s only half-kidding when she talks about being the
     know what the future will bring.                                                                                                       similar symptoms got sick just a couple        social distancing police. “I have to go out with a tape measure,”
                                                                                                                                            of days before she did.                        she said. “It would be some sort of performance art. I could do a
   What we do with our time is important—whether it’s                                                                                           After eight days of illness her friend’s   whole novel around a character that would think of something like
caring for others in a necessary job, trying to educate                                                                                     fever hadn’t subsided. On day nine, he         that. I am that sort of person who will say to a person, ‘Does that
children while working from home, or focusing on that                                                                                       took a turn for the worse and then died.       look like six feet to you?’”
book we’ve always wanted to write. Or maybe we                                                                                                  By the time Miller got to day eight,          For more information, please visit michelewmiller.com.
are just staying home, protecting everyone else by                                                                                          she was doing guided meditations.
protecting ourselves.                                                                                                                           “Besides the sadness of what                   Jim Mendrinos said nearly two decades after 9/11, people
   This is the fourth installment in a series focused                                                                                       happened to him, you have a condition          have mostly forgotten what happened. He wants to document the
on the creative community in our midst. We’ve asked                                                                                         that you have no way of predicting             toll pandemic is taking on people’s lives so it won’t be forgotten.
some of the most ingenious artists and creators who’ve                                                                                      whether or not it’s going to be turning        The comedian and founder of New Media Company invited
graced these pages in the past to share what they are                                                                                       worse.”                                        performers and artists to send him short videos of what they’re
doing and what they are thinking now – and what might                                                                                           Now her temperature is normal. She         experiencing during the “pause.”
be ahead.                                                    whatever I can of this launch, come up with a plan and       was told that seven days after her fever was gone she            The Bronx-born entertainer said performers’ livelihoods took
   For more, please visit manhattantimesnews.com.            move some of the launch online.”                             could go out. “But I waited more like 14 days. I really          a direct hit from coronavirus. Comedy clubs are closed and
                                                                Before the crisis, he worked at home alone. Now           wasn’t comfortable with that.”                                   performing arts shows are canceled. Closed restaurants mean a
   A.J. Sidransky has more work than ever. As a real         he and his wife are both in their Washington Heights             Miller was in the beginning stages of publishing a           loss of day jobs. He foresees that establishments closed for more
estate reporter, he is covering an industry in a tailspin.   apartments, typically on different conference calls at the   new book, a spin-off on Widows-In-Law that has some              than a month may never reopen.
But his literary career is on hold.                          same time. “It’s a lot more hectic,” he said.                of the same characters. She is also hard at work on                  “It’s unbelievable suffering for people now. But on top of that,
Sidransky’s first novel, Forgiving Maximo Rothman               Sidransky is a creature of habit. He gets up early,       another novel, a supernatural suspense story. But she            it’s going to be losing a generation of artists and thinkers,” he
earned a lot of acclaim. His latest novel The Interpreter,   goes to the gym and then spends the rest of the              thinks the time isn’t right for publishing new books. “I’m       said. “This will have a lingering and not-so-positive effect,” he
was getting strong momentum. Authors and preliminary         morning and afternoon writing. “Then I have my guilty        not sure what publishers even know what their budgets            said. Some of the female performers he knows even discuss
reviewers were calling it his breakout novel. The March      pleasure, which is two hours of political talk shows on      are,” Miller said. “All of the brick-and-mortar stores           doing “camera girl things” just to get by. “Because apparently
28th publication date came and went. Now he’s not            MSNBC so I get my anti-Trump dose. And then I cook           are closed and I don’t think Amazon is even delivering           exploitation never runs out of style,” he said.
sure what will happen. “As a result of the virus, I’ve       dinner,” he said. “That hasn’t really changed.” He still     books anymore.”                                                      He wonders how he can tell his own daughter that the arts are
had to cancel 20 events,” he said. “I’m trying to rescue     gets up early. But now goes for a power walk and works           Instead, Miller wants to create a public awareness           a great way to make a living while simultaneously figuring out if

10                                                                       APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com
Miller was in the beginning stages of publishing                                                                                                     Nancy Preston saw it coming. clients need this,” she said. “Especially now.”
a new book, a spin-off on Widows-In-Law that has                                                                                                    With friends and family living       While Bread and Yoga doesn’t offer as
some of the same characters. She is also hard at work                                                                                               in Taiwan and Hong Kong, she many classes as they once did, the ones
on another novel, a supernatural suspense story. But                                                                                                was acutely aware of the early they do offer are very well attended. The
she thinks the time isn’t right for publishing new                                                                                                  spread of coronavirus. As those teachers allow the students to speak during
books. “I’m not sure what publishers even know                                                                                                      governments quickly sought the beginning and the end of the classes.
what their budgets are,” Miller said. “All of the                                                                                                   to contain the number of cases They also encourage participants to allow
brick-and-mortar stores are closed and I don’t think                                                                                                by early testing and restricting camera access so teachers can give individual
Amazon is even delivering books anymore.”                                                                                                           travel, her circle of yoga friends guidance during class.
  Instead, Miller wants to create a public awareness                                                                                                abroad moved all of their classes    Preston teaches a specific type of yoga
campaign. She’s only half-kidding when she talks                                                                                                    online.                            based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar.
about being the social distancing police. “I have to                                                                                                   So she told Marcella Xavier, Iyengar yoga uses a lot of props that enable
go out with a tape measure,” she said. “It would be                      “This will have a lingering
                                                                         effect,” says Jim Mendrinos.                                               the owner of Bread and Yoga students to focus on their alignment. Some
some sort of performance art. I could do a whole                                                                                                    studios, to think about doing teachers are very “hands-on” in class, showing
novel around a character that would think of                                                                                                        the same. When                                    students how to correct
something like that. I am that sort of person who will                  top of that, it’s going to be losing a generation                          the shelter in place                               their stance or adjust their
say to a person, ‘Does that look like six feet to you?’”                of artists and thinkers,” he said. “This will                edict came down, they were                                       position. But some less than
  For more information, please visit                                    have a lingering and not-so-positive effect,”                prepared to offer their classes                                  scrupulous teachers have
michelewmiller.com.                                                     he said. Some of the female performers                       via Zoom. She said the studio’s                                  taken advantage of students
                                                                        he knows even discuss doing “camera girl                     support staff has been really                                    by touching inappropriately.
   Jim Mendrinos said nearly two decades after                          things” just to get by. “Because apparently                  helpful to both teachers and                                     It recently made the entire
9/11, people have mostly forgotten what happened.                       exploitation never runs out of style,” he said.              students. “Basically, all you                                    yoga teaching industry
He wants to document the toll pandemic is taking on                        He wonders how he can tell his own                        have to do is get in and teach a                                 to recalibrate how they
people’s lives so it won’t be forgotten.                                daughter that the arts are a great way to make               class,” Preston said.                                            teach. Lawyers offered
   The comedian and founder of New Media                                a living while simultaneously figuring out                       The hardest part was getting                                 legal opinions on how to
Company invited performers and artists to send him                      if he can feed her during this crisis. “So the               over her fear of seeing herself                                  ask students for consent
short videos of what they’re experiencing during the                    next time you’re sequestered somewhere and                   on a computer screen. “I know                                    on being touched. Having
“pause.”                                                                binge watching a TV, show, this is what the                  I’m not looking any different. Mendrinos is                      virtual meetings eliminates
   The Bronx-born entertainer said performers’                          writer or actor had to live through to to get to             But when you see yourself in focusing on                         any necessity to ask for
livelihoods took a direct hit from coronavirus.                         that,” he said. “I’m trying to document it and               action, it’s always different.”       documenting                consent or risk that sort of
Comedy clubs are closed and performing arts shows                       give it a voice so it’s not forgotten 10 years                   Although many yoga teachers the experience.                  liability. “Now we have to
are canceled. Closed restaurants mean a loss of day                     later.”                                                      had long offered online classes,                                 hone our verbal skills to be
jobs. He foresees that establishments closed for more                      For more, please visit jim-mendrinos.                     the majority of studios were                                     able to be really precise,”
than a month may never reopen.                                          com.                                                         slow to follow. Now their survival depends on she said. “That’s all going to make us better
   “It’s unbelievable suffering for people now. But on                                                                               it. “We have to do this. And our students and teachers.”

 A group shot of the Bread and Yoga
 teachers before the pandemic.

he can feed her during this crisis. “So the next                                        survival depends on it. “We have to do
time you’re sequestered somewhere and binge                                             this. And our students and clients need
watching a TV, show, this is what the writer or                                         this,” she said. “Especially now.”
actor had to live through to to get to that,” he                                            While Bread and Yoga doesn’t
said. “I’m trying to document it and give it a                                          offer as many classes as they once
voice so it’s not forgotten 10 years later.”                                            did, the ones they do offer are very
   For more, please visit jim-mendrinos.com.                                            well attended. The teachers allow the
                                                                                        students to speak during the beginning
    Nancy Preston saw it coming. With friends                                           and the end of the classes. They also
and family living in Taiwan and Hong Kong,                                              encourage participants to allow camera
she was acutely aware of the early spread of           “We have to do this,”            access so teachers can give individual
coronavirus. As those governments quickly              says Nancy Preston.              guidance during class.
sought to contain the number of cases by early                                              Preston teaches a specific type of
testing and restricting travel, her circle of yoga                                      yoga based on the teachings of B.K.S.
friends abroad moved all of their classes online.                   Iyengar. Iyengar yoga uses a lot of props that enable
    So she told Marcella Xavier, the owner of Bread and Yoga        students to focus on their alignment. Some teachers are
studios, to think about doing the same. When the shelter            very “hands-on” in class, showing students how to correct
in place edict came down, they were prepared to offer their         their stance or adjust their position. But some less than
classes via Zoom. She said the studio’s support staff has           scrupulous teachers have taken advantage of students by
been really helpful to both teachers and students. “Basically,      touching inappropriately. It recently made the entire yoga
all you have to do is get in and teach a class,” Preston said.      teaching industry to recalibrate how they teach. Lawyers
    The hardest part was getting over her fear of seeing            offered legal opinions on how to ask students for consent
herself on a computer screen. “I know I’m not looking any           on being touched. Having virtual meetings eliminates any
different. But when you see yourself in action, it’s always         necessity to ask for consent or risk that sort of liability.
different.”                                                         “Now we have to hone our verbal skills to be able to be
    Although many yoga teachers had long offered online             really precise,” she said. “That’s all going to make us better
classes, the majority of studios were slow to follow. Now their     teachers.”

                                                                                     APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com                                                                             11
In November 2014, Spencer                                                                               noted that the 13th Congressional District this month from a presumed bout of
  was released from Bellevue.                                                                             that he represents is geographically the COVID-19 and has since recuperated,
                                                                                                          smallest in the nation.                       noted that the city is seeking blood
                                                                                                             “We’re literally living on top of each plasma donations from patients who
                                                                                                          other,” Espaillat said.                       have recovered. Their blood is high in
                                                                                                             “EMS has been telling us the same antibodies to fight the virus.
                                                                                                          thing for weeks,” agreed Spencer.               Though Spencer said the potential in
                                                                                                          “They’ll go into an apartment where five plasma treatment needed further study,
                                                                                                          or six or seven people                                      he     encouraged       New
                                                                                                          are living. It’s literally                                  Yorkers to donate blood
                                                                                                          impossible for one                                          if possible. “If it is going
                                                                                                          person to get sick and                                      to work, we’re going to
                                                                                                          the other people there                                      need blood. And we need
                                                                                                          not to get sick.”                                           it regardless, as there’s a
                                                                                                             Levine said the                                          shortage of blood all over
                                                                                                          two Manhattan zip                                           the city.”
                                                                                                          codes hit hardest by                                           He expressed optimism
                                                                                                          COVID-19 infections                                         that said the city might be
                                                                                                          are both in Northern                                        turning a corner in terms
                                                                                                          Manhattan.             He                                   of the pandemic.
                                                                                                          suggested that the                                             “Are we in a better
                                                                                                          city should begin to                                        spot today than we were
                                                                                                          ease restrictions until                                     yesterday? It seems
                                                                                                          widespread testing is                                       like it,” Spencer said.
 PLASMA from p8                                        Spencer commented on the racial                    available.                   “This has unmasked…            “Looking at the data,
                                                    disparities on display during the pandemic               “In the next phase the health disparities                we’re hoping that we’ve
 the sickest patients, as beds are limited          – according to Health Department data, the            of this epidemic, the plaguing this city                    reached that apex, that
 and each COVID-19 patient requires “a              rates of COVID-19 infections and death                only hope we have of and         the nation,”
                                                                                                                                       said Congressman
                                                                                                                                                                      highest number of cases
 lot of work” and as many as six to eight           have been higher in New York City’s                   returning to normal is Adriano Espaillat.                   per day, deaths per day,
 providers to care for them, he said.               communities of color.                                 mass testing, contract                                      people on ventilators per
    “We’re admitting everyone who needs                “Even before coronavirus came,                     tracing,      and     real                                  day. I still want to see
 to be admitted,” he stressed.                      we know there were structural health                  quarantining for those who might not more trends over the next few days and
    Spencer said that hospitals are still           inequities,” he said. “This is a huge issue           be sick enough to be in the hospital,” weeks. But we hope that we’re starting
 learning how to best manage coronavirus            that needs to be fixed.”                              Levine said. “We want to make sure it’s to get a little bit to the other side of
 patients.                                             “This pandemic has unmasked to                     communities of color like Washington this.”
    “This has hit us so hard and so quickly,        everyone what many knew for decades,                  Heights, West Harlem, and Inwood are
 that we still need time to adapt,” he              the health disparities that are plaguing this         first in line for these resources.”             For more from Dr. Spencer, check
 remarked.                                          city and the nation,” said Espaillat. He                 Levine, who himself fell ill earlier him out on Twitter @Craig_A_Spencer.

 PLASMA de p8                                                                                                                                                               las comunidades de color como
 sala de emergencias”, dijo Spencer, señalando                                                                                                                              Washington Heights, West Harlem
 que el personal médico que normalmente no                                                                                                                                  e Inwood sean las primeras en
 trabaja en la sala de emergencias ahora está       La hidroxicloroquina tiene potencial                                                                                    obtener estos recursos”.
 siendo utilizado en ese rol. “Es un escenario      pero se necesita más investigación.                                                                                        Levine, quien se enfermó a
 con toda la tripulación en sus puestos.                                                                                                                                    principios de este mes de un
 Francamente, ha superado todo lo que hemos                                                                                                                                 presunto episodio de COVID-19 y
 hecho”, dijo.                                                                                                                                                              desde entonces se ha recuperado,
    Spencer reconoció que no todos los                                                                                                                                      señaló que la ciudad está
 pacientes que se presentan en una sala de                                                                                                                                  buscando donaciones de plasma
 emergencias con síntomas de coronavirus                                                                                                                                    sanguíneo de pacientes que se
 son ingresados al hospital. Las admisiones                                                                                                                                 han recuperado. Su sangre es alta
 están reservadas para los pacientes más                                                                                                                                    en anticuerpos para combatir el
 enfermos, ya que las camas son limitadas y                                                                                                                                 virus.
 cada paciente con COVID-19 requiere “mucho                                                                                                                                    Aunque Spencer dijo que el
 trabajo” y hasta seis u ocho proveedores para                                                                                                                              potencial tratamiento con plasma
 atenderlos, dijo.                                                                                                                                                          necesita estudiarse más, alentó a
    “Estamos admitiendo a todos los que                                                                                                                                     los neoyorquinos a donar sangre
 necesitan ser admitidos”, enfatizó.                                                                                                                                        si es posible. “Si va a funcionar,
                                                    décadas, las disparidades de salud que                                                                                  vamos a necesitar sangre. Y la
    Spencer explicó que los hospitales aún          están asolando a esta ciudad y a la
 siguen aprendiendo cómo manejar mejor a los                                                                                                                                necesitamos de todos modos, ya
                                                    nación”, dijo Espaillat. Señaló que el 13º                                                                              que hay una escasez de sangre en
 pacientes con coronavirus.                         Distrito del Congreso que representa es
    “Esto nos ha golpeado tan fuerte y tan                                                                                                                                  toda la ciudad “.
                                                    geográficamente el más pequeño de la                                                                                       Expresó optimismo al decir que
 rápidamente que aún necesitamos tiempo para        nación.
 adaptarnos”, comentó.                                                                                “Nos está obligando a recrear y reconstruir la sala                   la ciudad podría estar dando la
                                                      “Estamos literalmente viviendo uno              de emergencias”, dijo Spencer sobre el coronavirus.                   vuelta a la esquina en términos de
    Spencer comentó sobre las disparidades          encima del otro”, dijo.
 raciales exhibidas durante la pandemia: de                                                                                                                                 la pandemia.
                                                      “Los Servicios de Emergencias                                                                                            “¿Estamos en un lugar mejor hoy
 acuerdo con información del Departamento           Médicas nos han estado diciendo lo mismo                Sugirió que la ciudad debería comenzar a
 de Salud, las tasas de infecciones y muerte                                                                                                                   que ayer? Parece que sí”, dijo. “Al observar los
                                                    durante semanas”, coincidió Spencer, quien              aliviar las restricciones hasta que las pruebas    datos, esperamos haber alcanzado ese pico, el
 por COVID-19 han sido más altas en las             describió la preocupación de llevar el virus a su       generalizadas estén disponibles.
 comunidades de color de la ciudad de Nueva                                                                                                                    mayor número de casos por día, muertes por
                                                    esposa y su hija de dieciséis meses. “Entrarán a           “En la próxima fase de esta epidemia, la        día, personas con ventiladores por día. Aún
 York.                                              un departamento donde viven cinco o seis o siete        única esperanza que tenemos de volver a
    “Incluso antes de que llegara el coronavirus,                                                                                                              quiero ver más tendencias en los próximos días
                                                    personas. Es literalmente imposible que una             la normalidad es la realización de pruebas         y semanas. Pero esperamos comenzar un poco
 sabíamos que había inequidades estructurales       persona se enferme y las demás, no”.                    masivas, el rastreo de contactos y la cuarentena
 en la salud”, dijo. “Este es un gran problema                                                                                                                 más al otro lado de esto”.
                                                       Levine dijo que los dos códigos postales de          real para quienes no estén lo suficientemente
 que debe corregirse”.                              Manhattan más afectados por las infecciones             enfermos como para estar en el hospital”,             Para más información del Dr. Spencer,
    “Esta pandemia ha desenmascarado a              por COVID-19 están en el norte de Manhattan.            dijo Levine. “Queremos asegurarnos de que          eche un vistazo en Twitter en @Craig_A_
 todos lo que muchos han sabido durante                                                                                                                        Spencer.

12                                                              APRIL 15, 2020 • MANHATTAN TIMES • www.manhattantimesnews.com
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