The COVID-19 virus was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. To date, over 90 million cases have been recorded and more than 1 million Americans have died from the disease. After more than two years, COVID-19 doesn’t look like it’s going away.
One thing is for sure, Black women mommas (BWMs) know how to take care of others – from our ancestral legacies of Queen Mommas like Nana Yaa Asantewaa to audacious spirit of Harriet Tubman to medical pioneer foremothers like Henrietta Lacks and Rebecca Lee Crumpler to mothers of the movement like Betty Shabazz and Coretta Scott King to our nation’s first Black Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Children’s exposure to the COVID-19 virus in schools, social events, and in family settings puts them, their loved ones and communities at greater risk for infection, making their vaccination more important than ever.
If the child is eligible, both vaccines can and should be given for the health and safety of the child. The flu shot can be given at the same time as the COVID vaccine, or any time before or after. There is no evidence that timing of when these two vaccines are given affects the efficacy of either one.
Over 3,000 new cases of the COVID-19 virus have been reported in Los Angeles County over the past several days. This is the largest number of new cases since that Los Angeles County has reported since February of this year.
There are still families and individuals in our community who do not have enough to eat each day. While some food distribution has slowed down, the needs are still present.
Many of those providing the distribution of food say they are running into a shortage of volunteers to handle the process.
The current pandemic presents nothing new to African Americans in terms of disproportionately impacting our communities in every dimension of life. The fact is, as has been noted in any number of commentaries and references on social media in the wake of the Covid-19 virus, we have been experiencing a pandemic since our first days on the shores of this country-a pandemic of racism. Emancipation provided a lowering of the viral load, as have the legislative outcomes of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, but the stark reality is that it’s a virus that continues to impact the consciousness of many Americans and continues to mutate with varying presentations requiring vigilance and a consistent intervention of social outcry and activism.
Thursday, May 7, Los Angeles Officials provided news surrounding the recovery stages, L.A. is conceiving a new normal post pandemic. The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors partnered with the city mayor, to create a phased plan for approved local businesses to open such as florists, car dealers, and stores that sell toys, books, clothing, sporting goods, and music stores. They will be only operating by curbside pickup. There will be more businesses opening over the course of this month, however if numbers begin to reflect a negative turn, L.A. Public officials will draw back from opening business and community spaces.
Thursday, April 16. The L.A. Board of Supervisors welcomed District attorney, Jackie Lacey to disclose information from the district attorney office surrounding the spread of COVID-19. The Director of public health provided updated statistics behind the pandemic that has affected every part of the L.A. City structure.
Joseph Nicchitta, Director of Consumer and Business Affairs disclosed there is a motion among the county official table, detailing a relief fund for small businesses. The goal for the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is to provide timely and accurate information. This level of office is looking to cover multiple tiers of business, such as the “Gig” economy and business owners where English is their secondary language. As of March 26. There is a central hub for information, The Business and Worker Disaster Health Center. Assistance from established business personnel directly from the Department of Consumer and Business, and other public departments are available within that function to assist those in need. Collectively there are nine languages available within this central hub. The Emergency Operations Center are pulling together federal and local aid to support the fragile immune system of our economy.
Thursday, April 2. The L.A. County Office of Education disclosed emergency protocols that are taking place within the Los Angeles school system. Based on the recommendation from the California State Governor, academic curriculum will remain virtually achievable for the remainder of the school year. The L.A. Office County of Education shared how this will affect the 80 school districts that are in the Los Angeles region. The Emergency Operation Center recognized the stress that will contribute to parents and care givers who are now responsible for facilitating a virtual hub of education for their child. Director of Public Health shared the most recent data surrounding COVID-19.
More than 19 thousand individuals joined in on a live telephone town hall hosted by Congresswoman Maxine Waters to discuss the Coronavirus pandemic. Thursday, March 19, the masses gathered to gain insightful information that is and will be affecting Los Angeles residents’ immediate surroundings and future.
Working to re-open the St. Vincent Medical Center and provide the community immediate access to over 180 medical beds to help assess, treat and quarantine patients afflicted with the COVID-19 virus was a necessary step in providing more resources to residents. Our work resulted in the immediate funding and logistical coordination to bring St. Vincent’s back online after its closure in January within weeks.
An editorial last week in the L.A. Times began: “The coronavirus outbreak may have you feeling scared, frustrated, and powerless. In stressful times, there’s a tendency to panic and, say, buy up all the pasta and bottled water. But we’re all in this together, and it’s far better for all involved if we choose to help our fellow human beings rather than rip the last roll of toilet paper from their hands….” We, the members of the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders, could not agree more. The panic buying and hoarding we are witnessing is of no value –