Tag Archives: caribbean

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Omicron Spreads More Easily, Less Severe, Spanish Medics Infected, World Stats, More

Omicron appears more transmissible and medics test positive after party

Early signs Omicron spreads more easily, No 10 says

Early signs suggest the Omicron variant is more transmissible than the current Delta strain, Downing Street has said. But the prime minister’s official spokesman added it was too early to draw conclusions – and any impact would also depend on whether it caused severe illness. There are now 437 confirmed cases of Omicron in the UK, up 101 on Monday. It comes as Welsh health minister Eluned Morgan warned a “significant wave” of Omicron is expected to affect residents, and Scotland said restrictions are to be reviewed on a daily basis due to a rapid increase in cases of the variant.

Woman in mask walks past Covid vaccination centre in LondonImage source, Getty Images

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Nearly 70 Spanish medics test positive after Christmas party

Almost 70 medics who attended a large Christmas party in southern Spain have since tested positive for Covid, local authorities said. Most of the 68 infected are doctors and nurses working in the intensive care unit at Málaga’s regional hospital. All of the party guests – around 170 people – returned negative antigen tests before the event but more than half are now isolating.

Healthcare workers stand at the front entrance of the Malaga Regional University HospitalImage source, Reuters
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Fauci: Omicron appears to be less severe

 

© Julia Nikhinson

Top infectious diseases doctor Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that the omicron variant of the coronavirus seems to be less severe than delta, but he cautioned it will take more time to get a fuller picture.

“It’s too early to be able to determine the precise severity of disease but inklings that we are getting, and we must remember these are still in the form of anecdotal … but it appears that with the cases that are seen, we are not seeing a very severe profile of disease,” Fauci said during a White House briefing.

“In fact, it might be and I underscore might be, less severe as shown by the ratio of hospitalizations per number of new cases,” Fauci added.

Caveat: He said the low hospitalizations could be influenced by the fact that younger people are the ones getting infected, since they are less likely to be hospitalized.

Fauci, the White House’s chief medical adviser, noted that the virus also appears more transmissible, but offered the same caveat that it’s still early.

“Real-world evidence is accumulating rapidly, literally on a daily basis, to allow us to determine increase in cases, possible increase in reproductive number and the rapid replacement of delta by omicron in certain situations,” he said.

Fauci also said data about the effectiveness of vaccines on the variant could start to be ready by the middle of next week.

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Italy mandates Super Green Pass for access to public venues


Italy has ramped up its COVID-19 measures, banning people without a Super Green Pass from many public activities, starting from Monday through mid-January. The pass confirms proof of vaccination or recovery from the virus within the past six months, and cannot be obtained with only a negative test result like previous passes. The move will bar unvaccinated people from many venues, like theaters, cinemas, music venues, sports events, restaurants and bars. Italy has seen a spike in coronavirus cases since October and is trying to curb the spread of the new omicron variant.

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US INVESTING $315M IN VACCINE DELIVERY

The Biden administration is investing an additional $315 million to help deliver COVID-19 vaccines in low- and middle-income countries as the omicron variant of the coronavirus highlights the need to vaccinate the world.

United States Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power made the announcement during a global COVID-19 meeting on Monday, saying the world is at an “inflection point” in the fight against the virus.

The new funds are part of an increased focus on getting shots actually into arms around the world, not just delivering the vaccines themselves, Power said.

“The appeal from our partner nations has expanded,” she said. “They are not just asking for doses; they are urging us to provide support that will allow them to administer those doses.”

The $315 million in new funds will help with cold storage and other logistics, as well as in launching mobile vaccination sites and deploying health workers, USAID said.

Advocates push for more: “After millions of COVID-19 deaths, the United States’ global response to combatting the pandemic has mainly consisted of drips and drabs,” said Steve Knievel, an advocate at the progressive group Public Citizen’s access to medicines program.

“A few hundred million dollars to support global vaccine delivery is welcome, but significantly bolder, urgent action is needed to bring the pandemic under control,” he added.

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WORLD STATS

Coronavirus Cases:

267,480,680

Deaths:

5,289,062

Recovered:

240,942,277
Highlighted in green
= all cases have recovered from the infection
Highlighted in grey
= all cases have had an outcome (there are no active cases)

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Latest News

December 8 (GMT)

Updates

  • 30,752 new cases and 1,179 new deaths in Russia [source]

 

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Brazil’s Rio Cancels New Year Celebration as Pandemic Rages On

SAO PAULO, Dec 4 (Reuters) – The mayor of Rio de Janeiro canceled New Year’s Eve celebrations after Brazil confirmed the first known cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Latin America’s biggest country.

Eduardo Paes tweeted on Saturday that he would follow the recommendations of Rio de Janeiro state to cancel the celebrations, despite the city’s own view to the contrary.

“We respect science,” Paes tweeted, saying there are dissenting opinions between scientific committees in the city and the state, but he would rather stick with the most restrictive one. “The city’s committee says it can go ahead and the state’s says no. So it can’t take place. Let’s cancel the official New Year’s Eve celebration in Rio,” the tweet said.

The cancellation of the party, which attracts millions of residents and tourists to the world-famous Copacabana beach to watch the fireworks, does not come as a surprise.

“I am very sad as mayor and personally. The New Year’s Eve celebration in Rio is one of the most incredible and incomparable parties in the world,” Paes told a press conference.

In Brazil, the pandemic has claimed more than 615,000 lives, the second highest total in the world after the United States.

Paes said no additional restrictions would be imposed, stressing that vaccinated tourists are welcome in Rio de Janeiro as the city has recorded a drop in deaths and cases, and a high level of vaccination.

The cancellation was supported by health experts, through a tweet by Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro after Paes’ announcement left room for a potential reversal.

Castro said Paes and him agreed to hold a meeting next week with state and municipal health authorities “to make a final decision” on the matter.

Reporting by Ana Mano and Rodrigo Viga in Rio de Janeiro; editing by Diane Craft

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Pearl Harbor Day 2021: 80th Anniversary of ‘Date Which Will Live in Infamy’

Today – Dec. 7, 2021 – marks the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The surprise attacks, which led to the U.S. entering World War II,  killed some 2,400 Americans and wounded 1,700 more.

In all, the U.S. lost nearly 20 ships and 300 airplanes.

Here’s more on the ‘date which will live in infamy:”

Intercepted message

On December 6, 1941, the U.S. intercepted a Japanese message that inquired about ship movements and berthing positions at Pearl Harbor. The cryptologist gave the message to her superior who said he would get back to her on Monday, Dec. 8. On Sunday, Dec. 7, a radar operator on Oahu saw a large group of airplanes on his screen heading toward the island. He called his superior who told him it was probably a group of U.S. B-17 bombers and not to worry about them.

“Tora, Tora, Tora!”

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 that morning with the entire attack taking only one hour and 15 minutes. Captain Mitsuo Fuchida sent the coded message, “Tora, Tora, Tora,” to the Japanese fleet after flying over Oahu to indicate the Americans had been caught by surprise.

The Japanese planned to give the U.S. a declaration of war before the attack began so they would not violate the first article of the Hague Convention of 1907, but the message was delayed and not relayed to U.S. officials in Washington until the attack was already in progress.

Strike force

The Japanese strike force consisted of 353 aircraft launched from four heavy carriers. These included 40 torpedo planes, 103 level bombers, 131 dive-bombers, and 79 fighters. The attack also consisted of two heavy cruisers, 35 submarines, two light cruisers, nine oilers, two battleships, and 11 destroyers.

About ‘a date which will live in infamy’

The famous description of the Pearl Harbor attack as a “date which will live in infamy” was delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a joint session of Congress on Dec. 8, 1941, one day after the tragedy. Within an hour of the speech, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan.

Dorie Miller…African American Hero, Navy Cross Recipient

Dorie Miller, a steward on the USS West Virginia, distinguished himself by courageous conduct and devotion to duty during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He first assisted his mortally wounded captain and then manned a machine gun, which he was not accustomed to operating, successfully destroying two Japanese aircraft. He was the first African American awarded the Navy Cross, the service’s highest award, for his actions during the attack.

Japanese losses

The Japanese lost 29 aircraft and 5 submarines in the attack. One Japanese soldier was taken prisoner and 129 Japanese soldiers were killed. Out of all the Japanese ships that participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor only one, the Ushio, survived until the end of the war. It was surrendered to the U.S. at Yokosuka Naval Base.

USS Arizona

Almost half of those who died at Pearl Harbor were aboard the USS Arizona. In all, 1,177 officers and crewmen did when the Arizona was bombed. The ship sank and, along with the USS Utah, were the only two ships unable to be salvaged after the attack. The Arizona was left at the bottom of Pearl Harbor and, in 1962, a memorial over the wreck was dedicated. The Arizona continues to leak out small drops of oil that spread into the water above.

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SKN’s Gala Sugar Mas 50 Leads the Region in Comeback from Pandemic

Karla Berridge
Loop

 

St. Kitts & Nevis’ National Carnival is in full swing, after getting off to a vibrant start with a ceremony that has been lauded locally regionally and internationally, guided by the theme  “Fun, Vibe, Energy: Sugar Mas 50”.

Minister of Carnival and Culture Hon. Jonel Powell in remarks at the opening of Sugar Mas 50 celebrations on December 3rd, boasted that this hosting of the festival is the first of its kind across the region for 2021.

He said, “In another year when covid-19 has maintained its chokehold on mass events around the region; Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, Crop Over in Barbados, Vincy Mas in St. Vincent, Spice Mas in Grenada, Summer Festival in Antigua, all had to be cancelled for the second year in a row,” he said.

“This is why we should honour the fact that St. Kitts and Nevis is able once again in this present climate to host its National Carnival. For a second year running, Sugar Mas is the saving grace, so to speak, of carnivals in the Caribbean.”

He commended the National Carnival Committee led by Chairperson Shannon Hawley for the work being done, noting that 50 years after being nationalized and after witnessing the downturn economically, socially and physically in 2021 mainly due to the covid 19 pandemic, it was doubtful that the 50th anniversary of Sugar Mas would be a reality.

He said however that “In true Kittitian resilience and ingenuity, we are bringing fun, vibe and energy as we celebrate carnival’s golden jubilee… Permit me to commend Shannon Hawley, Chairperson of St. Kitts and Nevis National  Carnival Committee and her entire team for the planning of the Carnival Program with all the necessary protocols to ensure the safety of the performers, volunteers, service providers and patrons.”

In its 50th year, the federation’s carnival celebrations will be a hybrid of in-person and virtual events and as such the opening ceremony on Friday allowed for a small audience but an appreciative live audience.  The country’s folklore and the history of carnival dating back 50 years were on display as masquerades, bulls and actors graced the stage.

In 2020, Sugar Mas went virtual for the first time, and Sugar Mas 50 will see the return of the live audience. The government has taken the decision to allow fully vaccinated persons at 75% of the capacity of venues to attend these events which is a notable improvement from Sugar Mas 49 which was entirely virtual.

Several shows are making a noticeable comeback this year, including the soca monarch competition, the National Carnival Queen Pageant and the National Carnival Swimwear Competition. The J’ouvert which will take a different format and will be confined to one space as opposed to the usual jamming through the streets of Basseterre is also returning this year on December 27th.

Following the opening, the Soca Monarch eliminations was hosted virtually on Saturday. Moving on to the finals of the Power segment are Mr Hype, Tbone, KO, Dejour, Stadics, Takeover and Infamus, Pino and Blade, Bary-C and Nicha B.

The Groovy finalists who will meet reigning monarch Rucas H.E in the finals are Nicha B, Ny Ny, Jazzbo and Tobap, KO, Blade, Mr. Hype and Dejour.

The next event on the calendar is ‘In the Spirit of Christmas’, which is four nights of concerts to be held at the Antioch Baptist Church from December 6th to 9th.

Other events include Folklore Avenue, Celebrate SKN Christmas Decorating Competition, Calypso Monarch Competition, Panorama SKN, Icons: Road March Edition and the introduction of the Sugar Mas Awards.

Carnival in St. Kitts and Nevis began in 1957 and was officially nationalized by the cabinet through the National Carnival Act of 1971, in 2010 the National Carnival was rebranded as Sugar Mas.

 

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War Clouds: 5 Things to Know About Russia’s Troop Buildup Near Ukraine 

By Jordan Williams and Laura Kelly

The Hill

Fears of Russia launching an offensive against Ukraine have raised tensions between Moscow and the West, with Russia’s massing of troops near Ukraine stoking fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin may once again invade the former Soviet state.

President Biden is emphasizing diplomacy to cool tensions and avoid a military confrontation, while the U.S. is a key supplier of arms to Kyiv.

But reported intelligence is raising alarm that Putin is amassing more than 100,000 troops along Ukraine’s border and preparing for an invasion in early 2022 — raising the stakes over a planned call between Biden and Putin on Tuesday.

Vladamir Putin

Here are five things to know about the emerging crisis: 

 

Could be more serious than 2014 invasion

Experts warn Russia’s military buildup on the border of Ukraine is posing a more serious threat than its previous invasion and annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and its ongoing support for pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country, called the Donbas.

“Russia is not signaling a repeat of its 2014 operations on the Donbas, in fact they are signaling this current situation could be larger and more overt,” said Dara Massicot, a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation.

“I am concerned about the impact of Russian air and missile strikes conducting rapid punitive strikes on Ukrainian military facilities or other important locations — in many cases from Russian territory or Russian proxy-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine,” Massicot said.

Putin has issued a demand that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) not expand eastward nor deploy weapons systems that are viewed as threatening Russia, The Associated Press reported.

Russia’s posturing and more heated rhetoric is aimed at forcefully testing the Biden administration’s resolve to support Ukraine in the face of aggression, said retired Lt.-Gen. Ben Hodges, who served as U.S. Army Europe Commander until 2017.

“I think the Kremlin is testing how high a priority that is and what we’re willing to do to protect and respect Ukrainian sovereignty,” he said in an interview with C-SPAN on Sunday.

Biden is upping the diplomatic consequences

The Biden administration has raised the possibility of action against Russia including economic measures and increasing the delivery of lethal defenses for Ukraine.

“We’ve been very clear that there would be serious, serious consequences,” if Ukraine invades Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview Sunday with a Swedish television network.

“We’re looking, for example, at economic measures that would have a very high impact and things that we have refrained from doing in the past when we’ve had profound differences with Russia,” he added.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday that deterrence should be a “whole-of-government” effort.

“The way you deter is you impose some type of cost — to make sure the cost is worth more than the benefit,” McConville said. “Making sure people understand you just can’t go into another sovereign country and conduct malign activities without having some type of cost.”

Yet U.S. troops maintaining readiness 

A senior administration official hinted on Monday that an invasion would result in U.S. troops being deployed in the region, noting that the 2014 invasion was followed by the U.S. sending additional forces to NATO’s eastern flank.

“I think you could anticipate that in the event of an invasion, the need to reinforce the confidence and reassurance of our NATO allies and our eastern flank allies would be real and the United States would be prepared to provide that kind of reassurance,” the official said.

But Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters that there’s “still space and time for diplomacy and leadership,” echoing comments Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made at the Reagan forum.

Angela Stent, director of Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, suggested that Russia could launch a limited incursion to retake the Donbas “quite soon”, but would likely hold back from launching a major offensive on the capitol of Kyiv.

“In Russia, this conflict is not popular. … People don’t want to see Russian soldiers coming back in body bags,” she said.

Part of Russia’s broader destabilizing behavior

Along with Russia’s amassing tens of thousands of troops on the border with Ukraine, U.S. officials have also denounced Moscow’s support of Belarus’s illegitimate President Alexander Lukashenko and his alleged efforts to spark an immigrant crisis in Europe.

This is on top of worries that Russia may use its position as a key supplier of energy to Europe — in particular for the cold winter months — as leverage to extract concessions from the West.

“What we’re seeing in Belarus on the borders of three countries, the really outrageous use of migrants as a political weapon — well, that can sow chaos and instability and at the same time the mounting pressure against Ukraine, and yes, energy too, especially heading into the winter.  I think these things are joined,” Blinken said in an interview with Reuters on Friday.

Minsk said last week that it would conduct joint military drills with Russia near Ukraine’s borders in response to new military deployments to the west and south of Belarus, Reuters reported.

“We see troop formations around our state borders… We can only be concerned by the militarisation of our neighboring countries, which is why [we] are forced to plan measures in response,” Belarus’s Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said Monday, according to the outlet.

On top of this, Russia controls large deliveries of energy to Europe and there are fears Putin could hold delivery hostage — during critical winter months — in an effort to extract concessions from the West.

Ukraine’s security a rare area of bipartisan support

Ukraine is a key U.S. ally and Kyiv’s shift away from Russia and towards the West is viewed as both a symbolic and strategic advantage, bolstering the protection of neighboring NATO-allied countries and as a key economic partner connecting Europe and Eurasia.

This has made support for Ukraine’s security an area of bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that he hopes Biden’s meeting with Putin can “bear fruit,” but warned of a strong U.S. response if Kyiv is threatened.

“But let me say this — If Russia does decide to move further, it would be a mistake of historic proportions for Moscow,” Murphy said. “Ukraine can become the next Afghanistan for Russia if it chooses to move further, and it’s up to us in the Congress that we are going to be diplomatic, political and military partners with Ukraine.”

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) also sounded the alarm during a panel at the Reagan National Defense Forum.

“This is a moment in time where we need to show leadership and we need to push back and say to Putin, you can’t do this,” Ernst told the forum. “ We need to show that [if] you do this there are going to be repercussions.”

Morgan Chalfant contributed.

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Barbados to Create Heritage & Slavery Museum

Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley has announced the creation of the Barbados Heritage District – an area that will include a memorial, a major global research institute, and a museum located in Newton Plantation just on the outskirts of Bridgetown.

In making the announcement on Saturday, Mottley said that this will be dedicated to accurately recounting the historic and contemporary impact of slavery on Barbados and on the lives of individuals, cultures, and nations of the Western hemisphere.

The Prime Minister added that the District’s research institute will document Barbados’ pivotal role as the harrowing portal through which millions of enslaved Africans were forced to the Americas.

“In the wake of Barbados’ transition to the Parliamentary Republic, the Barbados Heritage District will also serve as a cornerstone and catalyst for the ongoing development of Barbados’ independent identity, culture, and place on the world stage.”

The Prime Minister also announced that David Adjaye has been commissioned to design the Barbados Heritage District.

The first phase of the project will be the Newton Enslaved Burial Ground Memorial, a monument to the nation’s enslaved ancestors that will serve as a place of remembrance, honoring those individuals impacted by the effects of forced migration.

Located at the Newton Burial Ground, the memorial will provide the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual framework for the scholarly research and public programs that the future center will generate.

Upon completion, it will be the first research institute and resource center of global stature based in the Caribbean dedicated to exploring the history and enduring impact of slavery and forced migration on the world.

The groundbreaking is slated for November 30, 2022, on the first anniversary of Barbados’ status as the Parliamentary Republic.

The development of the Barbados Heritage District will support significant job growth in new industries, technologies, and construction sectors.

The District is being developed in partnership with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Barbados Archives Department, and the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, who are working in collaboration with a team of Barbadian scholars, spearheaded by Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies.

“Barbados is authentically enshrining our history and preserving the past as we reimagine our world and continue to contribute to global humanity. It is a moral imperative but equally an economic necessity,” the Prime Minister said.

CMC

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WORLD VIEW: Biden-Putin Talk, Omicron Vs. Delta, Merkel’s Farewell, China Olympic Boycott, More

Dec 07, 2021

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The Rundown

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is ready to warn Vladimir Putin during a video call Tuesday that Russia will face economy-jarring sanctions if it invades neighboring Ukraine as the U.S. president seeks a diplomatic solution to deal with the…Read More

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As the omicron coronavirus variant spreads in southern Africa and pops up in countries all around the world, scientists are anxiously watching a battle play out that could determine the future of the pandemic. …Read More

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BEIJING (AP) — China on Tuesday accused the United States of violating the Olympic spirit by announcing an American diplomatic boycott of February’s Beijing Winter Games. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s comment came amid a barrage of…Read More

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PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — A few dozen survivors of Pearl Harbor are expected to gather Tuesday at the site of the Japanese bombing 80 years ago to remember those killed …Read More

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Mexico Moves Migrants from Southern State to Other Areas

MEXICO CITY, Dec 7 (Reuters) – Mexican officials have sped up the transfer of thousands of migrants from southern Mexico to other regions as northern border states prepare to receive asylum seekers sent back to Mexico from the United States.

Dozens of buses full of migrants, mostly from Central America as well as some from Cuba and Venezuela, have the city of Tapachula in Chiapas state in recent days to head to other states, a Reuters witness and an activist said on Monday.

Many of the migrants had waited months in Tapachula, near the Guatemala border, to try to regularize their migration status. Many have left violent and impoverished home countries hoping to eventually seek asylum in the United States.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday said it would re-instate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a contentious Trump-era policy that requires asylum seekers to wait out their cases in Mexico, a decision that shelters along the northern border have said could overwhelm their capacity.

The first group of migrants under the revamped program are expected to be returned to Mexico this week.

In Tapachula, 45 buses took migrants out of the city on Saturday, said a government source who requested anonymity.

Migrant rights activist Luis Garcia Villagran said migration officers took 32 full buses of migrants out of the city on Sunday, and another 70 on Monday.

“They are trying to not saturate the northern border now that MPP is starting,” he said. “That’s why they are moving them more quickly, controlling where the migrants are going.”

Mexico’s national migration institute did not respond to a request for comment.

A Nicaraguan migrant who declined to be identified said he was relived to get on a bus to the city of San Miguel de Allende in the central state of Guanajuato.

“I was here for a few months but thank God we are going,” he said.

Large numbers of migrants, especially from Haiti, remained clustered in Tapachula waiting for buses, with some sleeping in a camp outside a stadium that migration officers have used as a processing center.

Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz, Additional reporting by Jose Luis Gonzalez in Tapachula; Writing by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Robert Birsel

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Haiti Kidnappers Release 3 More Abducted Missionaries, 12 Still Held

Three people who were among a group of US and Canadian missionaries kidnapped by an armed gang in Haiti have been released, according to their organisation.

Christian Aid Ministries said the three were safe and seemed in good spirits.

Two others were freed last month, but their identities were not made public.

Sixteen Americans and one Canadian were abducted in mid-October after they visited an orphanage in an area run by a powerful criminal gang.

They were returning from the visit when the bus they were travelling in was seized by gang members on a main road in the town of Ganthier, east of the capital Port-au-Prince.

The group consisted of five men, seven women and five children.

The gang reported to be behind the kidnappings, which goes by the name of 400 Mazowo, later demanded a ransom of $1m (£740,000) for each of the 17 people being held.

Christian Aid Ministries – a US-based organisation that supports Haitians largely through donations, and supplies shelter, food and clothing to children – said: “We are thankful to God that three more hostages were released last night.”

They did not provide any further information on who had been freed or the circumstances of their release.

The US would continue to work to secure the release of the remaining hostages, a US state department spokesperson said on Monday.

Seizing vehicles and all of their occupants for ransom is one of the main activities that the 400 Mazowo uses to finance itself.

In April, the gang abducted a group of Catholic clergy who were later released. It is not clear if a ransom was paid.

Haiti has one of the highest rates of kidnapping in the world, as powerful gangs exploit the lawless situation to make money from ransom payments.

This year has been particularly bad, with nearly 800 kidnappings reported before the end of October.

The rise has come in the wake of President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination in July, as rival factions fight to gain control of the country in the face of a struggling police force.

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New York Vax Mandate, US Businesses Brace for Omicron, Free Home Testing?, More

 

NEW YORK TO MANDATE VACCINE FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS

Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced on Monday that New York City is implementing a vaccine mandate for private-sector employers after omicron cases surfaced in the city.
De Blasio said the mandate, which is scheduled to take effect on Dec. 27, is a “preemptive strike” the city is taking to stop the “further growth” of COVID-19 as the weather gets colder, people start gathering for the holidays and more information emerges regarding the new omicron variant.
“We in New York City have decided to use a preemptive strike to really do something bold to stop the further growth of COVID and the danger it’s causing to all of us,” de Blasio said during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
New York City already requires vaccines for all city employees.
De Blasio also announced that starting Dec. 14 children ages 5-11 will have to show proof of vaccination to dine indoors and enter fitness and entertainment facilities, expanding the already existing rules for those aged 12 and older.
Additionally, de Blasio on Monday announced that proof of vaccination for adults will require two shots, and not just one. That policy change will take effect on Dec. 27.
Read more here.

Businesses brace for omicron
© Associated Press / Ross D. Franklin
The omicron variant poses a new threat to businesses that were already struggling to recover from the economic damage done by previous strains of the virus.
Gyms, concert venues, restaurants, airlines and other industries that have been battered by the pandemic are bracing for another COVID-19 wave that could curb demand and prompt renewed government restrictions.
Thanks to the prevalence of vaccines, U.S. officials don’t foresee a return to the early days of the pandemic, when entire sectors of the economy were forced to shut down. But experts still worry that many businesses that barely overcame the delta variant might not survive another outbreak.
“We’re all on our toes right now, thinking, ‘Oh God, what’s going to happen next,’” said Brett Ewer, head of government affairs at CrossFit. “The uncertainty really does not help, especially when so many gym owners are almost entirely bled out.”
Fitness facilities have taken a huge hit from customers staying home and COVID-19 restrictions that limit capacity or require masks. If omicron spreads rapidly, the wave would likely run into January and February, when gyms typically get a substantial revenue bump from short-lived New Year’s resolutions.
Another COVID-19 outbreak could also spell trouble for restaurants, which lost customers in droves at the peak of the delta variant wave. Restaurant owners say that they still haven’t recovered, and their operations are continually being disrupted by the ongoing supply chain crunch, worker shortages and rising food prices.

Biden plan for free at-home tests faces hurdles
© AP-Ted S. Warren
The Biden administration is touting a key part of its plan for the winter COVID surge: have insurance companies reimburse at-home COVID tests, making them essentially free.
But the catch is that people will still have to pay the cost up front for the tests, which can be over $20 for a pack of two at the local CVS, and then submit receipts to their health insurer to get reimbursed.
That process has raised concerns among experts that the upfront cost and added hassle of reimbursement will still cause barriers to testing, a contrast to European countries where tests are free or just a couple of dollars up front.
Larry Levitt, a health policy expert at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said Biden’s announcement would “certainly make at-home testing more accessible,” but added that “it’s still going to be cumbersome for people.”
Advocates have been pushing for greater access to rapid at-home tests for over a year, saying that frequent and cheap rapid tests can help limit spread of the virus without resorting to business closures by giving people the ability to know when they are infectious and need to isolate, and when they are not.
Some progress has been made, as the administration says the supply of at-home tests is set to quadruple compared to late summer.
But the upfront costs are going to be a barrier.
Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said it could cause people to think twice before buying a test..

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