Wuhan leaves coronavirus lockdown; Taiwan’s success overshadowed by politics; ultra-Orthodox customs challenged
Passengers wearing face masks ride a ferry on Yangtze River after travel restrictions to leave Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and China’s epicentre of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, were lifted, April 8, 2020.
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After more than two months in strict lockdown, Wuhan residents are allowed to leave the city where the novel coronavirus was first identified. Health workers were honored with a city-wide light show. But some residents remain angry about how authorities responded to the virus.
In the US, more than 1,800 people died on Tuesday — the most reported COVID-19 deaths in a single day, and Black Americans are impacted at disproportionally higher numbers. There are more confirmed cases in the US than the next three hardest hit contries combined: Spain, Italy and France.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly, who spoke with The World last week, resigned after insulting the commanding officer of a Navy ship struggling with coronavirus. Modly was one of many “acting” officials in the administration. Politico argues the use of acting positions has hurt the US response, and that President Donald Trump has mismanaged the agencies “we tasked as a nation to prevent the next 9/11,” leaving them “riddled with vacancies and temporary officials” as COVID-19 spread.
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Taiwan’s success in fighting COVID-19 is overshadowed by global politics
Taiwan leads the world as the most-prepared and best-equipped nation to fight the pandemic. But pressure from China continues to stymie Taiwan’s involvement in international public health efforts.
The World Health Organization does not recognize Taiwan because it would jeopardize the body’s relationship with China. But that also means WHO cannot benefit from lessons learned in Taiwan since the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Coronavirus restrictions challenge customs of ultra-Orthodox in Israel
The ultra-Orthodox — or Haredim, as they’re known in Israel — make up about 13% of Israel’s population. But they now account for a third of the country’s coronavirus cases.
Israel has introduced tough lockdown measures. But Benjamin Brown, a professor Jewish thought at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the coronavirus regulations fly in the face of many ultra-Orthodox customs: “It is a change of an entire mentality for them to change from such a certain way of life to the very individual, self-secluded way of life that corona imposes.”
Coronavirus lockdown: A tale of two South Africas
When it became apparent that South Africa could have the most cases of coronavirus on the continent, the government took swift measures to stop it. Those measures, which included a nationwide lockdown and rapid increase in testing, have received mixed reviews.
As some South Africans retreated to the comforts of their homes to slow the spread of COVID-19 or recover from it, reports of violent police enforcement and panic buying at supermarkets consumed the news — foreshadowing, perhaps, how the experience of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa might be as unequal as the country itself.
And: Nigeria COVID-19 survivor: ‘An experience I don’t wish on anyone’
Also: Bolsonaro still downplays COVID-19. Many worry about the impact on the most vulnerable.
Grassroots groups move online to capture Latino vote
Just a few weeks ago, Katelynn Taveras was preparing for a big day: her quinceañera, a coming-of-age party in Latin American cultures that celebrates a teenage girl’s 15th birthday. Her party was postponed due to the coronavirus — and so was her push to get her friends and family registered to vote.
Taveras is part of a program called Poder Quince, or Power Fifteen, led by Jolt Action, a large Latino progressive group in Texas focused on getting young Latinos involved in politics and their communities. The group sees gatherings like quinceañeras as a chance to boost the Latino vote in Texas, where one out of every three eligible voters is Latino — that’s approximately 5.6 million eligible voters.
From The World: Every 30 seconds a young Latino in the US turns 18. Their votes count more than ever.
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