Another NY record set as COVID cases continue surge

NEW YORK – “New York City is ready, we need you to be ready too.”

That was Mayor Bill de Blasio’s message at a press conference on Sunday afternoon as he addressed the ongoing spike in COVID-19 cases in New York City.

De Blasio announced that New York City was reporting another 5,731 positive COVID-19 tests and that he was expecting to see the omicron variant drive a continuing surge in cases over the next few weeks before fading away.

“A really, really shocking figure and one that will keep growing undoubtedly,” de Blasio said.

Later on Sunday, New York broke its own record for a third straight day, reporting 22,478 positive COVID tests in a single day.

“This is not March of 2020. We are not defenseless,” Hochul tweeted. “People across the state are doing the right thing by getting vaccinated, getting boosted, and wearing their masks. Do your part to keep your neighbors safe. Get your vaccine or booster today.”

“We expect omicron to be a fast and temporary phenomenon,” de Blasio said. “We expect these next weeks to see a very, very big surge in cases.”

“Vaccination remains vital, even against omicron,” said Dr. Dave Chokshi New York City’s health commissioner. “Get your booster right now.”

According to the latest data from the city’s Health Department, just over 70% of the city’s residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. About 90% of adults and about 80% of all residents have received at least one vaccine dose.

De Blasio also said the city was going to “double down” on vaccination mandate enforcement. The city will also be significantly increasing testing capacity, distributing high-quality masks across the city, and distributing more at-home tests at high-volume sites.

The mayor and health officials announced Thursday the city would give out 1 million free N95 masks and 500,000 free at-home tests, to be distributed through community organizations. On Sunday they said eight new fixed-site testing sites and 17 new mobile units would be opened by this week, bringing the city’s totals to 36 fixed sites and 93 mobile units, with more anticipated.

City health officials also said that New Yorkers who are over the age of 65 or are immunocompromised should rethink attending large gatherings over the next few weeks, while Dr. Chokshi advised planning holiday celebrations around the most vulnerable person in any group.

The omicron surge has hit the entertainment industry in New York City hard, forcing as many as 10 Broadway shows to suspend performances due to positive COVID tests and causing Saturday Night Live to shoot their holiday episode without an audience, musical guest, or most of the cast and crew.

De Blasio also said that a decision would be made by Christmas about whether this year’s Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration would be held as usual.

“This is an all vaccination event, and it is outdoors and those are two very, very important, favorable factors,” de Blasio said.

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Simone Biles Withdraws from Floor Final, ‘Will Make a Decision’ About Beam Final Later This Week

Simone Biles is withdrawing out of another event final in Tokyo — and “will make a decision” about the balance beam soon.

On Sunday, USA Gymnastics announced that the gymnast, 24, would be withdrawing out of her third consecutive final, which will take place on Monday. “Simone has withdrawn from the event final for floor and will make a decision on beam later this week. Either way, we’re all behind you, Simone,” the organization said in a statement.

The beam final is set to take place on Tuesday and is the last gymnastics event final of the Games.

This latest announcement about Biles’ withdrawal comes a day after the organization confirmed her exit from Sunday’s vault and uneven bars finals.

Oklahoma Mom Arrested After 12-Year-Old Daughter Gives Birth to 24-Year-Old Man’s Child

An Oklahoma mother has been arrested and charged with child neglect after her 12-year-old daughter gave birth a 24-year-old man’s child.

Desiree Castaneda, 33, was also taken into custody on Thursday on one count of enabling child sex abuse, according to the Tulsa Police Department and online jail records.

Her arrest comes two weeks after her then-pregnant daughter was brought to a local hospital by Juan Miranda-Jara, a 24-year-old man who allegedly told authorities that he was the baby’s biological father when they confronted him about the pregnancy.

Miranda-Jara was arrested on July 14 while the girl was in labor at the hospital. Police said at the time that Miranda-Jara allegedly admitted to being “in a relationship” with the girl since October.

The age of consent in Oklahoma is 16.

Haiti President Jovenel Moïse killed by group claiming to be DEA agents

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his home Wednesday by a group of unidentified gunmen who also left his wife wounded, interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph announced — calling it a “hateful, inhumane and barbaric act” as he imposed a “state of siege” on the nation.

“An unidentified group of individuals, some of whom were speaking in Spanish, attacked the private residence of the President of the Republic and mortally wounded him,” Joseph said in a statement, adding that the assailants were armed with “high-caliber weapons.”

The primary languages in the impoverished Caribbean nation of more than 11 million people some 675 miles southeast of Miami are French and Haitian Creole.

Joseph said he was now in charge of the country.

The gunmen claimed to be agents with the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the Miami Herald reported.

But sources told the paper that the assailants, one of whom spoke English with an American accent, were not with the American agency.

“These were mercenaries,” a high-ranking Haitian government official told the Herald.

In his statement, Joseph said first lady Martine Moïse, 47, “was wounded by a bullet and the necessary measures are being taken.”

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Kim Kardashian West announces the end of ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’

Kim Kardashian West has announced that Keeping Up With The Kardashians is to come to an end after 14 years.

The 39-year-old, who rose to fame in the E! TV show, told fans it will come to an end after the airing of the 20th season in 2021.

The reality series began in 2007 and catapulted her family to global stardom.

“After what will be 14 years, 20 seasons, hundreds of episodes and numerous spin-off shows, we are beyond grateful to all of you who’ve watched us for all of these years – through the good times, the bad times, the happiness, the tears, and the many relationships and children. We’ll forever cherish the wonderful memories and countless people we’ve met along the way

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Chinese envoy says Australia betrayed China for US on virus

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A senior Chinese diplomat on Wednesday likened Australia’s call for an inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic to the betrayal of Roman dictator Julius Caesar in a Shakespearean tragedy for the benefit of the United States.

Wang Xining, the Chinese Embassy in Australia’s deputy head of mission and its second-in-charge, spoke at the National Press Club about Australia’s call for an independent inquiry into the origins of and international responses to the pandemic.

The call has been blamed for a major deterioration in bilateral relations that has resulted in the Chinese government refusing to take phone calls from Australian ministers and disruptions to Australian exports including beef.

The Australian call came “when the United States government was trying all out to blame China for their failure to control the spread of the disease and … shirk responsibility,” Wang said.

50 Most Popular Restaurants That Won’t Reopen After The Pandemic

When cities and states around the country began imposing lockdowns and closing places of business in March, most restaurateurs probably assumed that they’d be taking only a temporary break. With that in mind, many tried — with varying degrees of success — to keep going in the interim with takeout and delivery services. As the lockdown stretched on and on, though, even those who had been able to struggle through the crisis began to wonder if they’d ever be able to recover financially from months of lost or diminished business.

Even as restaurants were gradually allowed to reopen for outdoor and limited indoor service, many found it impossible to break even. And when jurisdictions that had eased the rules for dining out were forced to reimpose them as COVID-19 cases spiked in various parts of the country, many operators simply gave up. (These are states where recently reopened bars and dining rooms are closing again.)

As with so much else related to the pandemic, the restaurant landscape changes constantly. According to the trade newsletter Restaurant Dive, “Unlike retail, restaurant closures have fluctuated from March through July based on the rapidly evolving and disparate mandates that have been put into place at local levels.”

At one stage, food service business analysts predicted that major chains might have a better chance of surviving shutdowns and capacity restrictions than independents. This doesn’t appear to have been the case, with such enterprises as TFI Fridays, Denny’s, IHOP, and Dunkin’ shutting down numerous units, and standbys like California Pizza Kitchen declaring bankruptcy.

Independent restaurants are being affected even more, however. According to a study conducted for the Independent Restaurant Coalition, as many as 85% of the nation’s smaller restaurant groups and individual establishments might close permanently by the end of 2020. With a leadership team that includes such culinary stars as José Andrés, Tom Colicchio, Andrew Zimmern, and Nancy Silverton, the Coalition is an organization of hundreds of independent operators dedicated to trying to save America’s restaurant industry.

Pointing out that their industry employs some 11 million people, the Coalition is currently lobbying Congress to pass a $120 billion bailout bill for small and medium-size restaurants. Whether or not they are successful, it is obvious that restaurants are among the small businesses that need the most help during the COVID-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, some of the country’s most popular eating places — including everything from decades-old institutions to newcomers that were smash hits before the pandemic hit — have been transitioning from temporary to permanent closure with alarming speed. Even celebrity chefs on the order of Andrés, Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Keller, David Chang, and Daniel Boulud have been victims of the pandemic’s brutal impact.

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Details emerge after woman found alive in body bag at funeral home

A 20-year-old Michigan woman who was declared dead by paramedics and placed in a body bag for nearly three hours was discovered alive when a funeral home employee unzipped the bag and found her staring up at him, a lawyer for the woman’s family said.

Timesha Beauchamp, who’s suffered from cerebral palsy since birth, was in critical condition and on a respirator Tuesday afternoon at Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit, her family’s lawyer, Geoffrey Fieger, said during a Zoom news conference.

“When the body bag was opened and they were getting ready to embalm the body, Timesha’s eyes were open and she was breathing,” Fieger said.

Fieger said that shortly after Beauchamp was declared dead, her godmother, Savannah Spears, a registered nurse, told paramedics and police officers that she saw Beauchamp move and thought she detected a faint pulse.

Why you might see a Covid surcharge on your next bill

The next time you visit your favorite restaurant, salon or dentist’s office, there might be a new fee tacked onto the bill: a Covid-19-related surcharge.

As businesses across the country have begun reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic, most have had to adapt to sanitizing and other requirements implemented to slow the spread of Covid-19. That could include masks or gloves for staff, or more frequent cleanings.

Per CreditCards.com, a hair salon in Texas is tacking on a $3 sanitation charge and a Florida dentist is charging $10 for personal protective equipment costs.

Original Pancake House locations have implemented a 15 percent service fee that’s separate from any tip, reports the Miami Herald, and San Diego taco shops have had to raise prices amid a meat shortage.

In Chicago, restaurant group Lettuce Entertain You added a 4 percent surcharge for delivery and carry-out orders from its 85 restaurants, reports the Chicago Tribune.

“These fees are a necessary step during a time when unanticipated costs have jeopardized the survival of our business,” R.J. Melman, Lettuce Entertain You president, said in a statement, per the Chicago Tribune, one of those being “the greatest increase in food pricing since 1974.”

Whether in the form of a Covid surcharge or general price increases, paying more for services or experiences could become common as businesses try to recoup some of what was lost during the spring shutdown.

At restaurants, food supply chain issues also could lead to higher prices at restaurants. The cost of more carry-out order packaging or the loss of alcohol sales have taken a toll, too.

After customers complained about a Covid surcharge at a Japanese steakhouse in Missouri, the restaurant took away the charge but said menu prices would soon increase because its suppliers have raised costs, per the Miami Herald.

Goog’s Pub & Grub in Holland, Michigan began adding a $1 Covid charge to each meal last month.

“We’re not doing this to get rich. We just want to see our staff is taken care of, make sure people are fed, make sure our lights are on,” Palmer White, the restaurant’s general manager, told Fox 17.

“I would expect to see this going forward, due to the expenses for sanitizing, PPE and supply chain costs. This is legal, even if it’s upsetting for some customers,” said Adam Itzkowitz, managing partner at Florida firm Itzkowitz Law, per the Miami Herald.

Business owners could find themselves in a tough spot if competitors haven’t taken the same steps. Itzkowitz recommended businesses be transparent about the charges and inform customers of them prior to charging a credit card, per the Miami Herald.

A recent American Express survey found 86 percent of respondents would start shopping elsewhere if a business they patronize began surcharging, per CreditCards.com. Surcharges make 7 out of 10 customers feel as though a merchant doesn’t appreciate their business, that survey found.

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Bartering is Back in Coronavirus Economy

(NewsUSA) – The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to impact the economy in many ways, one of which has been the surge in popularity of the barter economy.

Bartering, the trade system of choice in the Middle Ages, is back with a modern twist. Social networks now feature posts from friends and neighbors looking to swap staples such as eggs, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. Businesses are getting on board with barter, too.

One business utilizing the concept of bartering in an innovative way is BizX, a Seattle-area company that has reported a notable increase in traffic on its website as more businesses pursue barter options.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately one-third of the global economy was non-cash, according to BizX cofounder and CEO Bob Bagga.

“In today’s economy, right now, the challenge we are running into is people don’t have cash and cash has dried up really quickly,” he explains.

“But they have a lot of stuff, a lot of capacity, so the idea is how do you turn what you have into what you need? That’s where our company can come in to help.”

BizX is a business community including more than 7,000 business owners who buy and sell among themselves using their own barter community currency, BizX dollars, which are equal in value to U.S. dollars. BizX dollars are used to record all transactions, and these transactions are posted to members’ accounts as credits or debits. It’s a win-win situation, the members gain new customers, and they buy what they need without spending cash.

The benefits of BizX are especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, when businesses are adapting their models and forecasts day-to-day and seeking to conserve cash.

When a business joins the BizX network, they will be marketed to thousands of other members who will pay for goods and services in BizX dollars.

It’s not complicated for new members to get moving fast. Business owners can get into the swing easily after a 30-minute phone call with an account manager to identify inventory and discuss how BizX can work for them.

The BizX network is available to businesses of all sizes and types, and the current network includes such diverse clients as Habitat for Humanity, the San Francisco 49ers football team, and Holiday Inn Express, as well as a variety of small business owners, including florists, accountants, lawyers, dentists and many more.

Visit bizx.com for more information about how BizX can help your business weather the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

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