Page 30 - Florida Sentinel 4-17-20

COVID-19 News
Florida COVID-19 Cases Near 20,000
The number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Florida is approaching 20,000. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Coronavirus cases in the state are approach- ing 20,000, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The 6 p.m. Sunday update shows 19,885 peo- ple have tested positive in the state, an increase of 909 from Saturday night. It's the first day where fewer than 1,000 people have tested pos- itive since Wednesday.
In addition, 461 people have died, an increase of 15 since Saturday night. Among the deaths re- ported Sunday were an 82-year-old-woman in Pasco County and a 74-year-old man in Pinellas.
Another death was reported Sunday evening in Hillsborough County. Further details were not
released.
Hillsborough has now reported the deaths of
18 people (as of April 15th), Pinellas 13 and Pasco three.
Tampa Bay area positive tests as of 6 p.m. Sunday, April 12:
• Hillsborough: 759 (739 local, 20 non-resident) • Pinellas: 455 (418 local, 37 non-resident)
• Polk 254 (253 local, 1 non-resident)
• Sarasota 226 (211 local, 15 non-resident) • Manatee 236 (235 local, 1 non-resident) • Pasco 160 (153 local, 7 non-resident)
• Hernando 71 (67 local, 4 non-resident)
No, You Don't Need To Disinfect Your Groceries. But Here's How To Shop Safely
The vast majority of the country is under lockdown right now. But stay-at-home orders come with a few exceptions — like grocery shopping.
Many of us are still venturing out to stock up on food and toi- letries. But what's the safest way to shop during this pandemic? And what should you do once you've brought your haul home?
We asked infectious disease, virology and food safety experts to share their tips about safe gro- cery shopping — and what you can stop worrying about.
Know the dangers — focus on the people, not the food. Many people worry about the possibility of picking up the Coronavirus from things like grocery store conveyor belts or cereal boxes. But every expert NPR spoke with agrees that the biggest risk when it comes to gro- ceries is being inside the store it- self with other people who may be infected.
Avoid crowds and shop quickly. While it is possible to contract the virus [from contam- inated surfaces], the majority of transmission is probably going to be from respiratory droplets, which you're exposed to when you're around other people," says Angela Rasmussen, a virolo- gist at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia Uni- versity's Mailman School of Pub- lic Health.
Wear a face covering. Be as efficient as possible in the store," Schaffner says. "Have a list. Move through the store quickly and efficiently. Get out of the way. Be respectful of other people. Maintain social distance while you're in the store."
Go alone. Dr. David Aronoff, director of the Divi- sion of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says to go to the store alone if you can, because bring- ing the whole family shopping is just going to add to crowding in the aisles — and could potentially raise your household's risk of in- fection too.
"If you have three people liv- ing together and all three people go to the store, even if all three people have a low risk of getting infected at an individual level, as a group they've tripled their risk, essentially," says Aronoff.
Sanitize carts and hands.
Once you are in the store, make sure to sanitize the handles of your cart or basket. Many stores do this for customers now, but it doesn't hurt to bring your own
hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes if you have them. Be sure to avoid touching your face while you are there, until you can san- itize your hands again.
One other tip, from Ras- mussen: Don't use your cell- phone while you're in the store, because a "phone is a great way to get your hands right up next to your face."
Skip the gloves. "Gloves are not magic," Schaffner says. "Gloves don't make you invulner- able. As soon as you touch some- thing with your gloved hand, that contamination is on the gloves."
Give the cashier some space. While grocery shopping may stress you out, it's the work- ers at the grocery store who are more at risk, because they inter- act with many customers daily. Protect them by making sure you stand 6 feet away, or as far as you can, while checking out.
Choose no-touch pay- ment when you can. If you've got a no-touch option like Apple Pay or Google Pay, use it. If that's not an option, a credit card ma- chine with a chip reader can be no-touch, notes Graham. She's personally avoiding cash at the moment, because earlier re- search has foundthat cash cur- rency can harbor lots of microorganisms.
Don't drive yourself crazy disinfecting your gro- ceries. Many shoppers are now following elaborate routines to disinfect their groceries, thanks to a viral video put out by a Michigan family doctor. But all of the experts we spoke with say that disinfecting and hand-wash- ing every last item in your gro- cery haul is really not necessary. You might find it comforting to know that none of these experts are doing this themselves.
Some people are advocating washing produce in soap and water. But Schaffner says that's a bad idea because it's possible that if you ingest soap residue, it could lead to diarrhea or vomit- ing. He says the best thing is just to rinse your produce in cold water. If it's an item with a tough skin, you can use a vegetable brush.
Apple TV+ To Air Oprah Talks COVID-19 - The Deadly Impact On Black America For Free
It’s no secret that Oprah has been using her massively in- fluential platform to create awareness as we navigate the unprecedented world of the coronavirus age. Not only has the media mogul recently do- nated $10 million dollars toward
coronavirus relief, but she has also launched an ongoing series, Oprah Talks COVID-19.
During this Apple TV series, she’s interviewed Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre, who both tested positive for the virus last month, and sat down
with DJ D-Nice to talk about hosting the biggest Instagram party in these quarantine streets. Next up, she will be hosting a timely and important special titled, Oprah Talks COVID-19 - The Deadly Impact On Black America.
Per Apple, this will an “in- depth conversation featuring Oprah Winfrey as she dis- cusses the dramatic effects the COVID-19 pandemic is having on African-Americans across the country, speaking with leaders, doctors, journalists, and real people suffering under this enormous threat.”
As Staff Writer Anne Branigin eloquently explored, the black community is ab- solutely on the “frontline” of the COVID-19 pandemic for various reasons that are inherently po- litical. It’s certainly not some- thing that can be ignored.
As it will specifically touch on the effects on the black com- munity, this upcoming special is especially important viewing for our community. Apple has an- nounced its streaming platform Apple TV+ will be airing the spe- cial for free, whether you have a subscription to their service or not.
PAGE 14-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020