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A28 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 19 May 2020
Unemployed Puerto Ricans fume as claims pile up in pandemic

largely at self-employed in all this time. We're in the distributed so far to those
people stung by COVID-19 middle of a crisis. We are seeking pandemic unem-
restrictions. The U.S. terri- people who fulfill all our ob- ployment assistance, with
tory's government said it ligations with the govern- beneficiaries getting $600
has processed only about ment. Now we need them." a week or more. He said he
3,000 of of 87,000 requests Puerto Rico Labor Secre- did not have data on how
it has received since the tary Briseida Torres said the many people received
online application plat- drive-up center in front of payments or when the first
form launched on April 28, the department's head- payment was made. The
and officials have feuded quarters in San Juan would lockdown has hit especially
with a technology provider help speed up claims. hard in Puerto Rico, whose
about who is to blame for "The high volume of cases economy is still reeling from
the delays. and inquiries we receive Hurricanes Irma and Ma-
Among those who have daily has caused a delay ria and a recent string of
tried to apply multiple times in addressing these claims strong earthquakes, as well
In this Aug. 16, 2019 file photo, Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vazquez online and via phone but and processing payments," as a debt crisis that led the
speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the received no answer is Olga she said Sunday. island to declare a sort of
official residence La Fortaleza, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Cortés, who owns kiosks of- Torres said other drive-up bankruptcy. Economists
Associated Press fereing cellphone service centers might open else- have warned the unem-
By DÁNICA COTO dle applications from thou- and maintenance. where on the island in up- ployment rate could reach
Associated Press sands of people seeing "This is incredibly frustrat- coming days. Labor De- more than 30% on the is-
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) pandemic unemployment ing," she said. "I don't un- partment spokesman Chris- land of 3.2 million people
— Puerto Rico's govern- assistance after weeks derstand how someone topher Domenech told The that has a more than 40%
ment opened a drive-up of delays and confusion has not made the platform Associated Press that a to- poverty rate, higher than
service on Monday to han- over the program aimed work like it's supposed to tal of $5.3 million has been any U.S. state.q

“Get Out! Move!” Belgium relaxes lockdown for lazier nation

By RAF CASERT laptops remains the order a sedentary lifestyle as two
Associated Press of the day. "It is a bit weird years ago. A total of 56.1
BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium is feeling, but it is ok, I can see percent said they were sit-
taking the next step in its re- that the school is well-orga- ting or at rest for more than
laxation of the coronavirus nized, well-equipped for 8 of their waking hours. On
lockdown on Monday and the safety of our children," average, adults are now
is also telling people: get said Eliana Luboko, moth- sitting or resting 8.6 hours
up! Schools are opening up er of 12-year-old Diego at during their waking day
to more students, markets the Les Magnolias primary compared with 5.8 hours
are setting up again and school in Brussels. Across the two years ago.
museums are the reopen- country, kids were gingerly A quarter of respondents
ing their doors. And the snip taking steps in school play- said they had gained
of a barber's scissors fills the grounds, running around weight while locked inside,
air again. even as teachers sought to with the oven churning
Schools went through a dry ensure social distancing. out homemade pastries
run on Friday, but primary That is the kind of activity breads and other recipes Students stand next to cones to mark social distancing as they
and secondary classes are that the government wants from long-forgotten cook- wait in line before entering the classroom at Les Magnolias
resuming for real on Mon- to see among adults now. books. primary school during the partial lifting of COVID-19, lockdown
day, though with a limited A major study by the public "These are unusual circum- regulations in Brussels, Monday, May 18, 2020.
number of pupils to make science institute Sciensano stances, but better times Associated Press
sure that social distancing involving over 40,000 partic- are ahead for your weight," measures "there are more out! Move!" Van Gucht
can be fully respected. In ipants said that during the said Prof. Steven Van Gu- possibilities to move about said, adding that people
many cases, though, dis- lockdown, twice as many cht, of Sciensano. With the and do sports outside." should heed social distanc-
tance learning through adults had succumbed to relaxation of lockdown "Take your chance. Get ing advice.q
Austrian minister thanks elephant that

aided virus guidance

phant, in a nod of thanks trians envision keeping the Now one year old, Kibali
after the government used recommended one-meter has grown past the Aus-
a cartoon of the large (3.28 feet) apart, Schram- trian coronavirus distance
mammal as a reference to boeck said authorities had guidance to 1.4 meters
help people put pandem- spread the message it was (4.6 feet) long, but zoo
ic distancing recommen- “the length of a baby el- director Stephan Hering-
dations into perspective. ephant.” A government Hagenbeck noted her
Elephant baby Kibali enjoys her birthday cake besides her Margarete Schramboeck video had showed a car- trunk is now exactly a half-
mother Numbi at the Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, was named godmother toon of a baby elephant meter (1.64 feet) long.
Monday, May 18, 2020. to Kibali the elephant in to drive the point home. He says: “maybe from now
Associated Press a ceremony at Vienna’s Schramboeck said “most on we can say you have
VIENNA (AP) — Austria’s come the symbolic god- Schoenbrunn Zoo on Mon- people, and certainly my- to keep as much distance
economy minister has be- mother of a young ele- day. In order to help Aus- self, thought of Kibali.” as two Kibali trunks.”q