CNW90 April 17, 2020
Key Points(5)
- With a look at some of the top stories making the news today, April 17 across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida.
- Coming up in the newscast, coronavirus cases double at Broward’s Sheriff’s Office, organizations distribute food and free masks in Broward County and COVID-19 test kits destined for Jamaica blocked by the United States.
- <strong>Now for the news in the detail</strong> Broward County Sheriff’s Ofice has reported a huge spike in the confirmed coronavirus cases among its employees this week.
- 77 employees, including a deputy who died on April 3, have tested positive for the virus.
- Just last week, the agency had 42 confirmed cases among its 5,400 employees.
With a look at some of the top stories making the news today, April 17 across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida.
Today’s newscast is brought to you by the Florida Department of Health;
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, The Florida Department of Health in Broward County reminds everyone to practice social distancing, wash your hands often with soap and water and cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
Coming up in the newscast, coronavirus cases double at Broward’s Sheriff’s Office, organizations distribute food and free masks in Broward County and COVID-19 test kits destined for Jamaica blocked by the United States.
Now for the news in the detail
Broward County Sheriff’s Ofice has reported a huge spike in the confirmed coronavirus cases among its employees this week. 77 employees, including a deputy who died on April 3, have tested positive for the virus. Just last week, the agency had 42 confirmed cases among its 5,400 employees. The huge jump in confirmed cases has raised concerns about whether or not first responders in Broward are adequately protected. However, Sheriff Gregory Tony has reassured residents that the Sheriff’s Office employees are equipped with proper protective gear.
In the meantime, several food distribution centers have been established throughout Broward, as well as a free masks distribution site. Feeding South Florida, the largest food bank in South Florida, has continued its distribution of food at various locations in the county. Additionally, the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center has announced a free drive-thru mask distribution event on Friday, April 17 beginning at noon. Interested persons can visit caribbeannationalweekly.com for detailed information.
In Caribbean News, Cuban health officials say that a clinical trial is now being held for a vaccine aimed at activating the immune system to combat COVID-19. The drug called CIGB 2020 is undergoing trials at the Luis Diaz hospital in Havana with volunteer patients suspected of being carriers of the virus. The health officials report that encouraging results have already been observed regarding the activation of the innate immune system which helps to fight COVID-19.
In Caribbean News, Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton recently disclosed that COVID-19 test kits and personal protective equipment ordered by the government were blocked by the United States. Dr. Tufton reassured Jamaicans that the county is not short of supplies and have already sought test kits elsewhere. The news comes as Jamaica began to record a significant spike in its COVID-19 cases this week. In just three days, Jamaica’s cases moved from 73 (on April 13) to 143 as of April 16. At the centre of the spike is a call center in Portmore, St. Catherine which is responsible for over 50 confirmed cases. Earlier this week, the government announced that the entire parish of St. Catherine would be on lockdown for seven days.
For more information on these and other stories, visit CNWNETWORK.com. Remember to pick up this week’s copy of our Caribbean National Weekly at your nearest Caribbean - American outlet.
You’ve been watching CNW90, I’m…
