By Gene Lambey, Special to the AFRO D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office and D.C. Health and Wellness have been working together to keep scholars safe at the top of the new year. Bowser made sure to publicize that students would be required to submit vaccination records prior to returning for the 2023-24 academic year for […]
Category: Coronavirus
Posted inBaltimore News
AFRO names 13 local funeral directors ‘Unsung Heroes’ for vital service during COVID-19 pandemic
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com The AFRO took time to honor the “Unsung Heroes” of the COVID-19 pandemic at Valley Mansion by Martin’s on Aug. 6. The media company commended morticians for the critical and often under recognized role they played in helping families navigate the loss of a loved one during a […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Uganda’s long-time president says he’s taking ‘forced leave’ after testing positive for COVID-19
By Rodney MuhumuzaThe Associated Press KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda’s longtime president says he is taking “forced leave” after testing positive for COVID-19. Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, said on Twitter that he was experiencing “mild symptoms” as he goes into isolation. While two of three samples collected from him earlier in […]
Posted inBUSINESS
As COVID-19 public health emergency expires, Black funeral directors reflect on the pandemic’s toll
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com After three years of living through a global pandemic, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set to end the U.S. Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 on May 11. This declaration comes a month after President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to terminate […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Biden signs bipartisan congressional resolution, ends COVID-19 national emergency
By Zeke Miller, The Associated Press The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended on April 10 as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. The national emergency […]
Posted inPrince George's County News
As COVID-19 rent support ends for Marylanders, rent stabilization efforts take hold in Prince George’s County
By Deborah Bailey, Contributing Editor With rental housing on the rise as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes and evictions in Prince George’s County increasing at an alarming rate, County Council members are aggressively looking toward sustainable solutions for the 40 percent of county residents who are renters. The Council is working on adding to its security […]
Posted inNational News
State governments key in supporting undocumented immigrants during COVID-19 pandemic
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com When the COVID-19 pandemic began to hinder employment in the U.S., the federal government worked quickly to roll out financial relief programs and expand unemployment benefits for Americans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. But, families who live in the U.S. illegally were omitted […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Coronavirus origins still a mystery three years into pandemic
By Laura Ungar and Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press A crucial question has eluded governments and health agencies around the world since the COVID-19 pandemic began: Did the virus originate in animals or leak from a Chinese lab? Now, the U.S. Department of Energy has assessed with “low confidence” that it began with a […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Black Media Story Summit offering $60,000 in funding for projects promoting vaccine equity
MICHIGAN AND NORTH CAROLINA CREATIVES SOUGHT FOR BLACK MEDIA STORY SUMMIT Up to $60,000 in funding to be awarded for media projects promoting vaccination Black Public Media (BPM) is inviting Michigan and North Carolina creatives to join health care professionals and other stakeholders at its upcoming Black Media Story Summit for a day of conversation, […]
Posted inCoronavirus
The pandemic missing: The kids who didn’t go back to school
By BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS and SHARON LURYE, Associated Press She’d be a senior right now, preparing for graduation in a few months, probably leading her school’s modern dance troupe and taking art classes. Instead, Kailani Taylor-Cribb hasn’t taken a single class in what used to be her high school since the height of the coronavirus […]
Posted inWord In Black
Are we finally getting after-school programs right?
By Maya Pottiger, Word In Black There’s some good education news: As students, parents, and educators work to make up for setbacks caused by virtual learning and the COVID-19 pandemic, extra academic help is getting to students who need it More than half — 56 percent— of public schools in the United States reported offering […]
Posted inReligion
A time to grow: how to rekindle your faith during hard times
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO Can’t seem to get your spiritual oomph back? Have you been too busy to pray or too tired to read your Bible? Has COVID-19 given you the perfect excuse to stay in virtual mode? If you have created the habit of casual Christianity–just going through the motions with […]