September 2020 Issue
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Volume XXXVIII No. 9 September 2020 Montreal, QC www.filipinostar.org Second COVID-19 wave has already stOaTTAWrA,tSepetembder 23:, PM in address to natesttedipoositiven for the virus. 2020 -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "This is the time for all of us as says that in some parts of the country Canadians, to do our part for our the COVID-19 second wave has country, as government does its part already begun, but Canadians have for you," he said. the power to flatten the curve again, in Responding to Trudeau’s his evening address to the nation declaration of a second wave, CTV from his West Block office. Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Abdu "In our four biggest provinces, Sharkawy said that he thinks we’re the second wave isn’t just starting, it’s “very much there.” already underway," said Trudeau, of “We have seen that the the current outbreaks in British numbers are rising disproportionate to Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and the number of tests that are being Quebec. "We’re on the brink of a fall done, and we've seen a consistent that could be much worse than the trend of community transmission that spring." has been uncontrolled now for some COVID-19 cases have jumped time. And it's evidenced by people in nationally, from about 300 cases per my emergency room and in my ICU,” day in mid-August to 1,248 on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers his address to the nation Dr. Sharkawy said, adding that Tuesday, prompting Chief Public in the evening after the speech from the throne from his West addressing the current testing Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam to Block office, Wednesday, September 23, 2020 (cbc news) backlogs and delays seen in some implore Canadians and public health those were already decided by what "Together, we have the power regions need to be rectified as soon as policy-makers to redouble infection we did, or didn’t do, two weeks ago. to get this second wave under control,” possible if Canada is to get this new prevention efforts now, or face a "very But what we can change is where we he said. spike in cases under control. sharp and intense peak" in new are in October, and into the winter,” Trudeau implored Canadians Trudeau's national remarks COVID-19 cases that would likely lead Trudeau said. to wear masks in public, get the flu came just a few hours after Gov. Gen. to a return of national lockdowns."I He went on to say that it’s shot this fall, and download the Julie Payette delivered the minority know this isn’t the news that any of us likely Canadians won’t be gathering for government's COVID Alert app that government’s speech from the throne wanted to hear. And we can’t change Thanksgiving, but that “we still have a notifies users when they have come today’s numbers or even tomorrow’s -- shot at Christmas." into contact with someone who has See Page 4 Second Covid 19 wave COVID-19 infections in PGaeha Kiatlreiepna Cpabiicno (Pehilstar.cromi)s- eto 5,t09o1. Of2the9ne4w d,e5ath9s, 21 3 were September 23, 2020 - 4:54pm from virus epicenter Metro Manila, six MANILA, Philippines — The from Calabarzon and five from number of confirmed coronavirus Western Visayas. cases in the Philippines increased to Active infections stood at 294,591 Wednesday as the 58,127 Wednesday. Department of Health reported more More than 3.25 million people than 2,000 infections. have been tested for the disease in the The DOH logged 2,833 country. additional cases, of which 80% got Duterte: All nations should get infected within the last two weeks. access to COVID-19 vaccines Forty-three percent of the new In his first speech before the United cases came from Metro Manila Nations General Assembly, President (1,222), followed by Cavite (228), Rodrigo Duterte described the Negros Occidental (206), Batangas coronavirus pandemic as the “biggest (143) and Bulacan (141). test to the world and the United The Philippines still has the Nations faced since World War II.” President Rodrigo Duterte virtually addresses the general debate of the most number of COVID-19 cases in “The invisible enemy that is 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on September Southeast Asia despite enforcing one COVID-19 has brought about an 22, 2020, in New York. Presidential Communications/Screengrab of the world’s longest and strictest unfamiliar global landscape and “When the world finds that a COVID-19 vaccine. coronavirus lockdowns. unleashed a crisis without precedent,” vaccine, access to it must not be The novel coronavirus has The department also Duterte said. denied nor withheld. It should be killed at least 968,000 people since the registered 765 additional recoveries, The chief executive pointed made available to all, rich and poor outbreak emerged in China last taking the total number of people who out that universal access to anti- nations alike, as a matter of policy,” he December. More than 31.48 million got well to 231,373. COVID-19 techonologies and said. cases have been registered. But 44 more deaths related to products is essential in recovery from Duterte has repeatedly said in COVID-19 were logged, raising the toll the pandemic. his speeches that the country’s return to normalcy rests on the availability of www.filipinostar.org 2 August 2020 The North American Filipino Star use mail-in as an alternative to From the Publisher’s desk Councilor Rotrand’s traditional in-person voting. Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer has written me to confirm that he also will be expanding CNityeBuwdgest 2l0e21tter voting by mail and may indeed ask Adapting to The Government of Quebec Parliament for new legislation. In has refused Valérie Plante’s demand to response to my queries, several allow Montreal to deficit spend. I can provincial Ministers of Municipal Affairs the new only assume that Minster Andree have informed me that their provinces Laforest, like many Montreal already allow voting by mail at the normal Councillors, received many alarmed municipal level. The system is safe, calls and emails from citizens opposed secure and proven to be fraud-free as it Zenaida Ferry Kharroubi to giving the Mayor’s spendthrift is exceedingly well controlled. administration the right to spend even Montreal, however, won’t be era: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it more. The Minister insists that, as per allowing the system unless Quebec is only to be understood. Now is the the long established law, Montreal must decides in favour. That’s the essence of time to understand more, so that we adopt a balanced budget. what the City Commission has may fear less." Elected in 2017, Ms. Plante’s concluded while recognizing that Overcoming our fears of Projet Montréal Party has ballooned voting by mail certainly reduces the getting the virus requires our vigilance Montreal’s budget increasing spending risks of the spread of COVID. I can and reliance on getting proper by over a billion dollars. The rate of assure you that my work on this guidance and information from our spending has been triple inflation. That important file will continue. has seen annual hikes to municipal tax During these pandemic times, medical authorities as well as helping Queen Mary Road life has become uncertain and difficult disseminate accurate information to bills, already high compared to other Despite the observation by our It is important to find ways to keep our others. Let us not create panic nor Canadian cities, and spurred rent Borough civil servants that a bus lane hopes up and our faith that things downplay the danger of the virus. If increases for tenants as well, Despite would compromise too much parking cannot get any worse and that there are we observe the safety protocols all that spending, the municipality also and impact merchants already seeing a opportunities to discover amidst the recommended, we are not only borrowed heavily for capital projects, decline in business due to COVID, the bleak economic situation. As Fred helping ourselves but also protecting with many questionable priorities such Plante administration is intending to Rogers said, "Often when you think others - our family, friends, and as bicycle expressways forcing the City push ahead with such a bus lane this you're at the end of something, you're neighbors. to assume a record debt. The autumn. This is despite the fact that at the beginning of something else." It may seem odd that we have province’s position will now force some COVID has seen transit ridership There are people who have become to wear a mask when in a store, bus, painful choices on Plante. The budget plummet to record low levels. I have creative and developed a new hobby shopping mall, and other places, both process for 2021 begins soon. Expect asked for a one year moratorium to because of having more time in their indoors and outdoors, if we are among more tax hikes accompanied by service allow the street to regain its economic hands, and also discovered that they a crowd but this is the best way to cuts - and, still, probably more bicycle vitality but so far there has been no have found joy in staying close to their protect ourselves according to Dr. expressways. I will send an update response from the administration. family while they are in quarantine. Robert Redfield, CDI director. We are when the budget arrives in City Incidentally, my demands Although the world has known not surrendering our rights but we are Council.