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Saturday January 29, 2022 T: 582-7800 www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday instagram.com/arubatoday Page 8 AArruubbaa’’ss OONNLLYY EEnngglliisshh nneewwssppaappeerr Omicron drives U.S. deaths higher than in fall's delta wave By CARLA K. JOHNSON Omicron, the highly contagious coronavirus variant sweeping across the country, is driving the daily American death toll higher than during last fall's delta wave, with deaths likely to keep rising for days or even weeks. The seven-day rolling average for daily new COV- ID-19 deaths in the U.S. has been climbing since mid- November, reaching 2,267 on Thursday and surpassing a September peak of 2,100 when delta was the domi- nant variant. Now omicron is estimated to account for nearly all the virus circulating in the nation. And even though it causes less severe disease for most people, the fact that it is more transmissible means more people are falling ill and dying. "Omicron will push us over a million deaths," said An- drew Noymer, a public health professor at the Uni- Jose Alfrtedo De la Cruz and his wife, Rogelia, self-test for COVID-19 at a No Cost COVID-19 Drive-Through event provided the versity of California, Irvine. GUARDaHEART Foundation for the City of Whittier community and the surrounding areas at the Guirado Park in Whittier, Calif., on "That will cause a lot of soul Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. searching. There will be a Associated Press lot of discussion about what we could have done dif- deaths were preventable." toll is now at the same level country was slowly coming a day. ferently, how many of the The average daily death as last February, when the off its all-time high of 3,300 Continued on next page A2 UP FRONT Saturday 29 January 2022 Continued from Front biostatistics at University of More Americans are taking Massachusetts, Amherst. precautionary measures In other developments: against the virus than be- — The White House said fore the omicron surge, ac- Friday that about 60 mil- cording to a AP-NORC poll lion households ordered this week. But many peo- 240 million home-test kits ple, fatigued by crisis, are under a new government returning to some level of program to expand test- normality with hopes that ing opportunities. The gov- vaccinations or prior infec- ernment also said it has tions will protect them. shipped tens of millions of Omicron symptoms are masks to convenient loca- often milder, and some in- tions around the country, fected people show none, including deliveries Friday researchers agree. But like to community centers in the flu, it can be dead- Delaware, Maryland and ly, especially for people Virginia. who are older, have other — The national drugstore health problems or who are chain Walgreens is among unvaccinated. pharmacies receiving the "Importantly, 'milder' does government-provided not mean 'mild,'" Centers masks. The chain has start- McKenna Brown, 10, is given her vaccination card from Pharmacist Clint Hopkins as she was given for Disease Control and ed offering N95 masks for a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Pucci's Pharmacy in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. Prevention Director Dr. Ro- Associated Press free at several stores, as chelle Walensky said this long as supplies last. The week during a White House the right thing to do — yet," have access to a refrigerat- Georgia, according to the company's website lists lo- briefing. said Todd Culotta, who got ed truck. We don't want to COVID-19 Forecast Hub. cations in the Midwest for Until recently, Chuck Cu- his shots during the summer. use it if we don't have to." New hospital admissions the initial wave of stores lotta was a healthy mid- At one urban hospital in Dr. Katie Dennis, a patholo- have started to fall for all offering masks, but Wal- dle-aged man who ran a Kansas, 50 COVID-19 pa- gist who does autopsies age groups, according to greens said more stores will power-washing business in tients have died this month for the health system, said CDC data, and a drop in offer them soon. Milford, Delaware. As the and more than 200 are be- the morgue has been at or deaths is expected to fol- — The leading organization omicron wave was ravag- ing treated. University of above capacity almost ev- low. "In a pre-pandemic for state and local public ing the Northeast, he felt Kansas Hospital in Kansas ery day in January, "which world, during some flu health officials has called the first symptoms before City, Kansas, posted a vid- is definitely unusual." seasons, we see 10,000 or on governments to stop Christmas and tested posi- eo from its morgue showing With more than 878,000 15,000 deaths. We see that conducting widespread tive on Christmas Day. He bagged bodies in a refrig- deaths, the United States in the course of a week contact tracing, saying it's died less than a week later, eration unit and a worker has the largest COVID-19 sometimes with COVID," no longer necessary. The on Dec. 31, nine days short marking one white body toll of any nation.During the said Nicholas Reich, who Association of State and of his 51st birthday. bag with the word "COVID." coming week, almost every aggregates coronavirus Territorial Health Officials He was unvaccinated, said "This is real," said Ciara U.S. state will see a faster in- projections for the hub urged governments to fo- his brother, Todd, because Wright, the hospital's de- crease in deaths, although in collaboration with the cus contact tracing efforts he had questions about cedent affairs coordina- deaths have peaked in a CDC. "The toll and the sad- on high-risk, vulnerable the long-term effects of the tor. "Our concerns are, 'Are few states, including New ness and suffering is stag- populations such as people vaccine. the funeral homes going to Jersey, Pennsylvania, Iowa, gering and very humbling," in homeless shelters and "He just wasn't sure it was come fast enough?' We do Maryland, Alaska and said Reich, a professor of nursing homes.q U.S. judge may suspend mustang roundup in Nevada; suit pending Nevada where their advo- "If the court grants the tem- summer heat adds stress cates say the federal gov- porary restraining order on the animals and in the ernment is "needlessly and and sets a hearing next fall, contractor availability recklessly" killing free-roam- week ... halts the gather for becomes a problem, Smith ing mustangs in violation of a few days through next said. U.S. laws. week, what's the harm?" Du The horse advocates say U.S. District Judge Miran- asked lawyers represent- the agency is squeezing da Du says she expects to ing the agency Wednes- the roundup of 2,030 horses rule by Monday, maybe day during a hastily called in Nevada into a month un- sooner, on the advocates' hearing in Reno. der an illegal environmen- request for an emergency Maggie Smith, a Justice tal assessment of a series court order pending an- Department lawyer, said a of gathers over 10 years. other hearing next week to delay of even two or three Of the 1,048 gathered as learn more about the po- days would prevent the of Wednesday, the bureau tential danger of roundup agency from completing says 11 have died. near the Utah state line. the removals before the The horse groups says the The Bureau of Land Man- end of the year. low-flying helicopters com- A livestock helicopter pilot rounds up wild horses from the Fox agement insists it must The bureau is prohibited bined with "unsafe muddy & Lake Herd Management Area on July 13, 2008, in Washoe gather the mustangs be- from using helicopters to conditions on the ground in County, Nev., near the town on Empire, Nev. Associated Press fore the end of February drive the herds into tem- mid-January create a pure- — one of several sched- porary corrals from March ly artificial hazard that is By SCOTT SONNER eral judge is considering uled on an expedited basis 1 to June 1 when mares deadly to these wild horses, Associated Press temporarily suspending the across the West due to se- typically are pregnant and a congressional protected, RENO, Nev. (AP) — A fed- capture of wild horses in vere drought. give birth. After that, the public natural resource."q U.S. NEWS A3 Saturday 29 January 2022 Federal judge throws out oil lease sale in Gulf of Mexico By MATTHEW DALY "Especially in the face of the Associated Press climate crisis, we need to WASHINGTON (AP) — A take the time to make sig- federal court has rejected nificant and long overdue a plan to lease millions of programmatic reforms,'' acres in the Gulf of Mexico Schwartz said. "Our public for offshore oil drilling, say- lands and waters must be ing the Biden administra- protected for generations tion did not adequately to come." take into account the lease Energy companies includ- sale's effect on planet- ing Shell, BP, Chevron and warming greenhouse gas ExxonMobil offered a com- emissions, violating a bed- bined $192 million for drill- rock environmental law. ing rights on federal oil and The decision by U.S. District gas reserves in the Gulf of Judge Rudolph Contreras Mexico in November. in Washington on Thursday The Interior Department sends the proposed lease auction came after attor- sale back to the Interior De- neys general from Republi- partment to decide next can states led by Louisiana steps. The judge said it was successfully challenged a up to Interior to decide suspension on sales that whether to go forward with Biden imposed when he the sale after a revised re- took office. A man wears a face mark as he fishes near docked oil drilling platforms, on May 8, 2020, in Port view, scrap it or take other Companies bid on 308 Aransas, Texas. steps. Associated Press tracts totaling nearly 2,700 Environmental groups square miles (6,950 square hailed the decision and court invalidated Interior's cannot continue to make ana, spokeswoman Melissa kilometers). It marked the said the ruling gave Presi- illegal lease sale," said investments in the fossil Schwartz said. largest acreage and sec- dent Joe Biden a chance Brettny Hardy, a senior at- fuel industry to the peril of Interior has "documented ond-highest bid total since to follow through on a torney for Earthjustice, our communities and in- serious deficiencies in the Gulf-wide bidding resumed campaign promise to stop one of the environmental creasingly warming plan- federal oil and gas pro- in 2017. offshore leasing in federal groups that challenged the et.'' gram,'' Schwartz said, and The auction was conduct- waters. The decision was sale. A spokeswoman for Inte- Haaland has recommended even as Biden has tried released on the one-year "This administration must rior Secretary Deb Haaland ed an overhaul of the na- to cajole other world lead- anniversary of a federal meet this critical moment said the agency was re- tion's oil and gas leasing ers into strengthening ef- leasing moratorium Biden and honor the campaign viewing the decision. program to limit areas forts against global warm- ordered as part of his ef- promises President Biden The administration was available for energy devel- ing, including at United Na- forts to combat climate made by stopping offshore "compelled to proceed opment and raise costs for tions climate talks in Scot- change. leasing once and for all,'' with Lease Sale 257" follow- energy companies to drill land in early November. "We are pleased that the Hardy added. "We simply ing a court ruling in Louisi- on public land and water. q In blow to telecoms, California's net neutrality law upheld By BARBARA ORTUTAY neutrality rules designed for federal net neutrality A federal appeals court to prevent AT&T, Comcast, laws. has upheld California's net Verizon and other major "This win is significant be- neutrality law, rejecting an internet providers from ex- cause it offers protec- attempt by telecommuni- ploiting their dominance tions to people in our most cations industry groups to to favor certain services or populous state and drives prevent the state from en- apps over others. the national conversa- forcing it. In response, seven states tion forward," said Matt The 9th Circuit Court of Ap- and Puerto Rico enacted Wood, vice president of peals upheld a previous rul- their own net neutrality policy and general coun- ing, which means the status policies. The most expan- sel of consumer advocacy quo stays and the state sive effort of this sort was group Free Press, in a state- can continue to enforce in California, which started ment. "Yet tremendous as the law. This means Califor- enforcing the law last year, it is, we still need the Biden nia can continue its ban on with potentially significant FCC to reclaim its author- In this June 19, 2018, file photo, a router and internet switch are internet providers slowing consequences for the rest ity not just for nationwide displayed. down or blocking access to of the U.S. open-internet rules, but for Associated Press websites and applications The Trump administration policies promoting afford- that don't pay for premium sued to block California's able, resilient, just and rea- court. They say the regula- by-state one, but the indus- service. 2018 law, preventing it from sonable internet connec- tions can undermine invest- try has fought prior federal California's net neutrality taking effect for years, but tions for everyone." ment in broadband and in- net neutrality rules. But with law was signed by former the Biden administration Big telecom companies troduce uncertainty about a Senate divided 50-50 be- Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018. has dropped that lawsuit. oppose the stricter regula- what were acceptable tween the parties, legisla- That came after regulators On Friday, proponents of tion that comes with the business practices. tion in Congress may not during the Trump admin- net neutrality cheered the net neutrality rules and They say they prefer a na- draw enough support to istration killed federal net court's decision, but called have fought it fiercely in tional approach to a state- pass.q A4 U.S. NEWS Saturday 29 January 2022 Winter storm to bring blizzard conditions to US East Coast By PHILIP MARCELO banks," he dryly reminded BOSTON (AP) — Residents in a post on the city's web- and officials across the site. "You may have to clear Northeast and mid-Atlan- your driveway or parked tic regions of the U.S. were vehicle more than once." bracing for a powerful win- Airlines braced for the high- ter storm expected to pro- est single-day total of can- duce blizzard conditions cellations in three weeks. Friday and Saturday. By midday Friday, airlines Heavy snow and strong had canceled more than winds were forecasted to 1,000 flights in the U.S., and begin in parts of the Caro- they had already scrubbed linas and Appalachia on about 2,500 scheduled for Friday evening, according Saturday, according to to the National Weather tracking service FlightA- Service. ware. The hardest-hit air- The system will then intensi- ports included those in Chi- fy as a nor'easter and bring cago, the New York City snowy conditions up the area and Boston. East Coast to New England, In New England, where iso- where forecasters warned lated snow bands could of localized snowfall totals dump nearly 3 feet (1 me- of up to 20 inches (51 center) in spots, the inevita- Kenneth Wolfe, of Pine Grove, walks along Clubhouse Road by Sweet Arrow Lake County Park in timeters) and wind gusts of ble, shelf-clearing rush for Pine Grove, Pa., on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. 50 to 60 mph (80 kph to 96 Associated Press bread, eggs, milk and other kph). vittles at grocery stores was Local officials Friday rushed way for hours, Gov. Glenn and wet snow and possibly suburban Long Island and well underway Friday. to declare snow emergen- Youngkin declared a state tidal flooding. southeastern Connecticut Merrick McCormack, 51, cies and impose parking of emergency and said of- "The key message for all potentially seeing heavier of Cranston, Rhode Island, bans, warning that wind- ficials have already begun Virginians is to stay aware snowfall rates and stronger was among hundreds who blown snow could make to position its resources in of the weather conditions winds. packed a Shaw's Super- travel nearly impossible anticipation of downed and to stay off the roads In Ocean City, New Jersey, market in neighboring War- and colder temperatures trees, electrical outages if possible," the governor Mayor Jay Gillian pre-emp- wick for last-minute items. could mean dangerous and major impacts to trav- said. tively addressed an endur- With the entire state under wind chills after the storm el. Similar snowfall projections ing peeve of snowbound a blizzard warning, state of- passes Saturday night. The state's Eastern Shore were expected up the homeowners: plow trucks ficials mobilized more than In Virginia, where a blizzard faced possible blizzard coast to the Philadelphia burying driveways that resi- 500 snow plows and Gov. earlier this month stranded conditions that could bring and New York City areas, dents had just dug out of. Daniel McKee scrubbed a hundreds of motorists along winds as high as 50 mph (80 with seaside communities "The plows cannot work planned trip to Washing- a major interstate high- kph), up to a foot of heavy from the Jersey Shore to without creating snow ton, D.C.q Gov tells Bette Midler to kiss dog's 'hiney' -- and shows it Back Better Act. Delegates gallery included signature $2 trillion domes- The 70-year-old Republi- lawmakers, state Supreme tic policy initiative that can governor ended his Court justices, agency would have poured billions televised State of the State heads and members of the of dollars into child care, address Thursday night by high school girl's basketball health care and other ser- lifting up his English bulldog team Justice coaches, who vices. and flashing its rear end to were sitting in the gallery. "What #JoeManchin, who the cameras and crowd. Not everyone was amused. represents a population "Babydog tells Bette Midler In a tweet, West Virginia smaller than Brooklyn, has and all those out there: Democratic Del. Shawn Flu- done to the rest of Amer- Kiss her hiney," Justice said, harty called the move "em- ica, who wants to move grinning as people ap- barrassing and beneath forward, not backward, like plauded and some gave the office." his state, is horrible," Midler him a standing ovation. "The @WVGovernor tweeted. "He sold us out. Justice had spent more brought his Babydog and He wants us all to be just than an hour touting the pony show to the State of like his state, West Virginia. state's accomplishments, the State and pulled this Poor, illiterate and strung West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice holds up his dog Babydog's rear including two recently an- stunt as some bold state- out." end as a message to people who've doubted the state as he nounced economic devel- ment. It was nothing short After receiving backlash, comes to the end of his State of the State speech in the House opment projects. of embarrassing and be- Midler apologized "to the chambers, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Charleston, W.Va. Associated Press "Absolutely too many peo- neath the office," he said. good people of WVA" for ple doubted us," he said. "Jim Justice habitually low- her "outburst" in follow-up By LEAH WILLINGHAM West Virginians "poor, illit- "They never believed in ers the bar of our state. tweet later that day. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — erate and strung out" in a West Virginia. ... They told They don't laugh with us, The Associated Press sent Gov. Jim Justice has a mes- tweet after Sen. Joe Man- every bad joke in the world but at us." an email to Midler's pub- sage for singer and actress chin refused to support about us." Manchin, a Democrat, ef- licist Friday requesting Bette Midler, who called President Joe Biden's Build The crowd in the House of fectively tanked his party's comment.q WORLD NEWS A5 Saturday 29 January 2022 U.S. Consulate warns Los Cabos hospital preys on Americans Associated Press That was an apparent ref- MEXICO CITY (AP) — The erence to reports in local U.S. government is warning media that the hospital Americans to avoid a hos- pays ambulance drivers to pital at a Mexican beach channel American patients destination, following years to St. Luke's. of complaints that the fa- The practice is apparently cility preyed on Americans longstanding. An English- by overcharging, bullying language forum for trav- them and refusing to re- elers and residents of Los lease medical records. Cabos posted a comment More than 100,000 U.S. six years ago that read "Be tourists arrive to Los Cabos aware that St. Luke's has at the southern tip of the ambulance chasers out all Baja California peninsula the time." each month, drawn my "Apparently the drivers are its beaches and dramatic paid a healthy fee for pick- desert landscape. It ap- ing you up off the street pears they are not only and bringing you to St. a boon to the hotels and Luke's," according to the restaurants of twin towns post by a travel agent. "My Cabo San Lucas and San Cabo friends told me that Jose del Cabo, but also St. as long as I could talk to Luke's Hospital in Cabo San keep screaming DO NOT Tourists walk on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, in Mexico's western Baja California Peninsula, Sept. Lucas. 2, 2009. TAKE ME TO St. Luke's!!!" Multiple complaints have Associated Press Perhaps one of the most been filed by U.S. citizens heart-wrenching accounts saying the hospital de- Luke's business practices. payment," the consulate that St. Luke's pays or other- was written in a formal manded tens of thousands "U.S. citizens have report- said in the alert. wise compensates ambu- complaint filed in August of dollars in advance pay- ed instances of withhold- The hospital refused to lances and hotels to send by Scott Lairson, a Los An- ments, threatened pa- ing care for payment, fail- comment when contacted American patients there. geles man whose wife, Pa- tients' relatives and refused ing to provide itemized by phone and email Thurs- The consulate wrote, tricia Lairson, was rushed to to release clinical reports lists of charges, ordering day. "Please be advised that St. Luke's while the couple on what care they had ac- unnecessary procedures, The consulate urged U.S. hotels and resorts in the Los were vacationing there in tually provided. That led withholding U.S. passports, citizens to go to other hos- Cabos area may have ex- June. She was diagnosed the U.S. consulate in Tijuana obstructing medical evac- pitals listed on the consul- isting contracts or informal with acute respiratory fail- to issue the unusual "health uations, and refusing to ate's web page. relationships with St. Luke's. ure and pneumonia due to alert" Wednesday about St. discharge patients without There is some evidence " COVID-19.q Vatican selling London property at heart of fraud trial By NICOLE WINFIELD Holy See's balance sheets. lessly to Italians who were Associated Press No figures were given, in- known in business circles for ROME (AP) — The Vatican cluding on the final sale their shady dealings. said Friday it has signed price of the property, but Vatican prosecutors have a contract to sell a luxury Guerrero said it had sold accused the Holy See's London building that is at for more than its appraisal longtime money manager, the heart of a fraud and price. Italian brokers and lawyers embezzlement trial under The Vatican's purchase of of fleecing the Holy See in way in the Vatican's crimi- the building, located at the various contortions of nal tribunal, recovering 60 Sloan Ave. in London's the deal and of then extort- more than it expected from Chelsea neighborhood, ing the Vatican of 15 million the loss-making investment. has been one of the black- euros to finally get full own- The Vatican's economy est marks on the Vatican's ership of the property, a for- ministry also revealed, in finances in recent years. mer Harrods warehouse. releasing the the Holy See's The Secretariat of State Pope Francis had an- budget for 2022, that 10% poured some 350 million nounced his intention to A view of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on Nov. 10, 2020. of the deposit has been euros into the investment, get rid of the property in Associated Press received and the sale is ex- much of it donations from 2020 when he ordered the pected to be concluded in the faithful, for a building Secretariat of State to hand tom line since much of the years, as much as 15% last June. The budget foresees that its previous owner had over all its remaining assets funding for the original Lon- year, thanks in part to the a narrowing of the Holy purchased for 129 million to a centralized Vatican don investment came from reduced attendance at See's deficit to €33 million pounds — less than half the treasury, since the London the Peter's Pence dona- Mass during the pandemic, euros ($37 million) from €42 sum invested. fiasco proved how poorly tions from the faithful that when the collections are million euros last year. The scandal exposed the the office's monsignors had are destined for the pope's usually made. The head of the ministry, the incompetence of the Vati- managed the financial charitable works and the "This should make us think Rev. Juan Antonio Guerrero can's monsignors in man- portfolio. upkeep of the Holy See. about other methods of Alves, told Vatican media aging its coffers, since they That reputational blow, In the budget estimates, soliciting the help of the that the loss from the Lon- signed away voting shares combined with the coro- Guerrero said Peter's Pence faithful and receiving do- don building had already in the deal and agreed to navirus pandemic, has im- donations have contin- nations," he told Vatican been accounted for in the pay exorbitant fees need- pacted the Vatican's bot- ued to decline for several media.q A6 WORLD NEWS Saturday 29 January 2022 Syrian fighters set deadline for IS gunmen to surrender BEIRUT (AP) — U.S.- The Hawar News Agency, backed Kurdish-led fight- ANHA, an online Kurdish ers searched Friday near news service, reported that a Syrian prison for Islamic several automatic rifles, a State group militants and rocket-propelled grenade gave an ultimatum to and hand grenades were dozens of armed extrem- confiscated from the IS ists holed up in a small gunmen who surrendered part of the jail to surren- Friday. It added that SDF der or face an all-out at- fighters are conducting tack, a Kurdish official said. search operations in the About a half-dozen IS fight- prison as well as several ers surrendered Friday Hassakeh neighborhoods morning, among scores of in search for IS sleeper cells. militants hiding in a base- The SDF said about 3,000 ment in the northern section inmates have surrendered of the prison, according since its operation to retake to Siamand Ali, a spokes- the prison's northern wing man for the U.S.-backed began three days ago. Syrian Democratic Forces. At least 300 foreign child He would not confirm or detainees are believed deny a report by the Brit- to be held in the Gweiran ain-based Syrian Obser- facility. Thousands more, vatory for Human Rights, mostly under the age of 12, an opposition war moni- are held with their mothers tor, that SDF fighters dis- in locked camps in other covered the bodies of parts of northeastern Syria 18 of their comrades in- on suspicion of being fami- Syrian Democratic Forces soldier talks on a radio in Hassakeh, northeast Syria, Thursday, Jan. 27, side Gweiran prison, also 2022. lies of IS members. Most known as al-Sinaa prison, Associated Press countries have refused to in northeast Syria on Friday. repatriate them, with only The Islamic State group's into a conflict zone. The some to escape but also and are trying to convince 25 out of 60 countries tak- Jan. 20 attack on the pris- Kurdish-led administration took hostages, includ- them to surrender," he said. ing back their children, on was the biggest military declared a curfew and ing child detainees, and "We gave them a dead- some without their mothers. operation by the extrem- sealed off the city, bar- clashed with SDF fighters in line and we are besieg- The Britain-based Obser- ist group since the fall of ring movement in and out. violence that killed dozens. ing them," Ali said by tele- vatory put the death toll their self-declared caliph- Thousands of people The SDF had said that be- phone from Hassakeh. from the struggle at over ate in 2019. It came as the in Hassakeh were dis- tween 60 and 90 militants He refused to say when 260, including over 180 militants staged deadly at- placed in recent days were hiding out in the north- the ultimatum ends militants and more than 73 tacks in both Syria and Iraq because of the fighting. ern section of the prison. and the attack be- fighters from the Kurdish- that stoked fears that IS may The SDF claimed Wednes- Ali said the militants are in gins, for security reasons. led force. At least seven be staging a comeback. day it had regained full the basement of a two-sto- The Observatory said civilians were killed in the The weeklong assault on control of the prison — a ry building and that those SDF fighters are betting fighting, the Observatory one of the largest deten- week after scores of mili- who remain inside are refus- that more time will force said. The SDF said prelimi- tion facilities in Syria has tants overran the facil- ing to surrender. "Our units IS militants to surrender nary information put the turned the city of Hassakeh ity. The attackers allowed are surrounding the building as their food dwindles. force's death toll at 35.q W. African regional bloc suspends Burkina Faso after coup ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — neighboring Mali after a do, the current ECOWAS West African neighbor coup there in August 2020 chairman, called the re- states on Friday suspended and then took similar ac- cent spate of coups in West Burkina Faso in the after- tion against Guinea after Africa "a direct violation of math of this week's coup, the president was over- our democratic tenets." making it the third nation thrown last September. "The rest of the world is look- in the regional bloc to be Mali is also under punish- ing up to us to be firm on punished for a military take- ing economic sanctions, this matter," he said. over in only 18 months, of- including flight bans and ECOWAS has faced criti- ficials said. asset freezes, after its coup cism for its handling of the The announcement from leader failed to organize coups, particularly in Mali the bloc known as ECOWAS elections within 18 months where mediators negoti- came days after more than as promised. ated with the junta on the a dozen mutinous soldiers West African leaders met 18-month deadline for went on state television in virtually Friday to discuss holding democratic elec- People take to the streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Jan. Burkina Faso to announce the Burkina Faso coup, and tions. Mali's coup leader 25, 2022 to rally in support of the new military junta that ousted their military takeover of a delegation was expect- has said that won't be democratically elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore the country — that's under ed to travel to Ouagadou- met, citing security condi- and seized control of the country. Associated Press siege from Islamic extremist gou in the coming days. tions, and has announced attacks. Ghanaian President Nana a vote four years from now By FRANCIS KOKUTSE and SAM MEDNICK ECOWAS had suspended Addo Dankwa Akufo-Ad- instead.q WORLD NEWS A7 Saturday 29 January 2022 COVID hits one of the last uninfected places on the planet By NICK PERRY and SAM In October, a missionary METZ returning to Tonga from ser- WELLINGTON, New Zealand vice in Africa was reported (AP) — When the coro- as the country's first — and navirus began spreading so far only — positive case around the world, the re- after flying home via New mote Pacific archipelago Zealand. Like those return- of Kiribati closed its borders, ing to Kiribati, he also was ensuring the disease didn't vaccinated and quaran- reach its shores for nearly tined. two full years. Tonga is desperately trying Kiribati finally began re- to prevent any outbreaks as opening this month, allow- it recovers from a devastat- ing the Church of Jesus ing volcanic eruption and Christ of Latter-day Saints tsunami earlier this month. to charter a plane to bring The nation of 105,000 has home 54 of the island na- been receiving aid from tion's citizens. Many of those around the world but has aboard were missionaries requested that crews from who had left Kiribati be- incoming military ships and fore the border closure to planes drop their supplies spread the faith abroad for and leave without having what is commonly known any contact with those on as the Mormon church. the ground. Officials tested each re- "They've got enough on turning passenger three their hands without com- times in nearby Fiji, required pounding it with the spread that they be vaccinated, of COVID," said Petousis- and put them in quaran- Harris, the vaccine expert. tine with additional testing "Anything they can do to when they arrived home. keep it out is going to be It wasn't enough. important. COVID would More than half the pas- be just compounding that sengers tested positive for disaster." the virus, which has now In the long term, however, slipped out into the com- it is going to be impossible munity and prompted the to stop the virus from en- government to declare a tering Tonga or any other This photo provided by Broadcom Broadcasting shows a damaged area in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, state of disaster. An initial community, Petousis-Harris Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, following Saturday's volcanic eruption near the Pacific archipelago. 36 positive cases from the Associated Press said. flight had ballooned to 181 Nearby Samoa, with a cases by Friday. basic health services. Pacific nations, including outside their home coun- population of 205,000, is Kiribati and several other Dr. Api Talemaitoga, who Kiribati, where its 20,000 tries. also trying to prevent its small Pacific nations were chairs a network of Indige- members make it the third- Church spokesperson Sam first outbreak. It imposed among the last places on nous Pacific Island doctors largest Christian denomina- Penrod said the returning a lockdown through un- the planet to have avoid- in New Zealand, said Kiriba- tion. The church has about missionaries remained in til Friday evening after 15 ed any virus outbreaks, ti had only a couple of in- 53,000 missionaries serving quarantine, were coop- passengers on an incom- thanks to their remote lo- tensive care beds in the en- full time around the world, erating with local health ing flight from Australia last cations and strict border tire nation, and in the past working to convert people. authorities and would be week tested positive. controls. But their defenses relied on sending its sickest The pandemic has present- released from their service By Thursday, that number appear no match against patients to Fiji or New Zea- ed challenges for their mis- upon completion of their had grown to 27, including the highly contagious omi- land for treatment. sionary work, which is con- quarantine. five front-line nurses who cron variant. He said that given the limi- sidered a rite of passage "With Kiribati's borders be- had treated the passen- "Generally speaking, it's in- tations of Kiribati's health for men as young as 18 and ing closed since the onset gers. Officials said all those evitable. It will get to every system, his first reaction women as young as 19. of the pandemic, many infected had been isolated corner of the world," said when he heard about the As the pandemic ebbed of these individuals have and there was no commu- Helen Petousis-Harris, a outbreak was, "Oh, my and flowed, the church continued as missionaries nity outbreak so far. vaccine expert at the Uni- lord." responded. It recalled well beyond their 18 to 24 While the incursion of the versity of Auckland in New Kiribati has now opened about 26,000 missionaries months of anticipated ser- virus into the Pacific has Zealand. "It's a matter of multiple quarantine sites, who were serving overseas vice, with some serving as prompted lockdowns and buying enough time to pre- declared a curfew and in June 2020, reassigning long as 44 months," he said. other restrictions, there pare and getting as many imposed lockdowns. Presi- them to proselytize online Before this month's out- were signs that not all tradi- people vaccinated as pos- dent Taneti Maamau said from home before send- break, Kiribati had reported tional aspects of island life sible." on social media that the ing some back out into the just two virus cases: crew would be lost for long. Only 33% of Kiribati's 113,000 government is using all its field five months later. members on an incoming "Government has decided people are fully vaccinat- resources to manage the When COVID-19 vaccines cargo ship that ultimately to allow fishing," Kiribati de- ed, while 59% have had at situation, and urged peo- became widely available wasn't permitted to dock. clared on Thursday, while least one dose, according ple to get vaccinated. in many countries in April But the Kiribati charter flight listing certain restrictions to the online scientific pub- The Church of Jesus Christ 2021, church officials en- wasn't the first time mission- on times and places. "Only lication Our World in Data. of Latter-day Saints, based couraged all missionaries aries returning home to a four people will be allowed And like many other Pacific in the U.S. state of Utah, has to get inoculated and re- Pacific island nation tested to be on a boat or part of a nations, Kiribati offers only a strong presence in many quired it of those serving positive for COVID-19. group fishing near shore."q a8 local Saturday 29 January 2022 Elements Restaurant Present Aruba’s only Authentic Aruban & Caribbean Buffet A feast of traditional Aruban and Caribbean flavors and ingredients overlooking one of the most spectacular beaches in the world EAGLE BEACH — Elements Res- and cooks. Each chef or cook con- taurant, located at Bucuti & Tara centrates on making an authentic Beach Resort, proudly reveals its dish from their region, highlight- Authentic Aruban & Caribbean ing the delightful palettes they re- Buffet, available every Monday member from infancy.” Chef Marc through Saturday from 12:30 PM to explains. “It is also important to 3:00 PM for $24.50 per person. On us to support our local farmers as Sundays the restaurant continues much as possible. Our assortment with its famous Sunday Brunch. rotates to include ingredients that are in season, and we source as “We wanted to create an authen- much as we can locally or from tic Aruban menu that, with each nearby regions.” 1 The award-win- bite, will take you back-in-time to ning and adults-only beachfront your childhood home. We want restaurant will also continue to of- you to relive the nostalgic flavors fer their regular a-la-carte menus, of the stews and desserts your par- which cater to all dietary needs, ents and grandparents prepared. including vegetarian, vegan, and For our international customers, we gluten-free diets. want them to enjoy a traditional Don’t forget that the restaurant and culturally enrich dining expe- also offers its ultra romantic private rience.” Ewald Biemans, owner/ dinners for two in one of their fa- CEO of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, mous beach cabanas. Guests can explains. enjoy their meal and a Caribbean Executive Chef Marc Giesbers, Di- cocktail or mocktail overlooking rector of Food and Beverage, and the spectacular Eagle Beach on his team of local & Caribbean chefs Elements’ outdoor seating deck. have been working hard and test- Reservations are recommended ing out different dishes to reimag- and be mindful that the restaurant ine your lunch dining experience. does not seat groups larger than The rotating menu has everything six persons and does not take cash from local cornbread to polenta jerk chicken, Caribbean seafood lights this. Besides our traditional (all major credit and debit cards sticks, plantains, corn patties, Aru- paella, a pasta station, and a des- local dishes made by our Aruban are accepted). ban ceviche, seafood salad, sulz, sert tasting of flan, cashew cake, chefs and cooks, we also offer vari- pickled pork, blood sausage, cu- local fruit cake, and much more! ous Caribbean dishes created by For reservations, please visit www. cumber or papaya stoba, beef or “Our team is incredibly diverse, our Jamaican, Dominican, Haitian, elementsaruba.com or call +297 chicken stews, fish or chicken soup, and our buffet assortment high- Colombian, and Venezuelan chefs 583 1100.q LOCAL A9 Saturday 29 January 2022 Watch ‘Ask Pilar’: our videos show you the other Aruba ORANJESTAD — Aruba Today offers a se- ing places and meet a lot of nice people. ries of videos ‘Ask Pilar’ on their Facebook “I hope with it that people will get to know page Aruba Today and on the website and love Aruba the way us locals do.” www.arubatoday.com. Since the start, The one capturing the images with his October 2019, more than 20 videos have camera and editing them is our videog- been created. Let us introduce to you this rapher Juan Luis Pinto Sotter, Marketing project and present the people behind it. Major at the University of Aruba. “I chose marketing because I wanted a career Why a video? Besides offering our free that kept me physically and mentally ac- daily newspaper, posts on Facebook and tive. As a marketer there is a lot of moving Instagram and our website content, we around, I can’t begin to imagine what the started evaluating the plans for short vid- real world will be like.” eo’s about a year ago. The concept was Video Director of ‘Ask Pilar’ is Editor-in-Chief created by Editor-in-Chief Linda Reijnders Linda Reijnders, working in this current posi- to add variety to the product Aruba To- tion since July 2017. “I love working in the day. “There is more to this island than palm media, I love to write, create, connect, trees and beaches and in our videos we inform and educate. Working with young, wish to inform and educate the visitor by talented and motivated people like Juan showing local places and characters of Luis and Pilar is a blessing to me. We really any kind. We are all new to this, the goal enjoy making these Aruba Peeks and we is not to deliver a technical perfect result, surely hope that rubs off on the viewer.” more to motivate our visitors with the places we visit as well as transmitting the good Corona Street Talk energy coming from it.” As the title of the During the pandemic a new series of vid- video ‘Ask Pilar’ already shows, the viewer eos was launched, dedicated to the CO- has the opportunity to actually ask about VID-19 crisis where we show people in their the topics shown, or even suggest a loca- daily life during the corona time. Take a tion for a video. Just ask our host Pilar on look on the website and social media for Facebook and we will let you know. this new series called Corona Street Talk. The team Check us out on Facebook Aruba Today Pilar Flores, 35- years- old, is the jolly host or the website www.arubatoday.com and of ‘Ask Pilar’. She loves doing the videos do not forget to like and share! Thank you because she gets to know many interest- for your support.q A10 locAl Saturday 29 January 2022 Covid Test Center at Paseo has the best experience! PALM BEACH - Don’t spend a single moment Covid Test Center @ Paseo is conveniently lo- we want you to feel comfortable. When you of your long awaited holiday in Aruba thinking cated at the Paseo Herencia Mall in the heart are ready, we will promptly but tenderly take about your return testing. The Covid Test Cen- of the Palm Beach Strip and right across from a proper sample. Many elsewhere traumatized ter Aruba located at the Paseo Herencia Mall is the Playa Linda and Holiday Inn hotels; only two people praise the difference it makes to test your travel ally. Just sit back and relax knowing doors from T.G.I. Friday’s. We are open seven with us. that, when the time comes, their professional days a week, between 9 am and 9 pm. This Forget about counting hours before your flight, staff will make this process a breeze for you. gives you the choice to walk in when it better our turnaround is fast! For travel to the US, for ex- No need to make an appointment or dread the suits you. It can be at the start or at the end of ample, a day before will suffice. A great game nasal swab; you’ll be done with it in a matter of your day. No appointment needed here. plan is to test first, then head out for an evening minutes and back to fun stuff. The friendly technicians at Covid Test Center of dining, shopping and entertainment at the @ Paseo will take your information as we are Paseo Herencia Mall, home of the water and Some regions require proof or certification aware it is imperative that this shows accurately lights show in the evenings. By the time you are of negative COVID-19 status before allowing on the results. For a seamless process, please back at the hotel, your results will be ready in people into or out of the country. With rules verify that you have provided the correct email your inbox. and guidelines varying greatly from country to to deliver the certificate. Said certificate can be A PCR test costs $75 and results are ready the country, the safest approach is to have recent printed at our offices should you wish to do so. next day, while Antigen test costs $35 with same proof you are COVID-19 negative before you We understand that nobody enjoys doing a day results. If you are staying at an off-high-rise get to the airport. Covid Test Center @ Paseo nasal swab. That is why we take pride in our area property, you can benefit from the free provides both PCR and Antigen type testing reputation of being the gentlest swabbers on parking our customers receive at the mall lot.). with results within hours; and both are accept- the island. First, we will not rush you just to go to For more information follow us on Facebook, In- ed by the CDC. the next in line. Through clear given instructions stagram or Twitter.q Prohibited by law: Tourist leaving the island with seashells, white sand and corals ORANJESTAD — For the our environment. The high tive reaction which can last months the customs amount of seashell, sand put our tourism in a nega- department at the airport and corals confiscated is tive light. intercepted many tour- very strange and it is sus- ists leaving the island with pected that our own lo- Let’s all give nature the seashells, whiste sand and cals are the once selling respect it deserves by pro- corals as souvenies. these to the tourists, which tecting our environment. is unacceptable. Stop collecting seashells, Conform the international white sand and corals treaty of CITES and our lo- Upon confiscation at the from our shores and stop cal law which protects our airport the tourist also fac- selling these to our tourist. Flora & Fauna, it is comes a fine that they have to We want our future gener- pletetly prohibited to take pay before leaving. This is ations and visitors to enjoy any seashell, sand and surely not a pleasant ex- the beauty of our beach- coral outside of Aruba, perience for the tourist. es, shells and corals. Let’s this in order to protect This also leads to a nega- all protect what is ours!q