Monday, April 20, 2020

Coronavirus in Oregon: Nobody from Nepal tested positive for COVID-19

Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, USA

I have interacted with a number of Oregonians face to face about the impact of the novel coronavirus. Usually, all of them reacted: "It is very scary." "But good thing we are in Oregon." "Human tolls are unimaginable." "Its economic fallout is beyond imagination."

Meanwhile, according to Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO) sources, nobody from Nepal living in Portland and Oregon has been tested positive.

The Nepalese community population in this part of the US is estimated to be about 1,000 - 1,200 people.

As of April 21, Tuesday, 1956 people have tested positive and number of people who died of coronavirus in Oregon has reached 75. On Feb 28, 2020, the first case of coronavirus was announced in Oregon.

From what we know about the fatal consequences of the global terrorist disease from the news media as of April 21, Tuesday, 800,932 people have tested positive and 43,006 people have died of coronavirus in the US, whereas confirmed global cases are 2,501,156 and 171,810  have died in the world because of coronavirus.

Compared to other states of the US, the cases and deaths related to the deadly virus are lower in Oregon. Staying home, staying safe, wearing gloves and masks, social distancing measures are some of the good things that the Oregonians have been practicing.

According to a news report, the unprecedented disruptions affecting millions of Oregonians appear to be reducing the transmission of novel coronavirus between 50 to 70 percent. 

Right now, Oregon is isolated just like other states to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Schools, universities,  aviation, parks, recreation facilities, hotels, restaurants, eateries, gyms, barbers, gift shops, tattoo shops and so on are shut down.

Oregon's public school students will not return to their classrooms this academic year. Oregon's Governor Kate Brown on April 8, 2020 announced that her school closure order originally slated to end April 28, will now stretch into June in an endeavor to maintain the state's progress in stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus.

On March 22, 2020 Governor Brown banned residential eviction during the virus outbreak. Brown issued a temporary moratorium on residential evictions for failure to pay rent. 

The current coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout is beyond imagination. The Nepalese living in Oregon are also facing a lot of challenges. Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO) has a big role to play in the community during such an unprecedented crisis. NAO's presence is already strong among the Nepalese community in Oregon.

The whole world is facing the worst crisis in its history and the situation may further deteriorate if an early solution is not figured out. The current coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout is very huge. 

The Nepalese living in Oregon are also facing a lot of challenges. Nepali Association of Oregon has a big role to play in the community during such an unprecedented crisis. NAO's presence is already strong among the Nepalese community in Oregon.

NAO's president Daya Shakya says that NAO has undertaken some steps to help the community members. NAO is checking and inquiring about the health of community people through the members of the executive committee of the NAO.

Similarly, NAO is sending out the e-mails to community Yahoo groups and posting in website, and Facebook pages in SM Fund Raising project is already started as of 4-20-20, adds NAO president Shakya.

Likewise, NAO has been trying to disseminate more information about COVID - 19.  Related information are posted in NAO website including relief related links: nepaloregon.com

Apart from  providing small business relief fund link in Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro etc, NAO has also posted video on how to apply unemployment claim, says Shakya.

It is also heard that NAO and NRNA Oregon Chapter are planning fund raising among the community members for people hard-hit by coronavirus.

To tell you honestly, everybody is hard-hit by coronavirus crisis in the community except, maybe, some doctors and Intel employees.

NAO has a very good saving for educational projects. At this moment of crisis, it is obvious that coronavirus problem is more important than education. Why not transfer some of the funding from educational project to the worst-hit families by coronavirus, obviously with the kind consent of donors. Just a thought.

The focus of this kind of assistance should be to provide relief to genuinely needy community members. No doubt, NAO should always strive to meet the expectations of the Nepalese Oregonians who are in need of help because of the current coronavirus crisis.

* Also please read my article headlined "Eight Nepalese in the US succumb to coronavirus" (Published in Nepal Oregon News 4-8-20).

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