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COVID-19: Forty-nine change of venue

Pamela Cruz

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2020.11.30

Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]

The San Francisco Forty-Niners will play at least their next two home games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, because Santa Clara County announced Saturday new restrictive measures related to COVID-19.

"The Cardinals organization, State Farm Stadium and league officials have been supportive and accommodating as we work through the many logistical issues involved in relocating NFL games," the Bay Area team said in a statement.

As such, the Forty-Niners will host the Buffalo Bills in Arizona for a Monday night game on Dec. 7, as well as Washington on Sunday, Dec. 13.

The Forty-Niners are still working to define where they will practice for the next few weeks. While their preference is to stay in the Bay Area to practice during the week and fly to Arizona for the games, this plan may not be logistically feasible.

For his part, coach Kyle Shanahan said he was disappointed by the way they found out they would have to find a new home to play in the coming weeks: during their flight to face the Los Angeles Rams over the weekend.

"I get it: they made that decision and we have to deal with that, but to find out through a tweet or a press conference ... I've got a whole plane coming up to me, wives, girlfriends, family members and kids saying they found out we might be out all of December."

"We are human like everybody else, and it's a big problem to leave your family for the whole of December, a big problem, as everybody knows... We need to find a place where we can feel safe and stay because we won't be able to go to our homes anymore to make them safe. So, we will have to stay in a hotel or somewhere."

Notably, Santa Clara County announced Saturday that the number of residents who have been infected with COVID-19 and the number of hospitalized patients continues to climb significantly, reaching record levels since the start of the pandemic.

On that day alone, 760 new cases and 239 hospitalizations were recorded, of which 71 are in the intensive care unit. So, to reduce the likelihood of an increase in hospitalizations that exceeds the capacity of hospitals, were announced several changes to the directives that accompany the Risk Reduction Order of the Public Health Officer.

The changes include requiring certain sectors to modify their operations to increase security, reducing the number of people allowed on the premises at any one time, and reducing the size of outdoor gatherings.

For professional, collegiate and youth sports, all recreational activities involving physical contact or proximity to persons outside the home, including all contact sports, were temporarily prohibited.

San Mateo: Plastic ban in 2021

Pamela Cruz

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2020.11.30

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Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

The city of San Mateo aims to be more friendly to the environment, which is why se seeks a ban on single-use plastic products in restaurants, supermarkets and grocery stores that sell prepared food.

This was reported by The Daily Journal, which said that the initiative will be presented to the San Mateo County Council in the first months of 2021.

With this initiative, the newspaper noted, San Mateo will require the use of compostable utensils instead of those made of plastic, and the regulation of these for those products prepared in stores; however, you can continue to buy plastic items for use elsewhere: forks, toothpicks or spoons, among others.

According to the note, the ban would affect 428 establishments in the locality. However, the pandemic and the low attendance at these establishments would allow the owners to gradually adapt to this new modality.

While the initiative will be introduced in late January or early February of next year, the city is expected to begin enforcing the law by 2022, according to the city's deputy mayor, Eric Rodriguez.

The goal of allowing the initiative to take legal effect for up to two years is to ensure that San Mateo restaurants are not disadvantaged and have a plan of action in place prior to implementation.

It was noted that the city plans to meet later this year with restaurateurs and owners of convenience stores and places that sell prepared foods to alert them about possible changes that will take place next year.

The local newspaper said San Mateo County will be responsible for enforcing the ban, including the financial costs, which encouraged the city to participate.

With that said, the City of San Mateo plans to make its ordinance similar to the county's, which passed this year, require the use of compostable non-plastic compostable items instead of plastic products.

According to the initiative, non-plastic components are required for the manufacture of plates, bowls, cups, food trays, boxes, deli containers and other packaging.

Restaurants and stores must also use non-plastic, compostable straws, stirrers, utensils and toothpicks, and accessories such as chopsticks, utensils and condiment sachets would only be provided upon request or in self-service areas.

Councilmembers Diane Papan and Rick Bonilla agreed that, while the measure is good for the future, it is important to start in 2022 to first find solutions to the plastic waste problem.

Finally, they hope that the next year will represent a window of opportunity before the law is enforced, which will help restaurants prepare and give them time to establish alternatives to plastic options, as it is a challenge to run a restaurant at this time.

We Vote: Alicia Aguirre

Peninsula 360 Press

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2020.11.30

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We vote | November 28st, 2020 | Ep. 02 https://t.co/Dbn77XFScP
- Peninsula 360 Press (@Peninsula360P) November 29, 2020

Christian Carlos. Peninsula 360 Press.

This week, in the company of our presenters, Connie Guerrero and Rudy EspinozaPeninsula 360 Press brings you another installment of We Vote, an online television show that aims to showcase the San Francisco Peninsula and Bay Area community, local community members, election experts, but most importantly those people, elected through the ballot, who are charged with representing the will of the people, the backbone of our society.

On this occasion, Alicia Aguirre, member of Redwood City Council District 7. She is a professor and PhD in Social Anthropology; she was also the first Latina mayor in the history of the city, this is her last term in office after 30 years of dedicated service to her community.

During the program, Connie Guerrero and Rudy Espinoza, addressed current issues such as the electoral process for the renewal of Council members, as well as the challenges that Alicia Aguirre had to face during her campaign, mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, it is important to inform the community about the actions she will take during her last term during the next four years. Alicia Aguirre, talks to us in depth about the three axes that, she says, are key to maintaining the welfare of the community: housing, transportation and attention to our youth, sheltered under a vision of equity.

The COVID-19 pandemic, he says, is an urgent health emergency in Redwood City, as this past week, it has been upgraded to a purple alert - the Public Health Department's highest alert. Aguirre noted the importance of supporting the community in maintaining their businesses, their right to housing and food for vulnerable groups.

We invite you to follow the next editions of We Vote every week. Follow us on our social networks: YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and don't miss the live broadcasts offered by Peninsula 360 Press.

San Mateo passes to Purple level in view of increase in cases by Covid-19

Pamela Cruz

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2020.11.28

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San Mateo passes to Purple level in view of increase in cases by Covid-19

By Pamela Cruz

The state of California announced that, starting tomorrow, San Mateo County will be upgraded to Purple Level 1, the most restrictive of the Covid-19 reopening measures, in order to prevent an increase in the number of infections.

While the new statewide stay home order, which prohibits county residents from leaving their homes from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am, will take effect on Monday night, November 30.

San Mateo County referred in a statement that under Level 1 restrictions, businesses and activities that had been operating indoors, such as places of worship, movie theaters, gyms and museums, must move outdoors or close.

Similarly, shopping malls and all retail stores shall operate at no more than 25 percent of their capacity, while indoor meetings between members of different households are prohibited.

When it comes to outdoor meetings, these may include people from only three households, as long as they are held outside of the restricted hours of 10:00 pm to 5:00 am.

According to state officials, more restrictive measures are needed to control the recent increase in reported cases of coronavirus in both the Bay Area and the state as a whole.

The county health department said there was an 85 percent increase in new cases of VIDOC-19 from October to November, and the drop in the purple level is due to the county's adjusted rate of 7.6 new cases per 100,000 population.

"We haven't seen figures like this in quite a while. We really need to reverse this incredibly worrying trend. We can do that as long as we follow common sense health and safety practices," said County Administrator Mike Callagy.

"We need everyone to do their part to keep our community safe. We urge everyone to stay home for the holidays. I know it's a sacrifice, but the best way to show your family that you love them is to stay home and be safe," he added.

It should be noted that the new order to stay at home is more limited than that of spring. The new order was announced by the state on November 19, came into effect on November 21 and will remain in effect until December 21.

Residents may still go out alone or with members of their own household as long as they do not participate in any interaction with members of other households, or if their employment is essential, such as in grocery stores.

The order also requires that all non-essential businesses and restaurants, even if they operate outdoors, complete their operations before 10:00 pm.

Finally, County Health Officer Scott Morrow recommended avoiding travel this season, as one test may be negative due to the incubation period of the virus, but there is still a risk of exposing others to IDV-19.

COVID-19: Los Angeles, new restrictions until December 20

Peninsula 360 Press

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2020.11.28

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Christian Carlos. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

Today, the Los Angeles County, California, Department of Public Health issued a statement that, since the average threshold of 4,500 confirmed cases of COVID-19 per day was exceeded, additional and stronger containment measures will be taken to slow the spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which originated a year ago in a market in Wuhan, China.

In particular, the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, offered her heartfelt condolences to those families who have been affected by this "terrible virus.

"We hope that the residents of Los Angeles County will continue to follow the safety measures of the Department of Public Health, measures that, we know, can stop contagion. Acting with collective urgency is essential if we are to stem this tide," he said, calling on them over the next three weeks to "please stay home as much as possible and not to meet with others outside of your home.

The following measures will come into force as of this Monday, November 30 and will continue for three more weeks, that is, until at least December 20:

MeetingsThe following are prohibited: All public and private meetings with individuals who do not belong to the same household. Exceptions are made for religious services and protests, which are rights protected by the Constitution

BusinessMasks: Mandatory use of masks and physical distance of at least 6 feet (2 meters):
- Essential retail business with a 35% maximum occupancy.
- Non-essential businesses with non-essential retail sales -including shopping centers in closed spaces- with a 20% maximum occupancy rate.
- Personal care services with a 20% maximum occupancy.
- Libraries, with a 20% maximum occupancy rate
- Outdoor training centers with a 50% maximum occupancy
- Museums, galleries, zoos, aquariums, outdoor botanical gardens with a 50% maximum occupancy.
- Miniature golf courses, batting cages, go-karts outdoors with 50% maximum occupancy.

Outdoor recreation activities will require the mandatory use of a mask -except for swimming-, practicing also physical distancing:
- Beaches, trails and parks remain open; meetings with people from outside the home are prohibited.
- Golf courses, tennis courts, archery fields, skate parks, bicycle paths and community gardens remain open to individuals or members of a single family.
- Community pools can only be opened for stationary swimming limited to one person per lane.
- Drive-ins/events/parades are allowed as long as the occupants of each car are members of a family.

Schools:
- All schools and day camps remain open following reopening protocols. K-12 schools and day camps with one case of VOC-19 - 3 or more cases in 14 days - must remain closed for 14 days.

Full lockdown:
- Playgrounds (except nursery and school playgrounds)
- Poker rooms.
- Due to the high infection ratesThe restaurants, bars, breweries and wine cellars will have to limit their access but not their service: so they can still offer takeaway food. Breweries and wineries remain open for retail sales with an occupancy rate of 20%.

For more information, please visit: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

U.S. Soccer Talents are Migrants

Peninsula 360 Press

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2020.11.27

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Editorial office. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

If there is one sport in which the United States has not excelled throughout history, it is soccer. The senior team's record is based on titles in the North American and Caribbean region, CONCACAF, where they have won the Gold Cup six times, a runner-up spot at the Confederations Cup in 2009 and a runner-up spot at the 1930 World Cup.

Today's big stars suggest that the US will have too high a ceiling on football, completely changing the dynamics that have generated the national team's reach throughout history.

The one considered the best in the history of the American country is Landon Donovan. A stereotype of an athlete with a winning mentality, offensive skills and great soccer generation.

The today retired 10 of US Soccer Not only did he generate animosity on the field, but the white phenotypical characteristics, the supremacy speech that he managed throughout his career and the so representative nickname that marked him as "Captain America", contributed to infect generations of mentally solid players, but scarce of resources for the game.

However, today, talent abounds in the U.S., the common denominator involving African-American migrants. Barcelona's recent recruit, Sergiño Dest, comes from a Dutch mother and father from Suriname, an island in the Caribbean. The club's right-back is barely 20 years old and already stands out as one of the regulars in Ronald Koeman's squad.

Another of the athletes that the Catalan team is profiling to be part of its offensive revolution on the left wing is Konrad de la Fuente, who was born in Miami Florida in 2001. His parents are Haitian, and he is of Dominican Republic descent. At the age of 10, he left for Spain and, although he had the opportunity to wear the Iberian shirt, he preferred to represent the United States, where he made his debut with the senior national team.

One of the most promising of his historical past is Timothy Weah, son of the legendary African player, George Weah, who is also currently president of his country, Liberia. The current Lille player has skills as a centre-forward, has played ten times for the US national team and has scored one goal. Weah Sr. is remembered as the only African player in history to win the Golden Ball, the annual individual award for the best player in the world.

Giovanni Alejandro Reyna is another talent with American nationality, but originally from Durham, England. He currently plays as a midfielder for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. His training took place mainly in New York and, at the age of 15, in the 2017-2018 season, he was considered in the New York City FC U-18 team where he contributed with 13 goals in 17 games.

Borussia Dortmund looked to him to make him part of the German team and his managers said "We only consider bringing in youngsters from abroad when we are 100% confident that the player has the potential to play for the first team.

Christian Pulisic, a Croatian grandfather, represents the U.S. team. He is currently a player with Chelsea F.C., the runner-up in the English championship. He was initially signed in Europe by Borussia Dortmund, where he played from 2016 to 2019. However, he was born and raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania and began his career for PA Classics and Harrisburg City Islanders, during his childhood and teenage years, respectively.

The talent of the American team promises to compete for important positions in the face of an atypical World Cup, to be played in another field where football did not figure until recently: Qatar 2022.

COVID-19 and elections drive California companies to stock market listing

Pamela Cruz

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2020.11.27

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COVID-19 and elections drive California companies to stock market listing

Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360].

Several California-based technology companies announced plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange before the end of the year, taking advantage of a market rally following the election, as well as mobility restrictions and remote working.

Firms such as DoorDash, Airbnb, Roblox and Wish, are taking advantage of a market rally after the November 3 elections, which has raised stock indices close to their historical highs, leading to a clear demand in the public market.

Similarly, these companies involved in e-commerce, food delivery and online entertainment, expect to have a busy year-end, with the increase in cases of coronavirus and an economy that has had to adapt to more digital habits.

Without a doubt, the most anticipated IPO is that of Airbnb, through which it hopes to raise three billion dollars by selling its shares, despite the fact that the firm has been severely affected by the pandemic and its outlook looked uncertain for the future.

It should be noted that Airbnb expected to make its public offering in early 2020, but the business was halted at the end of March. However, it is currently showing a revival as mobility restrictions are lifted, with users choosing to work remotely in holiday homes.

On the other hand, DoorDash is a company similar to Rappi, which operates in the United States and Canada. The firm has been valued at $16 billion and became one of the big winners with the containment measures, which have led people to place more food orders at home.

Thus, for the first nine months of the year, the number of orders rose to 543 million, compared to 181 million for the same period in 2019; while revenues rose from $239 million to $879 million for the period.

As for Roblox, it is one of the video game companies that has registered the highest growth during the pandemic, as its revenues grew 91 percent in the third quarter of 2020, to just over $242 million.

In addition, its daily active users reached 36.2 million in September and game hours doubled to more than eight thousand, as people spend more time at home, and can even organize virtual birthday parties and other meetings in the app.

Finally, the popular e-commerce company Wish, is a firm that is valued at just over 11 billion and has over 100 million active users. Its third quarter revenues increased 33 percent to 606 million.

Wish was exposed during the early days of the pandemic because most of its traders are based in China, so the interruption in deliveries caused revenues to fall in the first quarter of the year, but they are seeing a recovery.

2021 also looks like a promising year for IPOs on Wall Street, with investors waiting for the online brokerage firm RobinHood to make its debut during the first half of next year.

COVID-19: Recession affects immigrants and afro-descendants more

Pamela Cruz

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2020.11.26

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COVID-19: Recession affects immigrants and afro-descendants more

Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]

Unemployment rates have recorded extraordinarily high levels during the pandemic, further affecting immigrant and Afro-descendent communities, and it is expected that in the coming months there will be an increase related to a higher number of cases of COVID-19.

According to a report by the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI), the average the unemployment rate during the third quarter of 2019 was 4.0 percent, while by July of this year recorded a maximum level of 16 percent.

And although the rate dropped to 9.0 percent in October, much lower than that seen in July, it is still more than double the average seen in 2019, "a worrying sign that in future months there may be an increase rather than a decrease in unemployment.

The institute indicated that all groups have been deeply affected by the recession because of the VOC-19 pandemic; however, immigrants and people of African descent are among the most affected.

But Undocumented immigrants can be among the most affected sectorsThey are not covered by government support programs, such as the unemployment insurance system, which can help workers in difficult times.

For example, when comparing the third quarter of 2020 with the same period of the previous year in New York State, it can be seen that the unemployment rate overall it was 13%, more than triple the number registered in 2019.

However, there is a notable difference if we analyze it by groups. For Caucasians, the unemployment rate was 10 percent, for people of African descent 13 percent, and for people in the Latino community, the rate was 19 percent.

"There is good reason to believe that undocumented immigrants have been the most affected, since they also run out of many of the supports that other workers can count on in difficult times, such as unemployment insurance or health insurance.

The FPI report added that, while there is no direct measure of unemployment among undocumented workers, looking at the industries in which undocumented immigrants work gives an idea of the labor market they face.

On the one hand, undocumented workers are particularly concentrated among essential workers in supermarkets, public transportation, delivery services and health care.

On the other hand, immigrants are also concentrated in the industries that have seen the greatest job losses, such as restaurants and hotels, that is, in jobs that have not been able to continue their activities relatively quietly from home.

In addition, the biggest drop in jobs in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the previous year was in sectors such as entertainment and leisure -46%-, as well as accommodation and food services -40%-.

Thus, he recommended that federal funds that reach the states be flexible enough to allow all groups to be included in the assistance, including immigrants.

As well as making sure that people who are working, but cannot do so from home, have the personal protective equipment they need to keep themselves as safe as possible.

Diego Maradona and Fidel Castro, two revolutionaries who left on November 25th

Sports

Peninsula 360 Press

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2020.11.26

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Diego Maradona and Fidel Castro, two revolutionaries who left on November 25th

Editorial office. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

The word "revolution" refers to traces of battle, not necessarily political, but also social. There is no doubt that Diego Maradona marked a before and after in international soccer. His great ability with the ball in his left leg, his leadership on and off the field, and the way he fought against the highest body in world soccer, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association -FIFA, by its French acronym- make the legacy of the Argentine 10 eternal.

This morning, it was confirmed that, after being the victim of a cardiorespiratory arrest, the former Napoli, Barcelona and Boca Juniors player died at the age of 60. This was reported by the press officer of the famous Argentinian, Sebastian Sanchi, who said that at least four ambulances had gone to Maradona's home in Buenos Aires, but nothing could be done.

At the beginning of November, Diego Maradona was hospitalized for ten days due to a decompensation, although he was already diagnosed with a subdural hematoma in the hospital.

The departure of "El Pelusa" immediately brings to mind one of the great episodes in the history of world soccer when, in 1986, Argentina was crowned at the Azteca Stadium to lift its second World Cup with the star as captain.

Perhaps the victory over Germany in the final is not the most memorable in Diego Armando's career, but the quarter-final game of the same tournament against England on June 22, when he scored both goals in a game politically marked by the Maldives' dispute.

Maradona dragged the ball from midfield and eluded all the English rivals until it reached the rival area, where he took out the goalkeeper, dodged it and, sweeping himself, pushed the ball to score in favour of the Albiceleste.

On 51 minutes, after a series of bounces in the area from England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who was 20 centimetres taller than the "10", the ball was left in the air and both players got up to compete for it. Diego Maradona pretended to hit it with his head; however, he did it with his hand and ended up scoring to put Argentina on the road to the world title.

Maradona was always more of a rebel than a sergeant. After the World Cup, he led Italy's Serie A team Napoli, a modest and low-budget team, to compete and win the "Scudetto" in 1987 against the powerful Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus, framing the football war in the south against northern Italy.

After the title, Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi tried to bring the Argentine star into his ranks, but he refused and renewed his contract with humble Napoli until 1993. The alleged links with the Sicilian mafia and the high esteem of the people soon made Naples known as "Diego's city".

On November 25, 2016, one of the great figures in world politics and a close friend of the Buenos Aires man, Fidel Castro, also left at the age of 90.

They met in 1987, when Maradona declared his admiration for the Cuban player, as well as for Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who he carried tattooed on his arm as a symbol of Latin American liberation, a movement he accompanied in sport, when FIFA did not allow American footballers to compete for the most valuable awards. He even declared that both he and the Mexican Hugo Sanchez would have Golden Balls if the organ had not been exclusive.

Fidel Castro supported Maradona in 2000, when in January he was admitted to a rehabilitation centre for drug detoxification in Cuba. Diego Maradona made no secret of the fact that, in addition to being left-handed on the field, he sympathized with the ideals of the left in Latin America; he gave a toilet seat to the Cuban president, whom he named his "second father," arguing that every time he used it, he dedicated the act to the United States and George Bush.

Maradona also expressed feeling persecuted by FIFA when, in the 1994 World Cup in the United States, a doping control ended his career with the Argentine national team. On July 30 of that year, four days after Argentina defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the tournament, Diego Armando Maradona said, "I didn't take drugs, they cut off my legs," after the captain's urine test came back positive for ephedrine at halftime.

FIFA asked the Argentinean Football Association -AFA- to withdraw the star from the competition and, thus, not to see him wearing the Albiceleste again. The extraordinary thing about this case is that it was at the half time of a match, when, commonly, the anti-doping controls are carried out at the end of the matches, besides that, in that game, a nurse entered the field to remove the footballer from the arm.

The basis for such an act is the speculation of a plot against Maradona to play the World Cup on American soil, after he declared himself a supporter of Fidel Castro's ideals.

November 25 will mark history and resignify the word "revolution" in the dictionary, adding to it moments when two banners of ideals and beliefs departed to leave a legacy in two spheres: the ball and the planet.

EEJ

Testing COVID-19 in Redwood City

Photo Gallery

Manuel Ortiz

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2020.11.25

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Casa Círculo Cultural and San Mateo County are testing COVID-19 on November 22, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Mural parking lot, located at 3090 Middlefield Road in Redwood City.

For more information on the dates of the following tests you can visit www.casacirculocultural.org