Department of Labor suspending its affirmative action guidelines.

While most of are focused on the Covid-19 outbreak, the U.S. Department of Labor has suspended its Affirmative Action guidelines. The Labor Department claims it's in order to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Even if you believe that the outbreak is a good reason to do so please pay attention to what happens when the outbreak is over. Our elected officials in the US Senate and the House of Representatives must be vigilant and make sure that these guidelines are reinstated as soon as possible. George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.com

In an effort to facilitate response efforts for COVID-19, Director Craig Leen of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced that it is issuing a national interest exemption on March 17, 2020, to new supply and service and construction contracts entered into from March 17, 2020, through June 17, 2020. The national interest exemption allows a modification to the equal opportunity clauses, which relieves contractors and subcontractors from all affirmative action obligations, for covered contracts.

The national interest exemption does not apply to the processing of complaints of discrimination or exempt federal contractors from their obligations under other federal, state, or local civil rights laws.

OFCCP has also published FAQs and resources for new contractors on its website.

[SOURCE: NATLAWREVIEW]

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell would have canceled Mardi Gras if feds had taken coronavirus more seriously

Mardi Gras may have been the perfect breeding ground for the coronavirus, leading New Orleans to become one of the epicenters of the virus.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell appeared on CNN Thursday afternoon saying if she had more information from the federal government, she would have pulled the plug on carnival season.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley Awaiting Coronavirus Test Results

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley has been tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting results, a spokesperson said Wednesday night.

The spokesperson, Lina Francis said Pressley "sought professional medical treatment out of an abundance of caution" after experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Rep. Pressley posted the following statement on Twitter:

hanks for the well wishes all. At home in Boston with my family getting some rest and awaiting #COVIDー19 test results.

Sending our continued gratitude to all of the healthcare workers on the frontlines of this fight in Massachusetts.

Middle aged Black men make up the majority of Covid-19 cases in Milwaukee

The majority of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the city of Milwaukee involve middle-aged African American men, Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik said Monday.

Kowalik did not offer a specific number or percentage but said the majority of the city's confirmed cases — 158 in total as of Monday afternoon — are middle-aged African American men.

The first three Milwaukee patients reported to have died after contracting Coronavirus were all African American men in their 50s or 60s. The men who died had underlying conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) or heart problems. One was Lenard Wells, a trailblazer for racial equality in the Milwaukee Police Department.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said a lot of the people who have tested positive in Milwaukee, particularly on the city's north side, had not traveled abroad.

Health officials are working on "communicating as fast as we can and as deeply as we can into these neighborhoods to let people know that this is not just about people who had been in China," Barrett said. "This is about something that's here right now."

Kowalik also pointed to the lasting effects of the city’s history of segregation as a factor.

The concentration of Coronavirus cases mirrors other health outcomes, she said, an indication that there is a disparity that requires more outreach and education.

“Looking at the maps of Milwaukee, and looking where people live, looking at the history of redlining and segregation and how that crosses over into today," she said, "when we’re talking about various health outcomes like infant mortality, childhood lead poisoning, you see very similar distributions.”

Health officials are planning public service announcements focusing on the African American community, which will stress awareness about Coronavirus, its symptoms and who is most at risk for complications — as well as prevention measures, such as hygiene and social distancing, Kowalik said.

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Atlanta mayor, Keisha Bottoms speaks on new restrictions to mitigate coronavirus

Keisha lance Bottoms,the Atlanta mayor spoke with the local Atlanta CBS station, CBS46 on new restrictions to mitigate coronavirus.