What the COVID-19 Crisis is Teaching the World About Humanity

The COVID-19 health crisis is arguably the reminder people all over the world needed to rediscover our humanity. As people’s lives are being reshaped by isolation, the economy, and everything else that has come about as a result of the world’s new normal—now is an opportune time to reflect on how people can band together and practice empathy as we strive to overcome the crisis.

Here are some gentle reminders during the time:

1. We need each other. – As the world practicing social distancing, it’s important to remain connected. It seems like the world has truly gone digital overnight as the virus has spread rapidly forcing people to find other ways to connect.
2. There is a great need for empathy. – People are very vulnerable right now. And taking the time to understand one another needs and as well as expressing ourselves respectfully can help us better serve each other.
3. In the words of the rapper Big Boi, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” In other words, wash your hands and practice good hygiene.
4. We must protect our elders. – It can be hard to keep your distance from your loved ones during this time, but for many elders, it is in their best interest. Aside from social distancing, it is key to check in on the elderly and make sure they have basic essentials if they are sheltered in place.
5. It is important to set healthy boundaries. – Working from home and sheltering in is not as simple as some people might have anticipated. For many, the new routine can be stressful. Here are some tips from Tonya Ladipo, LCSW, on how to stay mentally fit during these times.
6. We are all connected. – There is only one race. The human race. In order to get through these times, we must be on one accord.
7. It is important to establish a sense of trust. – The influx of news regarding coronavirus has established a sense of distrust as some information has been sensationalized. Many people are also living in fear. During this time, it is critical to vet out reliable resources for information.

The list could go on. Nevertheless, it starts with each and every one of us. To stay in the loop about how COVID-19 is impacting the black community click here.

 

 

 

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Airlines Are Now Ordered to Refund Cost of Flights Canceled By COVID-19

The global spread of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, has wreaked havoc across the travel industry, causing airlines to lose millions in revenue and face new travel restrictions amid the public health crisis. Now the U.S government has announced that all airlines must pay refunds to customers whose flights were canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The U.S. Transportation Department made the announcement today after receiving a growing number of complaints from consumers regarding airlines not providing refunds for canceled flights.

“The Department is receiving an increasing number of complaints and inquiries from ticketed passengers, including many with non-refundable tickets, who describe having been denied refunds for flights that were cancelled or significantly delayed,” the agency said in a notice.

The order would be applied to all domestic and international flights for flights to, within, or from the U.S. that have been grounded as a result of the virus. The government also mentioned it would “exercise its prosecutorial discretion” to allow airlines time to contact customers and their update policies.

This comes after many travel platforms like Airbnb have been forced to change their cancellation and refund policy in light of the viral pandemic. According to the International Air Transport Association, airlines around the world owe their customers an estimated $35 billion in refunds and credits this financial quarter due to the public health crisis.

The Federal Trade Commission has also received more than 1,600 travel-related complaints linked to flight cancellations resulting from the coronavirus. The complaints from customers equate to $2.7 million in nonrefundable travel losses.

“The obligation of airlines to provide refunds, including the ticket price and any optional fee charged for services a passenger is unable to use, does not cease when the flight disruptions are outside of the carrier’s control,” the agency said according to Bloomberg News.

“Although the COVID-19 public health emergency has had an unprecedented impact on air travel, the airlines’ obligation to refund passengers for cancelled or significantly delayed flights remains unchanged.”

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2RbG6U4

Airlines Are Now Ordered to Refund Cost of Flights Canceled By COVID-19

The global spread of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, has wreaked havoc across the travel industry, causing airlines to lose millions in revenue and face new travel restrictions amid the public health crisis. Now the U.S government has announced that all airlines must pay refunds to customers whose flights were canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The U.S. Transportation Department made the announcement today after receiving a growing number of complaints from consumers regarding airlines not providing refunds for canceled flights.

“The Department is receiving an increasing number of complaints and inquiries from ticketed passengers, including many with non-refundable tickets, who describe having been denied refunds for flights that were cancelled or significantly delayed,” the agency said in a notice.

The order would be applied to all domestic and international flights for flights to, within, or from the U.S. that have been grounded as a result of the virus. The government also mentioned it would “exercise its prosecutorial discretion” to allow airlines time to contact customers and their update policies.

This comes after many travel platforms like Airbnb have been forced to change their cancellation and refund policy in light of the viral pandemic. According to the International Air Transport Association, airlines around the world owe their customers an estimated $35 billion in refunds and credits this financial quarter due to the public health crisis.

The Federal Trade Commission has also received more than 1,600 travel-related complaints linked to flight cancellations resulting from the coronavirus. The complaints from customers equate to $2.7 million in nonrefundable travel losses.

“The obligation of airlines to provide refunds, including the ticket price and any optional fee charged for services a passenger is unable to use, does not cease when the flight disruptions are outside of the carrier’s control,” the agency said according to Bloomberg News.

“Although the COVID-19 public health emergency has had an unprecedented impact on air travel, the airlines’ obligation to refund passengers for cancelled or significantly delayed flights remains unchanged.”

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More Than 200 Million Daily Video Participants Used Zoom in March

Zoom Video Communications, a remote conferencing services company founded in 2011, has seen a drastic surge in users in lieu of the global novel coronavirus outbreak, which has upended entire industries and brought the world to a standstill.

Earlier this month, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that the founder of the video-conferencing platform, Eric Yuan, added more than $2 billion to his net worth. After starting the year unranked on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Yuan is now ranked 274 on the list with a $5.6 billion fortune. Meanwhile, Zoom stock, which debuted last year at $36, closed down at $137 on Wednesday, reported Reuters. Furthermore, daily use of the video app peaked at 200 million daily participants in March from a previous maximum total of 10 million set in 2019.

“Usage of Zoom has ballooned overnight,” wrote Yuan in a memo Wednesday. “To put this growth in context, as of the end of December last year, the maximum number of daily meeting participants, both free and paid, conducted on Zoom was approximately 10 million. In March this year, we reached more than 200 million daily meeting participants.”

A number of institutions have turned to Zoom in light of the national social distancing guidelines and state-issued stay-at-home orders. Companies utilize the platform to connect with employees, while local government agencies use Zoom to connect with their communities. Zoom is also being used in over 90,000 schools across 20 countries to teach students remotely. Non-emergency doctors are conducting appointments online; friends are hosting watch parties. However, along with the company’s drastic growth, Yuan admitted that Zoom is experiencing challenges in protecting its users’ privacy. One of its main issues is the rise of “Zoom bombing,” when unwanted people disrupt public Zoom meetings sometimes by sharing inappropriate images. On Monday, the FBI’s Boston office issued a warning about Zoom, telling users not to make meetings on the site public or share links widely after it received two reports of unidentified individuals invading school sessions, Reuters reported.

“For the past several weeks, supporting this influx of users has been a tremendous undertaking and our sole focus,” the 50-year-old CEO wrote in the memo. “We have strived to provide you with uninterrupted service and the same user-friendly experience that has made Zoom the video-conferencing platform of choice for enterprises around the world, while also ensuring platform safety, privacy, and security. However, we recognize that we have fallen short of the community’s–and our own–privacy and security expectations. For that, I am deeply sorry.”

Yuan, who was born in China, continued: “Over the next 90 days, we are committed to dedicating the resources needed to better identify, address, and fix issues proactively.”

Yuan’s U.S. visa application was denied eight times before he was allowed to migrate to the States. He launched Zoom to help him maintain a long distance relationship with his then-girlfriend.

 

 

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More Than 200 Million Daily Video Participants Used Zoom in March

Zoom Video Communications, a remote conferencing services company founded in 2011, has seen a drastic surge in users in lieu of the global novel coronavirus outbreak, which has upended entire industries and brought the world to a standstill.

Earlier this month, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that the founder of the video-conferencing platform, Eric Yuan, added more than $2 billion to his net worth. After starting the year unranked on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Yuan is now ranked 274 on the list with a $5.6 billion fortune. Meanwhile, Zoom stock, which debuted last year at $36, closed down at $137 on Wednesday, reported Reuters. Furthermore, daily use of the video app peaked at 200 million daily participants in March from a previous maximum total of 10 million set in 2019.

“Usage of Zoom has ballooned overnight,” wrote Yuan in a memo Wednesday. “To put this growth in context, as of the end of December last year, the maximum number of daily meeting participants, both free and paid, conducted on Zoom was approximately 10 million. In March this year, we reached more than 200 million daily meeting participants.”

A number of institutions have turned to Zoom in light of the national social distancing guidelines and state-issued stay-at-home orders. Companies utilize the platform to connect with employees, while local government agencies use Zoom to connect with their communities. Zoom is also being used in over 90,000 schools across 20 countries to teach students remotely. Non-emergency doctors are conducting appointments online; friends are hosting watch parties. However, along with the company’s drastic growth, Yuan admitted that Zoom is experiencing challenges in protecting its users’ privacy. One of its main issues is the rise of “Zoom bombing,” when unwanted people disrupt public Zoom meetings sometimes by sharing inappropriate images. On Monday, the FBI’s Boston office issued a warning about Zoom, telling users not to make meetings on the site public or share links widely after it received two reports of unidentified individuals invading school sessions, Reuters reported.

“For the past several weeks, supporting this influx of users has been a tremendous undertaking and our sole focus,” the 50-year-old CEO wrote in the memo. “We have strived to provide you with uninterrupted service and the same user-friendly experience that has made Zoom the video-conferencing platform of choice for enterprises around the world, while also ensuring platform safety, privacy, and security. However, we recognize that we have fallen short of the community’s–and our own–privacy and security expectations. For that, I am deeply sorry.”

Yuan, who was born in China, continued: “Over the next 90 days, we are committed to dedicating the resources needed to better identify, address, and fix issues proactively.”

Yuan’s U.S. visa application was denied eight times before he was allowed to migrate to the States. He launched Zoom to help him maintain a long distance relationship with his then-girlfriend.

 

 

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