Outside Iona
January 27, 2023
Throughout our hectic student lives, we should always remain aware of what is happening around us. In this column, I find some of the most significant things around us and provide you with a small blurb and nitty-gritty details. Here are some of the major events that have been taking place:
General COVID-19 Updates.
Last Friday marked three years since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the United States. Patient Zero was identified as a man in his 30s from Washington, who had recently returned from Wuhan, China. However, later studies have found evidence that the virus was in the United States at least weeks before the first case was officially confirmed. The United States has confirmed more COVID-19 cases than any other country, reporting 102 million and an estimated 1.1 million deaths.
China is experiencing a spike of COVID-19 cases. Chinese government officials estimate that eight out of ten people have been infected with COVID-19. 13,000 deaths related to COVID-19 were reported between Jan. 13 and 19. There are concerns with an uptick of travel and social gathering because of the Lunar New Year. However, so far crowds seemed smaller compared to last year with many preferring to celebrate at home.
Information from CNN, Reuters and the Guardian.
Monterey Park Mass Shooting.
A mass shooting occurred in Monterey Park, California in the Star Ballroom Dance Studio on Jan. 21. An hour before the incident, a large Lunar New Year festival occurred down the street. Ten people were found dead in the building and at least one has since died of injuries. At least an additional 10 people were transported to the hospital. The gunman, 72-year-old Huu Can Tran, went to another dance studio in Alhambra, but he was disarmed by a civilian. He fled the scene and police found him a day later in a white van in Torrance, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Information from CNN, the Wall Street Journal and CBC News.
Women’s March 2023
On the 50th anniversary of the ruling of Roe vs. Wade, protests gathered at the nation’s capital after the ruling was overturned last year. The Women’s March began in 2017 as a response to the election of President Donald Trump and his comments on women and abortion. This year’s theme was “Bigger than Roe” to remember that the fight for reproductive health rights is not over with the Supreme Court decision. Other marches were planned in many cities such as Boston, Chicago and Miami. Ten marches were planned in Texas, a state that has some of the strictest abortion bans in the country. It is estimated that 200 Women’s March events took place in 46 states. However, the main march was held in Madison, Wisconsin to symbolize that the abortion battle has shifted to the states.
Information from New York Times, the Guardian and NPR.
Sources:
General COVID-19 Updates.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/20/health/covid-three-years-us-case-confirmed/index.html
Monterey Park Mass Shooting.
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/los-angeles-mass-shooting-01-22-2023/index.html
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/monterey-park-shooting-los-angeles-california
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/authorities-respond-to-shooting-in-monterey-park/
Women’s March 2023.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/22/us/politics/womens-march-roe-wade.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/22/womens-march-2023-roe-v-wade-abortion-rights
