When talking about the coronavirus pandemic, the numbers speak the truth, right? Not at the Latino news networks, where numbers are routinely bent to fit their ongoing glorification of New York, and demonization of Florida and other Republican states.
Take this report from Monday on Univision's midday newscast in which anchor Borja Voces compared Florida to New York as the coronavirus epicenter, ignoring the fact that New York was to date, the state with the largest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths:
Let's go to Florida. It is now the epicenter of the pandemic with 15,300 new cases in the past 24 hours, the highest number of daily infections in a state since this pandemic began, surpassing even New York's numbers. In Texas, there are more than three thousand deaths. The morgues are filling up and the (refrigerated mobile morgue) trailers also begin to fill the state. Figures that are really, very, very concerning.
According to data from the CDC, in New York City alone, the fatality rate is 277.7 deaths per hundred thousand; for the whole state of Florida, total deaths reach 19.9 deaths per hundred thousand.
In addition, not one word was mentioned, either at Univision or Telemundo, about the more than 6,400 elderly residents that died in New York nursing homes and long-term care facilities following a directive from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo (D) that ordered “nursing homes to accept coronavirus patients from hospitals.”
To further push the “Republican States Kill You” rhetoric, the Univision Digital report inserted Texas into the equation, skipping California, where, according to the state's Department of Public Health, on July 12, California reported 8,460 new cases of COVID-19. The state now has a total of 320,804 positive cases, and 7,017 deaths.
Over at Telemundo, the talking points seemed to come from the same source: New York is the gold-standard example of a state that shines in its handling of the coronavirus, while Florida and Texas should be ashamed. Watch this Telemundo Mediodia (Noon) report:
KARLA AMEZOLA: Florida is the new coronavirus epicenter.
(....)
In New York, for example, there are new outbreaks, but three thousand day care centers are ready to reopen.
(....)
On the other hand, in Houston, Texas, they are asking Governor Greg Abbott to issue a new stay-at-home in order to prevent the spread of the virus, while hospitals, many already at their maximum capacity, care for the sick. They say that there are no more beds nor ventilators and that the situation is very critical across the country.
Univision and Telemundo prefered to not inform their audiences about a startling fact provided by the CDC: To date, in the U.S., 40,787,857 Covid-19 tests have been reported; of these, 3,663,490 are positive; for a positivity rate of 9%.
Better to keep the facts that matter out of the news, especially when they are not spooky enough to scare Univision or Telemundo viewers into submission.
Shame on national brands sponsored by millions of Latinos like Walmart, that enable this unacceptable blatant bias. If this worries you, let them know here.
Press on "expand" to view the complete transcripts of the above mentioned segments as they were aired on July 13, 2020 at Noticiero Univision Digital, and Noticias Telemundo Mediodía:
Noticiero Univision Digital
July 13, 2020BORJA VOCES: But let's start with the news. Coronavirus is out of control across the country. Here's what you need to know so far. One in 100 Americans have tested positive and the number of infections is already at over 3 million three hundred thousand. At least 36 states are now requiring the use of masks on a mandatory basis and more than half have put their reopening phases on pause.
Let's go to Florida. It is now the epicenter of the pandemic with 15,300 new cases in the past 24 hours, the highest number of daily infections in a state since this pandemic began, surpassing even New York's numbers. In Texas, there are more than three thousand deaths. The morgues are filling up and the (refrigerated mobile morgue) trailers also begin to fill the state. Figures that are really, very, very concerning.
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Noticias Telemundo Mediodía
July 13, 2020FELICIDAD AVEYEIRA: And in New York, no deaths were recorded this weekend of people infected with Covid-19, something that had not happened since March 11, when the first of the deaths occurred. Just four months later, the New York Health Department found that no one died in the city from the virus. Since then, they have not had a single day without fatalities, except for this past July 11.
Florida has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic with record infection numbers. That fact hasn't stopped Disney World from reopening this weekend in Orlando.
Karla Amezola has the report from Florida, and other states. Go ahead.
KARLA AMEZOLA: How are you Felicidad? Good afternoon. As you say, Florida is the new coronavirus epicenter. A week ago, authorities anticipated this panorama that we are seeing, stepping back from reopening.There were nearly 15,300 new cases in a single day, something that had not been seen in any other state since the pandemic began. But despite the numbers, last weekend the Disney World reopening took place here in Florida, with the attendance of thousands. However, (attendees) kept social distance and wore a mask. In New York, for example, there are new outbreaks, but three thousand day care centers are ready to reopen. Mayor Bill de Blasio says this movement is crucial for parents, as they will now be able to return to work because they have a place to leave their children. On the other hand, in Houston, Texas, they are asking Governor Greg Abbott to issue a new stay-at-home in order to prevent the spread of the virus, while hospitals, many already at their maximum capacity, care for the sick. They say that there are no more beds nor ventilators and that the situation is very critical across the country. Back to you Felicidad.
