(Photo: Screenshot from YouTube)

Latino-community members have been asking for the full translation of the Orange County press conferences that are related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Spanish so they can reach the entire Latino community in real-time.

According to Father Jose Rodriguez, he would like to see the residents of the Hispanic Orange County have similar access to any information as the non-Hispanic residents.

Moreover, Father Rodriguez also asked for the Orange County press conferences to be fully translated in both Spanish and English to reach the entire Latino community. Incidentally, one in every four people affected by COVID-19 in Florida is Hispanic. He added, "We are getting hit hard," which also means that they need the information.

Press Conferences Currently in English

Currently, press conferences in Orange County are in the English language. However, Dr. Raul Pino and others involved in the media activity are available and willing to answer questions in Spanish while the press conferences are going on.

Also, the 'key takeaways' from press conferences are translated in Spanish translation, and can be and can be accessed through the website of the Orange County later on.

Additionally, the county has a Spanish-speaking liaison from the mayor's office as well, which sends the recaps of the news conference in Spanish translation to major community groups.

Relatively, Mayor Jerry Demings said, after any of each of the press conference, "We redact what is being said here," and post it thereafter, in the Spanish language.

The mayor also added they have numerous communications going out that way.

Reaching Out Through Social Media

Orange County utilizes social media too, "to reach out to the Latino community," and is presently looking at possibly doing sub-caption translations in real-time.

This, according to Father Rodriguez, "is helpful but again," he continued, he was wondering why can't there just be a Spanish speaker behind the microphone.

Meanwhile, in Osceola County, officials hold their press conferences in English and then, again, entirely in Spanish. This, according to the Orange County officials, is something the Latino community would also like to see in their county.

Father Rodriguez emphasized, the infections brought by COVID-19 are quite high in the Latino community, and now is not a perfect time to withhold any information related to it.

 

As of this writing, the number of COVID-19 cases in Orange County has soared to over 1,200, with 18 deaths.

According to the county's officials, "85 new cases and one new fatality were reported as of last weekend."

At present, 118 people are confined to the hospital. Officials have also urged the people to continue to practice social distancing and skip car cruising, an annual tradition held in Santa Ana during Easter.

Meanwhile, the Newport Beach announced on Thursday, "in light of crowds at one of its most visited surf spots," surfing at the Wedge would be prohibited from 10 am to 5 pm, and this began last Friday. 

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