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Leilani Jordan, 27, Dies; Disabled, but Helping Shoppers
Leilani Jordan, 27, Dies; Disabled, but Helping Shoppers
(32 minutes later)
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.
This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here.
When Leilani Jordan went to work as a supermarket greeter in Largo, Md., during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, she “did it from her heart, not for the money,” her mother said.
When Leilani Jordan went to work as a supermarket greeter in Largo, Md., during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, she “did it from her heart, not for the money,” her mother said.
Ms. Jordan helped older shoppers make their purchases, wheeled their carts to cars and even accompanied some to the restroom when necessary.
Ms. Jordan helped older shoppers make their purchases, wheeled their carts to cars and even accompanied some to the restroom when necessary.
“She said, ‘Mommy, I’m going to work because no one else is coming in early to help the senior citizens,’” her mother, Zenobia Shepherd, said in an interview. “She wanted to help anybody she came in contact with. And, her customers have been calling me to tell me, ‘thank you.’”
“She said, ‘Mommy, I’m going to work because no one else is coming in early to help the senior citizens,’” her mother, Zenobia Shepherd, said in an interview. “She wanted to help anybody she came in contact with. And, her customers have been calling me to tell me, ‘thank you.’”
Those calls have been coming since April 1, the day Ms. Jordan died. She was 27. The cause was complications of the virus, her mother said.
Those calls have been coming since April 1, the day Ms. Jordan died. She was 27. The cause was complications of the virus, her mother said.
Leilani Margurite Jordan was born on Oct. 22, 1992, in Honolulu to William C. Jordan Sr. and Zenobia (Toomer) Jordan. She was one of six children of a military couple and traveled widely before her mother remarried and settled in Upper Marlboro, Md., east of Washington, with her second husband, Charles E. Shepherd Jr.
Leilani Margurite Jordan was born on Oct. 22, 1992, in Honolulu to William C. Jordan Sr. and Zenobia (Toomer) Jordan. She was one of six children of a military couple and traveled widely before her mother remarried and settled in Upper Marlboro, Md., east of Washington, with her second husband, Charles E. Shepherd Jr.
Ms. Jordan graduated from Wise High School in Prince George’s County and earned an associate’s degree in biblical studies in 2017 from Breakthrough Bible College and Theological Seminary in Maryland.
Ms. Jordan graduated from Wise High School in Prince George’s County and earned an associate’s degree in biblical studies in 2017 from Breakthrough Bible College and Theological Seminary in Maryland.
She completed a sign language course at Prince George’s Community College, where she also enrolled in a hospitality services management program to pursue her dream of one day managing a supermarket.
She completed a sign language course at Prince George’s Community College, where she also enrolled in a hospitality services management program to pursue her dream of one day managing a supermarket.
Visually impaired (she had a service dog, a Jack Russell terrier named Angel) and coping with other vulnerabilities, she was employed by the Giant Food supermarket chain under a program for people with disabilities.
Visually impaired (she had a service dog, a Jack Russell terrier named Angel) and coping with other vulnerabilities, she was employed by the Giant Food supermarket chain under a program for people with disabilities.
Updated June 22, 2020
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
Ms. Jordan began feeling ill around the middle of last month; her last day at work was March 16. She later tested positive for the virus, her mother said. After her condition deteriorated, she collapsed with a 104-degree fever on March 26 in the parking lot of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where she was going for treatment. She died there that day.
Ms. Jordan began feeling ill around the middle of last month; her last day at work was March 16. She later tested positive for the virus, her mother said. After her condition deteriorated, she collapsed with a 104-degree fever on March 26 in the parking lot of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where she was going for treatment. She died there that day.
Before dying she was able to record a video message for her family, which they found on her phone, her stepfather told CNN. “She told them, you know, ‘See you on the other side,’” he said.
Before dying she was able to record a video message for her family, which they found on her phone, her stepfather told CNN. “She told them, you know, ‘See you on the other side,’” he said.
A spokeswoman for Giant Food said Ms. Jordan had not worked at the store since federal health officials recommended that everyone wear face masks, and that the company had learned of her illness only on March 28.
A spokeswoman for Giant Food said Ms. Jordan had not worked at the store since federal health officials recommended that everyone wear face masks, and that the company had learned of her illness only on March 28.
After Ms. Jordan died, the mail brought a “Values in Motion” certificate recognizing her exemplary service to Giant and its customers; a five-year tenure pin; and her final paycheck for the few hours she worked in her last week. It was for $20.64.
After Ms. Jordan died, the mail brought a “Values in Motion” certificate recognizing her exemplary service to Giant and its customers; a five-year tenure pin; and her final paycheck for the few hours she worked in her last week. It was for $20.64.
