The Navajo Nation's COVID-19 infection rate has surpassed all but two U.S. states. With only 40% of homes online, many of the reservation's students must travel to access wifi for homeschool.
That has been a struggle for families such as Celia Black's. She's raising six grandchildren, including two girls who are juniors at Monument Valley High. Black said they used to have Internet at home but ended their service because it was too expensive.
The schools recently sent Chromebooks to all of Black's grandchildren, so they've been driving to the high school parking lot to get online. Each day they pile into a red minivan and drive 7 miles to the high school, where they work for up to four hours — or until somebody needs to go to the bathroom."You keep calling them and they get agitated, and then they say 'Grandma, I was in the middle of the work and you just called me,'"she said.
To solve that issue, schools in Utah recently ordered wireless Internet hot spots for about 200 homes — enough for most high school students who live on the Navajo Nation in the state. Aaron Brewer, technical director for the San Juan School District, said they're being sent out on buses, and the hardware and service are being provided for free.
The hot spots connect to cell towers, and since some students live in dead zones, Brewer said they won't work in every home. But they should work at Celia Black's house, and she said her six grandkids can't wait to do their work at home.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Indian Health Service Doctor Details Heavy COVID-19 Impact On Navajo NationNPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Dr. Loretta Christensen, Navajo Area chief medical officer at the Indian Health Service about the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on Native Americans.
Read more »
On Earth Day, How coronavirus lockdown has changed life for animalsThere have been both positive and negative impacts on wildlife during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more »
Prince Charles Unexpectedly Reveals He's Watching 'the Funniest' Viral Videos While in IsolationQueen Elizabeth's son highlighted the important role U.K. farmers are playing during the COVID-19 pandemic
Read more »
Is the world heading towards a hunger pandemic?Global hunger is about to double worldwide as Covid-19 pandemic puts 130 million more people under the acutely hungry category, bringing the total number to 265 million
Read more »
Jennifer Lopez Is Working on ‘Quieting’ Her Mind in Quarantine: ‘Everything Is Taking a Break'Jennifer Lopez Is Working on ‘Quieting’ Her Mind While in Quarantine: ‘Everything Is Taking a Break'
Read more »
Nuns emerge, Missouri sues China, soldiers sew: News from around our 50 statesAfter 20 years, the sisters of Poor Clare stepped out of their monastery to offer prayers for health care workers on the front lines in their Montana city.
Read more »