NBA star Westbrook donates computers to children

ANKARA

Houston Rockets all-star guard Russell Westbrook has donated 650 computers to children in the U.S. to facilitate home-based learning as schools remain closed due to coronavirus.

''Now more than ever, we need our internet providers to help our students close the digital divide in our city. @russwest44 through his Why Not? Foundation and Comp U Dot will donate 650 laptops for students in our city to assist them with their digital education,'' Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said late Monday.

The Rockets also released a statement late Monday on the initiative.

"In response to the challenges of the digital divide and closing of schools due to COVID-19 precautions, Houston Rockets star, Russell Westbrook and his nonprofit organization, the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation has collaborated with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Office of Education and Comp-U-Dopt to provide children and families with computers needed to access classwork and digital learning resources online," the franchise said late Monday.

"Since March 18th Comp-U-Dopt has distributed nearly 1,000 computers to Houston families through their Computer Drive-Thru which allows families to register for a computer lottery through their website then if selected, drive through the Comp-U-Dopt warehouse where a computer is placed in their car for them to keep, completely free of charge," they added.

Schools in Houston have been closed over the COVID-19 outbreak as the students take their lessons online.

The global coronavirus cases surpassed 1.9 million on Monday, according to a running tally by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

The data showed that the global number of deaths reached 118,459, while the number of people who recovered stands at 446,002.

The U.S. has the most cases with more than half a million infections -- over 572,000. It also has the highest number of deaths with more than 23,000.