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  2022-05-10

  Anasitasia Viatele Oral History, 2022/05/15

  Anasitasia Viatele is from Kent, Washington. She recounts her life during the pandemic and the struggles she has faced during that time. She discusses her family in American Samoa and touches on their struggles as well.
• 2020-10-12

  Corporate Mask Mandates Not Being Enforced in Oklahoma

  I live in Oklahoma and there is currently no statewide mask mandate, nor has there been one since the business shutdowns started in March. When businesses such as Walmart and Walgreens began mask requirements, I assumed this would be at least a barrier of protection for those of us that wear masks. In Oklahoma City and Norman, both nearby larger urban cities, there are city mask mandates. These seem to be somewhat enforced in the stores and very few people are seen not wearing a mask in those cities. In nearby, more rural areas, such as Newcastle. Walmart began store or corporate mask mandates that forced customers to wear a mask. The door's entry was blocked by a guided entry path that led shoppers past a store employee that handed out masks for those that did not have one. This seemed to be a fairly good deterrent for those that avoided masks. By July I was noticing that customers took masks, but then later threw them in the trash. Employees were not enforcing the masks and some customers were avoiding those that didn't wear masks. In September we entered the Newcastle, Oklahoma Walmart and noticed that the entry had changed and Walmart was no longer acknowledging people that did or did not wear masks. By the beginning of October, as COVID-19 cases were reaching high daily numbers in Oklahoma, Walmart customers in Newcastle were now increasingly shopping without masks. My girlfriend and I used to count the number of people that didn't wear masks, it was a mental note of whether things were improving or dissolving. Now, we count those that wear masks. The number that wear masks are consistently lower, than those without. We have been to Walmart more than once since first of October where we were two of less than ten shoppers that had masks. The numbers seem to be on the decline and Walmart is not enforcing its own requirements. The last time we needed products from Walmart, we decided to go to Walgreens in Newcastle instead since it was less crowded. There were only five to six other customers besides us in Walgreens, but we were the only two wearing masks.
• 2020-05-01

  Walgreens launches coronavirus drive-thru testing site in Durham

  An article describing a new drive-thru testing site in Durham, NC run by Walgreens.
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  03/26/2020

  Walgreens Prescribes “Social Distancing”

  As the COVID-19 spreads across the world, essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies take precautionary measures. Following the guidelines issued by the CDC, businesses such as Walgreens request that while in (and out of) their pharmacy, customers distance themselves by at least 6 feet. Inside the pharmacy, customers distance themselves physically and socially, exchanging looks from 6 feet away that seem to say, “you are too close to me.” Tape across the floor dictates the CDC’s guidelines of what is too close. Novelist George Orwell’s writings come to mind, whose literature warns of dystopian societies. The entire Walgreens experience, from walking in, to shopping, to walking out, reminds customers of the often asymptomatic virus that anyone could have. #DePaulHST391
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  2020-04-08

  Social Distancing at Walgreens in Chicago’s Southwest Suburbs

  Although many businesses have closed their doors due to COVID-19, pharmacies have kept theirs open. Essential workers, like pharmacists, store leadership, pharmacy technicians, and customer service representatives, have continued to work for their communities despite the potential risks to their health. As a part-time pharmacy technician, it is difficult to social distance while at work, as my job relies on interacting with my coworkers and numerous patients throughout the day. This sign serves to remind its viewer that even small errands during a global pandemic, such as picking up medications, may present a preventable health threat to all parties involved. *Walgreens Corporate; notice distributed to individual stores *04/08/2020; Posted in the pharmacy queue during Illinois’ Shelter in Place #DePaulHST391
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  2020-01-29

  A large number of masks were purchased

  The CVS and Walgreens pharmacy near his home, even the Wal-Mart masks were all bought by the Chinese. He grabbed the last batch.