Items

• 2021-10-17

  The Covid Disconnect

  The story and my experience are an example of the many ways in which the pandemic affected individuals in different ways. It goes without saying that each person was impacted in varied ways due to Covid-19, however, not all of them were either explicitly negative or an outcome that is easily defined as being either beneficial or harmful. During the height of the pandemic in the United States, I was employed as an Assistant Warehouse Manager in Green Bay, WI. My workload and responsibilities were already a little taxing, but once things got in full swing with Covid they became even more so. I went from working an average of 60 hours a week to over 75. This was mainly due to about a third (or more) of our employees being out of work due to quarantine-type measures or actual illness. This went on for months at the beginning. Many weeks out of that time period there were as few as about a dozen of us running three shifts in a warehouse that normally employed roughly 40 workers. Also at this time, my wife became unemployed because her place of employment shut down. Others around me were losing their jobs in droves and facing financial hardship. But due to my position and the nature of the job, I had never had more job security and we never faced any kind of financial difficulties. On the contrary, during the entire pandemic, my wife and I never went without or struggled. This gave me a surreal feeling and one that I almost felt guilty for living through. Aside from some minor changes in my daily life, I barely noticed any personal changes due to Covid. All in all, it was an extremely odd time to live through; the pandemic wasn't necessarily bad for my wife and me, but I know it was for countless others. And that made it all the more strange.
• 2021-10-15

  Tense and Tempestuous Tones

  In the year 2020, I was a medical assistant working for a cancer surgery clinic. The pandemic posed huge challenges for people working in healthcare and created new staggering standards for cleanliness and infection control. With limited personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies, it made everyday clinic operations very challenging. With cancer patients, most of whom were undergoing treatments that lowered their immune system, and many of whom had just had surgery which can increase risk of infection, medical staff took COVID safety precautions very seriously. Dealing with people battling illness can be challenging under normal circumstances because they are often feeling emotional and scared, but during COVID, tensions were running even higher. I will never forget patients using condescending, edgy, and outright angry tones with me when I would call for a COVID symptom screening prior to their appointment, inform them that they had to wear a mask at all times while in the clinic, or that they were unable to bring a family member to the exam room during a follow-up appointment with a doctor. Over the phone and in person, many patients used tense and tempestuous tones to take out their anger over a situation none of us had any control over. Often, there were political connotations to any discussion of clinic COVID policy, which was unusual in a conversation about infection control. Many patients would protest getting their temperature taken or question the accuracy of their oximetry reading (a started part of vitals even before the pandemic). It was always a relief to have a patient who took a dignified breath and calmly understood that the rules were in place for everyone's safety and were an inconvenience to all involved. There were several days where I would go off to an empty exam room during my lunch break and cry. Tension during the first year of the COVID pandemic was audible.
• 
  2021-01-25

  Returning to school in a pandemic

  Teachers all over the world had their entire profession change when Covid-19 struck. They had to take on more roles and wear new hats. This article shares the story of three teachers and their experience with remote learning and thoughts on returning to school.
• 
  2021-10-02

  Plague Year Interview

  Interview by me, John, with my dad, who works in health care supply chain, Cory.
• 2020

  The Essential Worker

  Essential workers were publically praised but still got the short end of the stick.
• 
  2020-03-22

  Job Security as an Essential Worker Pride-A Meme

  When the pandemic first took place, I was working as an Executive Assistant at a Domestic Violence Agency. Our agency was initially sent home, which prompted a mad dash to learn how to hold Zoom meetings, how to securely set up working from home, getting laptops and printers to workers, and all of the other craziness associated with a rush to work from home. The first day we were sent home, I spent the day learning Zoom, checking emails and answers phone calls and texts. That was a Friday. On the following Monday, I was back in the office. No one else was there, so I could do a lot work without interruption. It was determined that our work as a domestic violence agency was essential. At the time, that was a major relief for this single mom of three girls. I remember feeling panicked about the possibility of needing to go on government aid or unemployment. So, it was a total relief to me to find out we were essential. I worked hard during that time to. It took more effort and energy to help others work from home. I was glad that I could work from my work office, but it still required a lot of extra work. After things settled a bit, I would hear about how much more people on unemployment received. It was frustrating to hear about honestly. But, at the time, this meme was exactly how I felt. I felt a lot of pride to be considered essential even if it meant more work (for less pay).
• 2021-10-09

  Summer Camp 2020

  Last summer, I was employed by the Boys Scouts to work at one of the boy scout summer camps located in Georgia. To meet all health guidelines, we were required to wear masks, have weekly Covid testing, and make sure that we did not get sick on the property. Summer camp had only lasted between three and four weeks before we had to close, and send everyone home early.
• 
  2021-10-06

  The Fifth Wave and it's Strain on a Small Costal Town

  The coastal town of Elma, Washington has been hit hard by Covid. The smaller-sized hospitals are overrun with Covid patients and the burden being put on healthcare infrastructure in the area is massive. People are having to wait hours for care at local hospitals and chances are if you call an ambulance, it will not be able to take you to a local hospital. The extra driving is eating up the EMS system's time and causing issues with getting care from emergency services.
• 
  2021-10-06

  Pandemic Rules Aren't Fun

  I'm a nanny to three kids. As a fun activity, I wanted to take them on an adventure to Build-a-Bear. For those unfamiliar with this store, you choose an animal that has no stuffing in it; then, you go to a big machine that has the stuffing in it, and with the help of an employee, you stuff your own animal. You can pick out clothes, accessories, a name, etc. It's very fun and something I've done multiple times as a child myself. I explained the process to the kids and they were very excited! However, upon arrival, we discovered that the kids couldn't help stuff their animal. They had to stand behind a rope while the employee does it for them. We understood this was the social distancing protocol. The kids were ok with it and had fun anyway, but I was a little disappointed because this was one of the best features. We have safety protocols for a reason and I comply with all of them. It's just frustrating when you want to have fun to get your mind off work or problems in the world that the pandemic reminds you it's there at every turn.
• 2021-10-06

  The Desperate Cling

  When the pandemic hit the small town I resided in March of 2019, the aftershock evoked a hopelessness that was unexpected. Growing up learning “stop, drop, and roll,” I presumed catching on fire was going to be much more problematic than pathetic trauma that has consumed my generation. In seventh grade, my school spent the day watching planes hit the towers on 9/11. Then that night watching the strength of my single mother dwindle while recording the news on VHS tapes. I believed my resilience created from the past had prepared me to get through this pandemic. I was much less resilient than I had anticipated. I worked as a barista in a grocery store and had seen the hatefulness and treatment this once friendly town provided. Before moving to this small town I would visit in the summer and found it difficult to understand how perfect strangers could treat each other like lifelong neighbors. The cloud that had fallen upon this town was shocking. 6am when the grocery doors opened I would watch what seemed to be half the town race with carts, baskets and bags to the designated “hot spots.” (Toilet paper, rice, beans, and bread) I watched as my co-workers were interrogated by their neighbors over product. My coffee kiosk was quiet compared to what it had been and that gave me time to observe the change in demeanor from my co-workers as well. The emotional exhaustion of their own fears along with half of the town coming in to dump their fears and baggage onto them as well; The physical exhaustion of working 60-70 days, pushing product and covering shifts. It was a mad house. It was hard to see the toll on such a warm and friendly town. Customers, co-workers, strangers would indulge dark, inappropriate and ugly opinions I had never expected, especially not in this sleepy town. I could feel the darkness and fear of other steeping into myself. It became difficult to be patient and interact with others. By the end of the day I would be so emotionally spent from pushing myself to be a courteous light for a beacon of all that sadness. I was bitter for this, finding it difficult to cling to my hope in humanity. I wasn’t anticipating this type of reaction from society when faced with such a colossal disaster like the world had reacted after 9/11. So in a way, I think I was resilient to the events but I was unprepared for the worlds reaction.
• 2021-10-04

  Restaurant Employees' Experience during COVID-19

  Restaurant Employees’ Experience during COVID-19 The norms of life pre-COVID are not the norms we are experiencing now. We all get accustomed to our ways of living, and then our lives have changed in a blink of an eye. I am a server in a restaurant and walk out each shift with cash in my hands. March 19, 2020, my life changed. I was a college student that lived day today when it came to my income, and for six weeks, I did not have an income to help with the bare necessities of living. However, I was very fortunate that my parents were the lucky ones that still had jobs, and they were able to help me until the restaurants opened back up. I have learned the importance of saving money. The experience of working in a restaurant during COVID-19 was unlike any experience I had in the past. Everyone was required to wear a mask, and the interaction with the guests was unnatural. The guests not being able to see our expressions and not hearing us clearly, I felt we lost the customer service our guests expected. It was challenging to breathe with the masks as the restaurant industry is fast-paced, and at times we would get overheated, nauseous, and did not feel well. I was always ready to go home so I could take off my mask. To-go sales now are a much more significant part of the restaurant business. The challenge with the increase in to-go orders is the design of the kitchens. They are designed to handle the projected sales based on experience, and when to-go sales became unlimited, the time to prepare meals doubled in time, and guests were unhappy. Many did not understand that the kitchen can only produce some much product per hour. It eventually got to the point that the restaurant would have to turn off their phones because the kitchen was at the maximum number of orders that they could produce. Trying to keep the guests happy was a challenge. If we took unlimited to-go orders, then the cook times were doubled. However, if we limited the number of to-go orders, the guests would also be unhappy. It will be interesting to see if the restaurant industry gets back to the norms of pre-COVID.
• 
  2021-10-04

  Show me the money

  Working in law enforcement the past few years has been tough. So tough that many are reconsidering the career and either leaving or just not applying in the first place. So many agencies, including my own are now offering hiring incentives... and each agency is trying to offer better than the others to entice people to hire on. It has turned into an incentive frenzy...
• 2021-07-12

  Working during the Covid-19 Pandemic

  I took a summer job in this pandemic working at a summer camp with young children. At first, I was skeptical because of the times we’re living in, and because kids just have poor habits that can cause the COVID-19 virus or any bacteria to spread. But then I just did it because it beats staying at home all day. There were many safety precautions and guidelines that took place to keep everyone safe and healthy. Any sick kids or staff were sent home and couldn’t come back until they were better. In addition, we had to check our temperatures every day, the staff had to fill out daily health surveys before arrival, we always had to have our masks on, disinfect each classroom after we use it, and wash our hands frequently. We went by a schedule, so there wouldn't be any confusion or unnecessary crowds. In terms of safety, the summer camp did a good job keeping everyone protected from the COVID-19 virus or any other sickness. Overall, the experience was different than the regular summer camp because we couldn’t do as much. But we made the best of it for both the staff and children.
• 
  2021-09-17

  The Census in Lockdown

  The Australian Census looked little different this year. Census employees in states and cities in lockdown had to conduct contactless follow up visits and were issued with ABS branded masks for the purpose.
• 
  2021-09-27

  COVID-19, College and a Pandemic Puppy

  I was attending Estrella Mountain Community College at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. When we found out that we were going to have an extended spring break it seemed like a much-needed break at the time. Nobody knew it would change our lives forever and it especially changed mine. During the beginning of the pandemic, I completed my Associate Degree completely online and it would convince me to continue my bachelor’s degree completely online through ASU. I was able to experience this new way of learning in college and I really liked it. A lot of my peers in college have said how much they dislike online learning, but during the pandemic I learned how much I prefer online learning to in person learning. This pandemic has been one of the worst experiences I have had in my life, but it also taught me so much about myself. Another milestone during the pandemic was my family got a new puppy named Loki. She was really the highlight of our days during quarantine and gave us something to look forward to everyday. I work at an elementary school in the after-school care program, so at the beginning of the pandemic I was able to stay home and still be paid. When August 2020 came around, we had to go back to work, and it was terrifying at first. All the adults and kids were wearing masks, so it felt a little safer, but it was still very scary. The feeling of so many unknown things during this pandemic was really the worst and it just brought anxiety with every day. This pandemic also highlighted some issues that we have within our society. Things like access to covid tests and vaccines were highlighted within our society as issues. People living in less wealthy areas of the world did not have the same access to covid tests and vaccines as everyone else in the rest of the world did. This allowed the virus to spread even more than it should have already. Another big issue in our society during the pandemic was the mask debate. The virus continued to spread due to people refusing to wear masks and infecting people when they were not wearing masks. The mask debate is still ongoing because the pandemic is still not over. A huge issue we have in our society right now is the argument about whether vaccines are safe and if masks are effective. The only way we are going to end this pandemic is if everyone gets the vaccine and people continue to wear masks. This pandemic has been ongoing for almost a year and a half, it is time that we try as a society to end this pandemic.
• 2021-04

  Teleworking: Good and Bad

  I started a job earlier this year that is entirely remote. Before COVID-19, I would never have considered a remote job/ the possibility of teleworking simply because I thought it was something that wouldn't be possible in the field of History. Obviously this all changed when things shut down in 2020- and in some ways, the work realm changed for the better. I was able to secure a remote job relevant to my field for good pay, something that would not have been possible before the pandemic. On the other hand, working entirely remote makes it much harder to connect with coworkers and get out of the house.
• 
  2020-05-30

  The Dashathon

  When the pandemic quarantine was initially imposed, I found myself with lots of free time on my hands. After weeks of low motivation and extreme boredom, I decided to sign up as a food delivery driver for Doordash, a job that was in high demand at the time. By this point in quarantine, all restaurants were closed for indoor dining, but many were still offering carryout and delivery services, largely through food delivery apps such as Doordash. Some of my friends and I started driving Doordash as frequently as 5-6 nights a week. We strategically prioritized the 4 to 8 PM time-slot in order to cover the majority of the dinner shift. Although it was quite mindless work, it was one of the few things that I had to look forward to as a daily break from the monotonous isolation of quarantine. Orders were frequent and because of the high demand for delivery drivers and very light traffic, tips were generous and reflective of the community’s appreciation for service provided by “frontline workers” like ourselves. After about a month of driving, my friends and I decided to put together a fundraiser called “Dashathon” to support some of our favorite local restaurants and small businesses that were struggling during the pandemic. Because many smaller restaurants did not have the financial resources to operate at a loss during periods of the pandemic, many were forced to shut their doors. Our idea was to reach out to all of our family and friends and designate one night where all of our income and tips from Doordash would be donated to these struggling restaurants and other local charities in need. With lots of outreach, we secured underwriting from 10 different sponsors as well as a dollar-for-dollar match pledge from Doordash itself. Our Dashathon was even highlighted in a television news segment broadcast on the local Denver NBC-affiliate newscast (linked above). We were successful in recruiting over 40 drivers to participate in our event. Through a competition-style format that rewarded the highest earners with gift cards from our sponsors, we were able to raise $15,000 dollars in just four hours. The proceeds were distributed in their entirety to designated local restaurants and charities.
• 
  2021-09-14

  The Start to the School Year is Unlike Any Other

  I wrote an opinion piece for Idaho Education News last week after the latest school board meeting in Nampa, Idaho. Since March of 2020 educators have worked tirelessly to ensure that our students continue to receive a quality education. Initially, educators were seen as 'heroes' of the pandemic. However, over the last 9 months, the rhetoric surrounding schools and teachers has turned nasty. Yet, teachers continue to show up every single day and offer learning experiences to all children. At last week's board meeting, the discussion focused primarily on a mask mandate for our district as hospitals in our state began rationing care given the soaring number of Covid-19 cases. There was an even split between the trustees who were in favor of masking and the trustees who were against masking. This split did not come as a shock to me. However, the line of one trustee hit me in my gut, "I guess I go back to the mission statement. I'm here for the kids, so I'm not going to worry about the adults." The mission and vision statement the trustee is referencing states that teachers offer "exceptional learning experiences" for every child. Given the largely unvaccinated population of our community, the high numbers of teachers out sick, and the alarming number of students out sick as mask mandate seemed like a simple request. However, the board did not vote in favor of helping teachers ensure we are able to provide 'exceptional learning experiences.' Are masks the only answer? Not necessarily. Last year, students attended school 4 days per week while the 5th day was reserved for students to connect with students who were in quarantine/sick and unable to attend school. This year, all of those requirements are gone. That being said, students and teachers attend school 5 days per week and there is no time allotted for teachers to connect with students who are quarantined or sick. Given the latest numbers, about 25% of our entire district is out sick. That is 25% of students who do not have access to their teachers. The article was published on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, and Idaho Ed News shared it on their Facebook page as well. Shortly after 7 pm MST the post has over 160 comments (mostly in favor of teachers), 250 reactions, and over 50 shares. In addition, I have received numerous private messages and emails from other teachers who thank me for giving them a voice during this 'unprecedented' time. While I am still a fairly new teacher with only 3 years of experience, there are veteran teachers who are being pushed to the brink. Many would like to think this is an Idaho problem but the reality is that teachers across the country are feeling unsupported and unappreciated by the communities they serve. I am fearful this will be my last year teaching - I LOVE my job. I remain hopeful that this year turns out to be something amazing.
• 
  2020-10-06

  "Staffing concerns predated coronavirus outbreak at Holyoke Soldiers' Home

  This MassLive article reports on a pre-existing staffing shortage at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, that influenced the gravity of the COVID-19 outbreak in the facility.
• 
  2021-11-24

  Walking at Bear Hole with Dad

  I took this photograph with my dad when we went for a walk one day at Bear Hole, the reservoir in my town. Since the pandemic started, my dad and I would go for walks with each other, exploring new places and talking about life. My dad had recently gotten laid off, and I had made the decision in early October to study remotely instead of on campus, so we both had some extra time on our hands. We had our set of usual places that we would go to walk, but the pandemic allowed us to venture to some new spots. Even though we knew Bear Hole was so close by, neither one of us had gone to explore it much. We would plan our walks around my class and work schedule, being sure that we made time for each other a few times a week. Although making the decision to study remotely was a difficult decision because I was a senior and would be away from my friends and professors, I got to spend time with my dad in a way that we were never able to before.
• 
  2020-04-02

  Banner Redeploys Corporate Employees To Help Frontline Colleagues

  A blog post from Banner Health about corporate workers going back to a nursing role.
• 
  2020-03-20

  Working from Home: Tips for Staying Productive

  A blog postfrom the Banner Health Blog about working from home during the pandemic.
• 
  2020-03-17

  Banner Health to hold virtual hiring event

  A press release from Banner Health announcing a virtual hiring event, especially looking for medical assistants and positions in patient financial services.
• 
  2020-03-18

  Banner Health will not provide COVID-19 'back-to-work' clearances

  A press release from Banner Health announcing that employers should not advise employees to use emergency rooms for back-to-work clearance
• 
  2020-03-25

  Banner Health employees volunteer to make masks for frontline staff

  Handmade masks aim to preserve supply of personal protective equipment
• 
  2020-04-01

  Greeley brewers, distilleries now make hand sanitizer

  A press release from Banner Helath describing efforts and how it benefits Banner Health hospitals, keeps employees on the job
• 
  2020-04-21

  Former Banner employees return as front-line staff

  A press release describing how several former Banner Health employees are returning to work to help the medical team throughout Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last month alone, more than 18 employees have rejoined various teams across Banner’s statewide facilities.
• 
  2020-08-26

  Survey Finds Dog Owners Are Exercising More, Enjoying Working From Home During the Pandemic

  According to Gallant’s survey, more than 68% of pet parents have spent more time with their pets than with people during the pandemic. An even higher number — 83% of pet parents — said they would continue to work from home after the pandemic. Finding a "fur"ever friend has been an unexpected silver lining during this challenging time. Gallant’s survey found that of the people who adopted since the pandemic began, more than 79% originally didn’t plan to adopt. More time at home means more walks around the neighborhood, too. About 40% of dog owners reported that they are getting more than 5,000 steps in every day compared to 21% of non-dog owners. "It’s not only safe to keep pets in the home, but also beneficial, as they can serve as a source of comfort during a crisis," Julie Castle, the CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, told PEOPLE back in March. "The companionship of pets has been shown to reduce stress and lower anxiety, helping people to feel calmer and more secure when the news from the outside world is distressing."
• 
  2021-05-26

  Boucke Campsite Debris

  This is a photograph of the Boucke campsite at Camp Wolfeboro in 2021, before camp had opened to any Scouts. There is a variety of natural debris on the ground, including pine needles, pine cones, and branches. This debris had to all be cleared off of the ground before camp started because this is a campsite used by Scouts and Scouters. The week of May 26 was "Chainsaw week #2", where volunteers went to camp and helped prepare camp to be ready for Scouts to arrive. The photo was taken during the week of May 26, 2021, and was submitted to the Camp Wolfeboro Shutterfly site by Chris Chapman, who is on the properties subcommittee for the Golden Gate Area Council, which owns Camp Wolfeboro.
• 2021-08-04

  The Rona

  When the school made us go virtual I knew a rough road was ahead and when it arrived it was a rapid rollercoaster of emotions. To start this roller coaster was the loneliness and intense boredom of virtual work with an escalating sense of excitement like the start of the proverbial rollercoaster. At the height of the rollercoaster, we started hybrid school, and the constant back and forth between people and home created a sense of longing for the way things used to be. When I eventually escaped the cycle there was a sense of finally escaping and being free to do as you want within your property. Some loneliness penetrated my days and this was broken when I could go out and find and speak to people which brought a geiser of happiness and eagerness to find and talk to others.
• 
  2020-12-07

  Back to School

  This year has been hard for a lot of people. Like many others during quarantine, I decided the jobs that I had were not right for me. Almost by chance, a friend of my wife's told her about this program for a Graduate Certificate in Archival Studies at LSUOnline. It was designed for people who already had a master's degree, but were looking to get into the archival field or further their specialization. It seemed like a good fit for me. I have an MA in history and experience working in archives, so with everything shut down it seemed like the right time to do it. It has been tough, but I'm nearing the end of the program. One of the hardest parts for me has been that I have not been able to be as excited as I normally would be about this. I am experiencing a great deal of burnout with work, the program, and various COVID related things, but overall, I have been fortunate through this whole pandemic, and me finishing this program is proof of it. But so many people close to me are front line workers who are mentally struggling to get by from day to day. It is hard for me to post updates on my COVID success story on my social media, when my closest friends are burnt out and were not in as fortunate a position as I have been. For me, it has been hard to celebrate my triumphs when I see some of my closest friends reaching their breaking points and feel completely helpless.
• 
  2021-07-26

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 122

  U.N. asked to critique America
• 
  2018

  Work from home, with some help of course

  Have work to do? Not on Romeo's watch!! While we have been working and learning from home, Romeo loves to sit on our laps in front of the computer and help us with our work. The video shows what he does nearly every time someone in the house is typing on a keyboard.
• 
  2021-02-01

  Why is Arizona worst for COVID-19 nationwide? Here are 7 contributing reasons

  This article discusses why Arizona's Covid rate was the highest in the country as of February 1, 2021. Contributing factors included a lack of mask-wearing and cross-border traffic.
• 
  07/22/21

  COVID-19 specimen collection site

  Banner Health team members collect samples from patients to test for COVID-19. More information available at http://bannerhealth.mediaroom.com/COVID-19info.
• 
  07/22/2021

  Handmade surgical masks

  Members of Banner Health's Innovation Team convert sterilization wrap into surgical masks in an effort to conserve supplies. More: http://bannerhealth.mediaroom.com/masks
• 
  03/29/2020

  Arizona nurses support Colorado colleagues

  Ten nurses from Banner Health’s Arizona hospitals are heading to northern Colorado to assist their colleagues at the Banner-owned hospital in Greeley, North Colorado Medical Center.
• 
  04/02/2020

  3D printed face shields

  The 3D printing community is coming together to ensure Banner Health employees have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need. Manufacturing is taking place across the Banner Health service area.
• 
  07/22/2021

  Banner ECMO entrevista español

  Entrevista con Melody Nungaray-Ortiz en Español. Nungaray-Ortiz es una miembra del equipo de ECMO en Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.
• 
  07/22/2021

  Banner ECMO team Interviews

  Interviews with members of the ECMO team at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix describe efforts underway to treat patients with severe symptoms associated with COVID-19.
• 
  07/22/2021

  COVID-19 health care workers in unit

  Nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians and others throughout Banner Health work around the clock to care for patients with COVID-19. B-Roll available for download, editing and broadcast.
• 
  07/22/2021

  Banner ECMO team B-Roll

  Members of the ECMO team at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix show how they use special equipment to stabilize and treat patients who are unable to maintain blood oxygen levels.
• 
  07/22/2021

  Banner Health COVID-19 fairgrounds test site

  Banner Health team members administer COVID-19 tests at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. B-Roll is available for download, editing and broadcast. More info: http://bannerhealth.mediaroom.com/COVID-19info
• 
  07/22/2021

  COVID-19 interview with physician

  Pritesh Patel, MD, speaks about what it was like to provide ongoing care for COVID-19 patients and families at Banner Estrella Medical Center in west Phoenix.
• 
  07/22/2021

  COVID-19 RN talks about caring for patients

  Sarah Asel, RN, talks about what it is like to care for COVID-19 patients and the joy she experiences as one returns to thank her and colleagues for their care.
• 
  12/08/2020

  COVID-19 Dec. 9, 2020 press conference

  Marjorie Bessel, MD, chief clinical officer of Banner Health, talks about the pandemic, increasing numbers of hospitalizations and what to expect in coming weeks
• 
  01/12/2021

  COVID-19 Jan. 13, 2021 press conference

  Marjorie Bessel, MD and other metro Phoenix health leaders discuss how their health systems are handling the challenges of Arizona's record number of cases.
• 
  2021-07-13

  Essential AF

  Most people think of essential workers as public servants, mainly hospital staff but this picture shows that there were some unexpected jobs that were at one point labeled essential. This photo got some unexpected comments on Instagram like this one - "In that dark time, you helped people stay positive thru a pandemic man! That was the most essential work then." And this other one "But ice cream was essential during the pandemic! It was basically my only reason to live for a lil while." A lot of people found this picture funny but surprisingly many were quick to point out that it was the simple things, like mascots and ice cream, that kept us all smiling.
• 
  2020-07-17

  Study reveals gender inequality in telecommuting

  This article discusses findings from the COVID Impact Survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. The data show gender inequality associated with working from home. The survey found that mothers working from home spend more time on housework and childcare than fathers working from home. Mothers also report increased levels of anxiety, loneliness, and depression.
• 
  2020-06-19

  Is Working Remote A Blessing Or Burden? Weighing The Pros And Cons

  This article discusses the pros and cons of changes to productivity caused by the shift to teleworking during the pandemic in countries around the globe. Major themes are mental health and work-life balance.