Items

• 
  2020-07-05

  Wear a Mask

  Screenshot of a wear a mask shirt from the CSI Public History Coronavirus Chronicle Facebook page
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  2020-07-05

  Painted rocks on Iron Horse Regional Trail

  These are a series of photos I took on July 5, 2020, of a set of painted rocks I found on the Iron Horse Trail in Danville. The rocks say: "BE KIND" "STRONGER TOGETHER" "DANVILLE GOT HEART" "WHEN THERE'S NO PEACE ON EARTH THERE IS PEACE IN CHRIST" "SRV '20" (in reference to nearby San Ramon Valley High School) "SMILE! 🙂" "EMBRACE THE PAUSE!" "count your BLESSINGS" "Learn from Yesterday" "LOVE has many COLORS" (with a painted Pride flag in the background) "TOGETHER we will PERSEVERE" The rocks are all positive in tone, with a rock celebrating the recently-graduated seniors at the local high school, a rock advocating for queer people, a variety of rocks with generic inspirational messages, and a message urging others to find solace in religion. There is also one rock that references Danville's community explicitly.
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  2020-07-05

  The Life-Giving Locale

  This is the Moonee Ponds Drain. Concrete behemouth. Primary function: transport storm water to the Bay via the Maribyrnong River. Secondary functions (that came to light under lockdown): bike path, rollerblading circuit, mushroom foraging field, freeway viewing platform, late night extension of the lounge room during household parties, study break spot, skate park, graffiti canvas, shortcut to nearby suburbs, and shopping cart disposal pit. This place truly brings the community together. HIST 30060
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  2020-07-05

  'All ears'

  HIST30060 This illustration represents the importance of reaching out to people in times of need. I chose this because it was sent to me by my sister as I suffer from severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and during COVID my mental health measurably deteriorated.
• 2020-07-05

  Covid and my First Child

  My daughter was born in July and became ill with fluid in her lungs (not covid) during her first days. She was moved to the NICU for treatment and after my wife was discharge the "Covid Rules" went into effect. These rules only allowed for one parent to visit per day. During this time it was tough being new parents and not being able to be there with each other. As my daughter's health improved nursing became important. With the rules in effect that meant that in order to nurse daily, only my wife would be able to see our daughter. So for the final week I was not able to hold my daughter or see her, except through a webcam link that was provided to us. This was important to me because although her sickness was not Covid related, it still had a profound impact on our life. Ill never get those days back. To be clear we understand the necessity of precautions and having my daughter home now is very special to me, something I won't forget is the feeling of being worried about my daughter and stress of not being able to see her.
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  2020-07-05

  Broadway and a Sense of Smell

  This story discusses the importance of the little known symptom of "anosmia" in screening for COVID-19, and specifically how this theater loving clinician came to realize that this was not a symptom to be overlooked.
• 2020-07-05

  The Silent Sufferers

  I am the product of a small town in Western Pennsylvania. I grew up, got some very lucky opportunities, and was able to go on to do things I never thought possible. I have no formal education beyond high school, and have spent most of my life from 12 years old on teaching myself what I needed to know to keep moving forward. I live in the Pittsburgh suburbs now and work as an IT professional. I went back to my father's recently to help him out with some IT work at his shop. He's been in business for 20+ years now and we fall on fairly opposite ends of the political spectrum. I've seen him go through difficult periods before, but walking on to his shop floor and seeing the absolute desolation that covid-19 has left in its wake, was so overwhelming I was crying when we left. He and I have talked about covid and the Trump administration at various points in the past several years. Sometimes calmly, sometimes less than so. All I could say as someone who is very much pro "Stay at home, wear your mask, stop fucking bitching." was "I'm sorry this is happening, and anyone on either side of the aisle politicizing this horrible thing for their own gain, should have to walk through there and see the effect it has." His response was a simple “Thank you.” and we moved on to other topics. My job allows me to be remote 99.9% of the time, and on-site time is batched to make the most of it. My paycheck has not been affected at all through this, nor my benefits, and until the recently announced ICE changes, I had no concerns that it might be affected. I am extremely fortunate in the face of a world being flipped upside down. Governor Wolf was perhaps more heavy handed in his approach in some rural areas compared to more urban ones, and that will have a lasting impact. With my very limited sample set of 1, my father has 70 - 90 employees in a building the size of a couple airplane hangers. They made a difficult decision to close for several weeks. He was heartbroken, but agreed for the safety of his employees. Once we entered our green phase, they were able to re-open, but the impact that time had on their business was unimaginable. This time last year, his shop had nearly $750,000 dollars in product in production, ready to go to their customers. This past weekend it was only $82,000. My father is confident his company will survive this storm as they have many others. The renewal of the Payroll Protection Program will offer some relief, however if business doesn’t increase, or the program isn’t renewed again before covid-19 is acknowledged as a very serious problem, or a vaccine is found, layoffs are inevitable. I can't imagine how he sleeps at night when I'm having difficulty doing so myself. He knows that it’s not only his employees being impacted, but their entire family. Part of his being in business for himself was my need for better insurance because of my medical issues as a child. He and his partners have always provided as much of the cost of health insurance as possible as a result. Last I knew, they were still covering 90% of all costs for every employee and their families with minimal contribution from the employee. After hearing how angry my brothers and Dad were about the quarantine, then seeing the devastating impact covid has had on them, I understand now why they were so angry. If the Federal Government had been more willing to admit something was happening, make an appropriate plan, work with state governments to put appropriate restrictions in place, and provided resources to help make that happen, he might not be in this spot. However, if Wolf hadn't done what was done, how much more of an impact would this have had on Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and their surrounding communities? There's no "one size fits all" solution here. Each situation is different, but without support and resources, how do you make those decisions effectively?
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  2020-07-05

  Where to Vacation

  Social Distancing has been the name of the game since day one; even as doctors and health professionals have struggled to understand the virus, staying six feet apart has always been a recommendation. As the President has flouted the rules of the CDC, Department of Health, and others people have grown angrier and have began to place a greater amount of blame on him. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #ThisYearMySummerVacation. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it describes the anger that people feel towards the President over his handling of the coronavirus
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  2020-07-05

  Staycation

  After over 100 days since the initial quarantine orders were created in the US, myself and others are going a bit stir crazy having been stuck inside. Summer, which is usually a time for vacation and travel, seems to have transformed into a staycation at home. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #thisyearmysummervacation. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it showcases some of the humour that individuals are using to make light of the quarantine situation.
• 
  2020-07-05

  Summer Vacation Plans

  The coronavirus did not magically disappear by the Spring, and it doesn't look like the Summer heat is gong to make it go away any faster. In the tweet, we can say that for many people a summer vacation isn't going to be possible. Doctors and medical professionals are but some of the few people that are gong to be working hard through the summer to ensure that we are at least prepared come the Fall. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #thisyearmysummervacation. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it speaks towards a changed summer atmosphere for everyone bit especially medical professionals who are not going to be able to get a break.
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  2020-07-05

  "...come all the way back around to the plague doctor posey mask"

  A tweet by author Anne Thériault featuring a screenshot of a Facebook post extolling the benefits of putting herbs in the pocket many masks have in order to make the experience of wearing a mask more pleasant. The intended purpose of these pockets is as place to put an added filter to cloth masks should you need to enter a high risk area such as a hospital. The tweet itself points out how this is essentially identical to the practice of placing dried herbs and flowers (posies) in plague doctors masks during Bubonic Plague outbreaks- in that case to keep the scents which were thought to spread the disease at bay.
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  2020-07-05

  How a Toronto quarantine trend became a London area farm sanctuary's headache

  "The program took off like a rocket in April, when the coronavirus crisis reached full swing. Suddenly, adopting ducklings became something of a craze in Toronto, where thousands of families discovered a welcome distraction from the daunting headlines and cooped up days at home because of the pandemic. However, some families who signed up apparently didn't understand what they were getting into. Some seemed to be unaware the pair of ducklings they paid $150 to foster at home would eventually have to be returned to the farm from whence they came in order to be sold..." "A London area farm sanctuary says it's been forced to clean up after a foster baby duck program when some of the participating families from Toronto couldn't stomach the fact the ducklings they paid to raise might end up on a dinner plate."
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  2020-07-05

  Florida surges to top global hotspot

  Florida cases have been surging, and have just passed 200,00. The trajectory of the state is currently on track to be the worst of all US states. Canada, with over 10 million more people, has around half the cases. The state remains mostly open. It seems that a handful of US states have taken over the headlines for worst hotspots. Florida leads these states as the worst of the worst in terms of new cases surging. When comparing Florida to countries with similar or even notably larger populations, the difference is striking. I included this tweet to highlight the reopening vs continued lockdown approaches of Florida and Canada.
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  2020-07-05

  1/3 of UK report enjoying lockdown, 40% report weight gain

  UK social study reports that around one third of people in the country have reported enjoying lockdown. The same study reports that around 40% of adults have reported gaining weight over lockdown. These are some notable social side effects of lockdown. I found this report both amusing and informative, and a good item to include in the archive. With most peoples lives getting more sedentary during lockdown, weight gain is not surprising to see. Adding into this would be general increases in stress also contributing. What i found most interesting is the 1/3 of people enjoying lockdown. Seeing that made me wonder what behaviors and patterns will persist even past covid, such as things like working from home.
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  2020-07-05

  As summer break wains, will schools open?

  As summer break wains and the beginning of the school year approaches, one of the biggest questions is whether schools will reopen. All schools from elementary to graduate schools are deciding on whether to bring back students for in person classes. In the US, cases continue to peal, raising doubts about the safety of in person classes. This topic stood out to me as I am one of the many students awaiting to see what will happen with law schools in the fall. I am waiting to see which schools if any will have in person classes, and basing my plans around that. For the millions of of families with school aged children, this is perhaps the biggest question up in the air. Children and students being at home will have a multitude of effects in many different areas, including parents jobs and price of education and so on. Many people felt confident early in summer that classes would resume, but now doubts are beginning to set in as cases surge.
• 
  2020-07-05

  Phoenix Mayor declares crisis as federal government fails to assist

  Phoenix Mayor Gallego highlights the city in crisis as corona cases surge. Gallego also notes that her requests for federal assistance have largely been ignored. The Mayor talks about overwhelmed health centers in the state and the lack of tests available. Arizona continues to be a global hotspot for the virus for the past few weeks. As a hometown Phoenician, it saddens me to see my sates role in the pandemic story. Just this week Arizona went back into partial lockdown as ICU's filled up. I want to keep adding Arizona stories to the archive in order to document the poor response here from both the government and public. The state traded in a few weeks of being fully reopened for potentially months of re-lockdown.
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  2020-07-05

  Spain puts region into lockdown again as cases numbers rise

  Spain has decided to put a region in Catalonia back into lockdown as case numbers rise. This area of Spain has a population of over 200,00 people. The decision comes as 60 new cases are recorded in a 24 hour span. This news comes as Spain begins to have a slight uptick in new cases. I entered this tweet into the archive for a few different reasons. The main reason was to highlight the drastic measures some nations are taking in order to fully defeat the virus. It only took 60 new cases in a day for an entire region in Spain to be re-locked down. On the other hand, thousands of new daily cases have yet to be enough for some states to full re-lockdown in the US. Spain has also seen a drastic reduction in daily new cases from their peak a few months ago, and actions like this may point to why they have been successful.
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  2020-07-05

  New York vs. California on Coronavirus

  New York was one of the original epicenters of the coronavirus back in the beginning of the Spring. As they have managed to get their cases under control, a similarly large state in California has had an explosion in cases. There have been a variety of discussions about how this happened, as people have debated testing, masks, and the idea of herd immunity. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #california. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it provides a comparison of two heavily populated states attempts at handling the pandemic.
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  2020-07-05

  Church Orders in California to Slow Coronavirus

  California is currently experiencing a surge in cases, and the state government has taken certain precautions to provide a safe environment as it tries to open up. This has been specifically targeted at areas where people are gathering in large groups and where social distancing can prove somewhat difficult. Both users seem to be questioning the targeting of churches while people are able to still gather to protest. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #california. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it describes the current separation that is present on the mask divide across the political spectrum.
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  2020-07-05

  Coronavirus Updates from Mexico

  Central and South America is on track to become one of the next global hotspots for the coronavirus. In the original tweet, a user is trying to disseminate public health information. As Mexico starts to impose stricter quarantine and public health restrictions, it seems as though everyone is trying to get the word out on what needs to be done. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #california. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it describes a governmental update that is taking place in Mexico.
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  2020-07-05

  Coronavirus is Airborne

  The coronavirus emphasis in the beginning was always on washing our hands and the time period that it could remain active on various surfaces. As it has changed and developed, scientists and doctors have struggled to understand its nature while the public has been somewhat resistant to trusting the advice of professionals. Dr. Ding is highlighting the importance of everyone being on the same page and keeping the info as current as is possible. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #airborne. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it showcases the concerns of doctors that are struggling to understand the ever-changing nature of the coronavirus. It also shows the struggles between medical professionals and the WHO Link to the NYT article (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/04/health/239-experts-with-1-big-claim-the-coronavirus-is-airborne.html)
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  2020-07-05

  Reverse Culture Shock and Relaxing Restrictions

  HUM402 This article discusses reverse culture shock and the likelihood that many Australians will experience this as restrictions are gradually relaxed. I feel this article will resonate with many people worldwide, and also clearly highlights the turbulence of emotions felt during this period of COVID-19.