Items

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  2020-08-11

  The St. Mary's Wind Ensemble and Online Rehearsal

  This is a series of emails between the music department head and St. Mary’s residence life discussing a way for band members living on campus to practice their instruments without disturbing other residents. These emails are significant as it demonstrates the lengths the music department was working to find ways for band members to continue regularly practicing their instrument even in the midst of COVID.
• 
  2021-01-19

  Incoming CDC Director to Prioritize Communication, COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

  As Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, prepares to assume the role of CDC director on January 20, the former professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham Women’s Hospital faces a myriad of challenges wrought by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. January 21st marks the 1-year mark since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the United States, while current data indicate the country has surpassed 400,000 deaths. In comparison, the 1918 flu pandemic took 675,000 American lives, while the US reported a total of 405,000 fatalities during World War II. Even at the unprecedented speed with which pharmaceutical companies have developed vaccines for COVID-19, rollout has been fragmented at the state level while racial disparities in administration rates are beginning to become apparent. In an effort to improve the national rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, Walensky plans to increase the CDC’s communication to combat any hesitancy in receiving the vaccine, and indicated she wanted to increase media appearances above those made by current director Robert Redfield, MD, who departs with any remaining Trump administration officials Wednesday. She said making sure science-based communication is effectively disseminated to the public in layman’s terms is a top priority. “Science is now conveyed through Twitter. Science is conveyed on social media, on podcasts, and in many different ways. And I think that's critical,” Walensky said during a livestreamed interview with JAMA's Howard Bauchner, MD, the journal's editor-in-chief. When confronting vaccine hesitancy or anti-vaxxer sentiment on social media, “There's just this massive void and the right information, I think, is not getting out there… I want to make sure that the science is conveyed. We have to say it to one another. We have to say it to the public. And then we have to say it in other forms.” Internally, Walensky hopes to bolster the voices of scientists already employed by the CDC. Under the Trump presidency, “they have been diminished. I think they've been muzzled,” Walensky said. “This top tier agency—world renowned—hasn't really been appreciated over the last 4 years, and really markedly over the last year. So I have to fix that.” Although some states have been widely successful in administering the allotment of COVID-19 vaccines they were given, many have reported roadblocks. Part of the Biden administration’s plan to enhance rollout is to expand vaccine allocation to 4 key locations: federally qualified health centers, community vaccination centers (ie, stadiums), mobile units, and pharmacies. “Part of the challenge with COVID-19 was that we had a frail public health infrastructure to start. It wasn't ready to tackle what it was given,” Walensky said. As director, she hopes to bring this reality to Congress’ attention. “We're in this because we had warnings for many, many other public health scares in the last 20 years and we didn't fix our public health infrastructure and our data infrastructure,” in response to those tests. In order to meet President-elect Biden’s goal of 100 million vaccinations in 100 days, the constraints currently faced by federal and state governments need to be mitigated. “We have to titrate our supply and our eligibility so that we somehow hit the sweet spot, wherever it is we are, with how much supply we have and how many people are eligible,” Walensky said. While the CDC set the initial guidelines for vaccine eligibility and revised them this month, the Trump administration left actual rules and distribution processes to states, resulting in wide variation across the country. Some states adopted stricter standards that led to the waste of vaccines, while loose adherence has led to long lines and confused residents. Expanding the population of those eligible to administer the vaccine can also help alleviate these roadblocks. These individuals can include retirees, the Public Health Commissioned Corps, medical military, upper level medical and nursing students, dentists and veterinarians. Increasing both the number of vaccination sites and vaccinators will also help address the equity problems brought to light by the pandemic. “We want to make sure that we can deliver volume, but also volume to the people in places that might be harder to reach.” In a collaborative approach, the federal government will step in at a state-by-state level and offer help based on each state’s unique challenges, Walensky said.
• 
  2021-01-19

  Australian State Border Closures: Permit System

  Pictured here is my Victorian border entry permit, issued in January 2021. At this time, due to Australian state and territory border closures, all people entering the state of Victoria were required to hold a government-issued border entry permit. To be eligible for this permit, one had to have spent the previous fourteen days in a so-called ‘green zone’, that is, an area deemed by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to be of low COVID risk. Embodied then within this permit is the impact of COVID-19 on the daily lives of Australians. While once able to freely travel, government permission was now required for movement across state and territory borders. These restrictions placed immense financial and emotional strain on many Australians throughout 2020 and 2021, including myself. Note: For privacy reasons, personal information has been redacted from this document HIST30060
• 
  2021-01-19

  Meme about the Pandemic in Austria

  I saw this meme in January 2021. It was created by an Austrian online news platform called "k.at" and was posted on their Instagram channel. The first picture on the left shows a hamster who is hoarding (or rather "hamstering") toilet paper. This showcases a phenomenon which occurred in Austria as well as in Germany: some people bought as much toilet paper as they could in the beginning of the pandemic out of fear of a lockdown (also other things as e.g. noodles, rice etc.). The result was that most people couldn't buy any toilet paper because it was sold out at most places and the manufacturers of toilet paper couldn't keep up with the production. It was kind of absurd. The second picture on the right also shows a hamster who seems to have a great time skiing. This should represent the third Austrian lockdown. At this time (around January 2021) many Austrian tourists went skiing even though the numbers of Corona cases were rising. It was quite a controversy at the time because a lot of other activities (like social gatherings) were regulated by the state for health precautions, but the skiing resorts weren't affected (and the Corona cases were also rising in these places). A little sidenote: The Coronavirus allegedly came to Germany in 2020 because of German tourists who came back from said Austrian ski travels...
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  2021-01-19

  Essential Business Continuity Stipend – November 3, 2020 Election

  This is a letter I got in the mail from the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder-Registrar, that was sent to anyone in the county who worked at the polls on "the four days prior to or on Election Day". The letter accompanied a $100 stipend that the county was able to provide to election workers for the November general election because they received a grant from The Center for Tech and Civic Life. The following is an excerpt from the letter that mentions the challenges COVID provided to election working: "I want to personally thank you for being a key part of our Election team and for helping to keep voting safe, secure, and convenient under the uncertain conditions of a global pandemic. Your service as an Election Worker ensured that every voter who showed up to the polls was helped with ease and accuracy and that our ballots were processed securely and accurately. The November 3, 2020 election included many new challenges and obstacles that we had never faced. We overcame them together and had a very successful Presidential Election. You did a great ["great" is bolded and underlined] job – from learning our new electronic poll books, to taking the necessary precautions with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and social distancing."
• 
  2021-01-19

  Tȟokáta Hé Miyé (My Name Is Future)

  A film by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Earthjustice Written and Directed by Josué Rivas Narrated by Grace DeRockbrain Cinematography by: Josué Rivas, Adam Johansson. Drone2Bwild, Digital Smoke Signals, Akicita Film Edited by Dylan Sylwester Audio by Natalie Huizenga Community Outreach and Recording: Sunshine Woman Grace DeRockbrain (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) Teena Pugliese and AnnaLee Yellow Hammer Translation: Doug Goodfeather Co-Producers: Rebecca Bowe and Chris Jordan-Bloch for Earthjustice
• 
  2021-01-19

  How does the pandemic affect children?

  This link provided explains how the pandemic is affecting the development of children.
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  2021-01-19

  A Covid Litany

  I am studying to become an ordained Deacon in the Episcopal Church. I wrote this litany and shared it with friends and the congregation of my church. We prayed this prayer together as a church weekly for many months.
• 
  2021-01-19

  The Happy Little Chef

  The media focuses a lot on the losses children are facing during the pandemic. And while I certainly would prefer that the virus was contained and my son would be able to attend school in person, take piano lessons with his piano teacher beside him instead of on a Facetime call, and play with a friend outside of his older sister, my six year old son is genuinely enjoying quarantine. I realize this is a privilege - we have a backyard, space, two working adults who can afford food and technology, and a live-in grandma who can help with any distance learning issues. But my son seems to be thriving in this much simpler and quieter life. We always did a lot together as a family, but we did not spend a lot of time actually at home. Now that we’ve been home together for over ten months, we have settled into this new life that involves my son helping my husband make dinner every night. And he LOVES it. It’s not as though he had never cooked before, but to be able to do it every night, side by side with his dad is an experience he did not have in our pre-quarantine life that was much faster paced and on the go. Many nights, the little chef will bring me a menu that outlines the dinner and asks for my order. He takes such pride in telling all of us what parts of the meal he was in charge of. He assures us he is both the owner and the “cooker” of the restaurant and that his daddy is his employee. When dinner is over, he asks to take my plate, and has recently become very interested in washing all the dinner dishes himself (no complaints here). I certainly long for the day that we can go back out in the world, but I feel very blessed that my son will be able to look back at this year with happiness, even in the midst of such a dire situation.
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  2021-01-19

  HERMIT HERALD, ISSUE 93

  Inaguration eve
• 2021-01-19

  Rules and Procedures

  Out of all Covids procedures quarantine has effected me the most. In the beginning it was so crazy to me because it was just something I saw in science fiction movies but I'm pretty used to it now. I miss going out with my friends like normal. I've only seen three of my friends during this whole thing because I know we've only seen each other. I don't know how I could handle this without them. School is very different although I expected it. We have to walk certain ways, have plexiglass between us and scatter the desks. I really don't mind wearing mask, it's not only for my safety but others. I don't think it's a big deal, honestly I don't understand why some people get so pressed about having to wear one. It makes me kind of uncomfortable talking about Covid and its procedures because everyone has their own thoughts about it and it tends to be set in stone. I make sure I follow all the procedures so we can get over this, I think even thought some are hard its what has to be done.
• 2021-01-19

  "Consider some of the rules or procedures that you have to follow, and tell your feelings about them."

  Corona started around 8 months ago, this virus has taken lives, jobs, and everyone's social life. When the Virus started spreading worldwide, we were given a set of rules to follow. The rules are to stay inside, social distance, wear a mask when in a public place, and wash your hands. I agree with all these rules because they are set in place to stop this virus from spreading.
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  2021-01-19

  My received rules during Covid-19

  Some of my rules during Covid-19 were: Get ready for school in the morning. Second, I needed wear a mask during school time. Third, needed to do homework and anything to get ready for the next day. These are some of my rules during this pandemic. It’s just like anyone else who is doing school during coronavirus. "This is the way"
• 2021-01-19

  The rules of Covid-19

  During Covid-19 many rules were erected to "slow the spread" of Covid-19, a lot of these procedures people didn't like and they often disobeyed them putting their and others health at risk. I partially agree with these people I do not love the new regulations but I them necessary. Take wearing a mask for example, the mask makes it hard to breath and can be suffocating for some degree some people don't wear them at all, but i can say that mask do indeed work. My first hand experience was during a "wellness Wednesday" that our school did to have people come to get together and do activities, i was in the same group as someone who later tested positive for Covid and I didn't get Covid at all. So although the procedures aren't fun they are very necessary.
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  2021-01-19

  Rules to follow

  Covid has affected the way we can see people. Whenever you go out to a store or school you have to wear a mask. Honestly, I am glad that they are enforcing the wearing masks rule because it is proven to have the germs spread less easily. If we can limit the number of cases by wearing a mask I am all for it. Also, we need to stay 6 feet away from people if we aren't wearing a mask. I understand that but at the same time, the germs can still spread throughout the air. All you need is to breathe it in through your lungs and you’ve got Covid. I still think that these procedures are making an impact.
• 2021-01-19

  Procedures

  The worst procedure is social distancing. Social distancing at the start of the pandemic was a pain not ever being able to see my friends sucked. The other procedure is masked nobody like wearing mask especially for sports, when your running and panting and have that feeling of will they yell at me if I take the mask off. In conclusions these procedures hit hard.
• 2021-01-19

  Covid Restrictions

  Throughout the Covid 19 Pandemic there have been many changes in my life. The main one and the hardest one for me was not bring able to see friends that much. I still get to see them but not as frequently as I used to. The second restriction was having to wear masks. I personally believe that masks help, but they are a pain to wear especially during sports and other physical activity.
• 2021-01-19

  My feelings on the rules and procedures that we have to take.

  I think the rules and procedures we have to take to be safe during this pandemic are reasonable and fair. I think this because everyone wants to be safe and healthy especially doctors so when many doctors are telling us specific things to follow i'm going to think about why this i benefiting me and keeping me safe. Like wearing a mask, people say they don't work but doctor's on the other hand say they are very useful and will protect you from the virus that is in fact airborne. Staying six feet this is another big one, this distance is the correct and closest distance you can be from someone without picking up any viruses. These are the two biggest rules and procedures that I think we should follow and that work.
• 2021-01-19

  feelings about rules

  During corona there have been many many rules, when it started we were quarantined and no one could go out, now we can but there are still many rules. The one i hate most is the mask rule, any mask will cause high humidity and its very uncomfortable. There were also the six feet rule, how do you have conversations or chat when so far from the other person, and the schools don't sell lunches anymore either AND the restaurants are mostly closed and we can really go to markets, so whats there to eat?
• 2021-01-19

  COVID lockdown rules

  The stupid COVID rules that have been put in place are not worth following, this virus has a 99.9% recover rate for anyone in between 4-50 and we have to shut the whole country down. I live in California which is democrat run so we have to be on red alert like this virus is a threat to all humanity. It’s stupid and it always has been. I wish I lived in Florida at this point because I can play sports there and live life. But no, I have to comply to California’s socialist communist ideology’s.
• 2021-01-19

  COVID Procedures and Rules

  During the COVID 19 Pandemic, we have had to follow many new rules and protocols. For example, we have to wear a mask at school, we have to wash our desk of before class and after, we can't use the cafe, we have to use hand-sanitizer before and after class, we have to stay 6 feet apart at lunch and break, and much more. I feel that most of the rules/procedures are useful and make a difference in not spreading the corona virus. I think wearing a mask is very uncomfortable and doesn't due much but I still wear one a stay as safe as possible. Although they are not fun to do, they make a big difference and allow us the keep school open and not spread COVID 19.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules of Covid

  During the ongoing COVID pandemic, there have been many rules that we have to follow. Some of them include social distancing, no gatherings, and quarantining. I personally hate all of these rules because it doesn't allow me to hang out with friends and family, and have fun in person. However, I know that these rules are for a good reason and that I should be able to follow these rules knowing that they are beneficial for my health and for others' health. Overall, these rules really suck, but they are for the better good of our well being.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules and Procedures for Covid.

  There are too many rules and procedures for a simple virus that %99.97 of people under 25 recovers from. 1. We have to wear a piece of paper or cloth over our face. 2. We must stay 6 feet from every person that comes near us. 3. If your nose is showing you must move face-covering approximately one inch up your face. 4. If you do not have a piece of cloth or paper on your face you are not allowed to go inside any place or else you will be asked to leave. 5. You cannot be around people that are not part of your family. There are lots more than our stupid state wants us to do that I don't have time to name. It feels like people in government have lost all common sense and don't have an IQ higher than Forest Gump. None of this make sense, today I was outside and not around anyone so I thought with the smart part of my brain and took my mask off but that too is illegal. I can't wait until the people find their common sense and just basic knowledge. These rules makes us look like a communist country and they are the worst.
• 
  2021-01-19

  The virus death toll in the U.S. has passed 400,000.

  From the Article by Patricia Mazzei: More than 400,000 people in the United States who had the coronavirus have died, according to data compiled by The New York Times on Tuesday, as the anniversary of the country’s first known death in the pandemic approaches.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules to follow

  When covid first started I don't think anyone knew what to do. Everyone was like wear a mask do this do that. I mean it really didn't seem necessary even now it still doesn't. I got called creepy for not wearing a mask. I think that yes we should take precautions but we also shouldn't have to be locked up. I mean eventually everyone is going to get covid. I mean there is really no escaping that. I mean we have to wear a mask, social distance, we can't eat inside any more. And I think it is the most idiotic thing ever in the history of things. I mean I get it if you are scared of covid I will respect you and keep my mask on but I mean come on really we can't take our masks off... At ALL! near ANYONE! In the entire time our nation has been around we have never EVER had to shut everything down. I understand masks and taking precautions and if your sick stay home but really lock down. I am just so fed up with this stupid covid lockdown.
• 2021-01-19

  rules and procedures

  For COVID-19, there are many rules to follow. Some are wearing a mask and being socially distanced. I have had a struggle following these in my everyday life. I think that some don't make sense because of others. For example, having to wear a mask outside, even though the government says that outside is wear you can take your mask off. They totally cancel each other. One of my teachers got COVID-19 and I had to stay home for 1 week to make sure that I am ok. I personally don't understand this because I have no symptoms and feel fine. Over all, it is a lot of work to go anywhere because of all of the rules.
• 2021-01-19

  COVID 19 procedures

  A hard procedure to follow has been keeping 6 feet of distance between my friends. It is also kind of hard to breathe in a mask but its worth it to protect those I care about.
• 2021-01-19

  COVID-19 Names

  The COVID-19 pandemic has a lot of rules that we have to follow. One of them is to wear masks all the time. Some people whine about wearing them and how they don't work, but those people just look for excuses to complain. Masks help me stay safe and make me feel more comfortable around others. At my school, we also have to take temperature checks every day. My mother checks mine at home, and we have to go in again for school. It normally isn't a big hassle, but it gets annoying when you are just waiting for the people to get the instruments needed to check us. And the lady that helps with the temperature checks is pretty mean. Overall, its not that big of a deal though. We also have to stay six feet apart, but the benches at lunch are not that big, so we end up sitting pretty close. I should probably try to maintain my distance from people more. The rules that we have to follow for COVID-19 aren't that difficult, and you get used to them pretty quickly.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules and Procedures of Covid-19

  Ever since the strike of Covid-19 we have had to make changes to our everyday lives. Some of these include wearing masks around people, sanitizing yourself and surfaces often, staying 6 feet apart from others, ect. Kids and teens also had to stay home and do school online (which I enjoyed). These procedures might be quite annoying or uncomfortable, but it makes it a lot easier to them when you know you're saving lives. Personally I think that the things that have changed or the things that we have to do are annoying, but i'd rather do that than have people die.
• 2021-01-19

  rules

  when covid first hit the first rule was to slow down international travel. this didn't work when there was an out break in Washington that spread fast. I didn't really mind this rule I just couldn't travel over summer but then they told people to stay six feet away from each other. this wasn't too bad either just I couldn't hang out with friends indoors and we couldn't go to a public place so we mostly surfed skated and built bike jumps. then they told us to wear masks. to avoid all these rules I never really left my naborhood unless go to my friends house and then we wouldn't go out side there naborhood. the masks where the worst it would make it hard to breath and stuff.
• 2021-01-19

  Covid Procedures

  There are a lot of new Covid rules. One of them that I don't like is that I can't visit with friends. There have been multiple times when I wanted to have a friend over at my house but couldn't because of Covid. I don't really care about the masks except that they ruined the fashion style for the next decade or more. The grade split sucks because most of my friends are in a different grade, but it's not too bad, because one of them got special permission to eat break and lunch with me so we can talk. Social distancing is also annoying but not too big of a problem. I also was doing school online fine. Overall, the Covid procedures are a somewhat minor annoyance.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules and Procedures

  There were quite a lot of COVID rules you had to follow throughout the pandemic. One of the rules were that you had to stay quarantined. This ruined my social life since I couldn't socialize with many people. Not socializing is actually very bad because once we come back to normal and the pandemic is gone, a lot of people won't remember how to socialize. Another rule was to stay clean and sanitized which I actually like because it decreases the risk of getting COVID. You also had to wear a mask when around other people to also decrease the risk of getting COVID. One of the bigger procedures was to stay 6 feet apart which a lot of people followed by, but others just ignored it. Later on through the pandemic, some of these rules were getting broken and more lenient. I find this good since a lot more people were socializing and having fun instead of sitting in your room all day.
• 2021-01-19

  Covid Rules

  We have been told to wear masks (which have been proven to work) for almost a year now, yet some people still believe the virus is a hoax and masks are taking away their rights. This is only making things worse. I'm not allowed to see any of my friends or family for all of our health and safety, yet I see kids from my school post pictures of them with big groups of friends and no masks! It saddens me that nobody is truly taking Covid guidelines seriously.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules and procedures

  Many rules were created as the pandemic continues. Social distance and wearing masks are some of the rules. I was not used to these rules at first because I don’t usually wear a mask. Especially in the summer, when the day is hot, covering half of your face is not comfortable. A lot of the rules are not pleased to follow, but they are helpful.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules I had to follow

  Rules that I have had to follow were at school where we had to wear a mask also social distance and only able to walk in a certain direction also when you are sick you have to stay home and wash your hands. My feelings about it all are good I just don't like wearing a mask all day. I also feel like it's a little hard to not give your friends a hug or anybody a high five I feel like that's really the hardest part about this.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules and Procedures

  During the pandemic, I've seen a lot of people not following the rules. For example, one time I was at trader joes with my mother. We were standing in line and this one lady didn't have a mask on. This was before the mask mandate. She asked one of the crew members if she had to wear a mask. When he said you don't have to, but we greatly encourage you wearing, she put the mask back in her purse and walked into the story. I mean it's fine if she wants to get covid, but now she is putting everyone else in the story, and the employees at risk. Another time, I was hanging out with my friends, we were all wearing masks except this one girl. She didn't even bother to put a mask on. A different time we hung out, she had a mask on because I asked her to wear one, but she kept taking it off and putting it back on. It was very annoying and I was so angry because she doesn't really think covid is real. As for me, I take wearing masks very seriously and I make sure it is always above my nose. I don't mind wearing a mask, it doesn't make a difference. But I missed being at school for so long.
• 2021-01-19

  Procedure during COVID-19

  During COVID-19, there are many procedures you have to follow. We had to stay inside our houses. It has been about a year-long process. At first, it was fun adapting to a new lifestyle, but after a while, I wanted to go to places and it was starting to get boring. However, I was able to talk to my friends over the phone and through a chatting application called discord. Another procedure was staying six feet apart. With friends, this was not so bad of a rule, but with family, it is always nice to be able to hug your loved ones. However, we would use air hugs and it was kind of fun. Overall, COVID-19 procedures were fun at the start, but over time, they would get boring and we had to find new ways to get around it.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules, Rules, Rules!!!!

  When Covid struck in the United States on March 14, 2020, I wasn't worried that my school had been shut down. I thought it was a chance to get out and see new things. Boy was I wrong. My mom and dad were extremely nervous, as scientists had found Covid-19 affected the lungs, and I have a massive problem with my lungs, as I only have half of a right lung. I also have type 1 diabetes, so it would be even more of a problem if I got it. The government told everyone to stay home, and go out only for emergencies or supply runs. Stores could only have 20% capacity, so my mom had to wait outside of stores for hours just to get in! They also told us to wear a mask whenever going into public scenarios. Our current president at the time, Donald J Trump, refused to wear a mask, and he tested positive 7 months in to the pandemic. Over the summer, the numbers in our area started to go down, so my mom and dad decided we could resume normal life cautiously. The first time I had gotten out in months was a mountain bike ride around our neighborhood. It was good to get out after months of staying in! I had also noticed a decrease in my health, as I had been sitting inside. for most of the summer and fall, things were good. But then in December, disaster struck even harder. My neighbor got it, and we did not wear a mask at all! Thankfully, we were not in close enough contact for us to contract it. After that, I had become a whole lot more conservative on going out and seeing others. As you can see, Covid has affected me heavily, and I am done with having to wear a mask 24/7 365.
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  2021-01-19

  COVID-19

  During the COVID-19 Pandemic, one of the things that I least enjoyed about it was staying indoors. This was not very fun. One particular time, I asked my dad whether we could go outside to play. He said no, and it was very frustrating at times. Later, I realized that I could just play indoors. This realization made me much less bored, and it helped get through when we couldn't go outside at all.
• 2021-01-19

  The Situations

  A large procedures that I had to follow was social distancing and waring a mask. Social distancing was at first very hard for me to follow. I am a very social person and talking to people is what keeps me sane. Having to stay away from people for me was like taking a lollipop from a baby. It was very difficult. A way I found to talk to people and still follow the procedure was doing FaceTime calls. Another procedure that was very tough for me at first was wearing a mask. For the first couple of months It was so irritating to tho point where I would wake up with my face itchy. Eventually though it has became second nature to me. Overall life throws situation at you and it all about how you handle them. I have found the best way for me is to tackle them head first.
• 2021-01-19

  COVID restrictions

  I have followed the protocols and restrictions as best I can, but there are always people who think we're not doing enough. One story was when my grandmother was shopping, and when she got out of the store, she took her mask off. Someone saw her with here mask off while she was putting her groceries in her car, and someone doing the same near her saw someone wearing a mask and walking by, and he said rather loudly (so my grandmother could hear him), "Oh good, you're wearing a mask. Some people don't." My grandmother almost walked over to the man and said, "Oh, you mean this mask?" waving her mask around. This is an example of people passively shaming people, and I do not like that.
• 2021-01-19

  Coronavirus Rules & Procedures

  Once quarantine began, rules and procedures were rather lightly enforced. Masks were worn here and there and social distancing was overrated. Not many people chose to wear masks as they were not required yet. Everyone was aware of COVID lurking around the country, but not many were concerned until cases began rising in local counties. As this happened, many stores and businesses started requiring masks, social distancing, etc. I wasn't a fan of it at all, like most, but I began appreciating it for safety as months past. Thankfully, there has only been a couple people I know that have tested positive. Fortunately, there also has not been any bad encounters with following rules and procedures in public. I am currently so fed up with all these overwhelming, complex rules and quarantining, but I understand they are enforced for health and safety reasons.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules and Procedures

  When I heard that we had to wear masks and keep 6 feet from each other, I didn't really mind it and thought it was a good procedure. I didn't think anyone would follow the 6 feet apart rule, although they would still wear their mask. About self-quarantining, I also though that it wouldn't have been much of a problem other than having to stay home from school. Even now the masks and social distancing don't bother me at all and I can follow them pretty well. I just think of it as keeping others safe if I dont really care about my own, which I still do though. But, if I dont for whatever reason I'll keep in check by reminding myself to care for others too.
• 2021-01-19

  The Procedures

  The rules starting out felt kind of weird in the beginning. It felt kind of extreme whilst at the same time, understandable. I can recall that some rules were that we must stay at home unless absolutely necessary (food, gas, anyone in the medical field, officers, most jobs).
• 2021-01-19

  Rules and Procedures during Covid

  During Covid-19, there were many rules and procedures that people had to go through in their everyday lives. The most important rule, in my opinion, is to wear a mask. Everyone had to wear a mask whenever they went out in public. At work, grocery stores, pet stores, basically everywhere. We didn’t have to wear masks when we were at the beach, the park, and the golf course. But when we were in those places, we must be socially distanced from other people. I remember when my sister came home from going out to buy groceries, she met someone that was refusing to wear a mask. Now, we were about 10 months into the pandemic, so wearing a mask outside is basically a well-known rule. As my sister was standing in line, the lady in front of her was saying she didn’t need to wear a mask. She told everyone in there that it was useless and that no one should need them. My sister just watched on, not wanting to join in the argument.
• 2021-01-19

  Rules of Covid.

  I mean, in reality the rules that i had to follow were not that bad. Wear a mask, stay six feet, wash hands, quarantine for two weeks. Those rules are pretty easy to follow. If you want to go somewhere just throw on a mask whenever around or near people. Stay six feet, just maintain six feet from people. (Not that hard). Wash hands, We do this on a daily so its not hard at all. We just need to wash them a little more than we did when Covid wasn't around. Being able to quarantine for two weeks, if you're friends or family or even you have covid, just stay at home for a while. It's not going to hurt you. Overall, rules are easy to follow, you just have to accept them.
• 2021-01-19

  The rules and procedures of Covid 19

  Because of Covid, we have to wear a mask if we go anywhere besides our house. I personally do not like wearing a mask at all and I think they are hard to breathe in and very annoying. We also have to social distance from other people at places like the grocery store. That means the stores can only have a certain number of people in them at a time. I think social distancing isn't a bad idea can it help with having germs from one person not spread to another. In the beginning of covid, we had to quarantine which means we couldn't leave the house unless it was necessary like going to the grocery store. I hated quarantining because it was very boring and I wanted to see my friends. Now we don't have to quarantine and we can see people. Also now all retail shops are open were in the beginning only grocery stores were open.
• 2021-01-19

  The Rules That Did Make Sense and the Many That Didn't

  There were a lot of rules and regulations that we had to follow to stop the spread of COVID. Most of them were simple and made sense. Others, didn't... The rules that made sense were simple. Wear a mask; wash your hands often; stay six feet away from others; don't gather in large groups. The rules that had to do with which businesses were allowed to be open, seemed a bit arbitrary... For example, restaurants could open, but bars couldn't unless they served full meals. Retail stores could open with a limited number of customers allowed in at one time, but zoos couldn't. It was perfectly fine for you to wait with 10+ other people outside of a store, but to go to a zoo which was also outdoors apparently meant certain death. The rules that annoyed me the most were the ones regarding school closures. In California, it had been made practically impossible for schools to open. The worst part was that my school was in LA County, by 500 feet! I remember that in April, I went to Carpenteria with my dad and one of his friends. My friend was there too and we were standing about 4 feet apart without masks on. A lifeguard came up to us and started to get kind of mad. The strange thing was that the sign in the parking lot said, "No lifeguard on duty." Overall, the regulations weren't to bad for me, but I was to annoyed with our governor killing small businesses to remember that.
• 2021-01-19

  the rules of covid

  I never liked the idea of wearing masks. Everyone would give you dirty looks if you didn't. I still didn't care, if i was to get covid then so be it! Then eventually it was a mandate. To be honest, The covid virus was the least of my concerns. I really am not worried about the virus, and personally hate all the mandates.
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  2021-01-19

  Resilient Child, Resilient Mom- Reflection on 2020

  The first picture was taken April 29, 2020. Remote schooling was not going to end, we thought it would only last a couple of weeks. My child was falling apart, I was falling apart. The second picture was taken about seven months later, November 27, 2020. I had been furloughed, school opened up and then went remote again, we learned how to wear masks, we learned how to social distance. We joined the family bubble, in Illinois. I reflect in January 2021 and I want to note that we are figuring it out together. We continue to teach each other. The second picture is my favorite picture of 2020 that I took. I think this picture speaks to the attitude we are putting forward together. This is a picture of my daughter with her cousin, this picture gives me hope and energy.