Safer at Home Extended, Easter Weekend Closures and Economic "Whiplash"
The peak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is approaching, as increasing cases and fatalities around the world have been accelerating every week that goes by. The duration and severity of this pandemic varies, conditional to how the virus is spread and to the public health response, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the U.S. and with all 50 states reporting COVID-19 cases, half a million of people have now been infected, with total deaths at over 20 thousand and rising, according to the Worldometer.
In the midst of these elevating numbers, President Donald Trump referred to Good Friday Easter at one of his speeches and said, “At this holy time, we pray that God will heal the sick and comfort the heartbroken and bless our heroes,” according The Whitehouse’s tweet on April 10.
Santa Monica College (SMC) student Karen Bekheit, Clinical Psychology major, said, “I have hope I try to stay as positive as I can be, because that is all I can do. I will not let the negativity of this virus spread through my head and keep me on my toes thinking that I could die. I will live every moment to the best I can and pray that I still have so much more to accomplish in this world.”
A worker patiently waits to help at the last station of the city's West LA Veterans Administration drive-thru coronavirus testing site on Sunday, April 5, 2020 in Los Angeles, Calif. Once the individual swabs their own mouth for roughly 15 seconds and packages it properly, it is tossed in the blue bins for collection. (Michael Goldsmith / The Corsair)
Los Angeles Extends Stay at Home Measures, While Santa Monica Extends Closures For Easter Weekend
The Safer at Home emergency order was extended, as Los Angeles is refraining from non-essential activities as much as possible. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced via Twitter that all non-essential businesses and happenings would remain closed and Angelenos were called to stay home until May 15.
California is now counting more than 22 thousand cases and 630 deaths, as containment measures have managed to flatten the wave of the COVID-19 cases.
Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted, “Physical distancing is working. CA is flattening the curve. But we can only continue that progress if we continue to stay home and practice physical distancing. You have the power to literally save lives. We can’t stop now.”
During the efforts to contain the virus, LA expanded free testing to all of its residents with COVID-19 symptoms. The testing program was primarily conducted by the LA Fire and Personnel departments, as it began from one site and grew to 13 sites within two weeks, according to Mayor Garcetti’s press release on April 6.
At this moment priority, is given to people who show symptoms of the virus. According to the City of Los Angeles testing website, people over 65 and with underlying chronic health conditions are selected first, along with first responders, critical government workers, or health care professionals. In order to schedule an appointment and for further information visit the Schedule a Covid-19 Test website.
Santa Monica efforts to contain COVID-19 persist as this region also continues with social distancing and Stay at Home measures. Easter weekend closures comprise of all Santa Monica parks and Farmers Markets.
According to Santa Monica City’s tweet on April 11, “The county of LA has closed Santa Monica beach, beach bike path, Ocean Front Walk and all beach access points. Avoid these areas to stay safe and healthy. If you do not adhere to these orders, you may be cited.”
“I have been as careful as I can be, like washing my hands as much as I can and as well not touching my face if I have to leave the house,” said Bekheit, “ I do Amazon Prime deliveries as well as Instacart deliveries that help with the expenses I still have to take care of like my car insurance,” as she still has to leave the house often.
Superintendent Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery greeting students at the Santa Monica College Pop-up Food Pantry in Santa Monica, California on Thursday, April 2, 2020. The college started the service to provide meals for students who are food-insecure while classes are moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Maxim Elramsisy/The Corsair)
SMC Donates Food and Ventilators During the Economic ‘Whiplash’
The initial claims for unemployment increased severely during March, as a result of closures due to the pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Labor news release report, “this is the highest level for insured unemployment since July 6, 2013 when it was 3,079,000.”
President Trump called this economic situation a "whiplash" in a recent tweet. "The economy was moving forward at a rapid pace in terms of growth, jobs and even wage increases, and all of a sudden the pandemic hit and the economy was shuttered.”
As a result of the economic recession, food donations and supplying ventilators became SMC's main focus.
The Ventilators
SMC was designated by the State of California as the location to gather ventilators, machines that help people with difficulty of breathing as they pump oxygen into the lungs, from four community colleges that have Respiratory Therapy Programs: Los Angeles Valley College, East Los Angeles College, Orange Coast College and Santa Monica College.
32 ventilators were donated this weekend. These have been critical tools during the fight of the COVID-19 infection.
According to John Hopkins Center for Health Security, "the need for ventilation services during a severe pandemic could quickly overwhelm these day-to-day operational capabilities."
SMC President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery said, “the lack of medical equipment in the U.S., in what is largely regarded as one of the most developed nations in the world, is truly surprising and a tragedy whose toll will only be fully known in the future..”
A student leaving the food pick up station at the Santa Monica College Pop-up Food Pantry in Santa Monica, California on Thursday, April 2, 2020. The college started the service to provide meals for students who are food-insecure while classes are moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Maxim Elramsisy/The Corsair)
The Drive Thru Pantry
SMC and the SMC Foundation set in motion a drive-thru pop-up pantry on April 2, as well as the Meal Project through social enterprise EveryTable, in an effort to deliver approximately 700 meals to students, according to Dr. Jeffery.
Students had the opportunity to receive food supplies at a parking lot near the SMC Student Services Center, that included 250 bags of food items and groceries from Westside Food Bank and SMC's 10 Closets, along with cupcakes from the Butter End Cakery, according to SMC’s Newsroom.
SMC's Director of Health and Wellbeing Dr. Fila said, “SMC is committed to serving the basic needs of our students. We know that so many of our students struggle with food security issues and COVID-19 have exacerbated this issue,” due to the loss of jobs and the temporary inaccessibility of food pantries.
“Staff from police, student services, facilities, and other managers were present to support this amazing effort,” continued Dr. Fila. “All went through training on personal protective equipment and were very careful to sanitize before and after, while maintaining social distancing from everyone.” SMC plans to continue this effort for as long as they can.
Dr. Jeffery, who interacted with students on the first day, asked them how they were managing coursework in the new online way. Many students admitted that time management was challenging, while others were delighted with the fact that they could now avoid traffic. Dr. Jeffery said, “Personally, I was delighted to see students and talk with them briefly.”
Bekheit said, “It wasn’t really easy because I’m not really used to classes online. I’m used to having at least one online class. It’s difficult because I’m taking 4 classes and trying to catch up to all of them is pretty hard.”
While the pandemic has altered the way billions of people celebrate Easter this year, hope is still alive. “I do believe we will get through this and come out stronger than we were before,” said Dr. Fila.