Leaving Our Fingerprints

Age

23

Date

06/03/2020

Location

Glens Falls, New York

When did the impact of COVID-19 first occur to you? How did your reaction to COVID-19 change between then and the first case in your town?

I was aware of it before many Americans since I have foreign friends in Asia. Specifically, I have a Korean friend who was working in China during the worst of the outbreak there. I followed the news closely as it spread and stayed in touch with him to make sure he was okay. It wasn't until the beginning of February that I started to realize the possibility of COVID in America, but I did not expect it to escalate as quickly as it did. In the beginning of March I was in Cancun, Mexico and came home through JFK for a rude awakening with cases escalating in New York. I did my best to follow the CDC and WHO and to take it seriously while also encouraging others to do the same.

How is your life different now than it was before the pandemic?

I am still not back to work yet. I have gone through periods of severe lack of motivation and the time at home has given me a lot of time to reflect on my life in general and what I want to do in the future. I have also felt a general feeling of hostility and division growing between fellow citizens with different opinions. I have become more conscious of news, politics, and fact checking/providing sources. I have started to speak my mind more and gain more skills.

How are you feeling? What are you doing to relieve stress?

I have felt many emotions during this time. Feeling hopeless and unmotivated, to angry and unapologetic, to inspired and focused. I have started putting more focus into my blog and tried to pick up a few new hobbies.

What have you noticed has changed in your community since the outbreak? What has surprised you?

Opinions have become more extreme on either side. Many more people didn't take it as seriously as I thought they should. In the beginning stores were cleared out of supplies or closed. I have been surprised at the disregard of science.

Are you a business owner who has had to close? If you are still open, how have you had to adjust how your business operates?

n/a

Are you an essential employee? What do you do? What precautions are being taken at your workplace? What precautions are implementing at home?

n/a

Are you an employee who has been laid off or furloughed? Were you able to get unemployment? Were you able to retain your health insurance?

I was laid off from my full-time job and was able to apply for unemployment the next week. After the application was done, I received the first payment within the week. It was very easy for me because I had no special circumstances. I was not able to remain on my health care plan through my job.

Are you working from home? What adjustments or challenges are you experiencing?

n/a

Do you have children at home? How’s it going?

No, I have head to babysit for those with children, however, and I am sure finding affordable care is difficult with so many daycare's (including my work) closed.

If you’re a student, was school canceled? Were you able to complete your studies online? Do you think you’ll be back on campus in the fall?

I always take my classes online so this does not apply to me.

How are you using social media, the Internet, or digital platforms during the pandemic?

I became much more present on social media and encouraged my peers to cite their sources and fact check their information when speaking about the pandemic. I generally only shared it posted information directly from the CDC or WHO. I have also used social media to connect with friends and family through video chat while we could not meet in person.

Did you have to postpone any major life events? (e.g. Graduation, wedding, major birthday) What did you do instead?

I was planning to travel to Europe this summer and the future of travel is now uncertain. Travel is my main passion in life that I pour all my time and energy into.

Do you have animals? Did you adopt a pet? How have they impacted your day?

n/a

What positive things did you contribute to or notice take place?

Charity lives streams for COVID, spreading awareness of facts and anti-xenophobic messages. People coming together in alternative ways (singing from balcony, ect.), stores opening only for the elderly in the morning, parents spending more quality time with their children, getting to slow down and appreciate the small joys in life, being able to reflect and be grateful for things like my privilege.

Did you or someone you know contract COVID-19? What was it like?

Not anyone I knew closely.

If you lost someone during the pandemic, how did you celebrate their lives?

n/a

What do you wish you knew before the pandemic began?

I wish I knew the severity of it and how to address it so that the situation would have been handled better. Also how long quarantine would be.

What would you want future generations to know about the 2020 pandemic? How would you recommend they prepare for it?

Follow the scientists and recognized health organizations. The sooner you take it seriously the sooner it will be taken care of. You will get through it, but everyone will feel it differently. Please be kind and be careful. Learn from past mistakes.

How do you think this pandemic will change how we behave going forward? What will the “new normal” look like?

I think businesses and personal hygiene will forever be better and something more considered than it was in the past.

Jessica

Covid-History Item Type Metadata

Age

Date

Location

When did the impact of COVID-19 first occur to you? How did your reaction to COVID-19 change between then and the first case in your town?

How is your life different now than it was before the pandemic?

How are you feeling? What are you doing to relieve stress?

What have you noticed has changed in your community since the outbreak? What has surprised you?

Are you a business owner who has had to close? If you are still open, how have you had to adjust how your business operates?

Are you an essential employee? What do you do? What precautions are being taken at your workplace? What precautions are implementing at home?

Are you an employee who has been laid off or furloughed? Were you able to get unemployment? Were you able to retain your health insurance?

Are you working from home? What adjustments or challenges are you experiencing?

Do you have children at home? How’s it going?

If you’re a student, was school canceled? Were you able to complete your studies online? Do you think you’ll be back on campus in the fall?

Did you have to postpone any major life events? (e.g. Graduation, wedding, major birthday) What did you do instead?

Do you have animals? Did you adopt a pet? How have they impacted your day?

What positive things did you contribute to or notice take place?

Did you or someone you know contract COVID-19? What was it like?

If you lost someone during the pandemic, how did you celebrate their lives?

What do you wish you knew before the pandemic began?

How do you think this pandemic will change how we behave going forward? What will the “new normal” look like?

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