Leaving Our Fingerprints

Age

52

Date

10/12/2020

Location

Galway, 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?

March 13, 2020, when schools were closed down.

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

I am considerably more conscious of the spreading of germs and how to pretext myself and others.

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

I feel great. I have used the time at home productively. To relieve occasional stress I practice reiki and meditation and I read.

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

Community members are, for the most part, compliant with state mandates. This, in and of itself, surprises me, given the predominant political makeup here and that many in that group have traditionally viewed COVID as a hoax and masks as a violation of personal rights.

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?

I have a small business that I run infrequently. I have terminated services voluntarily because they involve hands on treatment and I do not wish to perpetuate the spread of the disease.

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

I am an educator. My workplace is closely following the state mandates including sanitizing, masks, and reducing the population on site. At home I clean and disinfect more frequently, stay home when possible, take our temperatures frequently, and wear masks in public.

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 unable to work for 3 months due to working as a substitute teacher and schools closing. I received unemployment during that time. I retained health insurance through my spouse.

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

n/a

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

I have a Junior high school student participating in the hybrid model of learning (2 days in school, 3 days home). She continues to excel since the spring, when she finished the year with a 100 average. She enjoys learning independently without the intrusion of behavior problems from other students.

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?

n/a

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

I do not use social media differently now. I use it primarily to keep up with news, particularly our governor's daily updates.

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

n/a

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

I have 2 cats who have appreciated some of us being home more often.

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

The disastrous handling of the pandemic by the current Administration has compelled me to be even more involved in encouraging people to vote. I work on several voting initiatives.

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

n/a

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?

How completely inept and self-serving the elected leader of this country is.

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

It was dangerous enough to take seriously and I t does not discriminate. Wash your hands, avoid crowds, and wear a damned mask.

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

I suspect social distancing and mask wearing will continue for a long time for those who are educated in the science of disease and who are compassionate enough to have concern for other beings.

Is there anything else you would like to add that hasn't already been asked above?

n/a

Paula

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?

Is there anything else you would like to add that hasn't already been asked above?

Dublin Core

Title

Subject

Publisher

Contributor

Rights

Language

Type

Identifier

Coverage

Collection

Tags

Citation

Output Formats

Geolocation