Kari
Covid-History Item Type Metadata
Age
36
Date
11/13/2020
Location
Olean, 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 knew that when Covid-19 hit the United States it would spread quickly. Americans aren't known for following directions. When it did hit, I knew right away that life was different. A day before everything shut down I started feeling unwell. I had developed an abscess, which then burst, and I had to be admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery. I then recovered in hospital for 6 days, alone. Due to the pandemic, I couldn't have any visitors. I saw the precautions hospital staff were taking to prevent spread.
How is your life different now than it was before the pandemic?
To be honest, my day to day life hasn't changed much. I've always been an introverted homebody. After three surgeries over seven months, my illness is healed. I did suffer the loss of beloved pet budgie, and the loss of a friend from non Covid-19 related illness.
How are you feeling? What are you doing to relieve stress?
I have dealt with deep depression. Lately I've been feeling better, due to medication and regular counseling. While I was off work and still ill I got a Nintendo Switch and the new Animal Crossing game. It was a fun, calming way to pass the time and remotely keep in touch with friends. I still play, but also spend time reading, streaming series, and playing with my parrots.
What have you noticed has changed in your community since the outbreak? What has surprised you?
Most people are wearing masks and using a lot of hand sanitizer. People aren't touching each other anymore. No hugs, or handshakes. Most people keep a distance, but not always 6ft. There are some Covid-19 deniers in the community, most notably my alderman. I'm disappointed and bewildered, but not surprised.
Do you have animals? Did you adopt a pet? How have they impacted your day?
I have three budgies and a green cheek conure parrot. They are out of their cages as soon as I get home. They help me keep calm and engaged.
What would you want future generations to know about the 2020 pandemic? How would you recommend they prepare for it?
Know that the president (Donald Trump) was dangerous and inept. His actions directly resulted in thousands of deaths. In the years before, he got rid of government agencies including the pandemic response agency. He blatantly lied to people, saying the pandemic was under control, wasn't that bad, that masks and other precautions weren't needed. Not everyone listened to him, of course, but those who did made everything worse for everyone. In the future, if doctors tell you what precautions to take to stop the spread of a pandemic, LISTEN.
Dublin Core
Title
Kari
Subject
COVID-19 (Disease)
Publisher
Southern Adirondack Library System
Date
11/13/2020
Contributor
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System
Rights
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Language
English
Type
Covid History
Identifier
12168293386
Coverage
Coronavirus Pandemic
Collection
Citation
“Kari,” Leaving Our Fingerprints on History, accessed April 23, 2024, https://fingerprints.sals.edu/omeka/items/show/251.