essay on community quarantine

Essays in Quarantine

In This Series

How embracing uncertainty might make me a better journalist.

As a journalist, it’s my job to find answers and tell the truth. But right now the truth is I feel like I have fewer answers than ever.

Practicing joy (and social distancing) in nature

When lockdown hit, I found myself suddenly with more free time than I’d had since childhood. To fill it, I started to take walks.

Starting a new job during COVID is lucky … and lonely

There were no handshakes, no in-person introductions. Leaving work is the equivalent of signing out of an app.

Obligations and graduations: What my time as a farmworker taught me about sacrifice

Many farmworkers not only miss family graduations, but also birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays to support their families.

Parenting may never be the same post-COVID. Maybe that’s a good thing.

While part of me is mourning the loss of my bubble, I realize nostalgia is not sustainable. At some point, it’s the same as regression.

Reflections on Father’s Day a decade after losing my dad

The COVID-19 pandemic is turning many people's parents into full-time patients. I know how that feels.

Social distancing while black? Let your community lift you up.

We spend the first hour of our weekly Zoom happy hour just catching up and making each other laugh — we need it.

Planning for my grandkids’ future

"I am more determined than ever to leave them a brighter, more hopeful future to look forward to."

Coronavirus canceled my favorite sports. Here’s why we need them more than ever.

Once it’s safe, sports can’t return fast enough for this fan.

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Essays reveal experiences during pandemic, unrest.

Field study students share their thoughts 

Members of Advanced Field Study, a select group of Social Ecology students who are chosen from a pool of applicants to participate in a year-long field study experience and course, had their internships and traditional college experience cut short this year. During our final quarter of the year together, during which we met weekly for two hours via Zoom, we discussed their reactions as the world fell apart around them. First came the pandemic and social distancing, then came the death of George Floyd and the response of the Black Lives Matter movement, both of which were imprinted on the lives of these students. This year was anything but dull, instead full of raw emotion and painful realizations of the fragility of the human condition and the extent to which we need one another. This seemed like the perfect opportunity for our students to chronicle their experiences — the good and the bad, the lessons learned, and ways in which they were forever changed by the events of the past four months. I invited all of my students to write an essay describing the ways in which these times had impacted their learning and their lives during or after their time at UCI. These are their voices. — Jessica Borelli , associate professor of psychological science

Becoming Socially Distant Through Technology: The Tech Contagion

The current state of affairs put the world on pause, but this pause gave me time to reflect on troubling matters. Time that so many others like me probably also desperately needed to heal without even knowing it. Sometimes it takes one’s world falling apart for the most beautiful mosaic to be built up from the broken pieces of wreckage. 

As the school year was coming to a close and summer was edging around the corner, I began reflecting on how people will spend their summer breaks if the country remains in its current state throughout the sunny season. Aside from living in the sunny beach state of California where people love their vitamin D and social festivities, I think some of the most damaging effects Covid-19 will have on us all has more to do with social distancing policies than with any inconveniences we now face due to the added precautions, despite how devastating it may feel that Disneyland is closed to all the local annual passholders or that the beaches may not be filled with sun-kissed California girls this summer. During this unprecedented time, I don’t think we should allow the rare opportunity we now have to be able to watch in real time how the effects of social distancing can impact our mental health. Before the pandemic, many of us were already engaging in a form of social distancing. Perhaps not the exact same way we are now practicing, but the technology that we have developed over recent years has led to a dramatic decline in our social contact and skills in general. 

The debate over whether we should remain quarantined during this time is not an argument I am trying to pursue. Instead, I am trying to encourage us to view this event as a unique time to study how social distancing can affect people’s mental health over a long period of time and with dramatic results due to the magnitude of the current issue. Although Covid-19 is new and unfamiliar to everyone, the isolation and separation we now face is not. For many, this type of behavior has already been a lifestyle choice for a long time. However, the current situation we all now face has allowed us to gain a more personal insight on how that experience feels due to the current circumstances. Mental illness continues to remain a prevalent problem throughout the world and for that reason could be considered a pandemic of a sort in and of itself long before the Covid-19 outbreak. 

One parallel that can be made between our current restrictions and mental illness reminds me in particular of hikikomori culture. Hikikomori is a phenomenon that originated in Japan but that has since spread internationally, now prevalent in many parts of the world, including the United States. Hikikomori is not a mental disorder but rather can appear as a symptom of a disorder. People engaging in hikikomori remain confined in their houses and often their rooms for an extended period of time, often over the course of many years. This action of voluntary confinement is an extreme form of withdrawal from society and self-isolation. Hikikomori affects a large percent of people in Japan yearly and the problem continues to become more widespread with increasing occurrences being reported around the world each year. While we know this problem has continued to increase, the exact number of people practicing hikikomori is unknown because there is a large amount of stigma surrounding the phenomenon that inhibits people from seeking help. This phenomenon cannot be written off as culturally defined because it is spreading to many parts of the world. With the technology we now have, and mental health issues on the rise and expected to increase even more so after feeling the effects of the current pandemic, I think we will definitely see a rise in the number of people engaging in this social isolation, especially with the increase in legitimate fears we now face that appear to justify the previously considered irrational fears many have associated with social gatherings. We now have the perfect sample of people to provide answers about how this form of isolation can affect people over time. 

Likewise, with the advancements we have made to technology not only is it now possible to survive without ever leaving the confines of your own home, but it also makes it possible for us to “fulfill” many of our social interaction needs. It’s very unfortunate, but in addition to the success we have gained through our advancements we have also experienced a great loss. With new technology, I am afraid that we no longer engage with others the way we once did. Although some may say the advancements are for the best, I wonder, at what cost? It is now commonplace to see a phone on the table during a business meeting or first date. Even worse is how many will feel inclined to check their phone during important or meaningful interactions they are having with people face to face. While our technology has become smarter, we have become dumber when it comes to social etiquette. As we all now constantly carry a mini computer with us everywhere we go, we have in essence replaced our best friends. We push others away subconsciously as we reach for our phones during conversations. We no longer remember phone numbers because we have them all saved in our phones. We find comfort in looking down at our phones during those moments of free time we have in public places before our meetings begin. These same moments were once the perfect time to make friends, filled with interactive banter. We now prefer to stare at other people on our phones for hours on end, and often live a sedentary lifestyle instead of going out and interacting with others ourselves. 

These are just a few among many issues the advances to technology led to long ago. We have forgotten how to practice proper tech-etiquette and we have been inadvertently practicing social distancing long before it was ever required. Now is a perfect time for us to look at the society we have become and how we incurred a different kind of pandemic long before the one we currently face. With time, as the social distancing regulations begin to lift, people may possibly begin to appreciate life and connecting with others more than they did before as a result of the unique experience we have shared in together while apart.

Maybe the world needed a time-out to remember how to appreciate what it had but forgot to experience. Life is to be lived through experience, not to be used as a pastime to observe and compare oneself with others. I’ll leave you with a simple reminder: never forget to take care and love more because in a world where life is often unpredictable and ever changing, one cannot risk taking time or loved ones for granted. With that, I bid you farewell, fellow comrades, like all else, this too shall pass, now go live your best life!

Privilege in a Pandemic 

Covid-19 has impacted millions of Americans who have been out of work for weeks, thus creating a financial burden. Without a job and the certainty of knowing when one will return to work, paying rent and utilities has been a problem for many. With unemployment on the rise, relying on unemployment benefits has become a necessity for millions of people. According to the Washington Post , unemployment rose to 14.7% in April which is considered to be the worst since the Great Depression. 

Those who are not worried about the financial aspect or the thought never crossed their minds have privilege. Merriam Webster defines privilege as “a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor.” Privilege can have a negative connotation. What you choose to do with your privilege is what matters. Talking about privilege can bring discomfort, but the discomfort it brings can also carry the benefit of drawing awareness to one’s privilege, which can lead the person to take steps to help others. 

I am a first-generation college student who recently transferred to a four-year university. When schools began to close, and students had to leave their on-campus housing, many lost their jobs.I was able to stay on campus because I live in an apartment. I am fortunate to still have a job, although the hours are minimal. My parents help pay for school expenses, including housing, tuition, and food. I do not have to worry about paying rent or how to pay for food because my parents are financially stable to help me. However, there are millions of college students who are not financially stable or do not have the support system I have. Here, I have the privilege and, thus, I am the one who can offer help to others. I may not have millions in funding, but volunteering for centers who need help is where I am able to help. Those who live in California can volunteer through Californians For All  or at food banks, shelter facilities, making calls to seniors, etc. 

I was not aware of my privilege during these times until I started reading more articles about how millions of people cannot afford to pay their rent, and landlords are starting to send notices of violations. Rather than feel guilty and be passive about it, I chose to put my privilege into a sense of purpose: Donating to nonprofits helping those affected by COVID-19, continuing to support local businesses, and supporting businesses who are donating profits to those affected by COVID-19.

My World is Burning 

As I write this, my friends are double checking our medical supplies and making plans to buy water and snacks to pass out at the next protest we are attending. We write down the number for the local bailout fund on our arms and pray that we’re lucky enough not to have to use it should things get ugly. We are part of a pivotal event, the kind of movement that will forever have a place in history. Yet, during this revolution, I have papers to write and grades to worry about, as I’m in the midst of finals. 

My professors have offered empty platitudes. They condemn the violence and acknowledge the stress and pain that so many of us are feeling, especially the additional weight that this carries for students of color. I appreciate their show of solidarity, but it feels meaningless when it is accompanied by requests to complete research reports and finalize presentations. Our world is on fire. Literally. On my social media feeds, I scroll through image after image of burning buildings and police cars in flames. How can I be asked to focus on school when my community is under siege? When police are continuing to murder black people, adding additional names to the ever growing list of their victims. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd. David Mcatee. And, now, Rayshard Brooks. 

It already felt like the world was being asked of us when the pandemic started and classes continued. High academic expectations were maintained even when students now faced the challenges of being locked down, often trapped in small spaces with family or roommates. Now we are faced with another public health crisis in the form of police violence and once again it seems like educational faculty are turning a blind eye to the impact that this has on the students. I cannot study for exams when I am busy brushing up on my basic first-aid training, taking notes on the best techniques to stop heavy bleeding and treat chemical burns because at the end of the day, if these protests turn south, I will be entering a warzone. Even when things remain peaceful, there is an ugliness that bubbles just below the surface. When beginning the trek home, I have had armed members of the National Guard follow me and my friends. While kneeling in silence, I have watched police officers cock their weapons and laugh, pointing out targets in the crowd. I have been emailing my professors asking for extensions, trying to explain that if something is turned in late, it could be the result of me being detained or injured. I don’t want to be penalized for trying to do what I wholeheartedly believe is right. 

I have spent my life studying and will continue to study these institutions that have been so instrumental in the oppression and marginalization of black and indigenous communities. Yet, now that I have the opportunity to be on the frontlines actively fighting for the change our country so desperately needs, I feel that this study is more of a hindrance than a help to the cause. Writing papers and reading books can only take me so far and I implore that professors everywhere recognize that requesting their students split their time and energy between finals and justice is an impossible ask.

Opportunity to Serve

Since the start of the most drastic change of our lives, I have had the privilege of helping feed more than 200 different families in the Santa Ana area and even some neighboring cities. It has been an immense pleasure seeing the sheer joy and happiness of families as they come to pick up their box of food from our site, as well as a $50 gift card to Northgate, a grocery store in Santa Ana. Along with donating food and helping feed families, the team at the office, including myself, have dedicated this time to offering psychosocial and mental health check-ups for the families we serve. 

Every day I go into the office I start my day by gathering files of our families we served between the months of January, February, and March and calling them to check on how they are doing financially, mentally, and how they have been affected by COVID-19. As a side project, I have been putting together Excel spreadsheets of all these families’ struggles and finding a way to turn their situation into a success story to share with our board at PY-OCBF and to the community partners who make all of our efforts possible. One of the things that has really touched me while working with these families is how much of an impact this nonprofit organization truly has on family’s lives. I have spoken with many families who I just call to check up on and it turns into an hour call sharing about how much of a change they have seen in their child who went through our program. Further, they go on to discuss that because of our program, their children have a different perspective on the drugs they were using before and the group of friends they were hanging out with. Of course, the situation is different right now as everyone is being told to stay at home; however, there are those handful of kids who still go out without asking for permission, increasing the likelihood they might contract this disease and pass it to the rest of the family. We are working diligently to provide support for these parents and offering advice to talk to their kids in order to have a serious conversation with their kids so that they feel heard and validated. 

Although the novel Coronavirus has impacted the lives of millions of people not just on a national level, but on a global level, I feel that in my current position, it has opened doors for me that would have otherwise not presented themselves. Fortunately, I have been offered a full-time position at the Project Youth Orange County Bar Foundation post-graduation that I have committed to already. This invitation came to me because the organization received a huge grant for COVID-19 relief to offer to their staff and since I was already part-time, they thought I would be a good fit to join the team once mid-June comes around. I was very excited and pleased to be recognized for the work I have done at the office in front of all staff. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity. I will work even harder to provide for the community and to continue changing the lives of adolescents, who have steered off the path of success. I will use my time as a full-time employee to polish my resume, not forgetting that the main purpose of my moving to Irvine was to become a scholar and continue the education that my parents couldn’t attain. I will still be looking for ways to get internships with other fields within criminology. One specific interest that I have had since being an intern and a part-time employee in this organization is the work of the Orange County Coroner’s Office. I don’t exactly know what enticed me to find it appealing as many would say that it is an awful job in nature since it relates to death and seeing people in their worst state possible. However, I feel that the only way for me to truly know if I want to pursue such a career in forensic science will be to just dive into it and see where it takes me. 

I can, without a doubt, say that the Coronavirus has impacted me in a way unlike many others, and for that I am extremely grateful. As I continue working, I can also state that many people are becoming more and more hopeful as time progresses. With people now beginning to say Stage Two of this stay-at-home order is about to allow retailers and other companies to begin doing curbside delivery, many families can now see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Let’s Do Better

This time of the year is meant to be a time of celebration; however, it has been difficult to feel proud or excited for many of us when it has become a time of collective mourning and sorrow, especially for the Black community. There has been an endless amount of pain, rage, and helplessness that has been felt throughout our nation because of the growing list of Black lives we have lost to violence and brutality.

To honor the lives that we have lost, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Oscar Grant, Michael Brown, Trayon Martin, and all of the other Black lives that have been taken away, may they Rest in Power.

Throughout my college experience, I have become more exposed to the various identities and the upbringings of others, which led to my own self-reflection on my own privileged and marginalized identities. I identify as Colombian, German, and Mexican; however navigating life as a mixed race, I have never been able to identify or have one culture more salient than the other. I am visibly white-passing and do not hold any strong ties with any of my ethnic identities, which used to bring me feelings of guilt and frustration, for I would question whether or not I could be an advocate for certain communities, and whether or not I could claim the identity of a woman of color. In the process of understanding my positionality, I began to wonder what space I belonged in, where I could speak up, and where I should take a step back for others to speak. I found myself in a constant theme of questioning what is my narrative and slowly began to realize that I could not base it off lone identities and that I have had the privilege to move through life without my identities defining who I am. Those initial feelings of guilt and confusion transformed into growth, acceptance, and empowerment.

This journey has driven me to educate myself more about the social inequalities and injustices that people face and to focus on what I can do for those around me. It has motivated me to be more culturally responsive and competent, so that I am able to best advocate for those around me. Through the various roles I have worked in, I have been able to listen to a variety of communities’ narratives and experiences, which has allowed me to extend my empathy to these communities while also pushing me to continue educating myself on how I can best serve and empower them. By immersing myself amongst different communities, I have been given the honor of hearing others’ stories and experiences, which has inspired me to commit myself to support and empower others.

I share my story of navigating through my privileged and marginalized identities in hopes that it encourages others to explore their own identities. This journey is not an easy one, and it is an ongoing learning process that will come with various mistakes. I have learned that with facing our privileges comes feelings of guilt, discomfort, and at times, complacency. It is very easy to become ignorant when we are not affected by different issues, but I challenge those who read this to embrace the discomfort. With these emotions, I have found it important to reflect on the source of discomfort and guilt, for although they are a part of the process, in taking the steps to become more aware of the systemic inequalities around us, understanding the source of discomfort can better inform us on how we perpetuate these systemic inequalities. If we choose to embrace ignorance, we refuse to acknowledge the systems that impact marginalized communities and refuse to honestly and openly hear cries for help. If we choose our own comfort over the lives of those being affected every day, we can never truly honor, serve, or support these communities.

I challenge any non-Black person, including myself, to stop remaining complacent when injustices are committed. We need to consistently recognize and acknowledge how the Black community is disproportionately affected in every injustice experienced and call out anti-Blackness in every role, community, and space we share. We need to keep ourselves and others accountable when we make mistakes or fall back into patterns of complacency or ignorance. We need to continue educating ourselves instead of relying on the emotional labor of the Black community to continuously educate us on the history of their oppressions. We need to collectively uplift and empower one another to heal and rise against injustice. We need to remember that allyship ends when action ends.

To the Black community, you are strong. You deserve to be here. The recent events are emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting, and the need for rest to take care of your mental, physical, and emotional well-being are at an all time high. If you are able, take the time to regain your energy, feel every emotion, and remind yourself of the power you have inside of you. You are not alone.

The Virus That Makes You Forget

Following Jan. 1 of 2020 many of my classmates and I continued to like, share, and forward the same meme. The meme included any image but held the same phrase: I can see 2020. For many of us, 2020 was a beacon of hope. For the Class of 2020, this meant walking on stage in front of our families. Graduation meant becoming an adult, finding a job, or going to graduate school. No matter what we were doing in our post-grad life, we were the new rising stars ready to take on the world with a positive outlook no matter what the future held. We felt that we had a deal with the universe that we were about to be noticed for our hard work, our hardships, and our perseverance.

Then March 17 of 2020 came to pass with California Gov. Newman ordering us to stay at home, which we all did. However, little did we all know that the world we once had open to us would only be forgotten when we closed our front doors.

Life became immediately uncertain and for many of us, that meant graduation and our post-graduation plans including housing, careers, education, food, and basic standards of living were revoked! We became the forgotten — a place from which many of us had attempted to rise by attending university. The goals that we were told we could set and the plans that we were allowed to make — these were crushed before our eyes.

Eighty days before graduation, in the first several weeks of quarantine, I fell extremely ill; both unfortunately and luckily, I was isolated. All of my roommates had moved out of the student apartments leaving me with limited resources, unable to go to the stores to pick up medicine or food, and with insufficient health coverage to afford a doctor until my throat was too swollen to drink water. For nearly three weeks, I was stuck in bed, I was unable to apply to job deadlines, reach out to family, and have contact with the outside world. I was forgotten.

Forty-five days before graduation, I had clawed my way out of illness and was catching up on an honors thesis about media depictions of sexual exploitation within the American political system, when I was relayed the news that democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was accused of sexual assault. However, when reporting this news to close friends who had been devastated and upset by similar claims against past politicians, they all were too tired and numb from the quarantine to care. Just as I had written hours before reading the initial story, history was repeating, and it was not only I who COVID-19 had forgotten, but now survivors of violence.

After this revelation, I realize the silencing factor that COVID-19 has. Not only does it have the power to terminate the voices of our older generations, but it has the power to silence and make us forget the voices of every generation. Maybe this is why social media usage has gone up, why we see people creating new social media accounts, posting more, attempting to reach out to long lost friends. We do not want to be silenced, moreover, we cannot be silenced. Silence means that we have been forgotten and being forgotten is where injustice and uncertainty occurs. By using social media, pressing like on a post, or even sending a hate message, means that someone cares and is watching what you are doing. If there is no interaction, I am stuck in the land of indifference.

This is a place that I, and many others, now reside, captured and uncertain. In 2020, my plan was to graduate Cum Laude, dean's honor list, with three honors programs, three majors, and with research and job experience that stretched over six years. I would then go into my first year of graduate school, attempting a dual Juris Doctorate. I would be spending my time experimenting with new concepts, new experiences, and new relationships. My life would then be spent giving a microphone to survivors of domestic violence and sex crimes. However, now the plan is wiped clean, instead I sit still bound to graduate in 30 days with no home to stay, no place to work, and no future education to come back to. I would say I am overly qualified, but pandemic makes me lost in a series of names and masked faces.

Welcome to My Cage: The Pandemic and PTSD

When I read the campuswide email notifying students of the World Health Organization’s declaration of the coronavirus pandemic, I was sitting on my couch practicing a research presentation I was going to give a few hours later. For a few minutes, I sat there motionless, trying to digest the meaning of the words as though they were from a language other than my own, familiar sounds strung together in way that was wholly unintelligible to me. I tried but failed to make sense of how this could affect my life. After the initial shock had worn off, I mobilized quickly, snapping into an autopilot mode of being I knew all too well. I began making mental checklists, sharing the email with my friends and family, half of my brain wondering if I should make a trip to the grocery store to stockpile supplies and the other half wondering how I was supposed take final exams in the midst of so much uncertainty. The most chilling realization was knowing I had to wait powerlessly as the fate of the world unfolded, frozen with anxiety as I figured out my place in it all.

These feelings of powerlessness and isolation are familiar bedfellows for me. Early October of 2015, shortly after beginning my first year at UCI, I was diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Despite having had years of psychological treatment for my condition, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Retraining, the flashbacks, paranoia, and nightmares still emerge unwarranted. People have referred to the pandemic as a collective trauma. For me, the pandemic has not only been a collective trauma, it has also been the reemergence of a personal trauma. The news of the pandemic and the implications it has for daily life triggered a reemergence of symptoms that were ultimately ignited by the overwhelming sense of helplessness that lies in waiting, as I suddenly find myself navigating yet another situation beyond my control. Food security, safety, and my sense of self have all been shaken by COVID-19.

The first few weeks after UCI transitioned into remote learning and the governor issued the stay-at-home order, I hardly got any sleep. My body was cycling through hypervigilance and derealization, and my sleep was interrupted by intrusive nightmares oscillating between flashbacks and frightening snippets from current events. Any coping methods I had developed through hard-won efforts over the past few years — leaving my apartment for a change of scenery, hanging out with friends, going to the gym — were suddenly made inaccessible to me due to the stay-at-home orders, closures of non-essential businesses, and many of my friends breaking their campus leases to move back to their family homes. So for me, learning to cope during COVID-19 quarantine means learning to function with my re-emerging PTSD symptoms and without my go-to tools. I must navigate my illness in a rapidly evolving world, one where some of my internalized fears, such as running out of food and living in an unsafe world, are made progressively more external by the minute and broadcasted on every news platform; fears that I could no longer escape, being confined in the tight constraints of my studio apartment’s walls. I cannot shake the devastating effects of sacrifice that I experience as all sense of control has been stripped away from me.

However, amidst my mental anguish, I have realized something important—experiencing these same PTSD symptoms during a global pandemic feels markedly different than it did years ago. Part of it might be the passage of time and the growth in my mindset, but there is something else that feels very different. Currently, there is widespread solidarity and support for all of us facing the chaos of COVID-19, whether they are on the frontlines of the fight against the illness or they are self-isolating due to new rules, restrictions, and risks. This was in stark contrast to what it was like to have a mental disorder. The unity we all experience as a result of COVID-19 is one I could not have predicted. I am not the only student heartbroken over a cancelled graduation, I am not the only student who is struggling to adapt to remote learning, and I am not the only person in this world who has to make sacrifices.

Between observations I’ve made on social media and conversations with my friends and classmates, this time we are all enduring great pain and stress as we attempt to adapt to life’s challenges. As a Peer Assistant for an Education class, I have heard from many students of their heartache over the remote learning model, how difficult it is to study in a non-academic environment, and how unmotivated they have become this quarter. This is definitely something I can relate to; as of late, it has been exceptionally difficult to find motivation and put forth the effort for even simple activities as a lack of energy compounds the issue and hinders basic needs. However, the willingness of people to open up about their distress during the pandemic is unlike the self-imposed social isolation of many people who experience mental illness regularly. Something this pandemic has taught me is that I want to live in a world where mental illness receives more support and isn’t so taboo and controversial. Why is it that we are able to talk about our pain, stress, and mental illness now, but aren’t able to talk about it outside of a global pandemic? People should be able to talk about these hardships and ask for help, much like during these circumstances.

It has been nearly three months since the coronavirus crisis was declared a pandemic. I still have many bad days that I endure where my symptoms can be overwhelming. But somehow, during my good days — and some days, merely good moments — I can appreciate the resilience I have acquired over the years and the common ground I share with others who live through similar circumstances. For veterans of trauma and mental illness, this isn’t the first time we are experiencing pain in an extreme and disastrous way. This is, however, the first time we are experiencing it with the rest of the world. This strange new feeling of solidarity as I read and hear about the experiences of other people provides some small comfort as I fight my way out of bed each day. As we fight to survive this pandemic, I hope to hold onto this feeling of togetherness and acceptance of pain, so that it will always be okay for people to share their struggles. We don’t know what the world will look like days, months, or years from now, but I hope that we can cultivate such a culture to make life much easier for people coping with mental illness.

A Somatic Pandemonium in Quarantine

I remember hearing that our brains create the color magenta all on their own. 

When I was younger I used to run out of my third-grade class because my teacher was allergic to the mold and sometimes would vomit in the trash can. My dad used to tell me that I used to always have to have something in my hands, later translating itself into the form of a hair tie around my wrist.

Sometimes, I think about the girl who used to walk on her tippy toes. medial and lateral nerves never planted, never grounded. We were the same in this way. My ability to be firmly planted anywhere was also withered. 

Was it from all the times I panicked? Or from the time I ran away and I blistered the soles of my feet 'til they were black from the summer pavement? Emetophobia. 

I felt it in the shower, dressing itself from the crown of my head down to the soles of my feet, noting the feeling onto my white board in an attempt to solidify it’s permanence.

As I breathed in the chemical blue transpiring from the Expo marker, everything was more defined. I laid down and when I looked up at the starlet lamp I had finally felt centered. Still. No longer fleeting. The grooves in the lamps glass forming a spiral of what felt to me like an artificial landscape of transcendental sparks. 

She’s back now, magenta, though I never knew she left or even ever was. Somehow still subconsciously always known. I had been searching for her in the tremors.

I can see her now in the daphnes, the golden rays from the sun reflecting off of the bark on the trees and the red light that glowed brighter, suddenly the town around me was warmer. A melting of hues and sharpened saturation that was apparent and reminded of the smell of oranges.

I threw up all of the carrots I ate just before. The trauma that my body kept as a memory of things that may or may not go wrong and the times that I couldn't keep my legs from running. Revelations bring memories bringing anxieties from fear and panic released from my body as if to say “NO LONGER!” 

I close my eyes now and my mind's eye is, too, more vivid than ever before. My inner eyelids lit up with orange undertones no longer a solid black, neurons firing, fire. Not the kind that burns you but the kind that can light up a dull space. Like the wick of a tea-lit candle. Magenta doesn’t exist. It is perception. A construct made of light waves, blue and red.

Demolition. Reconstruction. I walk down the street into this new world wearing my new mask, somatic senses tingling and I think to myself “Houston, I think we’ve just hit equilibrium.”

How COVID-19 Changed My Senior Year

During the last two weeks of Winter quarter, I watched the emails pour in. Spring quarter would be online, facilities were closing, and everyone was recommended to return home to their families, if possible. I resolved to myself that I would not move back home; I wanted to stay in my apartment, near my boyfriend, near my friends, and in the one place I had my own space. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, things continued to change quickly. Soon I learned my roommate/best friend would be cancelling her lease and moving back up to Northern California. We had made plans for my final quarter at UCI, as I would be graduating in June while she had another year, but all of the sudden, that dream was gone. In one whirlwind of a day, we tried to cram in as much of our plans as we could before she left the next day for good. There are still so many things – like hiking, going to museums, and showing her around my hometown – we never got to cross off our list.

Then, my boyfriend decided he would also be moving home, three hours away. Most of my sorority sisters were moving home, too. I realized if I stayed at school, I would be completely alone. My mom had been encouraging me to move home anyway, but I was reluctant to return to a house I wasn’t completely comfortable in. As the pandemic became more serious, gentle encouragement quickly turned into demands. I had to cancel my lease and move home.

I moved back in with my parents at the end of Spring Break; I never got to say goodbye to most of my friends, many of whom I’ll likely never see again – as long as the virus doesn’t change things, I’m supposed to move to New York over the summer to begin a PhD program in Criminal Justice. Just like that, my time at UCI had come to a close. No lasts to savor; instead I had piles of things to regret. In place of a final quarter filled with memorable lasts, such as the senior banquet or my sorority’s senior preference night, I’m left with a laundry list of things I missed out on. I didn’t get to look around the campus one last time like I had planned; I never got to take my graduation pictures in front of the UC Irvine sign. Commencement had already been cancelled. The lights had turned off in the theatre before the movie was over. I never got to find out how the movie ended.

Transitioning to a remote learning system wasn’t too bad, but I found that some professors weren’t adjusting their courses to the difficulties many students were facing. It turned out to be difficult to stay motivated, especially for classes that are pre-recorded and don’t have any face-to-face interaction. It’s hard to make myself care; I’m in my last few weeks ever at UCI, but it feels like I’m already in summer. School isn’t real, my classes aren’t real. I still put in the effort, but I feel like I’m not getting much out of my classes.

The things I had been looking forward to this quarter are gone; there will be no Undergraduate Research Symposium, where I was supposed to present two projects. My amazing internship with the US Postal Inspection Service is over prematurely and I never got to properly say goodbye to anyone I met there. I won’t receive recognition for the various awards and honors I worked so hard to achieve.

And I’m one of the lucky ones! I feel guilty for feeling bad about my situation, when I know there are others who have it much, much worse. I am like that quintessential spoiled child, complaining while there are essential workers working tirelessly, people with health concerns constantly fearing for their safety, and people dying every day. Yet knowing that doesn't help me from feeling I was robbed of my senior experience, something I worked very hard to achieve. I know it’s not nearly as important as what many others are going through. But nevertheless, this is my situation. I was supposed to be enjoying this final quarter with my friends and preparing to move on, not be stuck at home, grappling with my mental health and hiding out in my room to get some alone time from a family I don’t always get along with. And while I know it’s more difficult out there for many others, it’s still difficult for me.

The thing that stresses me out most is the uncertainty. Uncertainty for the future – how long will this pandemic last? How many more people have to suffer before things go back to “normal” – whatever that is? How long until I can see my friends and family again? And what does this mean for my academic future? Who knows what will happen between now and then? All that’s left to do is wait and hope that everything will work out for the best.

Looking back over my last few months at UCI, I wish I knew at the time that I was experiencing my lasts; it feels like I took so much for granted. If there is one thing this has all made me realize, it’s that nothing is certain. Everything we expect, everything we take for granted – none of it is a given. Hold on to what you have while you have it, and take the time to appreciate the wonderful things in life, because you never know when it will be gone.

Physical Distancing

Thirty days have never felt so long. April has been the longest month of the year. I have been through more in these past three months than in the past three years. The COVID-19 outbreak has had a huge impact on both physical and social well-being of a lot of Americans, including me. Stress has been governing the lives of so many civilians, in particular students and workers. In addition to causing a lack of motivation in my life, quarantine has also brought a wave of anxiety.

My life changed the moment the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the government announced social distancing. My busy daily schedule, running from class to class and meeting to meeting, morphed into identical days, consisting of hour after hour behind a cold computer monitor. Human interaction and touch improve trust, reduce fear and increases physical well-being. Imagine the effects of removing the human touch and interaction from midst of society. Humans are profoundly social creatures. I cannot function without interacting and connecting with other people. Even daily acquaintances have an impact on me that is only noticeable once removed. As a result, the COVID-19 outbreak has had an extreme impact on me beyond direct symptoms and consequences of contracting the virus itself.

It was not until later that month, when out of sheer boredom I was scrolling through my call logs and I realized that I had called my grandmother more than ever. This made me realize that quarantine had created some positive impacts on my social interactions as well. This period of time has created an opportunity to check up on and connect with family and peers more often than we were able to. Even though we might be connecting solely through a screen, we are not missing out on being socially connected. Quarantine has taught me to value and prioritize social connection, and to recognize that we can find this type of connection not only through in-person gatherings, but also through deep heart to heart connections. Right now, my weekly Zoom meetings with my long-time friends are the most important events in my week. In fact, I have taken advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with many of my old friends and have actually had more meaningful conversations with them than before the isolation.

This situation is far from ideal. From my perspective, touch and in-person interaction is essential; however, we must overcome all difficulties that life throws at us with the best we are provided with. Therefore, perhaps we should take this time to re-align our motives by engaging in things that are of importance to us. I learned how to dig deep and find appreciation for all the small talks, gatherings, and face-to-face interactions. I have also realized that friendships are not only built on the foundation of physical presence but rather on meaningful conversations you get to have, even if they are through a cold computer monitor. My realization came from having more time on my hands and noticing the shift in conversations I was having with those around me. After all, maybe this isolation isn’t “social distancing”, but rather “physical distancing” until we meet again.

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ESSAY: Finding community during quarantine in my hometown of Farmington

When I first started writing stories about Farmington for Metromode, late in 2018, WDET’s Jerome Vaughn asked me what defined our tiny town’s spirit.

“People who live there and spend time there really want to know each other and interact with each other,” I’d told him.

So how are we faring during this Coronavirus quarantine, when we can’t do one of the things we love and value most?

Well, it’s been hard, obviously. When I venture outdoors with my daughters each day, I can’t escape the sense that we’re all suddenly existing in adjacent, single-family ghost towns, like something out of a “Twilight Zone” episode.

But every now and then, thankfully, I’ll also be surprised by something lovely.

On another afternoon, for our outdoor excursion, we biked downtown to our beloved local bakery. These days, we’re going through loaves of Sunflour Bakehaus ’ Old World bread even faster than usual, so I asked if there were any left. “We have two kinds of weirdly shaped loaves” was the answer. I didn’t care how they looked, so I said I’d take both; but then a woman entered the bakery while talking on her phone, and she started to report that it appeared the bakery was “all-out” of something. Figuring she was angling for a loaf of the Bakehaus’ signature bread, too, I told her she was welcome to have one of the loaves for which I was about to pay. She happily accepted – and it felt reassuring to be able to do this small kindness, and thus remind myself that this is what we do in Farmington. We look out for each other.

Which is precisely why I’ve lately felt so torn between wanting to support local businesses through a challenging time and strictly observing public health advisories. We’ve cautiously, judiciously tried to thread the needle: over the weekend, we picked up lunch at Dagwood’s Deli , and we all sat in the sunshine by the pavilion to eat our sandwiches; I got one last haircut at Salon Legato last week, just before I was scheduled to have a two-hour online job interview (and before the state ordered salons to close); we purchased a couple of birthday gifts for relatives at Clothes Encounters , as well as a few cat- and hamster-related items at PetValu (hand sanitizing often along the way); and we’re walking to Fresh Thyme these days only as needed.

Soon, of course, these kinds of fraught decisions will be rendered moot, as more and more businesses shut down for the quarantine’s duration. I’ll confess that I’m worried for our downtown because it is so central to our super-connected way of life here in Farmington. (If the town was a body, the neighborhoods would be its limbs, and the downtown would be its beating heart.)

Don’t get me wrong, though. Farmington is a terrific place to live primarily because of its people, and though we’re having to hunker down and do the whole “social distancing” thing just now, that fact won’t change.

I mean, one neighboring family who hosts an outdoor movie night a couple of times a year just organized, on Friday evening, a Netflix party so we could all watch “Incredibles 2” (and see each other online) while staying in our own homes. Locals are scrabbling like crazy to connect like old times in new (and safe) ways.

These are the places where we’ve always (quite intentionally) come together, so their current barrenness feels like grief.

Yes, we all must continue to stay home and do what’s asked of us, of course, for the greater good. No question. But in Farmington, I think we’re not only missing each other right now; we’re deeply missing our sense of being who we are as a tight-knit, unabashedly gabby little community.

To that end, my whole family responded to another localized social media call this past weekend – this time, creating sidewalk chalk art. My husband used bright colors to fill in a large cursive J (though to me, it looked like a butterfly in profile); my oldest daughter labored to fill in a giant, blushing smiley emoji; my younger daughter made a multi-color happy face; and I simply wrote “Hi, neighbors!” next to a heart.

It felt – as we worked on our individual contributions – like we were co-authoring a love letter.

Which I guess we were.

So stay safe out there, Farmington. While this prolonged isolation will inevitably re-shape us a bit as individuals, here’s hoping that our friendly, open-armed communal identity remains intact.

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Reflections from our Students on “A Day in my Life During Covid-19″

Here are some reflections from our students here at Xavier School in San Juan, Philippines as part of the Global Student Stories Project A Day in my Life: living under the Covid-19 Pandemic . We hope you enjoy reading them. 

A Day in my Life: Zachary 18, Xavier College San Juan, Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely shaken our society, especially here in the Philippines. The country and government’s response to the sudden surge of cases in the Philippines was sluggish to say the least. Moreover, the distribution of supplies and food items to both ordinary citizens as well as frontliners continues to be inefficient. News of politicians choosing to label relief goods for their constituents with their names means that time was wasted instead of just handing out the relief goods as soon as possible. More than just being saddened by the cancelation of our graduation I recognize that there are many more concerns in our country that require our attention. The shut down of businesses has truly hit our country hard, as a whole. It especially affects blue collar workers and employees who generally live on a paycheck to paycheck basis. It is immensely frustrating that the government continues to respond late to the needs of the people during this troubling time. In my case I am very grateful that my family is not one that is greatly affected by non-essential businesses being shut down during the quarantine. I cannot begin to feel what the frontliners in our hospitals throughout the country are experiencing right now. I am thankful that I am at home safe and that all I need to do to stay safe is to follow the rules of the community quarantine. However, I have an uncle who is a doctor and is currently serving as a frontliner in PGH. Every day I pray for his well-being that he may be able to stay healthy until this pandemic ends and he is able to come home safely. In light of all the negative effects of this pandemic there have also been little acts of kindness by ordinary people which make their way into the news. People showing that despite what’s going on in the world right now we still need to stick together and lend each other a helping hand throughout this crisis. I see Jesus in the frontliners who sacrifice their health to help people recover from the virus. When thinking and reflecting about the future I am just flooded with emotions, namely relief, anxiety, and hopefulness. I am relieved to hear that the Philippines is starting to eliminate the COVID-19 virus, it’ll be like the light at the end of a dark tunnel. I will be overjoyed when the news comes that we may start to leave our houses again and attempt to live life as we did before the pandemic. However with this sense of relief may also come a sense of anxiety, countries like Singapore have experienced second as well as third waves of the virus and that may very well happen to the Philippines too. Lastly, the future makes me feel hopeful that from this pandemic we learn to be more prepared. Hopefully measures will be put in place to be able to help the less fortunate during the next pandemic. Our society should learn to be able to wrap our arms around one another in a time of crisis like this. Hoarding of supplies such as alcohol and masks should no longer be a practice the next time we encounter a virus similar to this. Instead we must help our neighbor and learn to look out for one another which indirectly helps you protect yourself from the virus as well. God is calling for us to exercise the Filipino quality of “bayanihan” so that we may be able to get through this pandemic together united as a country.

  A Day in my Life: Juancho 17, Xavier College San Juan, Philippines A month into the enhanced community quarantine, everything still feels so surreal. The situation at hand has severely crippled our nation, as there are currently more than 6500 Filipinos who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, as well as around 500 deaths no thanks to the aforementioned pandemic. However, thanks to the frontline healthcare workers, there have been close to 650 recoveries as of writing.

The repercussions of COVID-19 are endless, with many families struggling financially as multiple companies have laid off several employees as a result of the economic strain which the pandemic has caused. Personally, I feel really lucky and blessed that I still have a roof over my head and get to eat three meals a day during a time when there are countless people who can only wonder where their next meal will come from.

When the lockdown was announced, I felt anger, annoyance, and anxiety. I was angry because my senior year was cut short, but primarily because I didn’t get the chance to march during the Graduation Rites, which was my main driving force for the whole year. I was annoyed because my plans for the long summer before college had suddenly gone down the drain. Finally, I feel anxiety because UP still hasn’t released the list of accepted applicants.

All of these emotions were heightened even further over the course of the past month, albeit for very different reasons. The slow government response to the pandemic is incredibly frustrating. Their failure to immediately address the issue as early as February exacerbated the spread of the virus in our nation, and today, some of our fellow countrymen are paying for this incompetence with their lives. This isn’t to say that all politicians are inept at leading the nation, as some local government officials have truly put the needs of their city above their own, which has truly been a glimmer of hope in this otherwise dark time.

The dark and uncertain times which we now live in has no doubt strained the faith of many people across the world, myself included. After all, why would God allow such suffering and sorrow to propagate amongst his people? It got to the point that I would question why my family prayed the rosary every night, or why we would say the prayers for COVID-19 at multiple times a day. Then at one point I realized, faith is what keeps us going in this time. Faith is directly related to hope, so by praying each night, we keep hoping for the future. God may have his own reasons for allowing this virus to augment and intensify, but it’s faith which keeps us sane as we hope for a future better than the present we are dealing with.

It’s scary to think of the future. Without a doubt, life will not be the same after this pandemic, but that’s okay. Our “normal” wasn’t working. That’s why it truly warms the heart to see several videos on social media which show strangers showing random acts of kindness towards the elderly, frontline workers, and other fellow citizens to ensure that we all get through this trying and turbulent time in the world. Hopefully after this is all over, that becomes the new normal. A world where we finally value what we have and act on a desire to be innately good as opposed to self-centered action.

  A Day in my Life: Drew 16, Xavier College San Juan, Philippines The current situation has affected my daily life to a significant degree. During the summer I would usually be able to visit my relatives and play games with my cousins. My family would usually go to our maternal-side’s house every Friday to be able to catch-up with them. Now we video call through messenger instead. This is so that our grandparents will be safe.

Aside from being stuck at home, I have to give more priority to my health and wellbeing. I’ve begun the habit of washing my hands more often, washing every other hour instead of washing my hands before eating.

Being stuck at home means that we all have a new type of life to live. All structure that we had beforehand are now nonexistent. This has been a blessing to me since now I can focus my time on exercising and other bucket lists that I have kept buried for a long time.

The epidemic has revealed a lot of the weaknesses of our society, as well as its strengths. We realize that our health system was not as effective as it seemed. In my own personal life, I begin to realize that much of my happiness has come from my social interactions with other people. Much of the things that I have looked forward to in the summer, like programmes, camps etc have been cancelled.

On the bright side I have given more priority to my studies and reviewing for the college entrance exams. I am lucky that time was given to me to reflect on my life and where I want to go.

I really hope that everyone else is safe and will find the best way to spend the time that this situation has given us.

A Day in my Life: Marcus 14, Xavier College San Juan, Philippines Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, me and my family have not been able to freely go outside. One thing that I have changed in my daily lifestyle is that I have to reduce the amount of food I consume. One other change is that we are very focused on keeping our house and ourselves sanitized by regularly washing hands, disinfecting furniture, etc.

I would say that the biggest challenge in living within the outbreak of COVID-19 would be facing the fact that many of our fellow human beings, most especially our frontliners, are suffering amidst the pandemic. One other challenge would be the Enhanced Community Quarantine, where people are not allowed outside of their homes. However, the consolation of the situation is the lessons we would get from it. For example, it teaches us that we should always be prepared for a situation like this in the future. These have made me feel that the world is not perfect, but there are those people who can make it better and this is what society should learn.

My biggest concern regarding the pandemic is the consequences it causes, the death and suffering of many people, the economy, amongst others. My biggest hope is that the pandemic ends as soon as possible.

  A Day in my Life: Mat 16, Xavier College San Juan, Philippines We live in a time of unprecedented fear—merely going out of the house could start a descent into ill health, the social and economic systems we have set up are threatening to collapse, and political systems have shown their full deficiencies. In other words, the idea of community has sacrificed itself in service of individuality.

The full scale of that even rips apart the dynamic of families. Parents have more often than not lost their pay because of the global situation, but worse than this, children have become, in their eyes, even more “useless.” In this extraordinary time, ideas of filial duty and obligation break down and should no longer be fully accepted.

What people need to re-realize is that all our relationships have been built on love, the unconditional love of the most memorable Sacrifice, the perfect love of the Father. However, the love of the Father is meaningless without fear—fear that people will never return to him, fear that fear itself vanishes from us and makes us unafraid for others. Without fearing for the welfare of others, we cannot channel the ultimate Sacrifice on the cross. In this trying time, where communities have torn each other apart, fear for the loss of the communal good has vanished. Love for the fellow human has vanished. Contrary to expectations, the current situation has resulted into the deepest loss of the most fundamental unit of the community. The family has devolved into a sort of hateful contract of apparently one-way obligation. Fear for each other’s holistic welfare has been lost.

Now is the time to change that.

A Day in my Life: Richwynn 16, Xavier College San Juan, Philippines Disrupted routine.  Restrained movement.  Impersonal/Virtual communication.  These summarize my situation following the pandemic declaration and ECQ imposition.  As the world grapples with a powerfully-mutating disease, I have been riding on a roller coaster of emotions and realizations. My moments of desolation sporadically intersperse with a conscious, driven effort to dwell in a state of consolation.  Uncertainties and fear abound as I worry over drastic lifestyle adjustments and the duration of such while grieving over daily news of fallen frontliners and patients who were mostly deprived of their last farewell and/or receiving their last rites.  Meanwhile, this trying time proves human fallibility; and sheds truth that mankind’s scramble for recognition, power, wealth are seemingly worthless when what matters most now is safeguarding God’s gift of life – for self-survival or sharing this through saving others.

In light of Pope Francis’ message for the world to reconnect, I tend to tie this to the themes of Catholic social teachings by showing solidarity from simple acts of acknowledging our frontline warriors to inclusive participation of multi-ethnicities in medical research/clinical trials.  This pandemic effectively breaks man-made barriers stratified through GDP standing, gender, race and social stature; thus highlights that the very essence of human life/dignity is our responsibility to self in relation to our environment (care for God’s creation) and others (care for the needy and the vulnerable).

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Teenagers are struggling in quarantine. This student is giving them an outlet.

Lauren davis '23 is helping provide a digital platform for young adults to reflect on the challenges they're facing during the coronavirus pandemic..

Lauren Davis '23

As the coronavirus became a global pandemic and life around the world changed drastically, Lauren Davis '23 and her friends noticed a trend.

“We felt like the young adult voice was not being recognized, as if these voices weren’t valid,” Davis said.

They decided to do something about it. 

Davis, along with childhood friends and acquaintances from her hometown of Sandy Hook, Connecticut, founded The Quaranteen Collection, a website to air their feelings and provide a platform for other young people. The site is an outlet to share perspectives and focus on critical issues that are further complicated by the coronavirus, like racism and mental health . 

“We really felt our age demographics’ needs weren’t being met,” Davis said. “In recognition of what we’re going through, we wanted to give young people a voice and allow everyone to get out how they feel. There are many sides to quarantine.”

The content consists of essays submitted by students, from middle school to college, that are authentic reactions and perspectives about COVID-19 and quarantine in the students’ own words. Common themes in the collection include navigating the switch to virtual learning, challenges with home life and the strain on teenagers’ friendships and social lives. 

“There are a few general themes, but ultimately there’s a desire to make one’s own story heard,” Davis added. “One of our goals is to give people a cathartic way to think through all that’s going on. Submitting a post can be therapeutic. And these reflections have been heartfelt.”

The Quaranteen Collection has posted about 50 submissions so far, and there’s a growing backlog as word about the platform spreads, Davis said. 

“These issues are real,” Davis said. “Many young people haven’t had a chance to process it, to think through how they feel about it and present their side to the world. We want to help and empower others to share.”

The following is an excerpt from Davis’ entry in The Quaranteen Collection titled “ A Shaky Transition ”

“Now that I’m able to think more clearly, I can see that quarantine is really a special opportunity in some ways. When was I ever gonna have quality time like this with my parents and brother again? It means so much to me to have this time to spend with them and my dog, in the town that I grew up in even if I can only drive around. I’m comfortable here, around people I love, and frankly I’ve always been socially anxious so it’s pretty nice to not have any expectations on me to go out. 

“In some ways, this isolation really sucks. We all know this. But I’ve found that it’s an unbelievable opportunity too at this time in my life to really sit down and think through things I haven’t had the time to, to appreciate my family and the friends I’ve made, and most of all appreciate that I’m so unbelievably lucky to be in the position I am in. I am happy to be home in a safe place with my family who loves each other, I miss school (who would’ve thought I’d say that ever), I have friends I miss every second, and I’m comfortable with where I am and with myself. 

“Five years ago, I never would have thought that I could make it to where I am now, which is something I think about a lot. I’m so amazed at it, and rather than lament not being at school right now, I’m reminding myself all the time to just be excited for when we get to go back and how great it will feel to have everything be normal again. Everything has its purpose, quarantine is no different. It’s just up to us to make it happen.”

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One Student's Perspective on Life During a Pandemic

• Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
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• COVID-19: Ethics, Health and Moving Forward

The pandemic and resulting shelter-in-place restrictions are affecting everyone in different ways. Tiana Nguyen, shares both the pros and cons of her experience as a student at Santa Clara University.

person sitting at table with open laptop, notebook and pen

Tiana Nguyen ‘21 is a Hackworth Fellow at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. She is majoring in Computer Science, and is the vice president of Santa Clara University’s Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) chapter .

The world has slowed down, but stress has begun to ramp up.

In the beginning of quarantine, as the world slowed down, I could finally take some time to relax, watch some shows, learn to be a better cook and baker, and be more active in my extracurriculars. I have a lot of things to be thankful for. I especially appreciate that I’m able to live in a comfortable house and have gotten the opportunity to spend more time with my family. This has actually been the first time in years in which we’re all able to even eat meals together every single day. Even when my brother and I were young, my parents would be at work and sometimes come home late, so we didn’t always eat meals together. In the beginning of the quarantine I remember my family talking about how nice it was to finally have meals together, and my brother joking, “it only took a pandemic to bring us all together,” which I laughed about at the time (but it’s the truth).

Soon enough, we’ll all be back to going to different places and we’ll be separated once again. So I’m thankful for my living situation right now. As for my friends, even though we’re apart, I do still feel like I can be in touch with them through video chat—maybe sometimes even more in touch than before. I think a lot of people just have a little more time for others right now.

Although there are still a lot of things to be thankful for, stress has slowly taken over, and work has been overwhelming. I’ve always been a person who usually enjoys going to classes, taking on more work than I have to, and being active in general. But lately I’ve felt swamped with the amount of work given, to the point that my days have blurred into online assignments, Zoom classes, and countless meetings, with a touch of baking sweets and aimless searching on Youtube.

The pass/no pass option for classes continues to stare at me, but I look past it every time to use this quarter as an opportunity to boost my grades. I've tried to make sense of this type of overwhelming feeling that I’ve never really felt before. Is it because I’m working harder and putting in more effort into my schoolwork with all the spare time I now have? Is it because I’m not having as much interaction with other people as I do at school? Or is it because my classes this quarter are just supposed to be this much harder? I honestly don’t know; it might not even be any of those. What I do know though, is that I have to continue work and push through this feeling.

This quarter I have two synchronous and two asynchronous classes, which each have pros and cons. Originally, I thought I wanted all my classes to be synchronous, since that everyday interaction with my professor and classmates is valuable to me. However, as I experienced these asynchronous classes, I’ve realized that it can be nice to watch a lecture on my own time because it even allows me to pause the video to give me extra time for taking notes. This has made me pay more attention during lectures and take note of small details that I might have missed otherwise. Furthermore, I do realize that synchronous classes can also be a burden for those abroad who have to wake up in the middle of the night just to attend a class. I feel that it’s especially unfortunate when professors want students to attend but don’t make attendance mandatory for this reason; I find that most abroad students attend anyway, driven by the worry they’ll be missing out on something.

I do still find synchronous classes amazing though, especially for discussion-based courses. I feel in touch with other students from my classes whom I wouldn’t otherwise talk to or regularly reach out to. Since Santa Clara University is a small school, it is especially easy to interact with one another during classes on Zoom, and I even sometimes find it less intimidating to participate during class through Zoom than in person. I’m honestly not the type to participate in class, but this quarter I found myself participating in some classes more than usual. The breakout rooms also create more interaction, since we’re assigned to random classmates, instead of whomever we’re sitting closest to in an in-person class—though I admit breakout rooms can sometimes be awkward.

Something that I find beneficial in both synchronous and asynchronous classes is that professors post a lecture recording that I can always refer to whenever I want. I found this especially helpful when I studied for my midterms this quarter; it’s nice to have a recording to look back upon in case I missed something during a lecture.

Overall, life during these times is substantially different from anything most of us have ever experienced, and at times it can be extremely overwhelming and stressful—especially in terms of school for me. Online classes don’t provide the same environment and interactions as in-person classes and are by far not as enjoyable. But at the end of the day, I know that in every circumstance there is always something to be thankful for, and I’m appreciative for my situation right now. While the world has slowed down and my stress has ramped up, I’m slowly beginning to adjust to it.

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What Students Are Saying About Family Conflict in Quarantine, Starting Over and Health Care Heroics

Teenage comments in response to our recent writing prompts, and an invitation to join the ongoing conversation.

By The Learning Network

For this week’s roundup of student comments on our writing prompts , we’re highlighting teenagers’ thoughts on isolating with their families, beginning again after a setback, and the role of health care workers during the pandemic.

Welcome to all the new students who chimed in this week from:

Brooks School, North Andover, Mass.; Clarkston, Ga.; Dearborn, Mich.; Easton, Pa.; Emerson, N.J.; Hillsboro, Kan.; The International School Ho Chi Minh City — American Academy; John H. Francis Polytechnic High School; Madison Junior High; Madrid, Spain; The Mead School, Greenwich, Conn.; Pacific Grove, Calif.; Robbinsville, N.J.; Santa Monica; Seven Bridges Middle School, Chappaqua, N.Y. and Sharet High School, Netanya, Israel.

Please note: Student comments have been lightly edited for length, but otherwise appear as they were originally submitted.

Is Your Family Experiencing Greater Conflict During a Time of Self-Quarantine?

The coronavirus crisis has forced people around the world to spend more time together at home. In some cases, families are running off the rails .

We asked students if their families were experiencing greater conflict while quarantined together. They told us about increased stress, productive and counterproductive family meetings, and how living in close quarters can exacerbate underlying tension or engender more closeness.

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COVID-19: Prevention and control measures in community

Rahmet gÜner.

1 Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine,Yıldırım Beyazıt University,Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

İmran HASANOĞLU

Firdevs aktaŞ.

2 COVID-19 Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health of Turkey, Turkey

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

On January 30, 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and, in March 2020, began to characterize it as a pandemic in order to emphasize the gravity of the situation and urge all countries to take action in detecting infection and preventing spread. Unfortunately, there is no medication that has been approved by the FDA, gone through controlled studies and demonstrated an effect on the virus for this global pandemic. Although there are cures for illnesses and developments made by leaps and bounds in our day, the strongest and most effective weapon that society has against this virus that is affecting not just health but also economics, politics, and social order, is the prevention of its spread. The main points in preventing the spread in society are hand hygiene, social distancing and quarantine. With increased testing capacity, detecting more COVID-19 positive patients in the community will also enable the reduction of secondary cases with stricter quarantine rules.

1. Introduction

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus, now designated SARS-CoV-2, was identified as the cause of an outbreak of acute respiratory illness in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei province of China. In February 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the disease COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The clinical presentation of 2019-nCoV infection ranges from asymptomatic to very severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock and multi-organ failure, which may result in death [1]. On January 30, 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and, in March 2020, began to characterize it as a pandemic in order to emphasize the gravity of the situation and urge all countries to take action in detecting infection and preventing spread.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Other routes have also been implicated in the transmission of coronaviruses, such as contact with contaminated fomites and inhalation of aerosols, produced during aerosol generating procedures. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from asymptomatic individuals (or individuals within the incubation period) has also been described. However, the extent to which this occurs remains unknown [2].

Unfortunately, there is no medication that has been approved by the FDA, gone through controlled studies and demonstrated an effect on the virus for this global pandemic. Although there are cures for illnesses and developments made by leaps and bounds in our day, the strongest and most effective weapon that society has against this virus that is effecting not just health but also economics, politics, and social order, is the prevention of its spread. The interim guidance published by the WHO on 7 March 2020, “Responding to community spread of COVID-19,” states that preventing COVID-19 from spreading is through the development of coordination mechanisms not just in health but in areas such as transportation, travel, commerce, finance, security and other sectors which encompasses the entirety of society [3].

Preventive measures are the current strategy to limit the spread of cases. Early screening, diagnosis, isolation, and treatment are necessary to prevent further spread. Preventive strategies are focused on the isolation of patients and careful infection control, including appropriate measures to be adopted during the diagnosis and the provision of clinical care to an infected patient. Important COVID-19 prevention and control measures in community are summarized in Table.

COVID-19 prevention and control measures in community.

The most important strategy for the population to undertake is to frequently wash their hands and use portable hand sanitizer and avoid contact with their face and mouth after interacting with a possibly contaminated environment. To reduce the risk of transmission in the community, individuals should be advised to wash hands diligently, practice respiratory hygiene (i.e., cover their cough), and avoid crowds and close contact with ill individuals, if possible. There are posters and brochures prepared by many organizations on all issues related to protection from COVID-19 and are widely used all over the world (Figure 1).The WHO and other similar health organizations have published visual tools such as videos and posters to demonstrate the correct application of hand hygiene throughout the entire society (Figure 2).These posters, distributed throughout different parts of society in order to draw maximum attention to the importance of hand hygiene, created awareness among all of them. With the increase in the number of people carrying hand sanitizer with them for the application of instant hand hygiene and the spread of mask usage among people in countries such as China, Korea, and Japan, the pandemic was brought under control much more quickly. In those countries where such measures were not made mandatory, the exponential rise in the number of cases continues.

Poster regarding important prevention measures for COVID-19, prepared by Turkish Ministry of Health.

Poster regarding hand washing, prepared by Turkish Ministry of Health.

Social distancing is advised, particularly in locations that have community transmission. Many countries have installed quarantine and social/physical distancing as measures to prevent the further spread of the virus.

These measures can include:

· The full or partial closure of educational institutions and workplaces,

· Limiting the number of visitors and limiting the contact between the residents of confined settings, such as long-term care facilities and prisons,

· Cancellation, prohibition and restriction of mass gatherings and smaller meetings,

· Mandatory quarantine of buildings or residential areas,

· Internal or external border closures, and

· Stay-at-home restrictions for entire regions or countries.

Personal protective equipment

For people without respiratory symptoms, the WHO does not recommend wearing a medical mask in the community, since it does not decrease the importance of other general measures to prevent infection. The single use of a mask does not obstruct the disease; the improper use of the mask actually increases the risk of COVID-19 infection. In the WHO’s “Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19” interim guidance, the prioritized use of medical masks by health personnel was emphasized [4].

To reduce COVID-19 transmission from potentially asymptomatic or presymptomatic people, the ECDC recommends the use of face masks [5]. The use of face masks in the community may primarily serve as a means of source control. This measure can be particularly relevant in epidemic situations when the number of asymptomatic but infectious persons in the community can be assumed to be high. Wearing a face mask could be considered, especially when visiting busy, closed spaces, such as grocery stores, shopping centres, etc.; when using public transport; and for certain workplaces and professions that involve physical proximity to many other people (such as members of the police force, cashiers – if not behind a glass partition, etc.) and when teleworking is not possible.

In the United States, the CDC updated its recommendations in early April to advise individuals to wear a cloth face covering (i.e., homemade masks or bandanas) when in public settings where social distancing is difficult to achieve, especially in areas with substantial community transmission [6]. Individuals should be counseled to avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth when removing the covering, practice hand hygiene after handling it, and launder it routinely.

The rationale for the face covering is primarily to contain secretions of and prevent transmission from individuals who have asymptomatic or presymptomatic infection. The CDC also reiterates that the face covering recommendation does not include medical masks, which should be reserved for health care workers.

Individuals who are caring for patients with suspected or documented COVID-19 at home should also wear a face cover when in the same room as that patient (if the patient cannot wear a face cover).

Social distancing

Social distancing is designed to reduce interactions between people in a broader community, in which individuals may be infectious but have not yet been identified hence not yet isolated [7]. As diseases transmitted by respiratory droplets require a certain proximity of people, social distancing of persons will reduce transmission. Social distancing is particularly useful in settings where community transmission is believed to have occurred, but where the linkages between cases is unclear, and where restrictions placed only on persons known to have been exposed is considered insufficient to prevent further transmission. Examples for social distancing include closure of schools or office buildings and suspension of public markets, and cancellation of gatherings. In public markets where it is difficult to maintain social distance, limitation of the entered person and encouraging online shopping can reduce the amount of contact.

Workplaces are also one of the high-risk areas for COVID-19 transmission. Therefore, home office working must be encouraged if possible. In workplaces where home office working is not possible, adherence to recommendations of WHO remains quite important [8].

Studies have been conducted that support the infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 in the presymptomatic stage; social distancing is thus of critical importance in establishing control over the pandemic[2].

Quarantine is one of the oldest and most effective tools of controlling communicable disease outbreaks. This public health practice was used widely in fourteenth century Italy, when ships arriving at the Venice port from plague-infected ports had to anchor and wait for 40 days (in Italian: quaranta for 40) before disembarking their surviving passengers. The quarantine of persons is the restriction of activities of or the separation of persons who are not ill but who may been exposed to an infectious agent or disease, with the objective of monitoring their symptoms and ensuring the early detection of cases. Quarantine is different from isolation, which is the separation of ill or infected persons from others to prevent the spread of infection or contamination.

Looking at the available studies in the literature, quarantine is the most effective method in reducing both the number of infected and dead [9,10]. It has been much more effective in countries which initiated strict quarantine rules right from the beginning. In an article quickly published by the Cochrane Library evaluating 29 studies, results indicate that quarantine can reduce the number of infected at rates from 81% to 44%, and in the number of dead from 61% to 31% [11].

In a mathematical model done on the spread of COVID-19 in Italy, it was shown that without strict quarantine rules the pandemic could not be controlled and that the number of secondary cases increased in proportion to the size of households. According to the simulation, if the household is comprised of 2 people and full quarantine has been put in place, expected secondary cases are 3 within the 14-day period; with a household of 6, this number increases to 16 [12].

Despite more than 2 months passing after the discovery of the first case in the US, the calls to stay at home put out in 33 states and by many local governments were insufficient. On the other hand, while it was greatly criticized, the quarantine and severe rules applied by China’s central government to people from Wuhan meant that they were able to effectively control the number of cases in states outside of Hubei and that death rates were reduced.

In the influenza pandemic in 1918, the importance of quarantine measures was demonstrated very clearly [13]. The most striking example of this comes from the US–the first case in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was observed on September 17, but social restrictions to prevent spread such as reducing crowds in public spaces were instituted on October 3, when there were 40 deaths per every 100,000 people. Unfortunately, the measures instituted after this point were insufficient and by the middle of October, this number reached 250/100,000 people. In contrast, the first case in St. Louis, Missouri, was observed on October 5, social restrictions were instituted on October 7, and both the number of cases and the rate of mortality was kept at low numbers.

The WHO recommends that contacts of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 be quarantined for 14 days from the last time they were exposed to the patient [14]. For the purpose of implementing quarantine, a contact is a person who is involved in any of the following from 2 days before and up to 14 days after the onset of symptoms in the patient:

· Having face-to-face contact with a COVID-19 patient within 1 meter and for >15 min,

· Providing direct care for patients with COVID-19 disease without using proper personal protective equipment,

· Staying in the same close environment as a COVID-19 patient (including sharing a workplace, classroom or household or being at the same gathering) for any amount of time,

· Travelling in close proximity with (that is, within 1 m separation from) a COVID-19 patient in any kind of conveyance.

Active monitoring of people who are quarantined is one of the important points for controlling the epidemic in the society. There are several mandatory mobile phone applications that control the compliance of people to quarantine in countries such as China, Japan and Korea. In Turkey, with the support of mobile phone operators, all persons who are quarantined are alerted instantly when they move away from their location. Certainly, deterrent fines will also increase compliance with quarantine.

Cleaning and disinfection

High-touch areas such as bedside tables and door handles should be disinfected daily with regular household disinfectant containing a diluted bleach solution (that is, 1-part bleach to 99 parts water). For surfaces that cannot be cleaned with bleach, 70% ethanol can be used. Toilets and bathrooms should be cleaned and disinfected with a diluted bleach solution (one part bleach to 9 parts water to make a 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution). Disposable gloves should be used when cleaning or handling surfaces, clothing, or linen soiled with body fluids. All used disposable contaminated items should be placed in a lined container before disposing of them with other household waste. Clothes, bed linens, and bath and hand towels should cleaned using regular laundry soap and water or machine washed at 60–90°C with common laundry detergent. Disposable gloves should be used when cleaning or handling surfaces, clothing, or linen soiled with body fluids. All used disposable contaminated items should be placed in a lined container before disposing of them with other household waste.

Increasing testing capacity

Another important point in preventing the spread of the disease throughout society is to increase the number of tests and thus pinpoint more cases, isolate them, and trace those who have been in contact. For this reason, increasing laboratories’ test capacity and developing new testing strategies are of utmost importance. Different methods such as rapid-testing kits, serologic methods and self-collected specimen tests are being used throughout the world to determine cases which in turn help adherence to isolation rules.

In South Korea, which acted quickly to administer free-of-charge and extensive public testing for COVID-19, “drive through testing” was initiated for the first time [15]. The ease of its application, reduction in the number of people who applied to health centres, and the capacity to investigate more people in lesser time appears as a successful strategy. Similar applications based on this model are being instituted in Germany and other countries after South Korea.

Prevention and control measures in Turkey

Several different containment measures were implemented by the Turkish government. These included social distancing, travel restrictions on visitors arriving from high-risk counties, quarantine for nationals returning from high-risk locations, and closure of schools and certain types of workplaces. The government declared on March 12th that all schools including universities were to be closed starting from March 16th.

Turkey put into place several measures to limit movement of people. Citizens 65 years old or older, patients with immune system deficiency, chronic lung disease, asthma, COPD, chronic cardiovascular disease, chronic renal disease, hypertension, chronic liver disease as well as users of drugs that disrupt the immune system were restricted from leaving their homes and using public transportation.

Major containment actions taken are summarized in Figure 3. All ministries published general instructions on COVID-19 prevention and control measures in their organizations [16]. As of April 13, approximately 40,000 tests have been reached per day with a total of 73 authorized laboratories, and the number of performed daily tests is gradually increasing.

Timeline for prevention and control measures in Turkey.

2. Conclusion

In COVID-19, which has no approved treatment, it is very important to prevent the spread in the society. The main points in preventing the spread in society are hand hygiene, social distancing and quarantine. With increased testing capacity, detecting more positive patients in the community will also enable the reduction of secondary cases with stricter quarantine rules.

Acknowledgments

Rahmet GÜNER and Firdevs AKTAŞ are the members of the COVID-19 Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health of Turkey. Rahmet GÜNER and İmran HASANOĞLU are working in the main pandemic hospital, Ankara City Hospital, a 3800-bed hospital with 700 ICU beds.

• Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. New England Journal of Medicine 2020 February 28. doi: 10. [ PMC free article ] [ PubMed ]
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• Using face masks in the community reducing COVID-19 transmission from potentially asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people through the use of face masks or presymptomatic people through the use of face masks ECDC Technical Report [online]. Website https://www.ecdc.europa. eu/en/publications-data/using-face-masks-communityreducing- covid-19-transmission. 2020.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-gettingsick/ cloth-face-cover.html. 2020.
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Masks Strongly Recommended but Not Required in Maryland, Starting Immediately

Due to the downward trend in respiratory viruses in Maryland, masking is no longer required but remains strongly recommended in Johns Hopkins Medicine clinical locations in Maryland. Read more .

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Coronavirus, Social and Physical Distancing and Self-Quarantine

Reviewed By:

Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H.

Now that the new coronavirus and COVID-19, the illness it causes, are spreading among communities in the United States and other countries, phrases such as “physical distancing,” “self-quarantine” and “flattening the curve” are showing up in the media.

What do they mean, and how might they apply to you, your family and your community?

Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H. , senior director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins, helps clarify these concepts so you can understand better why they’re being recommended.

What is social distancing?

The practice of social distancing means staying home and away from others as much as possible to help prevent spread of COVID-19. The practice of social distancing encourages the use of things such as online video and phone communication instead of in-person contact.

As communities reopen and people are more often in public, the term “physical distancing” (instead of social distancing) is being used to reinforce the need to stay at least 6 feet from others, as well as wearing face masks.  Historically, social distancing was also used interchangeably to indicate physical distancing which is defined below.  However, social distancing is a strategy distinct from the physical distancing behavior.

COVID-19: When should physical distancing be practiced?

Infectious disease expert Lisa Maragakis explains how physical distancing can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus and offers tips to practice it correctly.

What is physical distancing?

Physical distancing is the practice of staying at least 6 feet away from others to avoid catching a disease such as COVID-19.

As noted above, “social distancing” is a term that was used earlier in the pandemic as many people stayed home to help prevent spread of the virus. Now as communities are reopening and people are in public more often, physical distancing is used to stress the importance of maintaining physical space when in public areas.

How can I practice physical distancing?

Wear a  face mask or covering  when you are not in your home and whenever you are around people who are not members of your household. Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others. Avoid crowded places, particularly indoors, and events that are likely to draw crowds.

Other examples of social and physical distancing to avoid larger crowds or crowded spaces are:

• Working from home instead of at the office
• Closing schools or switching to online classes
• Visiting loved ones by electronic devices instead of in person
• Cancelling or postponing conferences and large meetings

What is self-quarantine?

People who have been exposed to the new coronavirus and who are at risk for coming down with COVID-19 might practice self-quarantine . Health experts recommend that self-quarantine lasts 14 days. Two weeks provides enough time for them to know whether or not they will become ill and be contagious to other people.

You might be asked to practice self-quarantine if you have recently returned from traveling to a part of the country or the world where COVID-19 is spreading rapidly, or if you have knowingly been exposed to an infected person.

Self-quarantine involves:

• Using standard hygiene and washing hands frequently
• Not sharing things like towels and utensils
• Staying at home
• Not having visitors
• Staying at least 6 feet away from other people in your household

Once your quarantine period has ended, if you do not have symptoms, follow your doctor’s instructions on how to return to your normal routine.

What is isolation?

For people who are confirmed to have COVID-19, isolation is appropriate. Isolation is a health care term that means keeping people who are infected with a contagious illness away from those who are not infected. Isolation can take place at home or at a hospital or care facility. Special personal protective equipment will be used to care for these patients in health care settings.

What is “flattening the curve?”

Flattening the curve refers to using protective practices to slow the rate of COVID-19 infection so hospitals have room, supplies and doctors for all of the patients who need care.

A large number of people becoming very sick over the course of a few days could overwhelm a hospital or care facility. Too many people becoming severely ill with COVID-19 at roughly the same time could result in a shortage of hospital beds, equipment or doctors.

On a graph, a sudden surge in patients over a short time could be represented as a tall, narrow curve.

On the other hand, if that same large number of patients arrived at the hospital at a slower rate, for example, over the course of several weeks, the line of the graph would look like a longer, flatter curve.

In this situation, fewer patients would arrive at the hospital each day. There would be a better chance of the hospital being able to keep up with adequate supplies, beds and health care providers to care for them.

Getting Ready – and Staying Safe – for Your Next Appointment

We are ready to safely care for you in our community practices, clinics, surgery centers and hospitals. Learn about our additional steps to keep you safe and how you should prepare for your appointment.

Lessening Coronavirus Impact

It’s important to know what to do if you feel sick. The coronavirus pandemic is making everyone aware of handwashing and protecting others from coughs and sneezes. Along with those essential steps, practices such as social and physical distancing, and self-quarantine and isolation when appropriate can slow the rate of infection in a city, town or community.

The pandemic can seem overwhelming, but in truth, every person can help slow down the spread of COVID-19. By doing your part, you can make a big difference to your health, and that of others around you.

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Narrative Essay On Enhanced Community-Quarantine Due To COVID-19

A narrative essay on the effects of the enhanced community-quarantine.

NARRATIVE ESSAY ON ENHANCED COMMUNITY-QUARANTINE – In this article, we are going to share perspectives on the enhanced community quarantine in the Philippines.

As the Philippines faced the coronavirus pandemic, several countermeasures were imposed to curve its spread. As such, President Duterte imposed an enhanced community quarantine on Luzon.

However, the spread of the virus brought to light some of the worst traits of the Filipino people. Instead of helping out, people began panic buying. Worse, they tried to profit off of their fellow countrymen by hoarding important supplies such as alcohol and face masks.

Furthermore, the inconsistencies and incompetence of some politicians and public servants were highlighted. Clearly, some were not prepared to handle the spread of the virus.

This caused a debate online regarding what to do amid the pandemic and the quarantine in the Philippines. Many argued that criticizing the government would do no help, however, many would disagree.

Because of the outcries of netizens online, thousands of people have been helped by the government and got aid. Moreover, several politicians have listened to the masses and provided the desperate needs of the people.

But hope still remains. The Filipino people is resilient and brave. In light of this global health crisis, and the community quarantine, the hope is that we would all learn from this.

The majority of the people would want “things to get back to normal”. However, the normal that we had before was a culture of being apologetic on behalf of politicians and normalizing hate.

After this quarantine, when the dust has settled and the world begins to rebuild from their losses, let us look back on the pandemic as a reminder that we should move forward for the better.

Like this article? READ ALSO: Huseng Sisiw – Who Is This Famous Filipino Writer?

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Student Health and Wellness Center

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My Quarantined Life

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Life in isolation and social distancing can be hard. Here are stories from JCU students with their thoughts, feelings, and experiences during this time.

Grief. That’s what this feeling is. 

We are grieving the college experience we thought we were in store for. While others may be going through more tangible losses of family members and employment opportunities, our grief is just as valid. No matter how much you have lost in this process, you have still experienced loss. Grief is said to come in six stages: Shock & Denial, Anger, Depression & Detachment, Dialogue & Bargaining, Acceptance, and the Return to a Meaningful Life. Let me take you through my grief process for my last semester of college, and hopefully you can find some familiarities and a sense of hope in your own ability to process this loss. 

Shock & Denial 

The second I heard that in person classes were cancelled until April 13th I immediately packed a bag and left campus. I did not process, I did not say goodbye, I did not think anything through. I just left because I did not know what else to do. How could my senior year just have been minimized by such a margin? How could my formal and Greek Week and my internship all just be obliterated? My dad promised me Chinese food and a warm bed to sleep in at home an hour and a half away, so I just left and tried to clear the confusion from my mind. I told him that there was no way they wouldn't let us come back for the last few weeks. They had to let us finish classes in person, to have finals week, to have our weekend in Put-In-Bay… to have commencement. So, I took baths, enjoyed the free food, reveled in having my own bathroom again, and tried to think of this as a little “vacation” from reality. I was in denial up until the moment we got the email completely cancelling our final semester as college students. 

Throughout the day I would remember the situation and get angry all over again. I would just walk around the house permanently frustrated. If my parents tried to talk about the situation I would be pissed off, if they tried to talk about something else I would be pissed off, and if my dogs barked at the wrong moment in my ever spiraling thought process I would be pissed off. I described it to my mom as “wearing a vest of anger,” I felt it constantly weighing down on my chest, inhibiting everything I wanted to do to cope. I was more aggressive and quick to anger that I had ever felt. I perceived every form of communication as a threat. I assumed that the world intended to just keep hurting me and that no relief would come. This stage ended when I finally sat down with my mom and explained how much pain I was in. 

Depression & Detachment

As someone prone to depressive episodes, this stage almost felt comfortable. I would stay in bed all day and avoid responding to texts. It was a daily struggle to convince myself to shower and do basic self care tasks. I didn’t feel like eating healthy or working out. I wanted to be alone. I was honest with my boyfriend about how low I felt. I wanted to be as far from my old life as possible, in order to ignore the feeling of loss I had. If I didn’t think about my friends and my opportunities, I couldn’t miss them… right? I broke out of this stage when a friend finally got a hold of me, and we had a genuine conversation for the first time in a little while. She reminded me of just how much life I have yet to live. 

Dialogue & Bargaining

I would say that I’m currently in this stage. These stages take time, and no one is expected to be out of them in any “perfect” timeline. I feel more at peace with my new normal, and ready to start adapting to my new life. I am thinking ahead to the fall, and making adapted plans in case this continues. I am keeping my options open, while also trying to keep my future plans intact as much as humanly possible. Part of my dialogue of healing is writing this article and getting my feelings out. I’m trying.

How long will it take to get to this coveted stage? Who’s to say. Could be days, weeks, months… and I’m okay with that. I understand that this situation is still very uncomfortable for me, but I also understand that some day it won’t be. I’m trying to do a better job of being emotionally transparent with those close to me in order to help this process along as smoothly as possible. Open and honest communication is the keystone of healthy grief. Eventually, through the employment of healthy and progressive coping mechanisms, we grieve and we heal. 

Return to a Meaningful Life

Ideally, this will be when the quarantine is over… but we really have no idea when that will be. To take pressure off of myself to heal, I am trying to create a culture of meaningful life in my current situation, so that I do not feel the need to hold myself back until a formal “resolution” is found. Sure, I can hypothesize that a graduation ceremony or return to tactile schooling will fill this need… but I don’t want to set myself up for failure by setting these restrictions on myself. Grieving is a process that must be felt in it’s own time, and one that you must totally give yourself up to. 

A lot of these stages aren’t pretty, and I’m not afraid to admit that. I’m not all too proud of my behavior and how the grieving process has affected me. But - *spoiler alert* - I’m human… and so are you. We all process grief and loss in our own time and in our own methods, with these stages as a potential common theme. It is normal, natural, and VALID for these next few months to be a little tender for us. We lost our last semester. We have every right to feel this grief, and heal from it on our own schedule. 

Sending love to the Class of 2020 and to anyone who has felt a great loss from this horrific situation. Stay healthy and never forget to address your personal wellness as another factor of health. We are all in this together. 

      - Anabelle Nietupski ‘20

JCU  Counseling Center  continues to provide virtual services to support all JCU students.

Other Resources including 24/7 crisis support services, info on how to cope with emotional reactions to everything related to the pandemic all the resulting changes to daily life, and suggestions on how to maintain some routine and normalcy in our lives.

We encourage everyone to connect with each other virtually in general, and even more specifically to connect in order to process these feelings of grief and loss. Students can do that on their own, within their student groups, and soon the Counseling Center will offer the JCU community opportunities to request Zoom presentations or facilitated group discussions on various topics. Topics may include 1) Counseling Center services, 2) coping with anxiety/worry, 3) coping with grief/loss, and 4) coping with day-to-day stressors like increasing productivity and maintaining social connection. Look for more information through Inside JCU and their website.

Esther Mba - Keep the Distance, Flatten the Curve

I know a lot of people are on edge because of the current COVID-19 crisis going on globally and the alarming rates at which the cases are increasing, but one way that we have been advised to “flatten the curve” is SOCIAL DISTANCING. This is aimed to result in a controlled reduction of the cases by limiting our level of social interaction. However, this has proved to be a challenge, especially for young people who live by the phrases “Live your best life” and “You Only Live Once (YOLO)” who still move about and act oblivious to the warnings of health organizations and the government. But I hope that by the time people are done reading this, we will better understand the need to practice social distancing.

            As young people, the tendency to be rebellious is almost inevitable. Some feel it more than others but it is still a feeling that is very present in us because we want to make the most of our youth, even if it means breaking a few rules to do so. However, when the rules are made to protect us from ourselves, we need to ask ourselves whether the rebellion is worth it. Social distancing is a strongly recommended method of effectively handling COVID-19 by reducing exposure to each other and the environment. This is because the virus is transferred through droplets (sweat, saliva, etc) and can be easily spread by people who cough, sneeze, or by touching a surface that has been contaminated. And since no one really knows where people have been, it is better to be safe than sorry by staying and protecting yourself and the people you care about. But some young people see this as “grown-ups trying to stop them from having fun”.

            There are other methods of avoiding the virus such as, keeping your hands sanitized, washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, coughing into your elbow, not touching your face, etc., but these other methods can only go so far, especially for those who have already been infected. Which is why we need to take those extra measures to ensure that we are not at risk of catching the virus.

            Personally, I have been practicing social distancing as best I can, even though it’s not the most fun thing in the world. But finding ways to make things interesting is usually the fun part. As annoying as it might be sometimes, I know who I am helping by practicing social distancing. I am helping my family, my friends, and the people in the community that I live in, in some way also helping the world by reducing the statistics. At the end of the day, the sooner this goes away, the sooner we can return to our normal lives and appreciate the world a lot more.

Angela Burns

I was devastated when I was told that I would have to pack up all of my things, leave the dorm room that I called “home” and abandon all of my friends for the rest of the school year, I was absolutely devastated. I was scared, and did not want to spend the rest of my school year at home and without my friends. This time is extremely exhausting, demanding, and even inconvenient. This time can be made even more difficult for students who are dealing with mental illness, as well as unfortunate home situations. I personally struggle with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. I can also personally say that being without my friends has been intensely fatiguing, especially since I love being in the physical company of others. I know many other people do as well, but there is so much technology nowadays. Although it cannot in any way replace the experience of being in the physical presence of others, it is still helpful to utilize programs such as Skype, Zoom, a simple phone call, FaceTime, Google Duo, and Netflix Party during this difficult time.

            I know we, as the younger generation, sometimes feel that this time of social distancing is not meant for us. That it is unimportant, that we are stronger than the coronavirus, and some might say that we are “immune.” Although for a majority of the younger population the risk of the coronavirus is not as great as the risk for the elderly population, those that suffer from prior health conditions and those that have a weakened immune system, a prior condition that compromises their immune system, the risk is still prominent. Lately, more and more young people are becoming hospitalized from the Coronavirus, and even ending up with permanent lung damage from it. Also, even if we do not catch the virus ourselves, we are still able to be carriers for the virus and have the possibility of catching either a mild or severe form of the virus. Being a carrier is especially dangerous because that means the person is asymptomatic and does not know that they have the virus. The virus could then unknowingly be passed onto others, and possibly to someone who could experience a very severe case with a less chance of recovery.

            I personally am staying home and practicing social distancing for my grandma. She is in the at-risk category because she is older and has pre-existing health conditions. I’ve always had a very close relationship with her and I love her with all my heart. Since I have been raised by a single-mother, my grandma has helped to raise my brother and I for our entire lives and has continued to do so. She has done so much out of the goodness of her heart to make sure that we would have a good life. This small, tiny, little favor of staying inside my home and practicing social distancing is something that I owe to my grandma. I’m doing this selfless act for her because not only is it a simple and easy task, but it is also something to show her how much I care about her. For all that my grandma has done for me, staying inside and limiting my exposure for her is a small price to pay.

            As college students, I recognize that sometimes we have this concept that the world is revolving around us. We have a full course load and are just trying to live our lives. I, too, am guilty of being selfish. But, I just ask that during this time you attempt to take a step out of the box and practice being selfless in order to protect those around you. I’m sure most of us have someone or multiple people that we love that we do not want infected with this virus. Practicing social distancing and staying at home is the greatest example during this time to show your selflessness while also protecting those you love the most. I understand this is a very heavy topic, but the amount of people that are not remaining in their homes and not practicing social distancing is what is causing the continual increase in cases of the Coronavirus. As I finish writing this, I just ask you to reflect on this: is going out (for any reasons besides for food, medication, or other life-sustaining reasons) really worth the risk of potentially infecting those you care about?

JCU  Counseling Center

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• Future Perfect

Quarantine has changed us — and it’s not all bad

Here are 8 new habits people want to keep post-lockdown.

by Sigal Samuel

Cities are reopening. Lockdowns are lifting. And some people are starting to feel they can glimpse a return, however slow and partial, to “normal.”

But the pandemic has changed us. Although being on lockdown has been pretty grueling on balance, the surprise is that many of us have realized there are some things about quarantine life that are worth preserving. We’re questioning the very fundamentals of the “normal” we’d all come to unthinkingly accept — and realizing we don’t want to go back, not to that.

For some, going back isn’t even an option. Those who are grieving the loss of loved ones, for example, have suffered a tragic and irrevocable loss. Millions who’ve lost their jobs don’t have any work to go back to, and many essential workers have been working through the pandemic without much choice. Older and immunocompromised people are still advised to stay home.

At the same time, living in quarantine for months has offered some — mostly the privileged among us — a rare opportunity to reflect on our lives and, potentially, to reset them.

Workers whose jobs defined their lives are now asking what all that productivity was for , and whether we really want to measure our self-worth by the yardstick of hypercompetitive capitalism. Many are finding that the things that made them look “successful” actually also made them feel miserable , or precarious , or physically unwell .

Quarantine has allowed them to experiment with new habits and new lifestyles. And they want to keep some of these things going, even in a post-lockdown world.

I asked Vox readers to tell me which specific changes they want to maintain as they emerge from quarantine and stumble their way to a new normal. More than 100 people responded across the globe, from the United States to the United Arab Emirates and from Portugal to Pakistan. Some broad trends leaped out in the responses. Below are the eight most common.

1) Reducing consumerism

This was by far the most popular response. Many told me they want to spend less money shopping for new material goods like gadgets and clothes. A long period of being shut in and not spending as much has led to the realization that so much of our consumer behavior is about instant gratification, not lasting happiness.

Several people also noted that they plan to eat out less often at restaurants. Eating in during the lockdown has enabled them to save money, and some have discovered a taste for home-cooked meals.

A few said they’ll look to “mend and make do” more often. In situations where that’s not possible and they’ll have to buy something new, respondents told me they want to be more mindful of where they spend their money.

“I think I will be more inclined to direct my consumption toward small local businesses,” said Nora Zeid, a 23-year-old illustrator and designer in the United Arab Emirates. “It breaks my heart how much they have suffered lately and how, unlike big corporations, they are less likely to survive.”

2) Slowing down and putting less pressure on ourselves

Being stuck in our houses has made many of us realize that we’ve spent years rushing through life, pressuring ourselves to get the “right” jobs and attend the “right” events, even if all that status-chasing was making us miserable.

“Quarantine has forced me to slow down in ways I haven’t since I was a kid. From high school and college, through my 20s and a master’s program, I have been on the go constantly for half my life. I always said I was one who liked to be busy, but the last two months of forced slowdown has really called on me to think about what I want my life to look like moving forward,” said one Vox reader in the US who preferred to remain anonymous. “I’m trying to figure out what it would look like to intentionally build in space in my life to breathe, reflect, and focus on the most important aspects of life — the people around you who make it all worth it.”

Some younger respondents told me they want to put less career pressure on themselves because they now realize work is not what matters most in life. A couple of older adults told me they’d been considering retiring before Covid-19 came around; the pandemic pushed them to finally do it. And even for some who were already retired, the slower pace of life created by the lockdown has come as a relief.

Post-pandemic, the goal will be to “not fill every waking moment with a commitment of some kind,” said Patricia Murray, who lives in Savannah, Georgia. “Even retired persons, like myself, need leisure time. I seem to work as much as a volunteer as I did in paid jobs; slowing down is the biggest change I’ve made and it feels good.”

Again, it’s worth noting that the ability to slow down entails a great deal of privilege. Millions who’ve been pushed out of the workforce wish they could be working more, not less. And some older and immunocompromised people have had to go back to work, even if they don’t feel safe doing so yet, because they need the income and the employer-provided health insurance.

3) Prioritizing family and friends

When the chips are down, you see who really shows up for you. Several people told me they’ve come to appreciate the family members and friends who’ve been there for them during this tough time, and that long after the coronavirus dies down, it’s this group that they want to re-up their investment in.

“Quarantine has reinforced the necessity of telling people how you feel about them,” said Andrew Goldberg, a recent graduate from Syracuse University. “With social distancing and stay-at-home orders in place, it is easier than ever to feel isolated from the world. But as the days stretch into weeks, I’ve decided that the only way I’ll be able to keep my spirits up is by making sure the people I care about know exactly how I feel about them.”

Others emphasized that the bizarre, unprecedented nature of this global pandemic has allowed them to reach out to people they haven’t spoken to in ages. Suddenly they’ve found themselves on Zoom with estranged family members or old college roommates halfway around the world.

“I’ve talked with my older nephews more in the last few weeks than I’ve talked with them in years,” said Nancy Skinner Ringier, a retired speech-language pathologist, adding that they now share recipes and jokes.

4) Ethical action and activism in our highly interconnected world

This was perhaps the most encouraging set of responses: People told me that the global health crisis has shown them how interconnected we all are, and that they want to keep doing more for others after the pandemic ends. They’re donating more to charitable causes, trying harder to reduce their carbon footprint, and engaging in more political activism.

“I’d like to keep my home a headquarters for the three different county mutual aid coalitions I’m affiliated with,” said Erin Brown of Tazewell County, Illinois. “I currently have donations stored here that delivery volunteers and folks in need come to collect. My landline, which is part of my internet package, was never used before but is now a mutual aid contact number. I’m in a good location, near all three of those counties, and I suspect mutual aid will be vital for some time to come.”

The protests against police brutality have also galvanized millions to fight for racial justice.

“For the longest time, I did not keep up with current news. It’s not hard to see why — our world is a shitshow, and my mental health is bad enough as is,” said Adrian DeRoy, a 27-year-old reader in the US. “But the black community rising up yet again to face their challenges made me look, and seeing the world slowly but surely start to fall in step with the protests here, the voices crying out as one ... it gives me some small semblance of hope. Hope that maybe we will get through all this, and come out better than we were before.”

5) Exercising daily

This was another very common response. Many people who weren’t previously into fitness have been getting into running, yoga, and other activities as a way to cope with lockdown. And they’ve been astounded at how much daily exercise can improve life.

“Desperate for any excuse to leave the house, I’ve finally been able to keep up a daily exercise routine. It’s incredible how much difference even a short jog every morning makes!” Katie Reynolds, a Vox reader in the US, told me. “My sleep is better, my brain feels clearer, my mood is improved, and it feels easier to keep up other good habits. Definitely will be keeping this habit, at least until there’s ice on the ground again.”

6) Baking, vegetarian cooking, and growing herbs

Yes, the sourdough obsession is real. Several people wrote to me in glowing terms about their starters.

“I believe I’ll be keeping my sourdough starter. It’s like another family pet at this point,” said Matthew Schreiber, who lives in New Orleans.

In addition to baking bread, people also mentioned that they plan to keep fermenting things like sauerkraut and generally cooking more of their own meals so they can eat less processed food.

Specifically, people want to cook more vegetarian meals and lean away from meat-eating. The impulse seems to be coming not only from the fact that there are meat shortages in some US grocery stores, but also from the knowledge that a live-animal market in China may have given rise to the coronavirus and that the giant factory farms that supply 99 percent of America’s meat are a pandemic risk, too .

Many also told me they’re enjoying growing herbs like mint and cilantro on their patios, or growing vegetables like celery and scallions in little glasses on their windowsills.

It’s not really surprising that the coronavirus crisis has prompted this reaction. It’s reminiscent of World War I and II, when Americans grew their own fruits and vegetables in “victory gardens.” The back-to-nature impulse offers psychological comfort at a time of great uncertainty, as well as a practical safeguard against supply-chain problems: If the stores run out of food, at least we’ll have our vegetables!

7) Spending more time in nature

Getting outdoors has been, for many of us, a crucial way to maintain our sanity during lockdown. In particular, parents have wanted to give their cooped-up kids a chance to run around and release some energy (which, frankly, is probably as crucial for the parents’ mental health as for the children’s).

“I have developed a morning routine that involves ‘quiet listening’ on the porch with the kids. It’s a great way to start out calm with my wild little ones,” said Sharon Lapin, a painter in Atlanta.

Others are simply enjoying the chance to reconnect to the natural world. Its rhythms and resilience can help to calm our anxious minds.

“I want to stay in this less distracted zone and enjoy the time I have with my husband by taking advantage of the natural world (hiking, kayaking) and taking trips in our camper,” said Camille Costa Nerney of upstate New York.

8) Working from home, if possible

Lockdowns across the globe led to millions of people suddenly working from home — and guess what? It turns out we can do many jobs just as well in the comfort of our own homes (and sweatpants) as in our offices.

Of course, for many people, this is not an option. It’s a privilege to be able to work from home. That said, the myth that remote work isn’t as practical as a 9-to-5 office job has been proven to be just that: a myth. Some are finding that working from home actually offers unique benefits.

“I’m a counseling psychologist, and I have been doing client work remotely. I think I will keep doing it remotely! It’s quite convenient,” said Raphael Doval-Santos. “My practice also gets to be more global, and my new clients are not just within my city anymore.”

Several respondents said they love no longer having to commute to work. It means no pollution, more sleep, and less stress.

“I actually like this now; it’s better this way,” said Hermee Sorneo, a 36-year-old customer service team leader for a data management company in the Philippines. “There’s so much benefit in working from home, and I think the world should do this voluntarily, with or without pandemic, at least once every 10 years for at least three months.”

The “with or without pandemic” point brings up a key question. Lots of us say we want to maintain our new habits in a post-pandemic world, but will we, really?

As anyone who’s ever tried a New Year’s resolution knows, maintaining new habits is hard. But psychologists who specialize in behavior change say there are things you can do now to make it more likely that you’ll succeed down the line. For instance, you can prime your environment, whether by setting up an automatically recurring monthly donation or putting running shoes by your bed to nudge you to go for that morning run. It’s also good to reward yourself each time you engage in the target behavior — but make it an intrinsic reward, not an extrinsic one. So instead of reaching for a smoothie after every run, pause to savor the extra energy and strength you feel.

Finally, it’s important to note that if you don’t emerge from this pandemic with any great new habits, that is absolutely all right. Sometimes surviving is an accomplishment in itself.

“With my quarantine, good habits came of it. But I want others to know it’s okay if good, bad, or nothing came out of this quarantine,” said Farishta Saifi, a 23-year-old home health aide. “The world is a scary place right now, and just you living another day is excellent enough.”

Sign up for the Future Perfect newsletter and we’ll send you a roundup of ideas and solutions for tackling the world’s biggest challenges — and how to get better at doing good.

More in The Vox guide to navigating the coronavirus crisis

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What is ‘enhanced community quarantine’ and will it work?

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Alecs Ongcal

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) –   On midnight of Tuesday, March 17, the Philippine government will put in place stringent social distancing measures in Luzon in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.  

The lockdown , described by government officials as an “enhanced community quarantine,” will set in motion efforts to limit the movement of people going in and out of the island region, home to at least 57 million. These measures were recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on coronavirus.

In the run up to the lockdown, the government had  implemented a “general community quarantine” on Metro Manila, where the officials attempted to restrict the movement of those coming into and out of megacity to those working and traveling to provide essential goods only.

But gaps in early implementation have illustrated the near impossibility of observing social distancing measures crucial to preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Aside from this, classes in all levels and government work in the executive branch were  suspended until April 14 , additional travel restrictions  were put in place; and land, air, and sea travel to and from Luzon will also be prohibited as a general rule.

Just how effective will the government’s community quarantine be?

Rappler interviewed Dr Edsel Salvana, a specialist in infectious disease and tropical medicine, and the lead member of the technical advisory group for the IATF on what quarantine measures include and why they matter. 

Here’s what you need to know:  

Latest count: As of Monday, March 16, the Philippines listed 142 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 12 deaths.  Three have recovered, including the first Filipino infected in the country. 

1. What exactly does “community quarantine” mean?

A memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by order of President Rodrigo Duterte, on Friday, March 13, and shared with media on Saturday, defines this as taking place on two levels:  

The first level is called a “general community quarantine.” This means that the movement of people is largely limited to “accessing basic necessities and work” while uniformed personnel and quarantine officers are present at border checkpoints.  

The second is an “enhanced community quarantine,” more akin to a total lockdown with hard borders.

In this scenario, strict home quarantine for all households will be implemented, transportation will be suspended, provision for food and “essential health services” will be regulated, and there will be a heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine measures.    

What’s in place now is a an “enhanced general community quarantine.”

2. Why is this a favored measure against the outbreak? 

Salvana said a community quarantine with extreme social distancing measures were implemented as preemptive measure to help manage the increase in cases in the country.  

This is largely to help the Philippines’ health system cope with treating patients as a sudden surge or increase can overwhelm hospitals and health workers.  

“We have relatively few cases at this time but we feel that it is important to have extreme social distancing already because our healthcare system would be unable to cope with the case numbers in Wuhan, which even they had a hard time managing,” Salvana said.  

3. Why enforce a “general community quarantine” before an “enhanced community quarantine?”

In coming up with the current general community quarantine, government officials scrambled to clearly define what this might look like on the ground and how to implement on all 12 million residents of the capital region.  

At this early stage of the epidemic, Salvana said, a total lockdown “may cause widespread panic and unrest and cause a drastic disruption of daily life” when it is essential for people to remain level-headed.  

China and Italy are among the countries which have in place sweeping measures to isolate cities where cases were concentrated. In the case of Wuhan, China – ground zero of the disease – lockdowns were favored as cases were rapidly increasing into the thousands.    

For a general community quarantine then, what is being done is “a preemptive intervention which will hopefully be enough at this stage and at these case numbers,” Salvana said.

On Monday, Duterte changed that, citing a need to take more stringent measures. 

 “I have come to the conclusion that stricter measures are necessary. For this reason, pursuant to my powers as President under the Constitution and RA 11332 (Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases), I am placing the entire mainland of Luzon under quarantine until April 12, 2020.”

After going off tangent, Duterte later clarified this would be an “enhanced community quarantine.”

4. What are the important do’s and don’ts while Metro Manila is under “community quarantine?”

Government officials have urged the public to go out of their homes only for essential tasks like going to work and getting basic necessities. This is to decrease the risk of spreading the diseases especially to those who are at higher risk of infections.    

Salvana said for the quarantine measures to work, the public needs to remember to do the following:

• Cooperate and follow instructions
• When outside, stay at least 1 meter or 1 arms-length from each other
• DO NOT go out if you have respiratory symptoms unless it is to seek medical care
• Wash your hands and practice good hygiene 

5. Why does this matter?  

In calling for self-quarantines and social distancing measures, epidemiologists have touted the strategy of trying to control the speed of an outbreak occurrence. This is largely to help spread out the number of infections over time so as to cushion the impact on hospitals and medical workers dealing with the disease first-hand.  

A now viral image on the internet dubbed as “flattening the curve” illustrates this in a simple graphic below:  

Salvana explained that these measures, if followed will “flatten” the epidemic curve, meaning the “number of cases per day slows down to a level where our healthcare system can manage.”

Too many cases, he warned, will translate to more hospitals being overwhelmed and increasing the possibility of more deaths.  

“So this community quarantine, while inconvenient, is preferable to more harsh measures if it doesn’t work. Lives are at stake, especially those of the elderly and sick,” Salvana said.

6. Is this too “drastic” of a response?  

In trying to mitigate the spread of an outbreak, Salvana points out that timing is key.

Waiting for more cases to prop up can bring about worse effects for the Philippines. 

“Italy, Wuhan, South Korea all thought that they intervened at the right time and were swamped with cases and had to resort to drastic measures. This response is preemptive, and builds on the knowledge that by the time you think you have enough cases to respond, it is already too late,” he said.

7. What should people keep in mind during this period?

For Salvana, it’s important to know that the novel coronavirus disease is “unlike any other disease we have faced.”

“The public needs to cooperate and understand the rationale for doing this. Countries with much better healthcare systems responded in what they thought was an appropriate fashion and it blew up in their face,” he said.    

“The public needs to understand that if even these places had difficulty coping, then it would be a true disaster if we delayed these measures for much longer,” he added.

8. What do government officials need to do during a public health emergency?

Transparency and honesty are key, Salvana said.   It’s important people are always kept up to date with the current situation and developments.

“I think government needs to be transparent and honest with what is going on. (The) DOH has been working hard, but there is a lot of polarization due to politics,” he said.  

He added, “We need to set aside political games at this time and unite to fight a common foe. The most vulnerable to this disease are the sick and the elderly. Their lives are in our hands. We need to get our act together now.”  – Rappler.com

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• Published: 05 May 2020

COVID-19 pandemic: the effects of quarantine on cardiovascular risk

• Anna Vittoria Mattioli   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1487-9530 1 ,
• Matteo Ballerini Puviani   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9815-1338 2 ,
• Milena Nasi   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-3079-8001 1 &
• Alberto Farinetti   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2133-3595 1  

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume  74 ,  pages 852–855 ( 2020 ) Cite this article

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COVID-19 is causing a global pandemic with a high number of deaths and infected people. To contain the diffusion of COVID-19 virus, Governments have enforced restrictions on outdoor activities or even collective quarantine on the population. One important consequence of quarantine is a change in lifestyle: reduced physical activity and unhealthy diet. 2019 guidelines for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease indicate that “Adults should engage in at least 150 minute per week of accumulated moderate-intensity or 75 minute per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity (or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activity) to reduce ASCVD risk.” During quarantine, strategies to further increase home-based physical activity and to follow a healthy diet should be implemented. Quarantine carries some long-term effects on cardiovascular disease, mainly related to unhealthy lifestyle and anxiety. Following quarantine a global action supporting healthy diet and physical activity is mandatory to encourage people to return to good lifestyle.

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Introduction.

Quarantine and isolation are two measures that can prevent, or at least minimize, the impact of infectious disease outbreaks. In public health practice, “quarantine” refers to the separation of persons (or communities) who have been exposed to an infectious disease. “Isolation,” in contrast, applies to the separation of persons who are known to be infected [ 1 ]. There are several examples of Government imposed quarantine or travel bans, i.e., at least 18 US states quarantined people returning from West Africa during the 2014 Ebola outbreak [ 1 ]. Now, COVID-19 infection is causing a global pandemic with a high number of deaths. By March 29, Italy reported 10,023 deaths (Italian Health Ministry, https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/ ) [ 2 ]. To contain the diffusion of the COVID-19 virus, the Italian Government as well as others have enforced on the population. The previous experience of the SARS outbreak showed the efficacy of timely quarantine and isolation measures [ 3 , 4 ]. Quarantine is often an unpleasant experience: loss of freedom, uncertainty over disease status, and boredom can create dramatic effects. The potential benefits of mandatory mass quarantine need to be weighed carefully against the possible long-term negative effects on cardiovascular risk burden [ 4 , 5 ].

Quarantine and diet

The main consequence of quarantine is a change in lifestyle and nutritional habits (Table 1 ). Nutritional habits will change due to reduced availability of goods, limited access to food caused by restricted store opening hours, and to a switch to unhealthy food. A recent review on the psychological impact of quarantine [ 6 ] reported negative psychological effects including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger. Having inadequate basic supplies (e.g., food, water) during quarantine was a source of frustration [ 7 ] and continued to be associated with anxiety and anger for 4–6 months following release [ 7 , 8 ]. Due to anxiety of future food shortage, it is plausible that people will purchase packaged and long-life food rather than fresh food. This leads to weight gain and to a reduced intake of antioxidants. Oxidative stress and mild chronic vascular inflammation are part of the pathophysiology of hypertension and atherosclerosis [ 9 ]. Diets rich in antioxidant food (i.e., Mediterranean diet and Dash diet) are vascular protective. Several studies found that the Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduction in incidence, prevalence, and mortality from coronary artery disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and in all-causes mortality including cancer [ 10 , 11 ]. A systematic review on 7186 subjects (5168 subjects assigned to a Mediterranean diet), reported a significant reduction in central obesity with a Mediterranean-type diet [ 12 ]. Mediterranean diet is naturally low in sodium due to its low degree of processing, unlike processed foods (a term that covers all foods that have undergone manufacturing methods, including convenience foods and products like bread, cheese, and meat products) and is also rich in fruit and vegetables [ 13 ]. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have several positive effects: known health benefits of high flavonol intake, potential increase in nitric oxide species, concomitant weight loss, reduction of blood pressure, and reduction of inflammatory markers [ 14 , 15 ]. These beneficial effects are similar in men and women despite the fact that adherence to diet and healthy lifestyle is influenced by gender [ 11 , 16 ].

Quarantine induces anxiety and stress. Torres and Nowson analyzed the relationship between stress and eating behavior and identified that people cope with stress by eating and drinking in an attempt to feel better (“stress-related eating”). These stress-driven eaters and drinkers were more likely to eat unhealthy foods such as snacks, hamburgers, soda cola, and chocolate regularly and to drink wine and spirits more frequently. In addition, the lack of emotional support from friends and relatives was predictive of stress-driven eating and drinking behaviors [ 17 , 18 ]. During quarantine, stress-driven eaters would easily switch from a healthy diet to unhealthy ones. This would affect cardiovascular risk mainly in high-risk patients.

Quarantine and physical activity

Together with the unhealthy diet, the reduction of physical activity will contribute to weight gain during quarantine. Regular physical activity is mandatory to maintain health status, and is associated with reduction in cardiovascular risk [ 11 , 19 ]. The OMS suggests performing physical activity, such as walking, cycling, sports, dance, and yoga, in a manner that will prevent noncommunicable disease [ 20 ]. During quarantine the Italian Government prohibited the great majority of outdoor and social activities (e.g., going to the gym) resulting in a reduction of physical activity. Despite the guidelines to workout at home, only few subjects comply.

The reduction of physical activity will increase oxidative stress. Oxidative stress leads to apoptotic cell death of endothelial cells, reduces nitric oxide levels, increases activity of matrix metalloproteases and amplifies vascular inflammation, provoking vasoconstriction, LDL oxidation, and accumulation of foam cells [ 19 , 21 ]. Oxidative stress is mutually linked to inflammation, often associated with an increased risk of endothelial dysfunction [ 21 ]. In addition, obesity is associated with elevated circulating levels of IL-6 and TNFα, which are subsequently decreased with weight loss. In obese subjects, adipose tissue becomes dysfunctional, promoting a pro-inflammatory, hyperlipidemic, and insulin resistant environment that contributes to cardiovascular disease [ 22 ].

It is well recognized that chronic physical activity attenuates oxidative stress in healthy subjects via the improvement of antioxidant enzyme capacities and inflammation via the enhancement of anti-inflammatory molecules [ 23 ]. The reduction of physical activity worsens cardiovascular risk by increasing cardiovascular risk factors burden.

Quarantine and well-being

The role of negative psychological factors—including depression, anxiety, and hostility—in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease is well established [ 24 , 25 ].

By contrast, several studies have linked positive psychological characteristics with lower levels of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and decreased incidence of CV disease [ 26 ]. Prospective investigations of patients with existing CVD have shown that greater positive well-being is associated with reduced risk of secondary cardiovascular events and mortality [ 26 , 27 ].

Positive well-being is thought to influence cardiovascular disease by (a) promoting adaptive physiological functioning, (b) motivating better health behaviors, and (c) buffering against the detrimental effects of stress on health [ 26 , 28 , 29 ]. These three pathways are interrelated and not mutually exclusive.

Positive well-being may act as a modifiable protective factor that could reduce the burden of CVD through its potential influences on lifestyle behaviors [ 24 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. People with higher positive well-being tend to have better health behaviors, including nonsmoking, greater physical activity, better dietary patterns, and lower incidence of sleep disturbances. It remains unclear whether positive well-being leads to better subsequent health behaviors or vice versa, however a strong relationship has been demonstrated. Positive well-being is thought to have multiple salutary effects during stress, such as reducing inflammatory and cardiovascular responses to acute stressors. Positive well-being also acts on cardiovascular function and cardiac autonomic control, reducing heart rate and blood pressure [ 24 , 26 ].

Effects of quarantine in the long-term period

It is difficult to see the acute effects of quarantine on atherosclerosis. Nonhealthy lifestyle through increase of inflammatory status could trigger activation of preexisting plaques. We cannot exclude that changes in lifestyle persist after quarantine. In this case the risk of an economic crisis will maintain stress and anxiety in subjects, principally in those belonging to low socio-economic categories, leading to an increase in cardiovascular risk.

Following the Spagnola pandemic throughout 1918, a peak of cardiovascular events was reported. Such events manifest from 7 to 10 days after the emergence of influenza symptoms. In 1918, immediately after the end of the Spagnola epidemic, deaths caused by cardiovascular events had outmatched deaths from other causes, including superimposed pneumonia [ 30 , 31 ].

What must be done to prevent increase of obesity and of cardiovascular risk

We think cardiologists need to be prepared to face the likely increase in obesity immediately after the end of the pandemic.

During quarantine we must promote physical activity at home. Little information is available on effects of home-based physical activity on chronic disease [ 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Despite physical activity being defined mandatory for cardiovascular prevention, guidelines do not contain home-based physical activity indications [ 35 ]. The “2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease” recommended that “Adults should engage in at least 150 minute per week of accumulated moderate-intensity or 75 minute per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity (or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activity) to reduce ASCVD risk” (Class I LOE B-NR) or “for adults unable to meet the minimum physical activity recommendations, engaging in some moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity, even if less than this recommended amount, can be beneficial to reduce ASCVD risk” (Class IIa LOE B-NR) [ 35 ].

The WHO has just released guidance to “Stay physically active during self-quarantine” in order to improve healthy behaviour during quarantin [ 36 ]. Today there are thousands of workout videos available on the Internet. The goal is to assist people perform these workouts independently on their own. A common observation is that even people who visit gym regularly find it difficult to perform all steps (body pose alignments) in a workout accurately. By continuously doing an exercise incorrectly may eventually cause severe long-term injuries [ 37 ].

After quarantine we need to reevaluate the cardiovascular risk in patients together with metabolic parameters including glycemic status. Patients also need to be evaluated by psychologist to early identify the persistence of anxiety and stress (Table 2 ). A global action supporting healthy diet and physical activity is mandatory to encourage people to return to good lifestyle. This action has to be stronger at a low socio-economic level where individuals will suffer to a higher degree from the restrictions.

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We would like to thank Mrs Janet Ann Carter for reviewing the paper. We thank everyone who is working to resolve the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic.

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Chaos, confusion, linger among Filipinos amid coronavirus enhanced community quarantine order

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The Philippine government has imposed a strict community quarantine order amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Residents, however, have concerns, as the guidelines require that everyone should as much as possible stay at home.

The guideline of 'enhanced community quarantine' includes the suspension of all mass transportation, closure of schools and universities, checkpoints at borders, and the cancellation of domestic air, sea, and land travel. International flights have also been halted.

Under the new measure, the government will also implement strict quarantine and the regulation of the provision of food and essential health services.

“The idea is to keep everybody in home quarantine. The mindset should be, in case of doubt, stay at home,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said. “For outbound international passengers traveling from Luzon, he said they would be allowed to leave the country within 72 hours from the start of the enhanced quarantine. Those who want to leave will leave within that period. We assume that after 72 hours, it is your decision to stay here,” he added.

Millions in their homes

Millions of people in the Philippines were left confined after the implementation of the new community quarantine order, causing chaos in the country’s capital, Manila. The National Capital Region (NCR) first reported the cases of confirmed COVID-19. As of writing, the country has 187 confirmed cases and 12 deaths, with the highest fatality rate globally of 8 percent.

In the capital, there are long queues of workers wanting to cross the border to attend work. Some companies have already suspended work, including non-essential businesses that are ordered to close. Companies that offer basic necessities and services remain open, including takeaway restaurants, water stations, supermarkets, banks, and pharmacies.

On Mar. 17, the President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte placed the entire Luzon region into lockdown to combat the coronavirus disease, which has now taken more than 7,900 lives worldwide, with a total of 197,496 confirmed cases. In the entire Luzon region, public transport is suspended, with residents who still need to work crowding the borders in the hopes of hitching a ride to and from work.  

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Several companies have promised to maintain the salaries of affected employees, while others continue their operations. Health care workers, government workers, police officers, military, and other front liners are still required to work, facing the threat of infection and serving the country.

Lockdown confusion

Still, there is confusion and frustration concerning the orders which aim to hinder the spread of the coronavirus, estimated to infect as many as 70,000 Filipinos. The Philippines does not have adequate resources to face a pandemic, with the healthcare system groaning for more supplies of PPEs for its health workers.

Many Filipinos are worried about how to make both ends meet. The World Bank has projected that the poverty incidence in the country is at 24.5 percent for 2016, and 21.9 percent for 2018, based on the lower-middle-income poverty line of $3.20 per day.

Workers are confused and frustrated about how to earn income for their families amid the quarantine orders. However, the government has assured that there are food and basic supplies in the ‘Barangays’ (smallest administrative division) of each local government, especially for those in dire need during the quarantine period.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced a financial assistance program for employees affected by the new measures, with a USD $25 million (P$1.3 billion) COVID Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP). Each employee in private establishments will receive cash assistance of nearly USD$100. About 250,000 workers will benefit from the program.

Private companies have also assisted their employees, while others still gave out salaries and assistance to their constituents.

Baguio City’s strict measures

The local government of Baguio City, located north of the NCR, has imposed strict implementations of the enhanced community quarantine. Mayor Benjamin Magalong has released measures in an attempt to maintain the city’s COVID-free status.

As of Mar. 17, the city has been placed on a 24-hour curfew, beginning at 5 a.m. of Mar. 18. Authorities will regularly and strictly check the purpose of people who go out in the streets. They will ensure that residents will stay at home, while barangay local authorities oversee the implementation of the measures among their constituents.

For critical personnel, such as health workers and government officials, the curfew remains between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Public transport has been suspended, while non-residents were given a 48-hour window to leave the city. Further, non-residents going into the city will not be allowed entry.

Only one person is permitted by the government to go out of the household and buy essentials. Private vehicles and motorcycles can be used, provided that only one person per vehicle. Special permits may also be issued to vehicles to ferry employees, including health care workers, critical personnel, and employees of private establishments.

In the city of more than 300,000 people, eight cab units have been assigned for emergency medical care services. These units are “on-call” to address the need for transportation in cases of emergencies. Public utility jeepneys were also assigned to transport people to buy their essentials in supermarkets and markets in the city.

The government has assured that the movement of essential goods and services will remain unhampered, to ensure that all residents are safe and secure amid the quarantine order.

In all supermarkets, pharmacies, and other essential businesses, social distancing is strictly imposed.

• Philippine News Agency. (2020). Mass transport suspended under enhanced community quarantine. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096849
• https://www.untvweb.com/news/dole-readies-aid-for-250000-workers-affected-by-covid-19-quarantine/
• Philippine News Agency (2020). Employees can refuse work during Luzon-wide quarantine: DOLE. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096967
• Public Information Office - City of Baguio - https://www.facebook.com/pio.baguio

Posted in: Disease/Infection News

Tags: cAMP , Coronavirus , Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 , covid-19 , Food , Health Care , Healthcare , Labor , Pandemic , Poverty

Angela Betsaida B. Laguipo

Angela is a nurse by profession and a writer by heart. She graduated with honors (Cum Laude) for her Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Baguio, Philippines. She is currently completing her Master's Degree where she specialized in Maternal and Child Nursing and worked as a clinical instructor and educator in the School of Nursing at the University of Baguio.

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

Laguipo, Angela. (2020, March 18). Chaos, confusion, linger among Filipinos amid coronavirus enhanced community quarantine order. News-Medical. Retrieved on August 30, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200318/Chaos-confusion-linger-among-Filipinos-amid-coronavirus-enhanced-community-quarantine-order.aspx.

Laguipo, Angela. "Chaos, confusion, linger among Filipinos amid coronavirus enhanced community quarantine order". News-Medical . 30 August 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200318/Chaos-confusion-linger-among-Filipinos-amid-coronavirus-enhanced-community-quarantine-order.aspx>.

Laguipo, Angela. "Chaos, confusion, linger among Filipinos amid coronavirus enhanced community quarantine order". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200318/Chaos-confusion-linger-among-Filipinos-amid-coronavirus-enhanced-community-quarantine-order.aspx. (accessed August 30, 2024).

Laguipo, Angela. 2020. Chaos, confusion, linger among Filipinos amid coronavirus enhanced community quarantine order . News-Medical, viewed 30 August 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200318/Chaos-confusion-linger-among-Filipinos-amid-coronavirus-enhanced-community-quarantine-order.aspx.

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