CONQUERING COVID-19
Examining the Human Impact on the Central Valley
The human impact of COVID-19 is unprecedented. Everyone’s big picture is different—yet it is important to understand the similar facets that have contributed to such upheaval. Livelihoods have been put in jeopardy, philanthropic organizations have been struggling to keep giving, and the maintenance of mental health has been pushed to new bounds. Coronavirus has forced our communities to adapt in ways we never imagined we’d have to. While the ensuing changes have come with countless challenges and hardships, we must recognize that some advantages have also emerged. As we move forward together, it is essential to maintain hope while doing everything we can in a global effort to reach the end of this pandemic as quickly as possible.
Financial instability has been prevalent, as each of California’s 11 industry sectors underwent job losses in April (when the breadth of the economic crisis became truly apparent). According to the Employment Development Department (EDD), State of California, California’s unemployment rate spiked from 10 to 16.4 percent in April alone (up from 4.2 percent in April 2019), eclipsing the state’s previous record high of 12.3 percent at the height of the Great Recession. To put this into perspective, California, with 2,344,700 jobs lost, had the largest month-over non-farm payroll job loss on record in April. In just one month, this total is over one million more jobs lost than during the entire 2.5-year-long recession (from July 2007 to February 2010).
According to the EDD’s June statistics, the highest unemployment is in the population aged 16–19 years at 20 percent, followed by 11.8 percent in the age group of 20–24, dropping below 7.1 percent for the remaining six brackets (for age 25 through 65 and over). The exponentially higher rates for younger people argue that this was likely the first time many had filed for unemployment benefits. In addition to the calculated Weekly Benefit Amount issued by the EDD, $600 in Federal Additional Compensation (FAD) was automatically added to dispersed payments through July, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Owing to the additional FAD stipend, many recipients nationwide were making more on unemployment than with the jobs they lost, skewing the concept of unemployment benefits for first-time recipients.
While stimulus checks helped those struggling to make ends meet, the intended purpose serves a broader scope. As defined by the Corporate Financial Institute, “Stimulus checks are given to boost the economy by providing consumers with funds to spend.” Yes, it was nice to have a little extra spending money, but it could be debated that the extra money created a disproportionate and contradicting understanding, as people began adapting their budgets to accommodate tighter times.
Small businesses bore the brunt of this actuality. Applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) topped at only two pages, but countless documents and extensive paperwork are required to apply for forgiveness. Controversially, false hope emanated through small-town America with the promise of enough money to sustain employees for four months, as there was hope of reopening after two months of quarantine; obviously, that best-case scenario didn’t manifest in California. Suddenly, when reality didn’t match expectation, the money issued by the PPP felt like an economic band-aid. Questions arose about appropriate prioritization—who was given what, and was it too early for money to be distributed? In a sense, it was a lose-lose situation.
With temporary shutdowns becoming indefinite and re-opening phases jerking back and forth, only a fraction of locally owned restaurants and retail shops are expected to survive. Brick-and-mortar establishments, having been in competition with online retailers for years, are suddenly transitioning from steady shift to exponential upsurge in virtual shopping. Restaurants have been forced to find innovative take-out options to draw customers in (even before patio dining was deemed acceptable), which has become a challenge, as people have reexamined their eating-out habits owing to safety and budgetary reasons.
Limited human contact and lack of disposable income has left philanthropic organizations struggling, too. A financial trickle-down effect influences the loss and restructure of many beloved charities throughout the Central Valley. Make-A-Wish (MAW) Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada has had to pivot their work and services. New wish-granting policies have been designed “because the hope that comes with a wish is more important now than ever,” expounds Michele Sanders, Vice President of Communications & Outreach for the chapter. “The biggest challenge has been the pause of many of our wishes, considering a significant number [75 percent] are travel-related wishes.” Despite experiencing a significant drop in revenue due to the cancellation of several annual partnered events, “fortunately, our partners and supporters have remained by our side and continued their generous support,” allowing MAW to still grant wishes (that don’t require travel or large gatherings) weekly, Sanders gratefully recognizes. “As we look forward, we have built several contingencies into our plans should the pandemic continue to make it challenging to safely gather large groups together.”
The conflict between personal experience and messages disseminated to the public is perhaps one of the most pivotal dilemmas Americans are dealing with, as the plethora of contradictory information leaves the population with a sense of despair, disbelief, confusion, and frustration. Simply put, many don’t know who or what to trust—but there is hope. Sickness is not a political issue, but one of humanity. By putting aside our differences, we have transcended party lines, working in cooperation with business leaders and medical professionals to find unique solutions for our communities. “I’m very thankful and proud of the collaboration that we’ve been able to achieve—this is most definitely a sustained team effort,” imparts Dr. Rais Vohra, Interim Health Officer at Fresno County Department of Public Health and Professor of Emergency Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy at UCSF, Fresno, speaking to Public Health’s early preparation efforts and local response.
“All of these shelter-in-place orders are not meant to be permanent; they’re meant to be fluid—I know that can be frustrating, but it’s the same thing with wildfires,” compares Dr. Vohra. The Threat Level Assessment they’ve developed, set up like the wildfire danger level wheels seen along Californian highways, indicates our local threat level. Wearing masks, physically distancing, washing hands, and minimizing mixing, as Governor Gavin Newsom urges, will help drive the needle back into the green.
Understanding that Fresno County’s diverse culture and population responds to messaging in different ways is critical for effectively addressing its unique needs. For instance, whether The Big Fresno Fair will commence this year. “We understand that Sacramento and authorities at the national level are not going to be able to answer those specifics for us—that’s one example of the kinds of decisions that we need to make,” explains Dr. Vohra. “We have to talk to the real people that live here, that are operating businesses or operating social events, and really ask them what their needs are, and try to give them the best information that we can to arm them with the right information to make the decisions.”
Dr. Vohra helps lead the team navigating the Central Valley’s COVID-19 medical initiatives. Yet coronavirus is not the only health concern the population is dealing with right now. Preexisting, common, and seasonal health issues are still rampant, and putting off some surgeries and treatments for even a few months may prove too late for some people. “One of the great tragedies of this pandemic has been that a lot of other medical conditions have been ignored, sidelined, or postponed.” Dr. Vohra and his team are working very closely with hospitals, primary care providers, and even dentists and chiropractors to get them back to their patients. Keeping people safe is essential, understands Dr. Vohra, “but so is restarting the many things we need to do to maintain good medical health, and maintain, hopefully, emotional and mental health as well during this pandemic.”
While Public Health handles questions about testing and the physical components of coronavirus, Behavioral Health helps people to psychologically deal with the situation. Dawan Utecht, Director at Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health, understands that psychological well-being is essential for adults and children. “During the pandemic, what we’ve really tried to do is multitier. We’ve pushed out a lot of resources for parents on how to talk to their kids and how to deal with stay-at-home orders.” Behavioral Health also offers recommendations on how to stay connected and maintain mental health services, such as therapy, using telehealth.
There is a fear of not knowing what’s next, which is understandable. “Don’t ruminate on COVID, social media, or the news, as it can be overwhelming.” Utecht also advises that people limit their intake and “focus on what you can control.” Running through the limited motions of day-to-day reality mimics Groundhog Day in a sense—the feeling of being stuck in a time loop, exasperated by not knowing when life will get back to normal. “Learn to live with COVID!” advocates Utecht.
Whether you have struggled with change or embraced it, the necessity for an adaptative mindset, from work to play, has become even more essential. How we obtain services (medical visits, cosmetic upkeeps like hair and nails), shop (routine errands, essentials, for fun), keep in touch, see family and friends, and cook is forever altered, but many positives have come with this uncomfortable, inevitable growth. The way we think about and live in our homes is evolving—the most requested décor update that Central Valley interior designers are receiving is for dining room makeovers, suggesting that families are coming together at the dinner table more often than before.
Tech businesses and methods have gained prominence, as they answer new challenges. Grocery delivery services and pickup apps have drastically cut time spent in stores and reduced the body count inside. Food subscription boxes take the guesswork out of meal planning while showing people how to cook at home. Zoom eliminates travel time for appointments and allows meetings to take place from anywhere in the world. All are time savers, making life more efficient.
Before quarantine, most people would say they wished they had more time—with COVID, we actually got the time! With this came reflection. There has been more opportunity to practice self-care. California is a state known for its preference to drive, yet it has been realized that road time can be significantly reduced. Increased respect for personal space and time has developed. Hygiene is better, as people have relearned how to wash their hands properly. These are just a handful of silver linings surrounding a crippling global nightmare, imparting hope that the human race will emerge with a newfound strength in partnerships between communities and their leaders.
The strain on medical professionals has been extreme—gauging hospital responsiveness and needs are essential. Though some measures have been grim, Central Valley leaders are hoping for the best while planning for the worst. While remdesivir, Z-Paks, and convalescent plasma are all experimental, they are showing promising results. “The combination of all of those medications gives me a lot of hope that even before a vaccine, we will figure out some kind of a drug cocktail, or some combination of medications, that can save a lot of lives,” Dr. Vohra reflects.
Consider what the United States’ government asked citizens to do during World War II and the Korean War. Now, Americans are being asked to serve their country by simply staying home. Make the most of your personal time. Work on your inner self. Be an example to our children and future generations. Embrace masks as a socially responsible fashion trend. Be respectful of fellow humankind. Continue to support local businesses. Relish the little things and small interactions.
The way people interact with one another, conduct their lives, and think about disease will be affected by this pandemic, largely for the better. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, psyche is being influenced on several levels—recognizing this could lead to a more positive, open conversation surrounding mental health in the United States. “If more people were attuned to kindness, especially the many ways that they can be kind to each other and to themselves, we would have a lot less conflict,” believes Dr. Vohra, “and, hopefully, a lot more grace and empathy as we move forward through this pandemic and come together.”
Managing Editor Lauren Barisic
