A press release from Banner Health highlighting changes to policy; moves taken to save as many lives as possible; ensure safety of health care workers

A press release announcing that Banner Health is activating triage tents at its acute care hospitals to build capacity for the sickest patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These are not COVID-19 specimen collection sites, and they are not for the worried well or those with mild COVID-19 symptoms that can be managed at home.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that they are "working diligently and deliberately to make sure we are best prepared to handle an influx of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are monitoring capacity, resources and staffing in real-time, making adjustments to our emergency operations, when needed."

As Banner Health ensures it has the necessary supplies to keep its patients and team members safe, Banner Innovation Group is collaborating with community partners to create an array of supplies that meet CDC guidelines and are able to be sourced locally and quickly. Most recently, that innovative partnership brought in the help of the 3D printing community to create face shields.

In an effort to protect the health and safety of Banner Health employees and patients, the Banner Health Foundation is seeking 100,000 hand-crafted comfort masks donated by volunteers, sewing groups, and companies with fabrication capabilities.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that more than 100,000 Level 1 procedure masks were delivered from China to Arizona-based hospitals this week, thanks to the ingenuity and passion of a dedicated group of Chinese American residents within the state.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that four respiratory therapists deployed this weekend to help their fellow Banner Health team members in northern Colorado, which has seen a large number of patients with COVID-19. They will be in Greeley, Colo., for at least two weeks—some opting to stay at least four weeks, based on need—to help Banner balance its staffing needs across the nonprofit health care provider's six-state footprint.

A press release from Banner Health reminding residents about water safety.

Assignment prompt given to HIST4800 students of Bowling Green State University, by instructor Andrew M. Schocket, Spring 2020

Prompt given to partner class HIST 5241 of Northeastern University, Spring 2020, instructor Victoria Cain

I came across this conversation on a neighborhood app (Nextdoor) of a grandmother pleading for masks and vaccines after learning that one of her grandchildren was exposed to the virus in the classroom. I added a bit of the thread as well to show the different opinions on the matter.

I think what makes Covid memes so funny is that they are sometimes based on truth...

I came across this conversation on Facebook yesterday. I thought it was a good portrayal of what's going on in society today. As everyone is trying to get back to "normal" businesses are starting to require their employees to get vaccinated. Although most people who are fighting this option hardly ever admit that there are actually three options - get vaccinated, get tested regularly, or find a new job. I found it interesting that the original poster revised his original post to add that he was not looking to debate the vaccine even though it's clear what happened.

Signs have become so common these days that I often catch myself making sure if a business requires masks or prefers customers not to (I've seen those too). I take an extra moment to enjoy personalized signs like these. I love the solutions to the dumb questions at the end. If everyone would just wear a mask I wonder how low our numbers would be. My favorite part is the last sentence of the paragraph "Do not choose to be the reason the rest of the world is laughing at us."

While many on my social media feed are in arms about tighter vaccine regulations, some realize that the pandemic is not over. As the new school year starts there are many mothers who share in my fear. Covid is still alive and well, new strains continue to form breeding in the bodies of the unvaccinated. The worse part is that this time the elderly seem much safer than our children. Our children are being sent back to school, life has returned to "normal" as the number of hospitalized children continues to rise. I share my fears with this friend who popped up on my feed this morning. Will our kids be safe? Will my daughter get infected? Will there be another lockdown? I too feel like it's become too much to ask for my kids to simply be happy and healthy because both now depend on the actions (or misactions) of others.

I have never realized how different my friends on social media are. Growing up in Los Angeles I have many friends who are all politically and socially like-minded. My husband joined the military and then my social media was flooded with the opposite from my "liberal" friends. The differences of opinions never bothered me and hardly ever showed themselves until Trump became president. It's funny how Trump ignited a flame in so many people. Today with politics fueling everything I still see that clear distinction between my friend groups. The saddest part about the pandemic is seeing how science has been "canceled" and political views have somehow replaced common sense. Because so many Democrats are urging people to get vaccinated it seems like Republicans must refuse. I see posts like the one pictured all the time. There's always a reason to refuse common sense. First, it was because COVID wasn't real, then it was because their right to contract covid was being infringed on. I heard some say robots were being implanted, that the government was running experiments on willing democrats. When the death rate continued to rise, they said the numbers were made up. Today it seems like most covid deniers are claiming that if COVID was real essential workers would not be required to be protected against it. I will never understand their reasoning.

why i think this is important to me because human is the one that made these disease and it is killing people and are population is going down and we all work together we could fix this and even animals population would go down because they get sick as well and there population and the air around us would go bad and still is and it ant just hurting us its hurting the earh and this why its important

I’m torn. I see resilience and hope: Resilience of so many in societies across the world who reconfigured their everyday lives to attempt to keep the virus at bay and hope swept in largely by Biden and his competent army of experienced workers who believe in the power of government to be a positive and unifying agent of change. But, we have a troubled world with a geopolitical climate and an environmental climate pushing us into turbulent waters. I’m torn because I have seen the virus pull us together as a community of pods and isolate us from one another. My hope and dream? That we learn from this Covid journey to do better with the other crises bearing down on us. That each of us take up individually and as a community the challenge to address climate change now in our homes, in our daily tasks, in the way we function in our communities, and at the ballot box.

I went to church this past Sunday for the first time since the quarantine of March 2020. I'm not sure what I was expecting but there were a lot more changes than I had imagined. Sanitizing stations, hand wipes, and masks for those who wished to wear them. People were still socializing, not everyone was wearing masks but it was nice to see that it was an option and available to those who wanted. Before the pandemic, there was always a table with refreshments where we would go and grab pastries before Sunday school. Now that table had someone there to grab pastries in an attempt to limit contact. There were so many viable changes outside but the one that stuck to me most was the one I caught inside. Communion is a very important aspect of the Christian faith, I remember growing up in a Hispanic church there was a ceremonial feel to communion. It was a special occasion, a time to reflect and remember the foundation of our faith. I kept that feeling with me growing up but this past Sunday I was taken back when I walked into church. I was handed what I thought was a trinket. I sat down and stared at this object for a second, this was how we were to take communion. Of course, it makes total sense not to pass a tray around with crackers and juice to a building full of people, especially because you can never know for sure who's been vaccinated and who hasn't. This was just an unexpected change that the pandemic brought on, I wonder if this will be part of the "new normal" everyone is always talking about.

Email sent out to all DOD employees, this includes all military members, about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Paula Flynn's 5th grade class at Franklin Elementary School, in Santa Monica, CA. "Six Room Poem" template provided by Paula Goodman.

Jocie Rocha left North Colorado Medical Center to cheers and applause Monday afternoon and putting a smile on the faces of many hospital caregivers. Jocie was the 100th patient to be discharged from the hospital after being treated for COVID-19.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that, with many regularly scheduled blood drives closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Banner Health is partnering with Vitalant, the region's blood bank operator, to encourage blood donations and help restore supply.

Banner Children’s is encouraging kids to join the "Clean Hands Club" by taking part in a fun coloring challenge while learning about the importance of proper handwashing, especially during a pandemic.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that it is now offering Banner Urgent Care – non-respiratory locations at select urgent care sites in Phoenix, Tucson and in Northern Colorado.

A press release from Banner health stating that Poison Centers across the nation are seeing an increase in exposures to household cleaning products, chemicals, and medications. As more people are working remotely and children schooling at home, there is an increased potential for poisoning accidents. People are distracted and in unfamiliar routines.

A press release announcing that select Banner Health hospitals have opened makeshift grocery stores for employees working on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

En un esfuerzo extraordinario para atender las necesidades médicas de la comunidad, Banner Health ha ampliado sus servicios para ofrecer a pacientes consultas por video en vivo con médicos en un entorno seguro a través de Banner Telehealth.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that in an effort to serve the community's health care needs, Banner Health has expanded services to offer patients live video visits with medical providers in a safe environment through Banner Telehealth.

A press release describing how several former Banner Health employees are returning to work to help the medical team throughout Arizona during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last month alone, more than 18 employees have rejoined various teams across Banner’s statewide facilities.

A press release from Banner health announcing that Banner Health now has two Banner Imaging – non-respiratory locations in the Phoenix area

With the need for "convalescent plasma" to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients ramping up as cases rise, Banner Research is providing donation coordinators in metro Phoenix, Tucson and Northern Colorado to help recovered COVID-19 patients get through the plasma donation process. The donation coordinators are equipped to assess qualifying criteria for potential donors, answer questions and explain how the donation process works.

A year from the perspective of an immuno-compromised, mulitple comorbidities survivor stranded in place until vaccine in a poor, rural, underserved and politically conservative Colorado ski and summer resort community over run by affluent COVID torurism.

Assignment given to Lincoln Middle School seventh grade students. Prompt provided by Paula Goodman, class taught by Sara Greenfield.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that is has opened three new COVID-19 drive-thru collection sites this week and added lanes to its original sites, expanding capacity from 4,000 appointments per week to 13,500.

A press release from Banner health announcing that the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has awarded an unrestricted grant of $750,000 to the Banner Health Foundation. Banner leadership has chosen to allocate these funds to the Supporting Our Staff (SOS) Fund to help its health care workforce during this challenging time.

A press release from Banner Health announcing that with more children at home and outdoor temperatures rising, Banner Children’s is encouraging families to remember the ABCs of water safety by creating a fun coloring activity for kids and providing information about drowning prevention.

A press release from Banner Health announcing a new digital tool used by Banner Health physicians allows pregnant women to monitor their prenatal health at home and make fewer trips to the doctor’s office.

A press release from Banner Health announcing how they are honoring the sacrifices made by nurses and other frontline employees, with activities and advertisements during National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week.

In honor of National Hospital Week and Nurses Week, physicians and staff working on the frontlines at Banner Desert Medical Center and Banner Children’s at Cardon Children’s Medical Center were recently recognized with an illumination on both hospital buildings, acknowledging the exceptional work provided and sacrifices made by the medical teams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A press release from Banner Health announcing the new virtual waiting room across its brands.

Following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Brandie Anderson, RN, MPH, CIC, infection prevention director at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, shares health and safety tips to protect yourself and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

A press release outlining the importance of mental health, and providing the immediate resources available for Pima and Maricopa County residents.

A press release announcing that Banner Health partnered with Premier Inc., a leading healthcare improvement company, to acquire a minority stake in Prestige Ameritech, the largest domestic manufacturer of face masks, including N95 respirators and surgical masks.

A press release describing the new measures in place to maintain a safe place for care at hospitals, clinics

I See Dedication I See Hope I See Love We are all suffering illness, sadness, loss of the way we think life should be– Using the cool patterns on the panels of tissue boxes, I thought that material appropriate. Most of these collaged images appropriate an eye form, much like the Turkish Evil Eye, when given as a gift it offers protection. In this project many 18th St. artists participated and a single art piece was sent out with mental health support materials for anyone who signed-up on our website. This has been an artist-driven 18th St. Arts supported and produced project also supported by Recovery Justice, Santa Monica and We Rise LA. Special thanks to Sara Daleiden and Sue Bell Yank at 18th St. –Melinda Smith Altshuler P.S. Honestly it has been an honor and a blessing to produce work for this project and also support our friends and neighbors who are suffering more than us.

It all happened at the end of my freshman year. a teenager failing classes until what I thought was my savior sent me home for the longest summer I've experienced. It was after summer I realized the horrific effects of the disease. I would have rather stayed in school than lose loved ones to a virus that swept the world by surprise. This is important to me because I have sympathy for people who lost loved ones due to a virus that shouldn't have spread like it did.

Writing prompt given to WRT 102 students of Pima Community College, taught by Estella Gonzalez

Assignment prompt given to St. Mary's University Students in HS 3390A taught by Lindsey Passenger, Fall 2020

In March, 2020, a global pandemic started. Before that, jokes were made. "Coronavirus is going to take out the whole world". When the month of March began, most people were confused or very strongly opinionated about what was going to happen. It was the news of all news. Rumors got worse and worse and it was said that you could get the virus through your eyeballs, nose, and mouth. People got scared of getting sick so the world completely changed. Masks started arising with the thought that they'd slow the spread. Shortly after, however, masks became very political. In the world of demanding masks, canceling school, major political conflict and complete chaos I felt worried, annoyed, angered, and most of all disappointed in and for what the world became.