Today I bought a package of KN95 masks for the first time. Between my partner and I, we have more than a dozen cloth masks, and sometimes we double-up on them, but more than a year after the start of the pandemic, it is funny to think that this is the first time I have bought a package of medical-grade masks. The reason I did it contains another irony—I am vaccinated so I am considering going out slightly more often, when I do so, I want to be sure that I am still practicing as much safety as possible.

The Biden administration will have an American Sign Language interpreter at every White House briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. "As a part of this administration's accessibility and inclusion efforts, starting today we will have an ASL, an American Sign Language interpreter for our daily press briefings," Psaki said at Monday's briefing. "The President is committed to building an America that is more inclusive, more just and more accessible for every American, including Americans with disabilities and their families." The first interpreter was identified only as Heather and appeared virtually at the bottom of the screen while Psaki gave her remarks. The administration was praised for having the Pledge of Allegiance signed simultaneously with its recitation at the inauguration last Wednesday. The move set a different tone from the previous administration, which was sued in August by the National Association of the Deaf and five deaf Americans for not providing ASL interpreters at Covid-19 briefings. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration in September to provide ASL interpreters at the briefings beginning October 1, whether in person or via video.

The increasing death toll from COVID-19 has devastated many families on a personal level. One instance illustrates that like no other. An Ohio couple that had recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary both passed away minutes apart, leaving behind seven decades of memories, five children, 13 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Dick and Shirley Meek celebrated their anniversary on Dec. 22. It was then when they innocuously told their children they were feeling a little under the weather. "They said to all us kids, 'we think we're getting colds,'" said Kelly Meek. But suddenly, things got bad and it was evident this was no mere cold. On Jan. 8, they both tested positive for COVID-19. When things started to worsen for both of them, the family asked for them to be together for their final moments. Hospital staff found a room for two beds and the necessary equipment. Dick and Shirley died in each other's arms on Jan. 16. They were due to get the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 19.

During this pandemic, being in quarantine in my house made me realize that life is really short and that you you cherish every moment you have, especially with your loved one. This showed that you should enjoy life and share it with the people around you.

Video shows past and present Social Justice movements to fight white supremacy, including current movements taken place during the pandemic. From the Video: White supremacy has been etched into the foundation of our government since the beginning. We don't rely on governments to do the work of mass movements. We don’t rely on the same tactics as white supremacists. This week, we will NOT give them what they want, which is a reaction out in the streets. Today and everyday, WE keep us safe. WE will end white supremacy. Check in on each other. Join us: blacklivesmatter.com

This is a tweet from Toronto Ontario which depicts an absolutely massive group of people crowding outside of an Ikea in North York. Just this week, Ontario has seen a massive spike in coronavirus cases, which has prompted the province into another shock lockdown. However, it is apparent that these restrictions are somehow not applicable to big business. Rather, this Tweet touches upon another important feature of the pandemic and the Canadian ‘lockdown.’ Smaller businesses have been forced to pay out of pocket for the adequate infrastructure to remain open during a pandemic, and in many cases have been forced to shut down when ordered to by the province. However, with each passing lockdown it becomes more apparent that these rules, restrictions, and realities do not apply to the larger corporations and super-stores such as Ikea and Wal-Mart. Larger companies can afford to take the fines, they can afford the infrastructure, PPE and much more – smaller businesses simply cannot operate in these conditions, and there has been insufficient aid to make sure that these smaller businesses, their owners and employees are properly protected. And while cases continue to rise, and smaller businesses are forced to close; it makes little sense to give a free pass to these large transnational multi-million dollar companies.

Fiery exchanges took place when House lawmakers convened Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump for a historic second time, just one week after a mob of his supporters attacked the Capitol grounds. As Democrats railed against the insurrectionists, some Republicans repeatedly drew comparisons between last summer's Black Lives Matter protests and the Capitol siege of Jan. 6.

Dr. Anthony Fauci offered hope that concerts and theater performances could return in 2021. Speaking at a conference for the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, the nation’s top infectious disease expert was asked when indoor venues will be able to reopen their doors for the public. The performing arts industry has largely been shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci said it’s important for the country to reach herd immunity of 70 to 85% of the population vaccinated from the coronavirus.

The race to vaccinate has been a slow roll out across the Bay Area and the state but there have been some bright spots -- a drive-thru clinic where the COVID-19 vaccine was getting into the arms of hundreds who so desperately want it. It was organized by an East Bay physician who's tired of waiting. "We feel good we're making a dent in this problem," said Dr. Rebecca Parish. The playground at Stanley Middle School in Lafayette was transformed into a drive-thru vaccination clinic for seniors Saturday. Many seniors have been frustrated trying to get the vaccine, like Wayne Hahn. "I'm feeling relieved, I live in Rossmoor they were unable to get the county to come and give it to the 10,000 seniors who live there like me," he said.

Kaiser Permanente apologizes for long phone wait times since the Covid-19 vaccine became available.

MARIN, Calif. (KGO) -- As COVID-19 cases surge, Bay Area firefighters are getting deployed to hospitals across the state. Bob Craft, a firefighter paramedic from the Central Marin Fire Department is working the nightshift. Two hours into his shift, he intubated a patient in the emergency department who arrived to the hospital with stroke like symptoms and prepped a COVID-19 patient for their flip onto their stomach for the rest of the night. "It's the gamut from really regular people coming to the emergency department to people on ventilators on the ICU who are on the COVID ward," said craft.

LOS ANGELES — In Los Angeles County, 10 people on average test positive for the coronavirus every minute. Every six minutes, someone dies from Covid-19, according to county public health data. The startling figures come as Los Angeles became the first county in the nation to record 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic. According to county public health officials, roughly 1,003,923 people in L.A. have been infected with the virus and more than 13,000 people have died. The numbers are equally sobering across the state. California has nearly 2.9 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 31,000 deaths, according to NBC News counts. A more contagious variant of the virus has also been detected in the region.

WACO, Texas -- A Texas family suffering the effects of COVID-19 is safe after their home caught fire, and they weren't able to smell the smoke. Fortunately, a fourth family member, a 17-year-old girl, was able to alert her three relatives and get them to safety. The one-story home caught fire in Waco Friday morning with four people inside. Three people at the home where Bianca Rivera lives lost their sense of smell due to the virus and were oblivious to the danger that was consuming the structure. The teen told KWTX-TV she smelled something burning around 2 a.m. "I started smelling burnt plastic, and that's when I got more alert and ran outside of my room," Rivera told the station. "I couldn't even pass the hallway because it was filled with so much smoke." "I would just do whatever anyone else would do for their own family," Rivera told KWTX. "I just wanted to get everyone else safe and alive that's all I wanted that's all I wanted was to keep everyone alive. I don't really count myself a hero." The family members escaped with their lives, but weren't able to save much else. The Red Cross and other relatives are helping the family as they recover from COVID-19 and a destroyed home.

States should expand access to Covid-19 vaccines to everyone 65 and older, as well as any adult with an underlying health condition that might raise the risk for complications of Covid-19, members of Operation Warp Speed recommended Tuesday. The guidelines are intended to prompt faster distribution of the vaccines by making more people immediately eligible for vaccination, as well as expanding the potential locations where people can receive it. Of the more than 25 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine that have been delivered nationwide, just under 9 million shots had been put into Americans' arms as of Tuesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The coronavirus has taken the lives of more than 546,000 Americans and counting. Those we've lost come from all backgrounds and include the very people -- first responders and medical staff -- who have been working so diligently and selflessly to stem the tide of the infection and care for the sick. But the virus has also highlighted the disparities in the U.S. -- taking a disproportionate toll on communities of color, the elderly and the poor. Here's a look at some of the lives lost:

Willie Nelson is among the many Americans who’ve signed up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. During his drive-through vaccination this week, a masked Nelson posed for a series of pictures, offering the camera a thumbs-up as he received his dose of the vaccine. The Texas-based Family Hospital Systems shared the images on Facebook, encouraging everyone to sign up for their shots and stating that “getting your COVID vaccine is Willie cool!”

A former Oakland police officer has received a visit from the FBI. Jurell Snyder tells the ABC7 I-Team, agents interviewed him about attending last week's Trump rally that led to the assault on the Capitol, and about his social media posts promoting conspiracy theories. Some current Oakland police officers liked and commented on Snyder's posts, and now, the department is investigating those officers.

LOS ANGELES -- The legendary Betty White turns 99 today, and like many others this year, she is planning a birthday in quarantine. White recently spoke with "Entertainment Tonight" about how she will spend the start of her last year as a nonagenarian. "What am I doing for my birthday?" she said. "Running a mile each morning has been curtailed by COVID, so I am working on getting The Pet Set re-released, and feeding the two ducks who come to visit me every day."

California National Guard troops were deployed throughout downtown Sacramento early Saturday in advance of expected protests and violence that the FBI warns could last through Inauguration Day. At the state Capitol — which is expected to be the site of protests Sunday and Wednesday as well as unrest between supporters of President Trump and antifacist groups — armed soldiers, Guard trucks and armored Humvees were stationed on streets around the building. Soliders and vehicles were positioned around other buildings, including the federal courthouse and the Superior Court building, as well as the Leland Stanford Mansion and buildings along Capitol Mall.

My grandma Pauline Bell made the front page of our local paper again. This time, she was one of the first in the area to receive the vaccine. We were all so happy for her and what this might mean for all of us who miss her.

Dear 2021, A promise, once spread out the hope of an uncertain rebirth of life. A light reflected the forgotten words of a mocking society through the shattered glass. We wanted the upcoming year to be full of joy, happiness and as what used to be always, full of social interactions. Upon 2020, nonplussed, we decided to step ahead, having no expectations on how threatening this step would be. At the beginning it seemed like a single country situation, we didn’t care much. Friends still hug each others, terrorism and riots kept on going and so did pollution. A day followed the other, and suddenly a shut down came by. Universe made its call and it was time for it to balance things out. I guess that we, this generation created a massive hustle, impacting the world positively and also negatively. During this strange and silent period, the world is brought to think and reflect. In a population that used to buy, consume and work on a daily base, where Sundays or Saturdays were ways to get a small breath in a suffocating life, a virus came and all of us were suddenly forced to stay at home. An era full of misdeeds and confusion, little human being suddenly did become the possible killer of an elder. Days felt hard, long and the promised hidden light at the end of tunnel was less and less viewable. But a question belongs among us, why is staying at home so fervent, when a century ago our ancestors were forced to kill and fight for the promise of a future peace? Birds were hiding to die, sign of misfortune. Death marks the end of a life, but never the ending of a grief. A new flag was raised and it was a blue mask. A new weapon , hand sanitizer. Eyes brought us back to a time where the information wasn’t easily obtainable, old times of an enjoyable sorrow. In these deep moment, death or illness was accepted, shunned but certainly not forgotten. The concerned families were brought to burry their heads underwater and scream pain silently. A connected generation begged for freedom, to let their hands go and restart living, start back what made us this new generation, the 21st century people. In a way this burning request can be seen as a demand of life, normality or even just a spirit call. Spirit has always made itself more living than simple materialism, so have we learned? Were we ready to grow up, and face the upcoming burdens? Is life going to come back as normal? Dear 2021, be kind to us, to the world. Sinner and Saints, killers and savers, blacks and whites, Homos and heteros, all of us threw a stone, set a margin in this so called life. Coming out from the isolation period, contact were made back, but different. Activities and work took back place, but different. The social system fired back, but different. The difference is not that big, but nowadays hygiene Normas become the main focus of health services; but this slight change is very impactable. I’d like to quote a blogger on this platform named Kristijan,17 from North Macedonia that sparkled the fact : "three things I don't leave my home without: my phone, my wallet and a face mask." back to normal but different. Dear 2021, let this year be brighter and let the human kind learn. we are all humans, so keep us united. From 2020 youth- Elyés Ayadi

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 98 to help ensure that all of our children are able to successfully continue their education virtually through the Internet. Unfortunately, although this requirement on our educators came with significant funding, the California State Legislature did not couple it with any requirements for internet service providers to actually provide service. We have seen this problem manifest acutely in the many school districts around the state that are scrambling to keep students connected. California’s surge in COVID-19 cases means remote education will continue to be the safest way to continue learning for many students in the weeks and months ahead. But the need for connectivity will not end after the pandemic. If we truly want to level the playing field for students in California — to ensure all students have access to the technology and tools that not only help them access their learning remotely but will be needed for success the rest of their lives — we cannot rest until the internet flows like electricity.

My family ended up adopting a puppy right at the start of quarantine in March. This led to two things, first a source of joy and distraction while stuck at home, and two, a puppy with a LOT of separation anxiety. I am a person who struggles greatly with mental health and I can say with much confidence that quarantine would have been extremely difficult had it not been for my dog. My dog is actually now in the process of being trained to be a therapy dog for schools and I am happy to have been the first person she could help. I think there is something to be aid however about getting a dog during a pandemic. They get really confused now when their humans are no longer home very moment of the day, and I suppose I feel thee same way to some extent.

This article by the World Health Organization (WHO) talks about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s livelihoods. The article says “tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty.” As a human living in a two story house that is food secure, this may just seem like a number. But extreme poverty is a human rights violation, and it is already clear the pandemic’s ripples are affecting people in serious ways. Further in the article, it starts to talk about the effects on the food and trade industry, which includes issues with closed borders, farmers being able to sell their food, and even people accessing healthy foods. The article ends by acknowledging the opportunity we have to rebuild a better world, and I find comfort in this thought.

I myself did not see a doctor or make any appointments until August of 2020, roughly 5 months into the pandemic. I attended my well woman’s exam, something I get yearly. The article I have added here was written by a doctor. He talks about in the beginning of the pandemic, it was critical to only see the patients that needed to be seen, as there was still so much unknown. He goes on to talk about how the risks from postponing exams outweigh the risk of catching COVID-19. This is a big part of my research, the unintended consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. "A woman is more likely to die from an advanced-stage breast cancer than she is from COVID-19," said Therese Bevers, a medical director at a MD Anderson Cancer Center. The doctor who wrote the article said he consulted with other doctors to create a list of appointments you should stop putting off. These are: cancer screenings, checkups for “new red-flag symptoms,” follow ups for chronic diseases, mental health management, and sexual health management. It is clear that these issues are important for human health upkeep, and they shouldn’t be avoided due to COVID-19 anymore. We have yet to see just how many health issues have been ignored during this pandemic.

Los Angeles Country prioritized teachers, grocery workers, restaurant staff, and other essential workers in their vaccine rollout, making them eligible the beginning of March. Given the high level of exposure these positions involve, this is necessary to protect essential workers and limit the spread of Covid-19. Also prioritized are transportation workers, homeless individuals and those in prisons, as they are often in close contact with groups of people. Not all states are following this prioritization of essential workers despite the CDC recommendations, focusing instead on factors such as age to guide their rollout. By protecting teachers, service industry workers, and others in contact with large numbers of people every day, we can slow the spread of Covid-19.

This article is about the one-year anniversary of Covid-19 and how healthcare providers are celebrating and honoring the occasion. Healthcare workers and EMS providers have spent the past year on the front-lines of the Covid response. They have sacrificed much and have seen unprecedented horrors during this pandemic. This article features several social media posts from various healthcare agencies. In all of these posts, they acknowledge the patients and providers that we have lost in the past year, but also celebrate the efforts of the providers in trying to help the public during this pandemic.

This is a tweet of a statement sent out from the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, rejecting the proposed Alberta K-6 curriculum which has become vastly unpopular for its blatant racist and white supremacist undertones. For example, one component of the curriculum would have students learning the slogan of the KKK; to be applied with learning “why some people would support” such a slogan. As I type this, this sounds unreal, or some kind of sick joke but I assure you this is real. Interestingly, when the initial flak was received for the nature of this curriculum, the Alberta government was quick to claim that there was First Nations oversight on the development of this document – this statement from the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations says otherwise. The curriculum itself has a very Anglo-centric programming, focusing on the history of Anglo-Saxons, the British Empire and the role of the Dominion of Canada in the empire. On top of this, there is little to no reference to residential schools; rather it has been removed in early grades, which goes against the call to education by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. The Confederacy of Treaty Six Nations is writing in direct response to this, stating that a proper Alberta curriculum should be able to express the diverse nature of Alberta. It should account for the horrors of colonialism, a word which the current curriculum doesn’t mention once.

This article is about the Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes (HERO) research project. They are trying to understand the long-term effects of the Covid-19 vaccine. The population that they are using is first-responders, who were among the first group to receive the vaccine in most states. The project plans to conduct periodic surveys over a 2 year period. Since this vaccine was produced in record time, and especially the lack of available data to the long term effects, it is an important project. The project also surveys the first responders regarding their mental health during the pandemic. It includes fire fighters, EMS providers, and law enforcement.

“As a frontline essential worker the COVID-19 journey has brought on a mix of experiences, emotions and impacts. The rollout of vaccines has been a welcome scenario as it brings some optimism to an otherwise bleak two years. If nothing else it signals a move towards turning the tide in the pandemic and enabling us to chart a course to recovery and reopening returning some sense of normalcy to our lives. Having been vaccinated certainly gives me more confidence in being able to fulfill my duties without constantly worrying about the possibility of infection from others and worrying about bringing the virus home. It by no means makes me think I don’t have to still be vigilant in employing proper personal protective measures, but does allow me to move forward.” My dad currently is working as a CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) officer in Calgary, I recently asked him to write down his experience of being vaccinated and ultimately how he feels about the whole ordeal. I’ve chosen this article for the archive as it represents the reality of being vaccinated. That while you may no longer be susceptible to the virus, you can still carry and transmit it. Meaning while a small amount of anxiety certainly disappeared, the threat of infection, and the practices used to mitigate it did not disappear with the rollout of the vaccine in Canada.

The story from Reuters talks about how the country of Hungary has people who want to ban Gay adoption as COVID-19 is raging around the world. It is important to note that there are many people who are losing loved ones and who will need a home in the future. The proposed ban would not allow people who are both domestic and international to adopt from this country that currently has a COVID-19 rate that is going up. The Prime Minister is proposing that there be an Amendment stating that children be raised with Christian traditional gender roles. Hungary currently does not allow for same-sex marriage.

This article by John Hopkins Medicine is talking about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the LGBTQ+ community. The doctor points out that community members are more likely to be smokers and so they are higher proportionately to have complications with COVID-19. The doctor also points out that gender-affirming surgery in the Transgender community has been delayed or is not being done at all which has impacted that community greatly. It is important that the doctor gives the advice to not isolate ourselves in the LGBTQ+ community throughout the pandemic.

Hi! I'm writing in to tell my story as a college student who contracted COVID19. I currently attend Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, however, I've been participating in online classes since March of 2020. I tested positive for COVID19 on March 28th, 2021. The story begins on March 21st, 2021: My brother, James, contracted the virus at his place of work (a local bar, he was a host). He had a fever and light cough (he was sent home from work that same day); the next day, March 22nd, he tested positive. I had very minimal exposure with him. When I found out he was exhibiting symptoms, I was on a small road trip with two of my friends, Katherine and Kylei. We heard the news and immediately returned to Kylei's apartment to quarantine together until we received results. When my brother tested positive, we hunkered down in the apartment together, we ordered groceries togo from Walmart, set up our own little areas in her apartment. We also decided to set up COVID test appointments for each of us individually. On March 23rd, I began to exhibit symptoms myself, with a mild fever, headache, and body aches. I got a rapid covid test that morning, and within the hour the results came back negative. After I tested negative, I was unsure about the accuracy of the rapid, so I scheduled/got a lab test that same day. The next few days, I tried to attend my online classes like per usual, with the fever and other symptoms coming and going. The 26th of March came around and I was brought to the ER with a fever of 105.3 and vomiting. This was a turning point; at the hospital they tested me for COVID, which came back positive Sunday, the 28th. After I received my diagnosis, I still felt exceptionally terrible, so my mother had us call an ambulance for me to the ER. They, again, weren't able to do much. I returned to my home after this visit, as I wanted to be in my own bed for the duration of COVID. I had bad symptoms: vomiting, constant nausea and chills, drenched with sweat, trouble catching my breath, and all around feeling like trash and unable to keep anything down. My mom was scared for me; I became almost unresponsive at one point. My mom took me back to the ER (Wednesday, March 31), demanding they give me an IV for hydration; they did so, along with pain relief and anti nausea. This was another turning point; the next day I was able to sit up by myself, to go to the bathroom, and to take a shower. I slept for hours, healing. Friday, April 2nd was the first day I was able to stand up and keep some food down, without it coming back up. Finally, today, April 4th, 2021 (Easter Sunday), I'm able to focus back on some schoolwork and eat a full meal with my family. Both of my parents contracted the virus, and they are still recovering, like myself.

The story speaks about how many people in the LGBTQ community are at risk while the COVID-19 crisis is occurring. The study shows that people within the community have less access to healthcare, a greater risk of health complications due to COVID-19, and do not have paid leave.

This article is about a new sprayer disinfection system used in the back of ambulances that had potentially covid positive patients in them. The video features Neptune Township New Jersey's ambulance personnel explaining the system and its benefits. The MEDS system uses electrostatic energy to charge the disinfection spray so that it will cover more surfaces effectively. This is ultimately better and safer for our EMS crews and their patients to combat against the Covid-19 virus. Disinfection is an important process in proper medical care, and this system is effective and quick which allows our EMS personnel to do their job better and safer.

This shares a tragic story of a COVID-19 victim leaving behind multiple dependents, as well as a report of the disproportionate risk for Latinos in California. They lead with a personable story of a mother and guardian in order to put names and faces, featuring Maribel Alvarado, to the statistics that follow. It goes into the risks many Latinos go through in their daily lives; their jobs and communities.

This explains which and how many school districts in California have reopened. Many have remained closed for a year or more. As the article's title suggests, "A majority of school districts are now open. But not everyone wants to return," they share why they're seeing a slow intake of students. They also reported that the Long Beach school district had their teachers vaccinated earlier, therefore was able to open their schools earlier than the rest of the state.

This updates the general public of New York that vaccinations are available for those aged 30 or older. In addition, the eligibility for 16 or older will come on April 6. However, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo emphasized that they wanted to make sure that they had enough supply before setting a fixed timeline for availabilities.

This provides a general impression of California's parents' thoughts towards reopening in-person schools. Surveys selected from the country-wide populace as well as California district-wide populations were considered. They don't only provide demographics. They also provide some context and reasons for why the participants felt a certain way. One of those responses was "Yes (only if the vaccine is readily available)", another being "No (prefer distance learning)" by an overwhelming amount. It helps inform us of the public opinion while vaccines were still in its early rollout stages.

This BBC news story shares the story of three British COVID-19 survivors. All three were hospitalized and recount how weak and close to death they felt. One survivor states it has taken her six months to fully recover, while another continues to struggle with breathing and walking due to damage to his lungs. All three are grateful to have survived.

This oral history is with 36 year old George Martinez, who identifies as male and American Mexican. He tested positive for COVID-19 in January 2021 and shared the physical and emotional impact of having COVID-19.

This oral history is with 35 year old Nancy Martinez, who identifies as female and Mexican. She tested positive for COVID-19 in January 2021 and shared the physical and emotional impact of having COVID-19.

December 2019, I moved to my cousin apartment in the city of New York I had just given birth to my son in September of 2019 and had my daughter who was eleven at the time. I was suppose to stay two weeks upon waiting for an apartment, however it didn't work out the way I had hope and I stayed at my cousin home three months prior to the covid -19 pandemic. My cousin and her mother decided since it's the pandemic and I can't go anywhere dur to the stay at home orders I had no other choice but to stay and pay rent. It wasn't easy because I felt that I wasn't in my own element and I felt like I was a teenager again. My own family talked to me like I was a kid and I was told what to do and what not to do. I had to sleep on my cousin pull out chair for several months during the pandemic. I questioned myself why did I came here. I consistently kept looking for an apartment, which It had turn into a year living with my cousin. Apartment hunting became very frustrating because of the demands which requires getting an apartment and no renters wanted anyone who was receiving unemployment. it's the year 2021 and I still live at my cousin apartment which is frustrating because I need my own. I ask everyone I know to keep an eye and ear open for me to get an apartment. My friend call me one day in March of 2021 and said he found an apartment for me and if I'm still interested? I am currently moving out of my cousin apartment, Thank God.

In 2020, a lot has changed in our personal life as well as ways in which we conduct communication with each other. My biggest experience was having to do college level classes completely online the last few semesters which was a big learning curve. This reflects on how the pandemic impacted every age group and how it forced us all to adapt to new times. This was done by using technology which at this point still seems to be on the cutting edge of evolution. My laptop now more than ever has been an object that reminds me of this new world all of us are living in because it allows me to engage in the outside world on a 14" digital screen. I feel many would agree with this statement whether it was used for school or for work, in 2020 without a laptop you were doomed.

George Floyd trial

This article is explaining how a team of animal researchers are going to track the effects of COVID on wildlife. They will be using trackers on certain species such as mammals, birds, and marine mammals as well. They are investigating to see how lack of human traffic will affect them, in a positive way. This goes for water mammals as well. This article is important because it shows the different forms of wildlife that can be affected by COVID from land to water animals.

This article is research based and is about a group of scientists who are researching how animals are responding to reduced levels of human interaction because of COVID19. This article explains the many social media posts that have been made about the abnormal animal human interactions that have been occurring and the animals that have been showing up. This research article goes into detail about certain struggles animals are having such as increased poaching and lack of food for wildlife. This article gives a point of view from both sides of the spectrum as far as a positive and negative impact that wildlife has had because of covid.

Working through a pandemic as a healthcare worker was terrifying. At the very beginning there were a lot of unknowns, and I felt lost, and alone. As I would go through my shifts as a CNA I had to be strong for my patients. I realized I would be going home to my family, but they were not. I was their "visitor" for the day. Patients could not just go outside for fresh air or wonder the halls to stretch their legs, they were confined to their room. Working in the hospital during this pandemic gave me a different perspective. While there were really hard days, there were also really great days. One of the best days was seeing a COVID recovered patient walk for the first time in months. It was times like this that made me realize that you are not granted tomorrow, and to enjoy each day to the fullest. I am so grateful for all the nurses, doctors, environmental services, secretaries, physical therapists, occupational therapists, case managers, and social workers who all came together to help our patients get through a challenging time. The song "Better Days" gives people hope that change and "better days" are near. The music video shows clips of people from all over the world and the impact this pandemic has on them.

Despite grocery store workers being essential frontline workers and a part of the CDC's vaccination recommendations, they were not given access to the vaccine in Ohio until it was open to everyone over the age of 16. While Governor DeWine insisted that age was the most important factor in determining vaccination eligibility, he neglected to realize the amount of exposure these essential workers were encountering daily. Also left out of earlier access to vaccines were public transportation workers, food and travel workers, U.S. Postal Service workers, and manufacturing workers. The vaccine is available to any Ohio resident over the age of 16 as of March 29th, but in more populated areas there have been issues with registration and long waits for the first dose. Including more occupations in the rollout of vaccines may not have prevented these issues from happening, but it could have ensured that those enduring more consistent exposure would have an easier time getting the vaccine, as they would not be battling the rest of the population for an appointment.

Last year 2020, during the first confinement I wanted to embody black women in old paintings and photographies. And here is a sample of what it was. It had something oh so uplifting for myself to be able to do that. I think I am now ready for the 2021 confinement edition. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #Betweenartandquarantine #Tussenkunstenquarantaine #Gettychallenge @Tussenkunstenquarantaine #Covidclassics #Artenquarantaine #Gettymuseumchallenge #17centuryfashion #17thcentury #BlackVictorian #Africanhistory #Vintagefashion #blm #afroeuropeanhistory #Periodfashion #Histoire #laviedesnoirscompte #Periodwoman #Sothebys #oldEurope #Vintagefashion #Celebrateblack #afroparisian #Blackparisian #Blackgirlmagic #afroeuropean #secretsdhistoire . #Gettymuseumchallenge #blackwomenofthepast #Edwardian