Mount Hood

COVID-19 spreads across the globe

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, as it is more accurately referred to, first began as a series of cases of what was presumed to be pneumonia in Wuhan, China. By Jan. 11, China had reported its first death and it became clear that COVID-19 was neither just pneumonia, nor an ordinary case of the flu. It began to spread outwards from China’s borders; on Jan. 21, the U.S. received its first case when a Washington state resident traveling back from Wuhan tested positive for the virus. He survived, but Washington became an epicenter for the virus; later, it was surpassed by twelve other states, the foremost being New York, which currently has reported over 202,208 cases and 10,834 deaths as of April 14, according to The New York Times. But what is the “Coronavirus” exactly? And why have the measures established to reduce it been so extreme? 

The term “Coronavirus” is misleading; Coronaviruses are actually a large group of newly discovered viruses that often affect animals and rarely humans. It’s important to note that while it is suspected that this specific branch of Coronavirus, COVID-19, was contracted through animals, it’s pure speculation that the source of the illness was from bats and snakes in Chinese markets. COVID-19, in short, is a respiratory illness with symptoms that mimic the flu: fever, coughing, shortness of breath and even losing one’s sense of taste. But, according to the CDC, it is significantly more contagious. So contagious, in fact, that the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a national pandemic on March 11. 

However, there were many events that occurred between the first case and WHO’s official statement. Misinformation and miscalculation combined with a lack of resources and research have contributed to the current situation. In the beginning, even medical professionals were suggesting that COVID-19 was simply ‘not a big deal,’ — presumably because of the limited research on this new strand of viruses. In an interview with govtech.com, Dr. Nancy Messonier, the Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC said, “the virus is not spreading in the community. For that reason, we continue to believe that the immediate health risk from the new virus to the general American public is low.” That was Jan. 28, seven days after the first U.S. case. Since then, the U.S. has become the leading country in COVID-19 cases; China, on the other hand, has significantly reduced its outbreak. So, why is the U.S. behind on controlling its outbreak? This could be attributed to the U.S.’s limited leadership and resources.

Simply put, the United States is behind on testing for COVID-19. Stephan Thomke of the Harvard Business Review suggests that the central reason for this is America’s culture. 

Testing early and often is often viewed as wasteful in the eyes of organizations that emphasize efficiency and predictability,” stated Thomke.  

The U.S. is a capitalist country. As such, it prioritizes financial acquisition. In the recent weeks, the Dow Jones plummeted more than 3,000 points after schools and businesses shut down to reduce the spread of the virus, leaving many in financial distress with fears of another recession. In relation to this, President Donald Trump once again changed his standpoint on the measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In one news conference on March 23, President Trump stated, “America will again, and soon, be open for business … We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself,” after having previously denied the virus’ legitimacy, referred to it as the “Chinese Virus” and generally assisted in the spread of misinformation.

 At the same time, medical professionals are declaring a severe lack of resources. Hospitals are overpacked, and, while researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projected that the virus peaked in the U.S. over Easter weekend, medical professionals suggest against reopening the borders or stopping social distancing procedures too early in fears of a spike in infections. 

Already, there has been resistance to the established social distancing etiquette, which basically constitutes wearing a mask, staying six feet away from others and practicing basic hygiene. And, after the initial apocalypse-like mass hysteria, where droves of people ransacked stores in order to hoard essentials like toilet paper, a spike in unemployment 20-30 times worse than the national average has complicated issues, according to marketplace.org. Individuals facing financial burdens because they have been laid off during this crisis are eager to get back to work. 

Some individuals believe that letting the virus run its course and building imunization — killing up to 40 million people in the process, according to Business Insider — would be a more effective way of finally returning to normalcy. With a 3.4% mortality rate, COVID-19 can’t be taken lightly. 

It may take over a year to develop a vaccine because of the extended period of licensing and clinical trials. An article by The Guardian features the following quote by the CEO of Management Sciences for Health, “If you mean (a vaccine) that can be used in a mass vaccination campaign, allowing us all to get on with our lives, then 12 to 18 months is probably right.” Of course, other individuals have suggested it could be sooner, but as with much of the virus, many aspects are unknown at this time. 

However, it’s clear that we’re in a time of change. As the government issues an unprecedented $1,200 in stimulus checks to qualified Americans, discussions about healthcare, housing rights, capitalism and common welfare have been pushed to the forefront of debate. With the upcoming 2020 election on the horizon, it would be shocking if these issues were not made a priority during the vote. Until then, the nation remains unified — just six feet apart. 

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Illustration by Rachel Hetzel

Western adapts digitally for Spring 2020

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

Regarding COVID-19, in a previous article published by The Western Howl, Jennifer King, the Medical Services Director at Western’s Student Health and Counseling Center, stated that “the risk is very low for Oregon. We don’t have any cases or contacts from Wuhan, so it’s a very low risk for the university.” That interview took place on Jan. 30, nine days after the first cases were reported in Washington state. Now, two months later, Oregon has a total of 1,580 cases and 53 deaths as of April 14, according to The New York Times — 280 of those cases being in the neighboring Marion County and one being an anonymous Western student. 

On March 23, Governor Kate Brown issued a statewide stay-at-home order. In compliance, Western effectively restructured classes for complete online delivery in the face of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, changing the lives of both students and staff members alike. 

Dozens of emails have been sent out by Western’s administration to its students, as new updates are unfolding seemingly every hour. 

“We were careful,” said President Rex Fuller about releasing information to the public, “the virus was underestimated from the beginning and we knew our statements needed to be based on facts and science … we followed guidance from the OHA, the CDC, and Governor Brown.” 

Students dependent on their classroom routines, students without access to technology and students depending on the university for their monthly income or medical services were immediately vulnerable because of this change. 

Luckily, Western implemented strategies and resources to help students acclimate to the new digital learning landscape. Bill Kernan, the Director of Computing Services, said that this change has been a challenge, nonetheless. 

“After it was made known to us that there were students who didn’t have internet access, we ordered a batch of hotspots and prepared rental laptops. We held an emergency UTAC meeting to where it was decided the university would purchase an unlimited educational Zoom license and we had to enable it in a single weekend,” said Kernan.  

At the SHCC, the staff immediately began seeing an influx in students reporting symptoms similar to COVID-19, and for everyone’s safety, the SHCC Director, Beth Scroggins, sent out an email on March 4 asking that students call ahead for triaging. 

“Our big concern was keeping our staff safe and healthy so that SHCC could remain open and provide services for the students,” said Scroggins.

However, those services have been altered — mainly, the mode of delivery. On April 4, Scroggins sent a campus-wide email informing students of online appointments through a video service called Doxyme. The SHCC will also remain open for crisis counseling and COVID-19 testing. 

For students worried about their financial situation — and maybe frustrated about not receiving that $1,200 stimulus check due to being claimed as a dependent — Western has confirmed that payroll services will remain unchanged and the SLCD sent out an email on April 2 featuring financial resources. For students worried about where their next meal is coming from, the Food Pantry and Valsetz Dining Hall are still accessible and more information about hours can be found on their respective websites. 

Despite the university’s attempts to offer resources, students still have criticisms of certain administrative decisions — mainly, the decisions to cancel all in-person finals for Winter Term and to hold a virtual Commencement for Spring Term graduates. Unlike many other schools, Western only holds one commencement per year, and President Rex Fuller said he, “could not in good conscious risk the safety of the students, guests, and the hundreds of staff members which make commencement possible” by holding an in-person event. 

Graduating senior, ASL/English interpreting major Alyssa Sandoval expressed her frustrations by stating, “this last term was supposed to be huge for me … I was supposed to be working in an internship out of state … experience life in the field I’ve been studying … now due to COVID-19 this has all been turned upside down. Western can’t control the closure of my internship site… but, the seniors have worked so hard and we deserve to have the recognition of a true commencement.”  

Overall, Western has kept in constant contact with both the authorities and its students, but regardless, some students are still mourning the loss of normalcy and adapting to the current changes is something that will continue to be an (online) learning process for everyone involved.

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Illustration by Rachel Hetzel

Positivity emerges in the wake of the COVID-19

Sage Kiernan-Sherrow |  News Editor

In times of crisis, people are often bombarded with news of negativity. As COVID-19 spreads throughout the nation, darker aspects of our country become more apparent. However, while         

focusing on the issues caused or heightened by the virus are important, it’s also crucial that individuals recognize the positive reactions that people have made for the global good during this time-period. 

As Mr. Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” once said, “look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Celebrities and CEOs alike have been using their wealth to both fund the fight against COVID-19 and help people in need. According to an article by Billboard, Elton John, who has been on the forefront of the movement combating AIDS, is now dedicating an emergency fund to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

John is quoted as saying, “Distributing medicines, testing and preventative treatment is not as simple as it was a few weeks ago, so our new COVID-19 emergency fund will help frontline partners to prepare for, and respond to, the pandemic and its effects on HIV prevention and care for the most marginalized communities.” 

Hundreds of other celebrities have taken a similar standpoint, even going so far to hold free concerts and events during quarantine for entertainment and fundraising purposes.

The environment has also been positively impacted by the reduction in human waste. According to onetreeplanted.org, air quality has significantly improved in lockdown areas; carbon emissions have reduced by 25% in China as of March 17 — a fact that can be observed through NASA’s satellite imaging. In many parts of the world, animals who frequented areas in the past are returning after long hiatuses due to human impact. 

At home, people are reconnecting with loved ones and helping their communities. In Australia, community members have created online forums to answer their neighbor’s questions and concerns and offer assistance during social distancing. 

Respondents shared advice for grocery shopping on the cheap, as well as broader ideas for ways to pitch in like checking in on elderly neighbours, or creating WhatsApp groups to keep in touch with people on their street,” according to The Guardian.

Peter T. Coleman, a psychology professor at Columbia University, suggests in an article published by Politico that COVID-19 may lead to political depolarization. 

Coleman stated, “COVID-19 is presenting us with a formidable enemy that will not distinguish between reds and blues, and might provide us with fusion-like energy and a singularity of purpose to help us reset and regroup.” 

It is an ideal that is challenged by many, but nonetheless echoes the World Health Organization’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus’s testimony at a news conference where he said, “please quarantine politicizing COVID. The unity of (America) will be very important to defeat this dangerous virus.”

 

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

Illustration by Rachel Hetzel