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Heritage-Dubiski HOSA Newsletter 2020 May 25

This week our California HOSA chapter is partnering with a Texas sister chapter to bring you a different look at the COVID-19 crisis from another part of the country

Editor: Karen Isabel Siapno (Senior) - Heritage HOSA Chapter Vice President

Website Curator: Ify Chidi (Sophomore) - Heritage HOSA Chapter Secretary Assistant

Unforeseen Quarantine

Author: Ify Chidi (Sophomore) - Heritage HOSA Chapter Secretary Assistant

All across the globe, people are affected by the coronavirus outbreak in a variety of different ways. Here are a collection of quotes I’ve gathered from real people showcasing quarantine experiences from around the world.

"Loving the extra time I get to spend with my family" - Mac, Thailand
“The president started an obligatory quarantine as soon as possible, so everyone who doesn't have a store of food works as a medic or a policeman. We are not allowed to leave the house except go to buy things to eat, always with a mask and cleaning the hands when entering or leaving a place. Most people respected the quarantine so Argentina got so little cases (or at least in comparison with the rest of Latin America), of course a lot of people don't want the quarantine because they can’t work, fortunately the government give to everyone money so they can survive more time without working” - Lucas, Argentina
“In Brazil things happen in a really different way, the president said things like ‘It's just a little flu, if people die of this who cares?’ The president wanted to pretend like nothing was happening, but when a lot of people got infected some cities made the executive decision of having a quarantine (however not as strict as Argentinian quarantine), but the president started saying that these cities are “bad” and the government won't help them (one of which is the city with the largest population in Brazil). Fortunately, in the island that my dad lives they closed the borderline so there’s no cases, but many people die everyday due to the coronavirus and all the president will do is laugh” Anonymous, Brazil
“MY COUNTRY IS A MESS” - a LOOΠΔ stan (p.s. stream so what), Canada
“There are only 600 cases, with 200 of them healed and currently under supervision, but that is bad for us, since only 3 million people live in my country. Our quarantine rules aren't that strict, but if you break any of them you get a 3000 lari tax, if you are an organization then it’s 15k. We also can’t go outside after 9pm or you might get arrested. We can’t also enter a shop or a closed building if there's more than 3 people in it, and going inside a public place without a mask is illegal. Our schools have been closed since march, but the school system remains normal, with people learning by online school, but for whoever doesn’t have a computer or wifi access, we also have classes on the TV. ” - Anonymous, Georgia (the country)
“It's a time where we realize we take so many things for granted” - Chris, Missouri
“I was really surprised that my work and university were so well prepared. Everything is already digitized. I was able to work and study from home without any problems! Even though we weren’t able to leave our home anymore, I felt ok! I was able to do things I loved (before I didn’t have enough time to do that!) again, like doing sports, painting, singing & dancing. But after two months I really missed my friends... Now Germany is easing up on their lockdown restrictions... shops are reopening ... we are able to meet a few people... overall I am very relieved that Germany was able to control the infection rate and that we are able to live “a normal” life soon again” -Jessica, Germany
“It all happened so suddenly. It seems like one second ago, I was getting ready for Lunar New Year with my family, and the next the city was pretty much on lockdown. The streets were so emptied, and even if there were people, they layered masks over masks. A lot of parents, including mine, didn’t allow their kids to go outside in fear of contracting it. My first time out was the 50th day into quarantine, and even so, it was brief. We started online school back in January, and it lasted until May. We had online classes every day, homework was posted after class. Not going to lie, though, I sometimes ditched class to sleep or do other better things. During all of that, my favorite pastime was definitely reading manga and going on the computer. I have recently gone back to school and got told that summer is going to be pushed back until August. Mask is required during school at all times, except during siesta or when eating. It does help that I sit by the window, so it’s not that stuffy. But, I have gotten so used to wearing a mask that if I didn’t wear one going outside, it would feel the same as not wearing pants...lol." - Zheng Ziying, China. Translated by Shenran Chen
“Life is depressing, my children have stopped school and my construction of more have stopped. It is hard to find happiness during this time, as Ethiopia lacks the medical infrastructure to support large masses of infected patients. Also, there is not much internet, leaving us to find new ways to enjoy at such a devastating time” - Kassahaun Asfaw, (Addis Abeba, Ethiopia)
“The initial COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria on March 30, 2020 while expedient has exposed flaws in the response of the government to healthcare and social security. Wealthy Nigerians have often preferred traveling abroad for medical treatment but with borders shutting around the world, Nigeria’s elite have to confront the country’s concerning healthcare facilities. It has also meant financial pain for millions of informal laborers who rely heavily on their daily earnings to survive. Guaranteeing social security by providing consistent electricity to store food, keep children engaged through elearning and keep businesses afloat has been a persistent challenge. Its reliance on oil exports to fund government expenditure has made the country particularly vulnerable following the collapse in oil prices. The hope is that the oil price crash will serve as a catalyst for the economic diversification that Nigerian requires. To reduce unemployment and poverty, which are inevitably linked to this pandemic, it is imperative that policymakers ease the financial burden ensuing from the lockdown and cushion the aftermath of the pandemic to prevent greater economic fragility and higher mortality rates.” - Anonymous (Lagos, Nigeria)

COVID-19, Mental Health, and Substance Use

Author: Faith Ajanaku (Rising Senior) - Dubiski HOSA Chapter President

“Covid-19 takes my bad habits and slaps them right across my face”, said Maxine Magtoto, a high school rising senior from the Philippines. For some, this unique situation has not transformed their daily lifestyle but rather exacerbates their bad habits. Although the United States government is attempting to keep citizens busy during this crisis, there is not much to do except roam TikTok, work on college applications, or turn to your worst habits.

Substance abuse rates have been higher than ever before in the United States due to the pandemic, unemployment, and diminished personal and community support. During the COVID-19 isolation period, addiction and the use of alcohol, drugs, or marijuana tends to thrive. Moderate drinking is defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as up to one drink per day for women and up to two for men. In regards to binge drinking, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) defines it as drinking five or more alcoholic drinks for males or four or more drinks for females, on the same occasion, on at least 1 day in the past month. Although the typical thought might be, “I need to drink to change how I feel”, there are various other ways to cope during this time.

  • Meditation, exercise or yoga.
  • Try a new hobby like coding or painting.
  • Pick up a good book or binge a Netflix series!
  • Plan virtual parties, skip on the alcohol!

The Coronavirus pandemic has not only taken a toll upon our economy, elders, and social life, maintaining proper mental wellbeing within this crisis has been challenging for some. 45% of American adults, as reported in a recent KFF poll, stated that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to the stress and worries associated with the Coronavirus. Mingled with social isolation, closed businesses, financial distress, and the entire world revolving around the Coronavirus pandemic, an increase in anxiety, depression, and substance use is a surprise to none.

“My anxiety manifests more at turning off all the lights because that costs money, making everyone get off the internet since that costs money, checking the cabinets 10 times a day, checking the freezer,” said Cortney Hood, a 45-year-old mother of five.

It is crucial to remember that stressing, feeling depressed, struggling with anxiety, is ok. This pandemic affects every single person: child, adult, and elderly. Worrying about the health of others, working rigorous hours to provide for your family, and severe changes in your dietary and sleeping patterns can all contribute to changes in your mental wellbeing.

The CDC recommends several ways to cope with stress during this pandemic:

  1. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
  2. Take care of your body.
  3. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.
  4. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
  5. Exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep.
  6. Avoid alcohol and drugs.
  7. Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
  8. Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

Winter the Llama: An Unlikely Hero in the Fight Against COVID-19

Author: Selam Asphalt (Sophomore) - Heritage HOSA Chapter Member

When imagining a cure for the devastating disease COVID-19, one may suspect the cure to originate from scientific labs through diligent research. However, you may be surprised to find that the antibodies from a cohort of 130 llamas can be the cure to this worldwide pandemic. Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, the National Institutes of Health and Ghent University in Belgium extracted samples from these creatures and analyzed the antibodies from these camelids. Opposed to other mammals, llamas produce two kinds of antibodies. One of these antibodies resembles a similar protein structure to humans, but the other set of antibodies llamas produce piques the interest of researchers “nanobodies”. These nanobodies neutralize the spike proteins of the coronavirus, hindering its ability to infect the respiratory tract. The process of examining the effects of these antibodies will begin on hamster trials and will eventually phase into human trials if proven successful. Although the antibodies of a llama will not completely cure the world of SARS-COVID-19, it acts as a major step made by the medical community in the scramble to find a cure.

COVID-19: The Numbers

Author: Karen Isabel Siapno (Senior) - Heritage HOSA Chapter Vice President

As of 2020 May 24

What We Should’ve Done

Author: Nikhil Trehan (Junior) - Heritage HOSA Chapter Treasurer Assistant

If we take a trip in a time machine to Europe 700 years ago, we would be appalled at the lack of sanitation and public health. With germs and bacteria left undiscovered, hand-washing failed to prove its importance. Improper sewage methods, crowded cities, and rampant fleas and rodents stirred up a recipe for disaster. Throughout 1346-1353, the Black Death spread throughout Europe and much of Asia, killing between ⅓ and ⅔ of Europe’s population and altering human history forever.

Today’s world shows nothing of the sort. Scientific development and breakthroughs helped eradicate lethal diseases, such as smallpox and polio, that tormented humankind for thousands of years. Unlike Medieval Europe, modern day’s most developed and advanced healthcare gives easy access to trained professionals. Consequently, human life expectancy extended to an astounding 79 years, compared to the usual age of 30 only 3 centuries ago. Then how is the coronavirus able to spread like lightning through the human population, killing over 300,000 people in some of the most developed countries on the planet over a span of 5 months?

Our very downfall stems from humanity’s own development. Airplanes take us across the globe in a matter of hours, and globalization has made humanity more interconnected than ever before. Because of how much humans travel, it leaves us especially vulnerable to a highly infectious disease such as the coronavirus. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, in his now well-known 2015 Ted Talk, highlighted this vulnerability to disease and claimed that humanity failed to take the necessary steps to counter it. He stated that in order to be prepared for a future pandemic, humanity needs to take its outstanding improvements in science and technology and put them towards stopping a future pandemic through 4 steps: strengthening health systems, especially in underdeveloped countries; creating a highly trained medical corps analogous to army reserves; pairing medical responses with the military to provide a highly mobile response; and running germ “games”, or simulations, in order to discover holes. Unfortunately, the lack of effort made to counteract the vulnerability to disease in today’s era produced devastating results—humanity will learn a hard lesson from the coronavirus.

In order to prepare for a future and possibly more fatal pandemic, humanity cannot let its guard down again. Governments and organizations must take charge and put in place lasting changes that will strengthen the armor of humanity against deadly disease for centuries to come. Life may return to normal and globalization may continue, but behind the scenes, something must be done.

Influencer Exploitation and Nutrition During COVID-19

Author: Faith Ajanaku (Rising Senior) - Dubiski HOSA Chapter President

Buried beneath CNN coverage and newspaper releases, is an issue mainly affecting young adults and teenagers within society. Jameela Jamil, an advocate for the regulation of weight loss production, describes Instagram’s exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic situation to advertise various dietary and weight loss pills as “an issue at its peak”. Jameela has called out various Instagram influencers -such as Kim Kardasian- over their promotion of dietary products without proper scientific evidence supporting their marketing claims.

This issue has the greatest effect on young people who are suffering from eating disorders and are in desperate need of a “quick fix”. Aimee Victoria Long, The Independent interviewee, once used detox teas regularly, with Bootea being her preferred brand. “I became obsessed,” she tells The Independent. “I was constantly nauseous and always on the toilet. I became addicted to that feeling. I went on to diet pills and other laxatives. Eventually I got admitted into a specialist eating disorders unit.”

The effectiveness of advertisement utilising influencers can lead to other similar companies following suit, increasing the amount of fraudulent products that circle online. “Of course I feel like an idiot now,” says Alysia Stevenson, a 27-year-old from New York who bought SkinnyMint detox tea three years ago, after seeing multiple Instagram adverts featuring “before and after” pictures posted by reality TV stars. “I was just miserable,” she says. “On the third day, I became nauseous. I was getting cold sweats. I was convulsing, going to the bathroom constantly.” Although her boyfriend told her to stop drinking the tea, Stevenson wouldn’t. “I was just so determined to see the number on the scale go down after two weeks, I didn’t care that I was getting sick.” (Excerpted from VICE interview)

Brands use such online influencers to market questionable health products that, in most cases, are fraudulent and quite harmful, to impressionable young people. The federal trade commission, in the past has had to reimburse millions for customers due to misleading and deceptive marketing strategies from brands such as Lights For America. Along with that, although the National advertising division charged FitTea last year for similar false marketing, such brands continue dominating and thriving off body image insecurities brewing from social isolation. Always do your research on brands and everything you buy online. While it may seem cynical, In a world where sensationalism overwhelms our media, nothing should be trusted at first glimpse. Gentle, slow, and safe is the only way to approach change. Losing weight and staying healthy is effectively done through exercise and a consistent healthy diet.

On the greener side, research shows that some dietary supplemental might play an important role during this pandemic. Harvard researchers, Dr. Wafaie Fawzi, Dr. Walter Willett, and PhD student, Dr. Ibraheem Abioye, states “We have known for a long time that nutrition is intricately linked to immunity and to the risk and severity of infections…Therefore, it is imperative for all of us to pay attention to our diet and nutritional status during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic”. Although there is currently no data correlating nutritional health to the severity of the Coronavirus, there have been other cases of nutritional and infection symbiotic relationships. Including Zinc, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D, and their beneficial results for infections such as acute respiratory, severe sepsis, and the flu, there has been evidence of certain nutritional ingredients decreasing the risk or severity of infectious diseases. Much research and data analysis is still required before establishing a proper correlation between nutritional supplements and COVID-19 -if there is one. Regardless, many are flocking to Walmart aisles in hopes of Vitamin C to aid their immunity. It truly is not the time for inadequate intakes of essential minerals and vitamins.

How Schools Are Impacted

Author: Felisha Antioquia (Junior) - Heritage HOSA Chapter Representative

From academics to sports to friend outings, it comes to no surprise that Covid-19 impacts the lives of many, especially young students. For most students, distance learning becomes the new norm as we quarantine at home. Although schools close their gates, that does not stop students from receiving an education. All academic institutions– from preschool to graduate school– face a new reality due to COVID-19.

With over 1.2 billion children out of the classroom, the challenge with distance learning lies with those students disconnected from technology. According to weforum.org, 25% of students lack a computer at home in the United States which puts them at a disadvantage. Even more so, some students learn less in online environments and need that person-to-person teaching. Bombarded with a new change of pace, teachers also learn to cope with distance learning with technological platforms such as Zoom. School administration such as schools in Bay Area counties need to send out surveys about technology in order to provide for each individual student.

Furthermore, some students benefit from the school shutdowns. Research shows that students retain 25-60% more material when learning online compared to only 8-10% in a classroom, which highlights how students prefer learning from home. In addition, we students live in a technological society, and most students are comfortable with technology and how to access it. Unlike the general school structure, online schools provide flexibility where students can pace themselves and quickly browse the internet. Besides academics, the coronavirus impacts mental health. Most students feel the pressure of a school environment and feel relaxed in their own home. However, some students feel anxious from the lack of interaction and the unawareness of what’s next during the pandemic.

On a larger scale, COVID-19 also impacts universities. According to the New York times, more colleges are waiving SAT and ACT requirements. The University of California system eliminates the requirement until 2021 to create fairness due to the COVID-19 impact. The elimination of such an important factor in academic life helps prevent standardized testing from favoring the wealthier, predominantly white students who can afford test prep according to politico.com. COVID-19 has created new issues of fairness and reliability that will make admissions more subjective.

From adjusting to technology, empty schools, and no graduation, COVID-19 truly influenced student life.

Sources:

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