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THE MATADOR
thematadorsghs.us FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020
thematadorsghs.us FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020
FOCUS 7
THE MATADOR
Pandemic produces negative mental health effects ANNA NGO REPORTER
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ver since the pandemic hit the US and forced many states into lockdown, countless people reported a decline in mental health. Common factors include social isolation, financial issues, fear over one’s health, and intensified mental illnesses. A recent study conducted by Mission Harbor Behavioral Health shows seven in 10 teens struggle with mental health during the pandemic. Over 50% struggled with anxiety, 43% struggled with
depression, and 45% felt more difficulty eating, 12% had COVID-19. Social isolation can stressed than usual. worsening chronic conditions, and leave people feeling drained and Adjustments, including 12% reported increased substance lonely, thus heightening their risk quarantine, can trigger pre- use. While many of these are for developing depression and existing mental illnesses. Going out linked to underlying mental anxiety. in public for essential trips often health conditions, the pandemic Additionally, quarantine heightens hypervigilance, has led to a drastic rise a symptom of increased in domestic violence. sensitivity and alertness Researchers at Brigham While many of these are most common in postand Women’s Hospital traumatic stress disorder. linked to underlying mental in Boston reported an This adds to the stress health conditions, the pandemic 80% rise in physical of financial issues and abuse compared to distress over one’s health has intensified them.” previous years. There due to the pandemic. is also a likelihood of In a poll by the Kaiser Family has intensified them. However, increased abuse rates of children Foundation, 36% of people quarantine can have a negative and teenagers at the hands of sheltered at home reported effect on anyone, even those who caregivers when stuck in their difficulty sleeping, 32% had were mentally healthy prior to households. However, now that
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classes are virtual, it is difficult for abuse and neglect to be detected since they were often reported by adults at school. If you or someone you know are struggling with a suspected mental illness, please seek professional help. In case you or someone you suspect are in a domestic abuse situation or need immediate attention, call 911. Please reach out to school counselors or school psychologists if you are struggling with your mental health. For more information and resources, check out the full-length article on thematadorsghs.us.
STAYINSIDE
CURRENT COVID-19 STATISTICS: ALHAMBRA COUNTY
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
1,225 27
272k 6,610
cases deaths
ANDREW LAM
UNITED STATES
INFOGRAPHIC BY
7.43M 208k
cases deaths
“covid-19” by Prachatai is licensed under CC BYNC-ND 2.0
cases deaths
GLOBALLY
34.4M 1.02M
LICENSED BY CREATIVE COMMONS
AS OF OCT. 2 SOURCES: COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC HEALTH AND GOOGLE NEWS
cases deaths
BY LAURA CAI
COVID-19: What is it? BY ERIC MAI SPORTS EDITOR
Opinion: Masks must be mandator y nationwide ANNA NGO REPORTER
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s the pandemic continues and businesses b e g i n to reopen, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone wear face masks in public. However, only 36 states have required masks with the occasional exception of children. The lack of mask mandates is dangerous and every state must make them mandatory to flatten the curve and protect citizens.
Masks are effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19. One study conducted by Health Affairs compared “before” and “after” effects of mask mandates in 15 states. After three weeks, the daily cases dropped by 2%. Masks clearly help contain the virus and a nationwide order protects the nation’s collective health by reducing the risk of spreading and lowering the number of cases. Social distancing and good hygiene, while both essential, are not enough to contain the virus. Society needs to continue, businesses and stores must reopen,
and a form of normality is necessary for our economy to function. Standing roughly six feet away from others will not stop respiratory droplets from infecting someone. Since people have already violated social distancing rules by gathering in large crowds, masks would help lower the risks of spreading and allow society to function while awaiting a vaccine. COVID-19—although it leaves the elderly and those with underlying health issues moresusceptible— harms every demographic. There is a misconception that most people will fully recover. However, some
of the infected developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, a condition where fluid builds up in the air sacs of one’s lungs and often results in death. If everyone complied with mask-wearing, infection rates would drop dramatically. Despite the simplicity and effectiveness of mask mandates, some view it as a violation of freedom. Citizens cannot have freedom if they do not have safety first, and it is selfish to think that one’s autonomy is more important than everyone’s overall safety. When people refuse to wear masks,
they are putting society at risk of an economic collapse and a public health crisis. The government must act for the greater good of the people, instead of avoiding the wrath of selfish citizens who view orders as a freedom violation. All states must enforce mandatory masks if they want the curve to flatten. Masks are effective in preventing spread and are a simple solution to the chaos of the pandemic. Until a nationwide mandate is issued, the pandemic will continue and the effects will only be more devastating.
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OVID-19 is a vascular disease that originated in Wuhan, China in 2019. It has since spread across the world, with the U.S. harboring the highest numbers of cases and deaths. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fevers, coughing, sore throats, or other conditions that damage
one’s cardiopulmonary functions (heart and lungs). The first U.S. case was confirmed on Jan. 20 this year, and the first state to enforce quarantine was California, exactly two months thereafter. Other states quickly followed as the number of cases climbed exponentially throughout the country. However, many criticized the U.S.’ later response compared to other nations. Most food businesses in the U.S. have been
affected negatively by the coronavirus. Many restaurants, especially family-owned ones, are failing to make substantial money due to restrictions on dine-in services, and many have shut down as a response. Since all domestic products are being purchased less often, the values of stocks have collectively dropped as well. In March, the Dow Jones market index observed history’s single largest drop in market value, in terms of points.
In the Great Depression, the largest observed stock drop was 24.8%. In August of this year, companies like Boeing observed drops of up to 47.2%.The economy is further damaged by the skyrocketing rates of unemployment; the Pew Research Center estimated a loss of 14 million jobs from February to May. COVID-19 has proven to be most deadly in the elderly who have contracted it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, eight out of 10 deaths from COVID-19 are from the older demographic. On Sept. 30, COVID-19 claimed the life of its millionth victim. There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19, but a few of the nations’ top pharmaceutical companies are in the final stage of testing for vaccines. Some companies, such as Moderna, have promised the production of over 100 million doses.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CHELSEA NGUYEN