Dana Aika Miranda -- ASA 002 A04: Week 1

Some COVID-19 Thoughts

In my reflection of COVID-19, I have constantly thought about how there are many people I see that refuse to stay indoors despite the dire situation. What should not have been as serious of a situation now runs rampant throughout the country at impossible rates for the Healthcare System to keep up with. My own father works in the medical field as a registered nurse and I cannot help but continue the fear of his exposure to the virus with the limited resources that the hospitals are running on due to capitalist hoarding, lack of funding, insufficient government support and response to the situations, theft, and more. And even if my father can survive the virus if he gets exposed, this does not guarantee the safety of my elders and my other high-risk family members who also live in that
household.

Image:

Everything that has emerged since the seriousness of the virus finally became acknowledged has been incredibly revealing of the disparities between classes. Those who live from check to check were could not access basic necessities for themselves, for their families, for their children, for their pets, for their babies because those who could afford it, chose to stock up and hoard in on resources despite announcements about stores that will remain open for the duration of the quarantine and shelter-in-place orders. It was both disheartening and terrifying. Those who were laid off and those who must also work continue to go out to work a job or even multiple jobs to be able to support themselves or their family. This really hit home for me because I also am a person who cannot have the privilege to say that I came to UC Davis, so "I am first and foremost a student." I am a worker of multiple jobs who lives from check-to-check and this outside of a global pandemic is already difficult. To expect me to continue to produce and perform academic work at a high-level in a timely manner would only perpetuate a capitalist and detrimental practice. 

References

Roberts, S., (2020, March 27). Flattening the Coronavirus Curve. The New York Times.

\