Welcome to another week where we are practicing staying at home, wearing face coverings and physical distancing when in public. An immense message of gratitude for those working on the front lines in our community to keep us all healthy, fed, and safe.

During this pandemic, we remain committed to sharing news and information from local and national media about COVID-19 and immunization-related topics. Additionally, we join the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in reminding everyone to stay up to date on recommended immunizations to prevent dangerous diseases.

Each week we’ll continue to review clips from across the U.S., from various news outlets and platforms, and bring you ten timely and relevant links. This week’s edition is all about the human faces behind the COVID-19 numbers, charts, and graphs. Stories of grieving family members left behind, those on the frontlines, survivors, and the reminder that COVID-19 is affecting people of all ages in Nevada, and across the U.S. With more than 1.2 million cases and 69,000 deaths (as of 5/3), these are just a few of the stories behind today's statistics. 

Prepare, Don’t Panic. To inform Nevadans statewide, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Governor's Office have created this website to better share information and resources as it pertains to the current status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact within the state of Nevada. https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/

“Washoe's youngest COVID-19 victim died alone. His siblings could only say goodbye via Zoom.” Reno Gazette Journal (May 1, 2020)

“There is so much we don’t know about this virus, yet,” she said. “One day you’re fine and the next day you aren’t. One day Ian was fine, and the next day he wasn’t.” “I hope people start taking this seriously,” Charles said. “You don’t know what it is like to watch your brother die from a computer screen."

‘I lost him because of that horrible place’: Smithfield worker dies from COVID-19” Argus Leader (April 15, 2020)

Augustín's death is presumed to be the first connected to a COVID-19 outbreak at Smithfield Foods meatpacking plant in Sioux Falls, which has become the largest coronavirus hot spot in the nation with 644 confirmed cases tied to the facility.

“Unwilling to retire, 81-year-old Filipino doctor in Las Vegas practiced until he died from COVID-19” Asian Journal (May 1, 2020)

At 81 years old, Dr. Arthur Tayengco had no plans of retiring and continued seeing patients at his private practice along Charleston Blvd in Las Vegas. An obstetrician-gynecologist for over 50 years, Tayengco practiced until he physically couldn’t anymore after he contracted COVID-19, the disease linked to the novel coronavirus.

“Milwaukee COVID-19 survivor shares personal medical experience via social media to educate others” Milwaukee Independent (April 4, 2020)

The personal testimony by Nelson came as clusters of COVID-19 cases have been reported in retirement communities across Ozaukee and Washington Counties, and the overall total for Milwauke County continues to climb. Early reports had originally minimized the health risk to young individuals, compared to the dangers face by the elderly. However, every age has proven vulnerable with no group immune from becoming a fatality.

“Renown CEO on COVID-19's personal toll: 'Sometimes all you can do is hold someone's hand' Reno Gazette Journal (April 27, 2020)

“We can talk about statistics, and we can talk about numbers, but there is a very real human toll underneath all of this that makes me want to get up today and tomorrow and defeat this damn virus, so people don’t have to go through that.”

"Lost On The Frontline" The Guardian (May 1, 2020)

America’s health care workers are dying. In some states, medical staff account for as many as 20% of known coronavirus cases. They tend to patients in hospitals, treating them, serving them food and cleaning their rooms. Others at risk work in nursing homes or are employed as home health aides. Some of them do not survive the encounter. Many hospitals are overwhelmed and some workers lack protective equipment or suffer from underlying health conditions that make them vulnerable to the highly infectious virus. Many cases are shrouded in secrecy. “Lost on the Frontline” is a collaboration between The Guardian and Kaiser Health News that aims to document the lives of health care workers in the U.S. who die of COVID-19, and to understand why so many are falling victim to the pandemic.

“RJ reporter: I’ve recovered from COVID-19, but it wasn’t easy” Las Vegas Review Journal (April 29, 2020)

If you’d asked me in March what I’d do first when Gov. Steve Sisolak’s stay-at-home order was lifted, I would have told you I’d go to a bar with friends or go to the gym. But as states around the country slowly begin to roll back on their shutdown orders, I think I’ll stay at home a few more weeks.

“Former COVID-19 patients share their stories of survival” Newsday (April 12, 2020)

A Patchogue nurse. A seemingly healthy 33-year-old Huntington man. A public school teacher from Roslyn. A North Bellmore World War II veteran. These Long Islanders, from diverse backgrounds, professions and age brackets, all share a common title: COVID-19 survivor. Their stories are all unique. Some suffered mild strains of the virus. Others were seemingly on death's door. All recovered, grateful to be spared from a disease that has claimed so many. Theirs are stories of perseverance, of faith and of love.

"Man who has 'recovered' from COVID-19 explains how its impact goes far beyond death tolls" Upworthy (May 4, 2020)

While there's so much we still don't know about COVID-19, as more people recover we get more stories of what the disease can do. We know that it can infect people with no symptoms. We know that it can kill. What we see less often is what it can do to those who get sick but don't die. Barry Mangione is a pediatric physical therapist who contracted the virus just over a month ago. As a healthy 50-year-old with no underlying health conditions, one might assume he'd weather the illness without too much trouble. But as he described in a Facebook post, this isn't a "get it and get over it" kind of disease for many people who have officially recovered.

“Young COVID-19 patient: ‘See my face’ New Haven Independent (April 5, 2020)

Natalie Kikkenborg is finally beginning to feel like herself again — nearly three weeks after the 36-year-old Westville fitness instructor and single mom’s temperature first shot up to 102 degrees, and over one week after she tested positive for Covid-19.
She wants people to see her and know about her experience, in part to dispel misconceptions about who is or isn’t at risk during the pandemic.

"What It Felt Like to Have COVID-19 with Asthma" This Allergic Life (April 2020)

In a mere 3 days, the virus took hold, with fever and difficulty breathing. As someone with asthma, the specter of hospitalization hung over each hour.

“Reno ER doctor on COVID 19: 'We won the battle, now let's win the war' Reno Gazette Journal (May 2, 2020)

We had one chance to flatten our initial curve. We did the best we possibly could and lives were saved. Now we have one chance to revive our economy while also keeping COVID-19 under control. Our hospitals are ready. How we do this will determine if we are an example on how do it right or a tragic lesson on how to do this wrong. Let’s do this cautiously; let’s do it intelligently. Let’s do this together.

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