COViD-19 Pandemic 2020

As countries try to contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, about 300 million students are home from school around the world. The emails and news kept coming in, as our families heard about various US college closings. Sibling came home, friends canceled trips abroad, and the Global Initiatives Programs spring break programs were canceled. These changes are an effort to prevent the loss and suffering of human lives in order to slow down the flow of this disease, so that medical care providers are not inundated with more cases than capacity. It is amazing to think that China is now on its way out this pandemic and has just closed the last of the makeshift overflow hospitals, just as Europe is in the throes of this pandemic, and the US follows closely behind. 

As seniors, our college campus visits will not be happening, SATs were cancelled for juniors this past weekend, and I am left wondering if we actually will have AP exams if this lasts for four to eight weeks, which seems possible (although I hope that it does not last that long). I find it amazing that all of this started with the infection of one person, patient zero, who according to news reports, first contracted the disease on November 17, 2019, while we were all getting ready for Thanksgiving break. If ever we doubted the impact of one person in the world, even without any intention of harm, this should remind us that we all are interdependent and in this together. Like the butterfly effect, which refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create small atmospheric pressure changes, which can lead to a tornado in another location, each of us forever unalterably changes the world around us. Even if we impose tariffs, border walls, and limit immigration, we cannot avoid the fact that we are a global community, and highly interdependent. 

This past week, students at Polytechnic said farewell to campus and will return back to campus virtually on Tuesday, March 17, as Poly moves all classes online. Our courses will follow the regular daily schedule, albeit, without our assemblies, clubs or gatherings. I am trying to make the best of things by thinking about the fact that I am fortunate enough to attend a school where my education will continue, I will have more time with my family and dog, and that I can make a difference in the lives of others through washing my hands, staying at home and practicing social distancing. Just like the butterfly, our small actions can save the lives of someone’s brother, sister, mother, father, grandma or grandpa. Let’s remember that over this next month or so, as we enter into this new normal, which will one day be behind us. 

As I am writing this on March 15, the news just came in that Mayor Garcetti is closing all movie theatres, bars, nightclubs, entertainment venues, and gyms in Los Angeles until March 31. Restaurants will remain open but only to provide food delivery. Grocery stores, pharmacies and food banks will remain open. This goes into effect tonight at midnight. For these types of policies to work, we are going to greater guidance and consistency at the state and federal level, rather than at the city-wide level. We need to act quickly as pandemics grow exponentially. Hang in there, everyone! Stay safe. Stay sane.

This just in as of March 16, 2020: "The AP Program is developing resources to help schools support student learning during extended closures, as well as a solution that would allow students to test at home, depending on the situation in May. Additional information will be posted by March 20." 
AP testing