Pandemic Explodes in California, Forcing Millions to Self-Quarantine – More than 15 million have tested positive for the coronavirus in the United States and more than 280,000 have died of the disease. With few exceptions, almost all states are on red alert, with the virus spreading out of control. In California, Governor Newsom issued a stay-at-home order for millions of people and the partial closure of many non-essential businesses. In some counties in the San Joaquin Valley, ICUs are full. Experts warn that the worst is yet to come.
Network of Therapists Helps Migrants and Activists with Mental Health Problems – Immigration restrictions and hostile rhetoric against the undocumented have had a heavy emotional toll, not only for migrant families, but also for the activists who advocate for them. To support both affected groups, an organization in Arizona has urgently mobilized its mental health counselors. Using technology made mandatory due to pandemic restrictions, the new aid network is helping heal the trauma of organizers and immigrants under stress by reinforcing the power of their culture and identity. Valeria Fernández brings details from Phoenix. This report was partially supported by the Center for Health Journalism at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism.
When Health Care Workers are Most Needed, They are Most Scarce – California is suffering from a growing shortage of doctors and nurses that is getting worse every day. Analysts believe that, without a serious investment to train or import tens of thousands of health workers who speak Spanish, the quality of medical care offered to Latinos will suffer, and affect society in general, since Latinos are a plural majority in the state. The lack of bilingual staff has become a crisis now that California’s Latinos are being hit harder than any other group by the coronavirus pandemic. To shed light on the benefits of pursuing a fast career in healthcare, Jessica Bedolla speaks with a veteran medical assistant in this story, which was partially funded by Futuro Health.
