How public health is navigating COVID-19 sub-variants. UC Davis Health explains the psychology of COVID-19 mental fatigue. Paradise Symphony Orchestra shares persevering through the Camp Fire.
Navigating COVID-19 sub-variants
California’s COVID test positivity rate is currently hovering around 16%. But that’s just the people who get tested through a lab. Nowadays, many people are taking at-home tests, so the real number is likely to be severely undercounted. The surge of cases is thanks to a handful of new (highly contagious) variants (like B-A 5) and an even newer one (B-A 2.75). While hospitalizations in California are up, deaths and severe illnesses remain low. And yet, with new variants taking off, life goes on. Airports are full, people are traveling, events continue as school will soon re-start and masking is optional for the most part. While COVID fatigue is real, the reality is it’s still here. To get a real sense of where we are locally, Insight spoke with Dr. Aimee Sisson, the Public Health Officer for Yolo County.
Psychology of COVID mental fatigue
We’re going to get into a more nuanced aspect of the pandemic. Despite new variants taking off, life goes on. Airports are full, people are traveling, events continue as planned / schools will soon re-start, and masking is optional for the most part. Turn back the clock to 2020, and many felt a sense of coming together by quarantining and following protocols. Fast forward two-plus years, and many are exhausted. Not to mention the added stress of global, social, and economic issues can make it feel even more difficult to stay engaged and tune out the relentless news cycle. UC Davis clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Angela Drake joined Insight to talk about the psychology of social responsibility and mental fatigue.
Paradise Symphony Orchestra
For more than 60 years, musicians in and around the town of Paradise have come together to play in the Symphony Orchestra. Over time, the orchestra steadily grew and increased the number of performances over the years. But in November 2018, the town and the symphony were forever changed after the Camp Fire took the lives of at least 85 people and destroyed nearly 20,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings. Although the community was displaced in the aftermath, the orchestra found a way to perform just two months after the wildfire. But then came the pandemic and although nearly half of their members initially left the band at the onset of COVID, they never missed a single performance over the last two-plus years. The orchestra is now gaining back musicians and continuing to rebuild the heart of the community following loss and trauma. Paradise Orchestra Symphony Conductor Lloyd Roby and Maureen Wisener, who was president of the symphony’s board from 2011 to 2021, joined Insight to share their incredible journey.
