L- Adriel, Liquor Store Attendant in Sunland. R+ Below- Images of the streets of Sunland-Tujunga in mid April 2020
60 days, 10 hours, 38 minutes since lockdown. I’m taking notes from various phone calls, articles, podcasts, zoom meetings, radio talk shows; this virus is a conversation happening everywhere we turn. It’s in our blood now…literally. All of this information leads to more unanswered questions. For example, the reality that we’re not even addressing with the stay-at-home orders —the fact that children (and teachers) have been risking their lives every day they go to class, as school shootings were taking place just about every other month. Why did we not shut schools down during these incidents? Wasn’t gun violence enough to take action and save lives? Let’s look at some statistics.
As of today, with Los Angeles having a population of 10 million people —the death rate of covid-19 is at 2,779 out of the 69,329 total confirmed cases. Although this number is considering that out of the 10 million living in Los Angeles, only 991,897 have been tested. Gun violence ranges at 40,000 deaths per year, with the opioid epidemic slightly trailing ahead at 46,000 cases each year. Traffic accidents are at 36,000 deaths per year, which was less than I had expected. Still, for covid-19, with the US total population at 328.2 million, we currently have 1,399,905 confirmed cases, with fatalities of 83,019 as of May 9th. The CDC states that from October of 2019- April of 2020 there were up to 56,000,000 cases of the flu, over 700,000 hospitalizations, and around 60,000 fatalities.
Could it be that since SARS-COV1 (2002-2003) the majority of individuals have become more unhealthy than ever before? If you look at the timeline, when the SARS-COV1 infections broke out there are a few factors to pay close attention to: 1. The internet wasn’t the ultimate priority, and smart phones weren’t in everyone’s faces i.e. we were spending less time sitting on our computers, and were more active as individuals. But that still doesn’t excuse the fact that from November 2019- May of 2020 there were more fatalities from covid-19 than the flu in the same amount of time; but this is aside from the fact that the beginning stages of a pandemic is all encompassing of one major element: we were still just learning about the disease, with no solid treatments.
The coronavirus is of zoonotic origins —zoonosis is an infectious disease which is caused by a pathogen that has jumped hosts: from animal to human. But some have stated that the virus was manufactured in a lab. Why can’t we have the truth as an option? As we’ve come to understand, similar to SARS-COV1 [2002-2003, total infected 8,098, fatalities: 774], the recent covid mutation is generally spread through respiratory droplets within the range of a mere 1.8 meters. This pathogen enters the human cells by binding itself to the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor; an enzyme attached to the outer surface of cells in the kidney, lungs, arteries, heart, and intestines. Subclinical infections (pre-symptomatic shedding) were most likely the main sources of how the infection was initially spread. That and the dirty meat markets? If you still have a job, when do you feel safe returning to work? A few weeks from now, three months, tomorrow morning? If you can recall, February 14th of 2020 an asteroid was headed right toward Earth, yet somehow it missed us. Is this the end of the world? Mother Nature, how cruel we have been to Her —I understand if she is fighting back. We are left at the mercy of a complete collapse.
In the sleepy town of Sunland I made my way around the shops, to investigate further on the spread of the virus. Just a few of the small town’s local shops were still on lockdown, and it was relatively quiet out on the streets -those especially that line the sidewalks in front of barber shops, mattress stores, optometry offices, medical clinics —even the neighborhood psychic was closed. I stopped by a corporately run grocery outlet off of Foothill Blvd, and asked a few of the workers if they knew of anyone who had called out sick, or had been diagnosed with the virus. The majority of those employed have been on the frontline this entire time. I was expecting the worst; having witnessed the store to be consistently packed with desperate shoppers ever since the pandemic took shape. Although the answer from employees was surprising. The individuals I spoke with stated that no one has gone home sick, and there have been no reported cases of the virus from any staff members. Of course, this is assuming that 90% of those employed hadn’t been tested.
I took some notes, then went to run my next errand. Camera strapped to my back —extra gloves in the back pocket, home-made mask on top of my medical mask, and hand sanitizer of plenty. Up the road there is a cozy market, managed by one of the kindest older gentlemen I’d met in the area. Canyon Market is down the way from the Tujunga Post Office, nestled in between an apartment complex and antiquarian properties. I prefer to stop by this shop and purchase a few essential items too, because it’s small shops like this one who desperately need the extra business, especially now. Adriel, one of the liquor store attendants, was kind enough to share his thoughts.
“This has been the most stressful month of my entire life, but this is my job and, I have to be here. I don’t know anyone personally who has been diagnosed with the virus, but there was a local nursing home where the outbreak had spread, and an animal sanctuary -the Wildlife Way Station off Little Tujunga Road where the entire crew was infected. Enjoy your time off work, if you don’t have to be out here. Enjoy it while you can, because it’s rough being out here. ” Adriel- 23, Liquor Store Attendant (pictured at top of article)
There are countless others out there, such as this brave young man, Adriel, who are risking everything to keep their essential shops open. Now is the time to reassess everything and, think seriously about rebuilding our infrastructure.
Warmly,
Gina Jelinski