My Hospital Visit During Covid-19

I was born with a health condition called Situs Ambiguous, which means that all of my internal organs are on the opposite side of my body. However, my heart was still in the correct place. This has led me to undergo four open-heart surgeries where they have re-routed my heart. Due to the need for future surgeries on it, I visit a cardiologist at least once a year to monitor the regression of the valve they inserted in my heart. I know these cardiology appointments in and out due to the countless number I have had over my lifespan, but this year was very different because we were in the middle of a pandemic.

Most of the nation was beginning to end their strict lock down, but only a few places were being given permission to reopen. One of these was that the hospital was allowed to open up for critical appointments. I was glad when they informed me that I would be able to come in because I had some concerns such as random chest pains and the increase in loudness of my heart. For the appointment, I was only allowed to bring one person, which I brought my mom, and we both had to track our temperatures and symptoms for a week in advance. When we arrived at the hospital, we had to get our temperature taken and were asked a series of questions. Masks were obviously required to be wore at all times, so I was very glad that i did not have to complete an exercise test this year. I think that it was the fastest appointment I have ever had. They did want anyone sitting around waiting, so as soon as we got there, we were brought to a room. My echo-cardiogram was its normal time, but we had no wait to see my cardiologist after because there was little to no one else there. It was so weird to be a the hospital, and it be so empty. The hospital had not had any Covid-19 patients, and they had not been having an surgeries and appointments unless they were an emergency, so the hospital seemed just too quiet. I am super glad that I got my appointment in before coming to college though, and I am glad the hospitals are allowed to be open again.

Who Do You Trust?

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused chaos and confusion all over the world, but many other countries have spread news and protocols in more efficient ways than the United States. It can be hard to know what to read for information that is fact-based and not politically influenced. During the height of the pandemic, my source of information was from either the government or from what I saw on social media. I looked mostly towards my state government for information because it was directly impacting me and my daily life. They were who controlled when and what was shut down, specifically the schools. I also got my information from social media such as Instagram and Snap chat because I used it on a daily basis, and information about the pandemic was constantly put in my face. For most of the pandemic, however, I have refused to read articles about Covid-19 because they were constantly changing, and I did not fully trust all of the statistics in them. I had a conflict of most information during the shutdown with my friend and his family. They looked more on the negative aspects of the shutdown and acted as if it was the end of the world. My family and I, however, tried to be more positive about the pandemic. This sometimes made it difficult to talk to him about anything going on because we had different views about the whole situation. I believed we should be careful but still love life, while his family had the view that no one should go outside their house, even if it was just to play in the backyard. I think it is dangerous how political the whole pandemic has become because simple things such as wearing or not wearing a mask have become statements instead of just being precautions to help keep you and everyone safe.

Campus Canopies

The University of Kentucky is trying to help its students and faculty avoid the three C's:

    - Closed spaces

    - Crowds

    - Contact

Canopy Between Patterson and Whitehall

One of the ways the university is attempting to do this is by placing canopies all over campus. These canopies are huge, white tents tied to many cement blocks to keep them from moving or blowing over or away. They each have tables placed underneath with a specific amount of chairs to regulate the amount of people able to fit under them. They are scattered all around for campus for the use of students and staff, and their purpose is to provide outside spaces for people to work or gather in. The canopies allow for students to be outside more because they can help block weather such as rain or the hot sun that would usually drive people inside to work. The canopies are also specifically placed outside around dining halls and restaurants to give people places to sit and eat their food, especially since seating inside is very limited.

 

Canopy Outside Student Center 

Canopy #2 At Student Center

Canopy #3 At Student Center

These canopies each have a sign placed in them to remind students to follow social distancing protocols, wear masks, and complete other tasks to help keep themselves and everyone around them safe. The university went through and routed WiFi into the canopies, so students who are on Zooms or are trying to complete other school work has good internet connection.

 

Canopy Outside of Lewis Hall and the 90

These canopies are a great temporary way to encourage students to stay outside, but I worry what will occur when it begins to get colder. Where are people going to be able to eat their food? I think that we will begin to see groups moving inside to eat, which could cause problems during height hours. For now, the canopies are just one of the many smart solutions the university is using to stop or slow the spread of Covid and to reach the ultimate goal of keeping the students on campus.