COVID-19 Diaries

Online classes. Isolation. Business shutdowns.
The COVID-19 virus brought Stockton, California, and the nation to a halt in March 2020.
These are stories from a new reality.

Lack of interaction impacts student experiences

A once robust on campus experience has been replaced by digitally-mediated coursework, among other changes to daily life during the pandemic. By Alejandro Valencia

READ FULL STORY AND VIDEO VIDEO

‘I try to be more careful’ said mother navigating pandemic

Sonia Sanchez said she’s encouraging her children to watch their hands as she lives through the COVID-19 pandemic while taking care of her children. By Kimberly Benavides

Scare takes essential worker’s health, wellness to dark place

Essential worker Adriana Valencia talked about her experience with her close brush with the virus and how it impacted her mental state of being. By Alejandro Valencia

READ FULL STORY

Mental health takes a hit during quarantine isolation

Delta College student Alexis Janneh talks about how the drastic change from being out all the time to being at home has impacted her mental health. By Alejandro Valencia

READ FULL STORY

Inequities prevalent as communities work through pandemic

Miusotic Zaragoza talks about how people in marginalized communities are seeing discrepancies in treatment as protests and call-outs to end the shelter-in-place increase. By Jaelyn Morales

A visual look into everyday life since shelter-in-place began

A visual journalist gives us a look at a semester being finished in quarantine. By Jaelyn Morales

VIEW VIDEO

Registered nurse gives insight into COVID-19 pandemic

A multimedia student interviews her mother, a registered nurse, about how her work has changed and what life after quarantine may be like. By Jaelyn Morales

READ FULL STORY

A plastic screen separates a customer from an employee at the Walmart Supercenter at Trinity Parkway in Stockton on. April 26. The screens are intended to ensure safety of all frontline essential workers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Robyn Jones.

Walmart takes precautions to protect customers, employees

Shopping has changed during the pandemic, with companies like Walmart erecting barriers to separate employees and customers and enforcing limits on the number of people inside stores at once. By Robyn Jones

READ FULL STORY

Michael Weston, president and CEO of Protection Engineering, talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his business and employees.

Pandemic upends business model for California company

While business hasn’t dried up for Protection Engineering president and CEO Michael Weston, the pandemic has changed the way his company operates. By Natalie Shepherd

READ FULL STORY

Caring for her pet tortoise and turtle have helped Rebecca Reed cope during the shelter-in-place order. Reed speaks about how, as someone with complicating health factors, she is worried about what the COVID-19 pandemic means for the future.

Finding ways to cope with stress over pandemic

Rebecca Reed is worried about what COVID-19 might mean for her personally, as someone with complicating health factors. By Natalie Shepherd

READ FULL STORY

MCOM 10 student Natalie Shepherd talks about how her life has changed since the stay-at-home order was enacted in California in mid March.

Life has changed for students, bringing anxiety about the future

Her classes shifted to all online. Work told her to file for unemployment. Anxiety about the future is ever present. A student reflects on the changes. By Natalie Shepherd

VIEW VIDEO

COVID-19 brings clarity to what is important

We’re closer now, but worry remains. Dante Smith looks to his faith to guide him through the pandemic. By Miguel Constantino-Guzman

READ FULL STORY

Calm during uncertainty necessary during pandemic

While worry remains regarding COVID-19, calm is necessary to navigate in these unknown times, say those living through it. By Miguel Constantino-Guzman

READ FULL STORY AND VIEW VIDEO

Delta College student Jaedan Alfiche talks about how life has changed since the COVID-19 stay-at-home order was enacted.

Life different for Delta student since stay-at-home order enacted

Delta College student Jaedan Alfiche talks about how life has changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. Alfiche is still working while all of her courses have transitioned to online only. By Robyn Jones

Ron Randall lives in the main studio apartment at El Rio Mobile Home Park in Stockton, California.

Continued health implications, productivity factors in pandemic

Ron Randall, the manager at El Rio Mobile Home Park in Stockton, about his thoughts on the novel coronavirus and its health implications. By Miguel Constantino-Guzman

READ FULL STORY

Fresno State send students home

Jeff Kearns, a freshman at Fresno State, was sent home in mid-March over COVID-19 concerns. All his classes are now online. The campus is, essentially, shut down. By Robyn Jones

READ FULL STORY

Empty shelves greet shoppers in Stockton

At Stockton’s Costco, people hoping to stock up on essentials – including toilet paper, water, and paper towels – see empty shelves instead as demand increases. One shopper said hoarders are selfish. By Robyn Jones

READ FULL STORY AND VIEW VIDEO