Your Morning Matters: A word about my mental health – Mahoning Matters

Mahoning County commissioners Mask Up Mahoning campaign will coincide with a resolution for a stay-at-home advisory to be passed next week.

It's Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, and in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic surge here and across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new Thanksgiving guidelines Thursday.

"As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with," according to the CDC website. "Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu."

As Gov. Mike DeWine noted yesterday during his state update, there are 3,829 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Ohio 943 of those are in the ICU. That represents the highest coronavirus patient counts in Ohio since the start of the pandemic.

The pandemic is real. The surge is real. The fear among many people is real. Some of us get to sit at home and work. I can teach my Youngstown State University class from home, and I can manage Mahoning Matters from home. In that sense, I am lucky.

But I also get to watch my wife head out to her retail job every day. And, frankly, that terrorizes me. The governor keeps discussing the mental health implications of those stuck inside during another shutdown. He seemingly has no sense of the mental health implications of family members of people who work amid the public. Many customers wear masks. Others don't and won't, and wear their refusal like a badge, even though they could be putting others at risk.

The day after Thanksgiving, the biggest retail shopping season of the year begins, and these businesses are desperate for your support. They probably won't shout at you for not wearing a mask. They probably won't refuse your business. So, please, on behalf of terrorized family members: Do what we can't do when they walk out that door protect them. Wear a mask.

Have a great weekend! Lets mask up and be careful out there!

Here's what you need to know about the Mahoning Valley today:

On Thursday, nearly a third of Ohioans awoke under new stay-at-home advisories. In Mahoning County, however, officials took stock and revealed their own idea: a local public health campaign to alert residents about the immediate threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The commissioners Mask Up Mahoning campaign, which includes billboard ad buys and customized masks for distribution, will coincide with a resolution for a similar stay-at-home advisory to be passed next week, said Audrey Tillis, commissioners executive director.

Despite heart-wrenching stories from the front lines and dire warnings that hospitals across the state are nearing capacity, neither Gov. Mike DeWine nor the health care workers who joined him Thursday were willing to advocate for measures credited with flattening the coronavirus curve in the spring, like a shutdown. Mahoning Matters

This week, attorney David Betras weighs in on a question he's been asked about the election: "I want to explain why President Donald Trump's legal team is saying one thing on TV and Twitter and something completely different in state and federal courtrooms. Its all about the ethical rules that govern my profession." Mahoning Matters

Youngstown City Councils safety committee discussed Thursday the possibility of additional funding for the CIRV program. Guy Burney, executive director, said the program needs to find ways to reach more people to do more intervention and prevention in Youngstown. Mahoning Matters

The Salvation Armys Red Kettle Campaign kicked off this week, but the pandemic has impacted its efforts. Normally, there are kettles set up at 35 various locations across the Valley. This year, itll be half as many. WKBN

To stand united with teachers and other faculty reporting to work, board of education members from Poland Local Schools will continue meetings in person. Meetings also are streamed to the districts website. The Vindicator [May encounter paywall.]

The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, in partnership with Gleaners Food Bank, will be hosting the distribution of 6,000 whole turkeys and other Thanksgiving food this Saturday at the Canfield Fairgrounds. WFMJ

Southwoods Health has opened its newest Express Care clinic in the Community Literacy, Workforce and Cultural Center in Campbell. The Business Journal [May require registration.]

Thanksgiving is next week, and many Valley businesses and organizations are creating ways for residents to more safely navigate the Thanksgiving holiday with bake-at-home meals, free dinners and other alternatives. Check out and add to our list! Mahoning Matters

The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County will present a virtual visit with author and illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal at 2 p.m. The program is free, but registration is required. Click here to register. A link to the Zoom presentation will be emailed to registrants.

To see what else is going on around the Mahoning Valley, check out Mahoning Matters event calendar here, or click the Events tab on the top menu at mahoningmatters.com.

Is there a story you think we should know about? Please tell us at news@mahoningmatters.com.

Let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful for you. Send your ideas and thoughts to mark@mahoningmatters.com. If you want to get this in your email inbox, sign up here.

Read more:
Your Morning Matters: A word about my mental health - Mahoning Matters