Pandemic Positivity is a new effort Boomer is launching to make people aware of the GOOD things happening amidst the coronavirus pandemic. While Contending with COVID-19 will remain a regular section on our website, it will focus more on the nitty-gritty details of how to manage your health and practical next steps as we navigate through this public health crisis. Pandemic Positivity, on the other hand, is a place where we can relax a bit and celebrate the significant — at times, inspiring— problem-solving, ingenuity and humanity demonstrated by our neighbors throughout Northeast Ohio. Stay tuned for more and feel free to submit your own stories for possible publication at [email protected].

Pandemic Positivity

Pandemic Positivity

Connecting Through Technology

Some of the most socially isolated people during the pandemic have been those who are unable or unwilling to embrace technology. Video calls have brought us together with loved ones, friends and coworkers. It's not too late to reach out to older family members and friends to help them master video chats. Our tech columnist tells us why. ...
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Masks, Social Distancing & Better Communication

It's not over. Masks and social distancing will be with us for some time. And it can be difficult to communicate with people when our mouths are covered and we're standing farther apart than we did in pre-pandemic times. Clear communication is especially challenging for those with hearing loss. September is National Deaf Awareness Month. Try these practical tips and strategies that help when talking with everyone; especially with those with hearing loss.  ...
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Have Fun, Stay Safe at County Fairs and Festivals

If you’re planning to head to the county fair this summer or another festival, doctors say there are a couple of safety tips you may want to keep in mind.

When going to any festival or event where there are a lot of people, try to find a corner where you are able to distance from people you don’t know, advises Joseph Khabbaza, MD, pulmonary and critical care physician for Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Khabbaza said since most county fairs and festivals are outdoors, the risk for transmission of COVID-19 remains low. However, it’s still important to make sure you and your family are vaccinated, especially since new strains of the virus continue to emerge.

If your child is too young for the vaccine, Dr. Khabbaza said they should follow the same rules as before, like wearing a mask and social distancing. This advice applies to unvaccinated adults as well.

If you are unvaccinated, really all the rules still kind of hold, even before everything kind of opened up. Because if you go out in a setting and get ill and contract COVID, there’s a high chance of that spreading to your kids or other unvaccinated family members. So a lot of those precautions still need to be thought about, he said.

Dr. Khabbaza also recommends researching the location of the event before you buy tickets. If there is a high infection rate in that city, you may want to reconsider.

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Free Food, Free Shots. Thanks, Cuyahoga County Public Library System!

Anyone who uses one of the Cuyahoga County Public Library branches knows that books are only part of the library system's offerings. They're also hosting food giveaways and Covid-19 vaccine clinics. Read on for more details! ...
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Bicycle Advocacy for the Health of It

The pandemic has made a lot of people — including mayors, legislators and the public in general — aware of how important being outside is to our well-being and how we need to take action sooner rather than later to ensure a healthy environment as we tackle climate change. With that in mind, bicycle and pedestrian safety is at the forefront of advocacy — building better infrastructure for walking and biking, education in schools, better training for law enforcement, and making certain that legislators know what you want. ...
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Getting Back to the Office

Days of kitchen table conference calls in pajama pants are ending for many of us. If you're anxious about returning to the office after a year or longer, there's good news: you can make the transition easier with a few simple tips. ...
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Editor’s Note. How I Celebrated My Vaccination

As someone who isn’t burdened by unpleasant drug side effects, anti-vax angst, or a general suspicion of the medical community and people who are a lot smarter than me, getting the COVID vaccine was a no-brainer. I can hug my 87-year-old dad again, return to church, eat in a restaurant and, because I didn’t have a match handy, lose $20 in a Vegas slot machine rather than set it on fire. Isn’t science great? ...
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Relaxed Masking is Another Reason to be Vaccinated

The most recent CDC guidelines give people who are vaccinated a little more freedom from COVID-19 restrictions. Indoors, vaccinated people can gather with other vaccinated people without wearing a mask or social distancing. Outdoor activities without a mask are also considered safe for those who have been vaccinated, unless it’s a crowded venue. ...
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