Two Chico State nursing students are raising awareness about the rising spread of the coronavirus in the college community.
Tasha Haase and Isaac Padilla recently teamed up with Butte County Public Health on a video project aimed at curbing infections.
Padilla says he hopes the public service project will help at least one student change their behavior. But obstacles are in the way.“That belief that we’re untouchable, or invincible, is ultimately what is going to continue the spread,” Padilla said. “You see people going out to bars, going out to parties, doing this, doing that. And saying, ‘Oh, I’m fine,’ even if they are not symptomatic or positive with COVID. It’s just this idea that people think they’re doing enough, or that they don’t care.”
Padilla and Haase say some students are feeling grief, pain and anxiety because of COVID-19. Haase hopes their video drives home the point that the community is in this together.
“COVID has affected us all in different ways, and so, I think just realizing that. And realizing that, hey everyone has a different experience, but we’re all going through this at the same time,” Haase said.
In Butte County, COVID-19 cases tied to the 18-24 age group account for about 40 percent of total cases. The video project can be viewed on Butte County Public Health’s Facebook page.