The COVID-19 pandemic lumbers on. In its wake are broken communities that must deal with its effects, including economic disruption, a persistent labor shortage, damaging isolation, children falling behind on their academic progress, and record levels of anxiety and depression.
Thu Nguyen for City Council
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Worcester, MA
About Us
Thu is a proud Vietnamese refugee, an artist, a youth worker, and the first non-binary candidate for Worcester City Council At-Large.
Thu came to Worcester at the age of one when their family immigrated to the United States as refugees. Their father had fought for democracy and freedom in the Vietnam War and sought asylum shortly after being imprisoned for seven years. Growing up in poverty, while their parents were working hard towards learning English, striving for their citizenship, and building a new life in America by working at factories, Thu remembers their early years of collecting cans as a game to get by.
One year in a state of emergency: Worcester officials, clergy reflect on pandemic s toll
WORCESTER There was a time when it was possible for the average resident to not know anyone who died from, or even came down with, the COVID-19 virus.
Not anymore. Few of us remain who don t know someone who simply had to isolate for a few weeks with mild symptoms, or someone who spent time in the hospital, or someone who had it with no symptoms at all. Or someone who died. A grandparent. A cousin. An in-law.
As the enormity of the situation started to crystalize in March 2020 and more and more cases starting popping up in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency effective Wednesday, March 11.