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Is It Normal Yet?
By WTOP | Hubbard RadioNews
Is It Normal Yet? episodes
- Governor Youngkin Changes Virginia's Pandemic StanceThere’s a new governor in Virginia — Republican Glenn Youngkin — and he is changing how the Commonwealth treats COVID-19. Within his first hours as governor, Youngkin ended pandemic mandates including indoor masking at schools. In Northern Virginia, most public school systems rejected the new governor's order sparking a political and legal battle. Like all schooling issues, parents, students and teachers are caught in the middle. This week WTOP's Nick Iannelli helps us understand the changing tides of pandemic policy in Virginia and what to expect from the new governor.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
23 min - Is Omicron the Darkness Before the Dawn?Hospitalizations and deaths are rising, but COVID-19 cases are starting to ebb in our region. So, what will happen after this Omicron wave? Andrew Pekosz — Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health — says Omicron marks the transition between a pandemic and an endemic. He says after this winter surge, the world will develop a population immunity — guarding the majority of society from severe disease. In short, the coronavirus will likely settle and become one of the many other respiratory diseases.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
17 min - Local Hospitals Ask for Help amid Record Surge in COVID-19 PatientsRecord case rates are leading to an all-time high in hospitalizations throughout the DC region. Doctors and nurses are dealing with more COVID-19 patients than ever before. This week, WTOP's Kristi King shares her reporting on the Sentara Healthcare hospital system in Northern Virginia.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
12 min - Omicron Pushes Fire & EMS Crews to the LimitFire and EMS crews across the DC region have depleted staffs and an increased call volume due to the winter surge in COVID-19 cases. These challenges are building upon pandemic staff shortages. This week, longtime public safety reporter Dave Statter explains where fire and EMS departments stand now. I also spoke with Montgomery County Fire Department Battalion Chief Ben Kaufman who talks about what he's seeing on the ground.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
23 min - DC Reacts to Omicron: Rapid Tests, Vaccine Mandates and Indoor MaskingD.C. reported one of the highest COVID-19 case rates in the country and city officials took notice. Within 48 hours, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser reinstated the indoor mask mandate, announced a city-wide vaccine mandate and rolled out a $50 million rapid-test program. And the mayor wasn’t alone, D.C. City Council also reacted to this surge and passed legislation requiring students 16-years-old and up to get vaccinated against COVID-19. WTOP’s Scott Gelman joins us this week to walk us through this avalanche of policy meant to beat back the Omicron surge.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
25 min - Pandemic Deja Vu: Virtual Learning & Packed Hospitals ReturnOmicron is spreading across the D.C. area fast, causing some schools to go virtual and limiting hospitals in Maryland to critical care. This week, WTOP’s Kate Ryan explains why Prince George’s County Public Schools decided to shift to virtual learning and whether other school systems in the area will do the same. Kate then shares her reporting on Maryland hospitals, which are facing bed shortages amid this latest surge. A public health expert Dr. Claire Standely also joins the show. She is an Associate Research Professor of Public Health within the Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science and Security. She gives the latest status report on this new and evasive variant.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
22 min - COVID-19 & Adolescent AnxietyDuring the pandemic, an alarming number of young people feel hopeless and sad, according to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. He called the persistent rise in depression and suicide among the youth a public health crisis. This week, I talked to Rachna Krishnan. She's CEO and Executive Director of the Women's Center — a non-profit that provides counseling to thousands of men, women and children in the DC area. Krishnan tells me how this crisis is playing out in our region.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
14 min - Searching and Bracing for OmicronScientists are looking for Omicron across the globe. This week I talked to Scott Nguyen and Janis Doss at the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences. They are medical technologists and informaticians who are sequencing for the new variant in the District. Janis and Scott explain this process and why its important in the fight against COVID-19. I also talked to the Chief of Infectious Diseases at MedStar Washington Hospital Center — Dr. Glenn Wortmann. We review the medical implication of Omicron.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
24 min - Uncertain Times: A New Variant & Mask ConfusionD.C.-area residents were thrown into pandemic uncertainty last week as a new variant of concern sparked world-wide unease. Further, local leaders changed mask rules abruptly. This week WTOP’s John Domen shared his conversation with epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dr. Katelyn Jetelina. She breaks down what’s going on with Omicron. I also talked to WTOP’s Digital Editor Scott Gelman about the shift in mask rules in D.C. and Montgomery County. He reviews the recent changes in local mandates and how it's leading to confusion.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
22 min - A Near Normal ThanksgivingWith vaccines, boosters and rapid tests approved and widely available — public health officials say Thanksgiving is a go. Yet, COVID-19 is still here and cases are rising nationally and locally. This week I spoke with MedStar Health Infectious Diseases specialist Dr. Maria Elena Ruiz. She talks about why it’s important for all Thanksgiving guests to be on the same page about COVID, how to talk about the virus with your loved ones and what the best safety measures are.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
17 min
About Is It Normal Yet?
From the publisher's feed
Coronavirus has impacted every aspect of our lives. "Is It Normal Yet?" co-hosts Luke Garrett and Laura Spitalniak document the DC-area's return to public life after a year of isolation. Each week,…
a WTOP reporter breaks down how this community is getting back to normal and what normal means now. How has the DC area been impacted by the pandemic? What changes are here to stay? What have we learned about ourselves and each other? Is it normal yet? Published every Monday morning. Join us as the world reopens.