Snow on the ground has been a cause for excitement. Our region rarely sees so much winter weather that isn’t rain. While almost everyone seems excited, I am looking forward to the sun and a chance to hang out in my yard, playing in the dirt again. I’m ready for spring.

March marks the three-year anniversary of the “stay at home/shelter in place”’ order for California. March 19th was a Thursday, and the order was announced. It started at midnight, Friday the 20th. I had plans to go out of town that weekend and was conflicted on what to do.

I won’t tell you what I did, but I remember it being a difficult decision. California had reported over 900 cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths at that point, and the shelter-in-place orders were designed to stop the spread.

As of this writing, California has had 11.1 million cases reported and 100,187 deaths. Humboldt County has reported 23,339 cases and 169 deaths. Del Norte County has reported 7,920 cases and 60 deaths.

While time makes everything familiar to an extent, the muted backdrop of fear and anxiety has not yet faded away for many people. Even with COVID still around, we as a society have decided that the public health emergency is over.

The end of the California public health emergency means California healthcare employees lost COVID pay at the end of 2022, Moving forward, along with the end of the public health emergency will come some changes in insurance, testing, vaccinations, and program flexibility for healthcare organizations.

Continuous enrollment for Medicaid was also tied to the public health emergency. This is actually really important if someone in your life has Medicaid - they may need to update their eligibility before the end of March.

The federal public health emergency is scheduled to end in May. As federal supplies of vaccines, tests and treatment are depleted, additional costs and lack of availability may impact all of us.

Now we all find ourselves in a strange situation. Our pandemic is endemic and “officially over.” What or who declares it over? Is it when we as a society and/or the government agree that a certain number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths is acceptable? When we all start behaving as if there is nothing to worry about? Who is counting?

Daily average deaths in the U.S. are down to 330. If an Airbus A330 fell out of the sky once a day, wouldn’t that be alarming? How did we get so numb to the numbers?

I’m going to be cautiously optimistic about relaxing rules, changing standards, removing masks, but still, I think about it as toothpaste that you just can’t put back in the tube once it is out. COVID-19 is likely to be around for a very long time. There may be more events like this in the very near future, so I am planning on improved preparation on a personal level, and hopeful for better planning on a societal level. Communication, disease surveillance, and access to healthcare all need to be handled better. I am also wishing for less disinformation, anger, and distrust, from all sides.

What about those masks? I’ve enjoyed being cold-free for the last three years. I don’t think I’d do very well at this point if I got sick—what a baby I am! If I wasn’t in the position I am in, if I didn’t work in a healthcare facility, as the infection prevention person, would I even be thinking about COVID avoidance strategies?

Probably, I’m usually the odd one out and about, wearing a mask. I have always been the “wash-your-hands” lady. Even on the school trips with the kids back in the days of carefree travel, everyone knew where to find hand hygiene. So I don’t judge, I come by it naturally and appreciate that not everyone is just like me.

However, not everyone can protect themselves. Some can’t make their own decisions. Do what you can, and try to protect yourself and others as much as possible. Remember my basics and you’re way ahead of the game in general for infection prevention:

• Wash your hands
• Stay home if you’re sick
• Use whatever mitigation strategies that make sense if you are uncertain about what to do in times of surges, crowded indoor spaces, feeling unwell, etc.

Much like gorging on food for months and then crash dieting, the cycles of panic and neglect around infection are exhausting and self-defeating.

It’s important to acknowledge that the pandemic has highlighted many inequities and issues in our society, particularly healthcare accessibility.

Can we talk about mental health? I touch on it every month, and mental wellness should be a goal we all strive for. Mental health not only affects our physical health, it’s almost necessary to make positive changes in our lives, and to give us the clarity and motivation for steady, long-term decisions. It feels like it’s going to take a minute to repair the damage done.

Let’s look forward to ceremonies, gatherings, worry-free activities, less fear and anxiety and less isolation. I’m going to put a plug in for self-care here. Trying to maintain a healthy routine with good nutrition, hydration, exercise, sleep, and social interaction are all helpful in maintaining a mental wellness balance. Before there is an imbalance, reach out to friends, family, counselors, therapists, or providers. Prioritizing mental wellness will help us stay onboard and prepare us for any potential future challenges. Let the sun shine in. Lift each other up. Suspend assumptions. Be kind.

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Michelle Lewis-Lusso (she/her) is an Infection Prevention and Control nurse at United Indian Health Services, serving the 11,000+ clients and staff at their seven area clinics. She wants you to be healthy and happy, and reminds you to check the Medicaid enrollment status of your loved ones.