Excerpt:
In Southern California, the transition from death and devastation to hope and jubilation has been particularly rapid. The state’s deadliest surge of COVID-19 peaked in January, but by early April, vaccines were readily available to most state residents. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom said California will fully reopen its economy June 15.
On Monday, in the same week Los Angeles County marked 24,000 deaths from COVID, public health officials said Los Angeles could reach herd immunity as soon as the end of July.
Americans are already starting to celebrate “having a life they recognize more and more,” said Yvonne Thomas, an L.A. psychologist whose specialties include grief and loss. “Yet those people who have lost loved ones to COVID … are still stuck trying to breathe. It’s going to be an extremely confusing time for them.”
Guilt is common among among the grieving, especially when they feel they could have done more to prevent the death, she said. The recent reopenings and vaccination efforts have provided additional opportunities for those feelings.
Yvonne Thomas, Ph.D. is a Psychologist In Los Angeles California. To read the full article “People Are Still Dying From COVID In California Despite Huge Progress. Here’s Who They Are” visit latimes.com