A Philly family, the pandemic, and learning loss | Morning Newsletter

The pandemic has narrowed the world for millions. Syrita and Aaron Powers of West Philly haven’t contracted the virus, but it has drastically impacted their day-to-day. They worry it has affected the future of their three children, all of whom have special needs, two of whom are nonverbal. And reporter Kristen Graham spent a year with the Powers family to chronicle how their experiences have changed through the pandemic.

And this week, I chatted with health-care reporter Sarah Gantz about her work, how her focus has changed with COVID-19 and having a baby during a pandemic.

— Lauren Aguirre (@laurencaguirre, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

During May, we’ll highlight the lives and experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Philadelphia region. They include many different communities, and there are many more stories than the sampling we’ll feature here each Sunday this month. Please reply to this email if you have an event or story you’d like to share here.

“This month is an opportune time for those of us of Asian descent to make ourselves urgently and unapologetically visible, to amplify our voices like never before — and to change attitudes and behaviors that have caused suffering, much of it silent for far too long,” Jobert E. Abueva, executive director for marketing at ETS, writes in this opinion piece about a newfound passion for celebrating his Asian heritage.

“If we want to stop the hate, we need to acknowledge the struggles of every community, without comparing one to the other,” 6abc anchor Nydia Han reflects on a year of asking — now begging — Americans to care about anti-Asian hate in this opinion piece.

If you need help: The Chinese Immigrant Family Wellness Initiative has a list of bilingual AAPI therapists in the greater Philadelphia area and other resources for you.

Ways to celebrate:

Each week we go behind the scenes with one of our reporters or editors to discuss their work and the challenges they face along the way. This week we chat with health-care reporter Sarah Gantz, who writes about the cost of health care and insurance, including how COVID-19 has affected the way people access care.

Can you describe your coverage area?

I write about health-care costs, access, and equity. For the last year (and counting) that’s meant looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way people access and pay for care.

How do you approach your beat? What do you usually look for?

My favorite kinds of stories are ones that help people better understand and navigate our health-care system, such as explaining why some people receive high hospital emergency department bills despite having health insurance or how to avoid insurance scams.

What are a few stories you’ve written recently that you’re proud of?

I was pregnant and gave birth during the pandemic, which came with a new perspective that helped me find stories I might not have before, such as how the pandemic is affecting infant development and new parents.

After returning from maternity leave in January, I was struck by the extent to which cost and access to health insurance had become a focus. I was fascinated to learn how dramatically Medicaid enrollment has risen — and how an influx of people previously covered by private insurance is reshaping opinion about what it means to accept help from the public safety net.

What’s one thing you wish more people understood better about your job?

Reporters need your help! So much of what I report on is influenced by the challenges people experience accessing care and paying for it. Social isolation during the pandemic has made it harder to connect, which has made it more important than ever for people to reach out when they see or experience something they think reporters should be looking into.

What’s something you’re looking forward to this year in your beat and outside of work?

Talking to people in person.

Email Sarah Gantz at sgantz@inquirer.com and follow her on Twitter at @SarahGantz.

This shot definitely captures the Philly vibe. Thanks for sharing.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we’ll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout-out!

The CDC has new mask guidelines. Outdoor activities have been seen as safer than indoor ones during the pandemic, especially when you social distance and wear a mask. But the CDC has updated its guidance to say that fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear a mask in most outdoor situations. However, masks are still an important safety tool and are still advised in a variety of scenarios whether you’re vaccinated or not. Here’s your full guide for when you should keep your mask on, and when you can go without it.

What are your favorite songs for the summer? It’s May now, believe it or not, so we asked our Instagram followers to share their favorite summer jams. Here are a few of their responses:

☀️ “Will Smith, Summertime, always!”

🎤 “Hips Don’t Lie 🇨🇴🇨🇴🇨🇴”

🏖️ “On the way to Cape May”

🎶 “Summer of 69 ❣️ All Bob Marley ❣️❣️”

Be sure to follow @PhillyInquirer on Instagram so you can share your thoughts when we ask a question next.

Bryce Harper got hit in the face with a 97 mph fastball — and even he can’t believe he’s OK. “I’m just very blessed and fortunate to be where I am right now,” he said. “I can’t really explain it to you, right? I don’t think anybody can. It just happened and it hit me and I’m just very lucky to be sitting here.”