Michael Quinn, NPS
For many of us, 2020 has had its ups and downs. While our vision of the year didn’t include a global pandemic, the outpouring of support, community involvement, and activism we’ve seen this year has been inspiring.
Like so many others, we joined hundreds of Zoom calls from makeshift coffee table desks, got in our steps with walk-and-talk meetings, and halted our travel to Washington D.C. and field sites. Despite the unprecedented challenges, our eyes remained on our mission: to safeguard the wonders of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau, while supporting the rights of its Native peoples.
The coronavirus continues to cause havoc in Kerr County as the death toll from the virus crept up again, and Peterson Health reported at least 44 new cases but there does appear to be some level of hope as Pfizerâs vaccine rolled out across the country on Monday.Â
Some 145 sites around the country, from Rhode Island to Alaska, received shipments, with more deliveries set for the coming days. High-risk health care workers were first in line.Â
Peterson Health spokeswoman Lisa Winters said it will be Wednesday before the health system will know when and how much vaccine it will receive. In recent weeks, Peterson has received remdesivir and two antibody therapies, including the one made by Regeneron, which was administered to President Trump.Â