As of today (April 1st) there are almost 900,000 cases and 45,000 deaths. It is peaking in Italy and Spain and growing exponentially in the United States where the number of infected people is over 190,000 which is nearly twice that of the next most infected country (Italy 110,000).
In the midst of this pandemic, I’ve been getting emails and calls from interpreters. They often offer their services remotely as asl medical interpreters via Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), or ask if we have any other type of work (onsite medical interpreting, document translating, or even clerical work). The truth of the matter is that outside of ASL medical interpreters in healthcare, sign language assignments related to food services, and/or deliveries, the global economy has pretty much come to a standstill, and that includes professional language interpreting and translation agencies. There are still those Deaf clients that are able to work from home, but they typically rely on Video Relay Services (VRS) for their interpreting needs. This leaves freelance interpreters and translators dipping into their emergency funds and wondering when this is all going to pass.
Financial Strain
Freelance interpreters are used to saving up for Christmas and summer breaks, however this is an unprecedented storm that has come about with relatively little official warning. Congress has passed a funding package that will give $1,200 to each eligible person who makes under $75,000 plus $500 for each child. This will obviously mean more to those with lower costs of living, and less to those living in places like southern California where rent has skyrocketed as of late and the average rent in Los Angeles is around $2,100. While the payment should go out in the next couple of weeks and may be of some help, it will likely leave most interpreters dipping into their savings in order to make ends meet for the near future.
This pandemic will definitely put a financial strain on many households, but we should hope that it will unite us and foster the empathy and patience needed to allow us to get back on our feet. Evictions in places like New York and Los Angeles have been suspended, which will at least provide a temporary relief to those worrying about making rent. The last thing we need is to be putting people out on the streets, creating more suffering and more opportunities for the infection to spread.
Helping Hand
We must help each other get through this both financially and psychologically. To beat COVID-19 the best thing we can do for our families is to stay at home unless its absolutely necessary to go out (food or medicine). I’ve forgotten the last time our family went outside. In the beginning it affected my wife’s mental health quite a bit. We must remember to take care of ourselves and each other emotionally and psychologically. Try to stick to routines as much as possible. We have made the effort to reinstate our gym routine at home everyday, and it has helped tremendously. My wife also benefits from video chatting with friends and family. Though drugs and alcohol may sound like a tempting cure for some battling boredom, it’s important not to create lasting habits and addictions that may haunt you once this all comes to an end.
Silver Linings
COVID-19 will bring about much suffering, however we must try to find the silver linings. For one, it has given Earth a rest and air pollution worldwide has fallen to record lows in some places. It is also allowing those of us with families, to really be together. I am taking this time to teach my kids things that they don’t learn at school (e.g., Piano, French, Playing Halo on Xbox 🙂 It is also an opportunity for us to realize what is really important during these times when sickness and death are at the forefront of our minds. Speaking for myself, I will do my best to cherish my family and our well-being and do what I can to keep us all healthy, which at the moment is just staying at home and staying sane.
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