Since the start of the pandemic, 15,048 COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed in Ventura County.
For Joss DeMartino of Oxnard, that’s more than a number. The 17-year-old is one of those who has tested positive for the virus. The Oxnard High School student, and her parents have been getting tested regularly. They socially distance, and wear masks. The positive test came as a shock to the teen.
One of her friends that she saw regularly had tested positive for the virus, but her parents and other teens were negative. DeMartino says it could have been much worse.
DeMartino says she knows the pandemic has been tough on everyone, but it’s been especially difficult for teens. Having to do remote learning, and not having regular social interaction with friends has been depressing for many. And, she thinks many teens and young adults have interpreted the reopenings as a sign things are safe enough they can let down their guard on safety.
The teen says Halloween was a prime example. She says despite warnings about throwing and attending parties, some did it anyway.
DeMartino is working on a unique project to help fellow teens. It’s a Facebook page called "Quaran-Teens" where kids can talk about how they are feeling. She says a number of teens have shared their stories, and even Oxnard's Mayor has written on the site.
DeMartino says she’s hoping the effort is giving some teens a way to get a tatse of the social interaction they’ve been missing due to the coronavrisus crisis.
