COVID-19 cases continue to rise, furthering the “wicked problem” facing the healthcare system. The economic inequality in America’s social system is exacerbating the crisis as Black, Latino, and Native American people are hospitalized at over four times the rate of white patients. Policies lead by politics, not science, led some US states to take a hands-off approach to COVID, resulting in the highest death rates in the world. The ramifications of this piecemeal approach is a holiday season under lockdown, separated families, and further deaths.

In the second week of our design sprint, we focused on clustering our desk research and preparing for user interviews.

Access to Care

• Fear of seeking care
  • Increased exposure risk at healthcare facilities
  • Unknown cost of getting treated
  • Potential to discover co-morbidities

Education and Awareness

• Fear of vaccines
  • History of racial discrimination
  • Are they safe?
  • Will it be distributed in time?

This week, our participants conduct their user interviews. We’re curious if fear is the prevailing emotion or if there are signs of hope? What is your opinion?

Looking Ahead to our Next Sprint.

If you were not able to join this sprint, fear not! Our next sprint is a one-day-only, two-hour event on Thanksgiving Day! The goal is reimagining "community" as we’re separated from loved ones through four lenses:

• Expanding Belonging
• Redefining Community
• Sharing Customs
• Duty to Others