FILE - A sign requiring masks as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus on a store front in Philadelphia, is seen Feb. 16, 2022. Philadelphia is reinstating its indoor mask mandate after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the city's top health official, announced Monday, April 11, 2022. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the city's guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Aniya Faulcon is The Spark Host/Producer for WITF. She has a passion for shining a light on unique people, experiences, and perspectives within the community.
Previously she worked as the People and Social Trends Reporter/Video Anchor for LancasterOnline | LNPNews. During her time there, she created video packages, provided Facebook Live coverage at community events, and wrote data-driven stories with census data and feature stories on local leaders, non-profit organizations, events, and people with unique talents and experiences within Lancaster County.
Aniya also worked at WMAR ABC 2 News as a Sales Assistant and at the AFRO American Newspapers as an Executive Assistant and Media correspondent. Aniya interned at WEAA Gospel Grace 88.9 and worked at her alma mater’s radio station, WWPJ at Point Park University, where she gained skills and a passion for radio.
Aniya grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended the Baltimore School for the arts for high school with a concentration in acting. She continued to hone her skills and passion for storytelling and later graduated from Point Park University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Broadcast Reporting. Aniya is eager to continue her journey with storytelling in her role with WITF, as she aims to shed a light on real people and real stories within Pennsylvania in a variety of mediums.
Matt Rourke / AP
FILE - A sign requiring masks as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus on a store front in Philadelphia, is seen Feb. 16, 2022. Philadelphia is reinstating its indoor mask mandate after reporting a sharp increase in coronavirus infections, Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the city's top health official, announced Monday, April 11, 2022. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen more than 50% in 10 days, the threshold at which the city's guidelines call for people to wear masks indoors. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Airdate: December 14, 2022
Listen to The Spark every weekday at 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”
According to the World Health Organization, as of Tuesday, there have been over 645 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 6.6 million deaths due to COVID-19.
Dr. Rena Ferguson, Member of the HealthyWomen Women’s Health Advisory Council, Dr. Sal Giorgianni, Men’s Health Network’s Senior Science Advisor, and Armin Brott, author, columnist, and radio host who often focuses on fatherhood joined us on The Spark Wednesday to discuss the mental and emotional impacts of COVID-19.
Dr. Giorgianni said, COVID-19 has effected every demographic worldwide in dramatic and tragic ways.
Here are some of the ways COVID-19 has impacted people emotionally and mentally:
Vaccine hesitancy, hostility, and confusion
COVID-19 fatigue
Grief
Lack of human connection
Dealing with the challenges of the pandemic virtual learning aftermath
Increase of alcohol and substance abuse
Anxiety and depression
Dr. Giorgianni said, we can combat the negative effects of COVID-19 by understanding the depth of these issues and connecting with social network circles to address them early on.
Dr. Fergurson said, the impacts of COVID-19 that we discussed during The Sparkon Wednesday will change society as we know it forever.