COVID-19 presents a new reality for residents and local businesses. Restaurants have closed down, parks are taped off, and masks have become the new normal.
Photographer Henry Barrios captured the resilience of a community during uncertain times.
As people in Bakersfield are told to observe isolation and social distancing precautions because of the Coronavirus pandemic effecting the United States and the world, the streets in Bakersfield are much less crowded during peak hours. Some businesses can remain open if they provide essential needs of the population, while many have closed doors.
A gesture of a greeting is given and acknowledge by a staff member at the Mission at Kern County as they continue to serve the homeless population in Bakersfield. The Mission continues to serve the homeless and surrounding community by serving meals and a safe shelter for those in need. New rules are in place to distance their guest and comply with efforts to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsAt mid-day Tuesday traffic on Chester Avenue near the GET bus terminal is infrequent enough for a pedestrian can cross the street without to much concern. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsThere is space for solitude and social distancing on the Panorama Bluffs. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsJen and her daughter, 3-year-old Dolan Campos, feed the squirrels at the Panorama Bluffs Tuesday afternoon. Jen, who is a full-time student, says she needed to get her daughter out of the house while continuing to practice distancing during the coronavirus pandemic crises. The crises puts her education on hold. She hopes to become a cabinet maker and woodworker but her dreams, like many other’s dreams, are on hold temporarily. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsJen and her daughter 3-year-old Dolan Campos feed the squirrels at the Panorama Bluffs Tuesday afternoon. Jen, who is a full-time student, says she needed to get her daughter out of the house while continuing to practice distancing during the coronavirus pandemic crises. The crises puts her education on hold. She hopes to become a cabinet maker and woodworker but her dreams, like many other’s dreams, are on hold temporarily. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsOn April 3, 2020 a family takes a hike on the hills south of Hart Park as many people look to get out but maintain distance precautions because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsAt the Rescue Mission At Kern County staff members finish serving the noontime meal Tuesday. Though the Coronavirus has been identified in over 200 people in Bakersfield, the Mission continues to serve the homeless and surrounding community by serving meals and a safe shelter for those in need. New rules are in place to distance their guest and comply with efforts to stop the spread of the virus. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsA man sings loudly as he walks along Chester Avenue in downtown Bakersfield. Tuesday morning, the closest pedestrian is a block away. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsAs people in Bakersfield are told to observe isolation and distancing precautions because of the Coronavirus pandemic effecting the United States and the world, the streets in Bakersfield are much less crowded during peak hours. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsJesus Sandoval, left, and his son Roberto get a little sun and discuss the issues of the day in downtown Bakersfield Tuesday. Recent rain has kept Jesus from his job planting carrots. “We can’t work right now because the tractors sink into the wet soil and the seeds need to be planted in good soil. Wet weather keeps the seeds on the surface and they won’t grow.” His son Roberto says that he had recently been working construction and they were sending his crew to Los Angeles, but he was laid off as the Coronavirus pandemic hit. “People in LA are really taking the situation seriously. Very few people are out and when they are out they take precautions. I don’t see that as much in Bakersfield,” he says. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsRoberto Sandoval has been working construction recently in the Los Angeles area but was laid off. He believes it is because the employers are trying to have smaller crews so the workers are not so close together. He is hoping he will be called back to work soon. Asked about President Trump’s issue with Latino immigrants he says, “It’s a political issue, you haven’t heard much of that only this, (the current issue of the coronavirus).” Roberto’s main concern is that people want work. “We will see what happens going forward,” Roberto Sandoval says of the peoples need for work. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsA photographer rides around Bakersfield using a film camera to document the Coronavirus impact on Bakersfield. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsA group practice social distancing and get some fresh air on the bike path near Beach Park. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsA sign of hope is seen on a front yard on 18th Street in Bakersfield. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsBakersfield College Safety Officer, Linda Morgan, is at her post at the main entrance of Bakersfield College during the closure of the campus due to the Coronavirus pandemic crises. All other entrances are clearly blocked off at the college. Only people who have business on the campus are allowed to enter and they are checked in and out. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsBakersfield College Safety Officer, Linda Morgan, is at her post at the main entrance of Bakersfield College during the closure of the campus due to the Coronavirus pandemic crises. All other entrances are clearly blocked off at the college. Only people who have business on the campus are allowed to enter and they are checked in and out. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsBakersfield College Safety Officer, Linda Morgan, is at her post at the main entrance of Bakersfield College during the closure of the campus due to the Coronavirus pandemic crises. All other entrances are clearly blocked off at the college. Only people who have business on the campus are allowed to enter and they are checked in and out. She says all others, skaters, the homeless, people out for a walk, have been very compliant to stay off the grounds of the campus. She has noticed a kindness in people that has surfaced. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsDuring what is usually peak hours in downtown Bakersfield, vehicle and pedestrian traffic is low Tuesday. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsTina Brown waves goodby to one of her regular customers Tuesday morning. “ I did it for them, my people,” says Tina Brown, left, owner of Tina Marie’s restaurant in downtown Bakersfield of keeping her place open for takeout meals during the coronavirus pandemic crises. “My people,” she explains are her regular customers who continue to come by for take-out meals and her staff who she continues to employ knowing they need their jobs and income. “You’ve heard of, ‘Bakersfield strong,’ that’s who we are, we take care of each other.” Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsTina Brown has kept her restaurant, Tina Marie’s in downtown Bakersfield, open for her customers and staff. They prepare meals for take-out. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsPlayground equipment at Beach Park is blocked off with caution tape Tuesday afternoon in an effort to stop the spread of the Coronavirus locally. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsIn an attempt to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, playground equipment is closed in Bakersfield City parks. This photo was taken at Jastro Park. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsThe homeless community continue to have their needs as the country and Bakersfield deal with the Coronavirus pandemic. Locally the Mission at Kern County serve the homeless in need. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsStaff at Lorene’s restaurant in downtown Bakersfield do some maintenance as kitchen staff continue to offer to-go meals for their customers. Many businesses are trying to keep their staff working as the community deals with the Coronavirus pandemic. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol NewsA sign of the times is posted at the entrance of Lorene’s Downtown. Photos by Henry A. Barrios for Kern Sol News
