as of march 12, 2020
Its 2020. The WHO declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The NBA season has been suspended. There is a travel ban on Europe to the United States. Stores nationwide are running out of hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes. Schools are transitioning to online instruction. Events are being postponed or cancelled. And people want to travel because flights are cheap? This post is by no means an academic article nor am I a credible source but I’m here to voice my opinion on the topic at hand. It’s crazy how light some people are taking this, with over 1000 cases and 38 deaths in the US alone, (127k cases, 4.7k deaths globally) and dozens of countries with confirmed cases. What we need is to be informed. I understand that anxieties may arise due to a mass fear of the virus but it is important to be aware of what is happening what precautions to take as well. This past month, I admit that I didn’t take the coronavirus seriously and when I was being flooded with information I was becoming nervous and scared. But for what? What can I do? Inform myself and execute.
From me to you, here are some tips for preparing for this global pandemic
physical tips:
- common sense but cover your cough and sneezes
- wash your hands often with warm water AND SOAP for at least 20 seconds
- stay hydrated; keep your immune system healthy by drinking emergen-c
- avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, mouth, and nose
- avoid shaking hands if possible, fist bumps are gucci
- don’t travel far places
- stay home if you’re sick!
emotional tips:
- limit news intake to reduce anxieties but make sure to be informed at least once a day to be update
- stay in touch with friends and family over text/phone/online etc. to maintain relationships near and far
- listen to music to relax your mind
What I can’t emphasize more is to please contain yourself if you’re sick. The majority of deaths due to COVID-19 have been those who are 60+ years old. Yes I’m in my 20s and relatively healthy but my loved ones aren’t. Not everyone has the luxury to have a healthy body and using the virus, online classes, and cheap flights as an excuse to be careless and travel and increase the risk of spreading is just ignorant. I may or may not have an unpopular opinion, but especially for college students, I notice that there is a lack of concern of what is actually going on and students are being selfish, joking about being happy that they don’t have to go to school and buying international plane tickets. My point is that this isn’t a joke anymore. And it needs to be taken seriously. I’m not saying that everyone needs to be a hermit and not leave their households, but we have the resources to prevent the spread of this virus by taking the recommended precautions and stop being irresponsible in our current situation.