Stop behaving like it’s 2019

When I think back to 2019…ah, those were the days when I would high-five my clients, workout at the gym, hug my friends, go out to dinner, and shop at the mall.  I am social person, and can strike up a conversation with a stranger in an elevator, but, in March of 2020, when I learned how dangerous, pervasive, and contagious the Coronavirus was, I followed the experts advise: stay at home, wash your hands often, maintain a minimum of six feet from other people, only allow close contact with those you live with, and only go out in public to get essentials, like food and medicine.

At that time, I thought it was weird that the experts didn’t instruct the general public to wear a mask or gloves. I wore a n95 mask anyway, and was one of the few people, who wasn’t a nurse, doctor, or dentist, who wore a mask when I had to go out in public. I also wore gloves, and explained to everyone I had to interact with, that I prefer to take extra precautions to protect myself against the flu AND COVID-19. People seemed to understand, but gave me that smirk, or called me a germaphobe.  One doctor told me that I washed my hands too much (which is one of the worst pieces of advice I’ve heard from a doctor). In the beginning of 2020, my stance was considered over-the-top, but now it’s the norm, as it should be.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the explanation for not wearing masks, was that, masks should be saved for health professionals, to prevent a shortage, but if masks were worn by everyone, the number of infections would have been a lot lower. Studies, and cases of other countries adherence to mask wearing has been shown to prevent, or, reduce transmission of COVID-19.

“Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, said during an interview with the Journal of the American Medical Association’s Dr. Howard Bauchner. “I think if we could get everybody to wear a mask right now I think in four, six, eight weeks we could bring this epidemic under control.” (1).

This pandemic is so out of control because people are still behaving like it’s 2019. Too many people aren’t wearing masks. People are still throwing parties, and going to the salon. They are touching each other and getting drunk together. People are lifting weights at a public gym. People are in such close contact with their friends, they are breathing each other’s air. Doing the aforementioned things are making matters worse, and are the cause of the massive increase in infections. Over 150,000 people in the United States have died in this year from COVID-19, so far. It’s projected to get much worse.  Pretending something isn’t there, won’t make it go away. Just because you cannot see something with your own eyes, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Wearing a mask, not only protects you, it protects other people. No one has the right to infect others, for the selfish reason of not liking wearing a mask. There is no medical condition that explains away, not wearing a mask in public. If you have a medical condition, it’s even more important to wear a mask, since getting COVID-19, makes you that more susceptible to hospitalization and dying.

No one can claim they are COVID-free. The tests are widely inaccurate, and people who have no symptoms can spread the disease to others. How would you feel if you gave the disease to your mom, dad, grandmother, sister, and that loved-one died? Just recently, a 30-year old husband and wife, died from COVID-19. More and more young people are getting infected, going to the hospital, and dying from this disease. Children are carrying the disease. Some children have died. COVID-19 is not a hoax, and it’s nothing like the flu.

If you want to live like you did in 2019, with freedom to roam, have fun, go back to school and work, follow the rules: wear a mask, keep at least six feet from other people, only leave the house for essentials, socialize via social media, wash your hands as much as possible. I’ll also add: exercise outdoors on days the air quality is good, Facetime with friends and family frequently, color and cut your own hair, wear gloves when you touch objects out in public spaces, keep alcoholic drinking to a minimum, stay positive, and vote.

The only way we can get back to normal, is for everyone to take these precautions. For those that are doing so, I thank you.

P.S. Please forward this post to anyone that isn’t taking this health crises seriously.

1) Source: Lovelace Jr, Berkeley and Feuer, Will. ““CDC says U.S. could get coronavirus under control in one to two months if everyone wears a mask.” HEALTH AND SCIENCE. Jul 14, 2020 https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/cdc-says-us-could-get-coronavirus-under-control-in-one-to-two-months-if-everyone-wears-a-mask.html July

additional source: https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/coronavirus-update-mystery-surrounds-healthy-30-year-olds-sudden-covid-19-death-c-958240