In case you didn't know, the total number of confirmed Corona Virus cases worldwide as of March 25 is 460,323 and there have been 20,828 deaths so far. This number has been said to increase at a rate of 7% daily. As the number of reported cases continues to increase, the terms "self-quarantine", "self-isolation" and "social distancing" have been circulating around the media but what do they really mean and why are some stubborn people still refusing to obey the rules put in place.
What is social distancing and why is it important? Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching the virus. Despite the fact that it is discouraging that several sports events, cruises, festivals and other gatherings are being canceled, there is a public health reason for these measures. These cancellations help stop or slow down the spread of disease allowing health care systems to more readily care for patients over time.
It pains me deeply when I see people who post things on social media about how they went out to get their nails done or went out to a party, with the current state of things. The more annoying part is when they say things like, "I'm young and healthy, I can't get the virus." These statements officially win my award for the most thoughtless things I've ever heard. As of Feb. 23rd, just about a month ago, Italy had just 5 cases of the virus confirmed and no deaths. The government of Italy ordered a stay home order, people disobeyed. About 30 days after, Italy has over 60,000 cases and 5400 deaths. Unbelievable! The only acceptable reason why people would want to leave their houses are those whose jobs cannot be done from home and they fear not having any source of income during this period. Despite this, there are some important things to consider. First, only someone who is alive can go to work. Those who are on the verge of death would probably not even think of going to work if they had the chance to. Please stay at home. If not for yourself but for the sake of the other people you'd come in contact with.
I'm sure we all know that there are currently no vaccines for the virus and people have predicted that it would take up to 2 years before scientists are able to come up with one. However, there are several ways to prevent the virus. Practicing general hygiene techniques like washing your hand regularly, or using a hand sanitizer when the option of washing your hands is temporarily unavailable. Coughing or sneezing into your elbows and not your hands, avoiding close contacts with people who are sick, staying in self-isolation if you appear to show any of the symptoms or be under the weather, and disinfecting surfaces occasionally are everyday practices that help curtail the spread of the virus.
I know it can be hard to stay at home all day and night. But seriously, getting infected by the virus is really not worth it. We're going to come out of this period stronger, but we have to do all we can to stop the spread of the virus. There are several options of things to do to self-improve during isolation. Try learning a new skill set or watching YouTube videos that teach you something that would be valuable to you in the long run. Staying at home is not an excuse for gluttony. Use this period to reflect on yourself and areas of your life you need to work on. If you're looking for where to start, I recommend you watch this YouTube video I found the other day, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk20-E0yx_s).
We can do this! We can fight this! We would come out of this stronger, but please STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY... and please, STAY HOME!!!
For more information about the latest news and updates about COVID-19, please visit (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019)
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