Social Distancing: What’s That?

Social distancing is so crucial in the fight against COVID-19. Anxiety grows with each day and how every person reacts to it. Knowing this virus is coming, is here, and lurking inside so many people spreading so many germs is like a movie. My family has been quarantining us for several days. My husband works from home, my teaching job has now morphed into homeschooling, and I’m still trying to balance my migraine advocacy from home. We haven’t seen anyone.

Why aren’t People Social Distancing?

When I ask this question, I’m not talking about those still working and taking all preventable measures. I’m talking about millennials partying in Florida. I’m talking about those people still getting on planes and not going home. Therefore, I’m talking about the people who think it’s blown up by the media and, God forbid, not missing their traditional St. Patty’s day beer at a bar.

3 Major Problems When Facing Social Distancing

Stay Home

First, Americans love to complain about politics and blame the media and others for its problems. My simple question is, what are YOU doing? The fact that people are making such poor choices for society is our problem. We have teens and young adults acting like they aren’t affected and not concerned that they are walking around infecting society. Why aren’t their parents stopping them if they aren’t mature enough to decide to help the world? Stop bitching about the president and waiting for him to tell us something we believe. Do something and be the American we want you to be. Protect each other, love each other and, for now, stay away from each other. STAY HOME, and You are infecting everyone!

Leadership

Second, all the states aren’t on the same page. I live in a state that has been praised for the early shutdown and I feel he is helping us all. If he hadn’t shut down schools and businesses, we would still be walking around. Until someone tells you to stop going to your job, we go. Thank you for your permission to take care of ourselves and others. Why haven’t the rest of the states do so? If we all lock-down and start the process now, hundreds of lives can be saved. Why are people waiting? Wasn’t it in West Virginia? Did anyone believe that? Well, it’s here today so quarantine the U.S. entirely. Let’s do this now! Why torture us? The citizens are too self-absorbed to understand and we have leaders for a reason. Could you lead us to safety?

Healthcare System

Third, our hospitals can’t handle this! I was in a group chat yesterday, and one of the members asked a member who lives in the red zone in Spain if this thing is authentic. Her answer was bone-chilling. She told her how dire it is and how the hospital she is by is better than almost all in the world. She asked the woman not to pray for her but for the United States because everyone around the world is waiting for this virus to overwhelm us. They are warning us, not the media; it’s the people!

How does the Virus Effects Us?

As a child, I was told I was “allergic to viruses.” After discussing this with several doctors over the years, it has been better explained that my body overreacts to the virus’ and stimulus in general. Hence the crazy migraines and intense side effects I get. When I got chickenpox as a child, my sister got it simultaneously. I had a case that covered every inch of my body. My sister had like 5.

You are wrong if you say that the flu kills and it’s nothing more than that. Last year, my husband and a policeman dragged my nearly lifeless body into the Emergency Room when I got the flu. If I could not get medical attention, I’m not sure how I would have recovered on my own. COVID-19 sufferers won’t all get treatment. I already had respect for the flu; you don’t need to tell me the flu is dangerous. (And yes, I get the flu shot and wash my hands diligently as a teacher.)

The fact haunts me that if I get Coronavirus, I fear I will die. I have a seven and a 9-year-old, and I’m afraid that if I go to the store to get us milk, it may end my social life. I also text my parents every second to ensure they aren’t leaving. Why isn’t everyone else scared?

Why is Social Distancing Important?

Can we somehow track those taking our lives as a joke and punish them? For example, if you chose to go on Spring Break and assemble on the beach and bars as I saw, can you stay there and be locked in your hotel room indefinitely because I don’t want you back in Ohio? We’ve all seen those young people posting on social media that it’s not that scary and they aren’t stopping their ways. Can we somehow track them and expect them to waive their rights to medical attention when needed?

Italy has reached the point where they choose who lives and dies because they don’t have enough respirators or care. Choosing lives will happen in the U.S. next. I think the one’s not have social distancing should be on a list for no treatment. If there is a choice between a woman, 65 and a 30-year-old man who hasn’t distanced himself, the doctor should consider that he put himself at risk and made those choices. Why should doctors choose from a grandparent and loved mother who is susceptible and a reckless 30 years old who decided to infect others? I’m not implying the death penalty; my point is to be made for impact, not a suggestion. I’m just SUPER frustrated and I feel for these doctors and nurses. None of this makes sense.

Stay Home

And the sad fact is many of those putting us at risk will most likely fight it off and kill others. In my opinion, they should be responsible for those lives! There will be many that say we distanced ourselves and see “nothing happened.” And there will be many that “just didn’t realize how bad it was going to be.” DO YOUR PART AND FLATTEN THE CURVE NOW!

Social Distancing = STAY HOME

Take a break from reading coronavirus news for some tips on how to maintain your mental health.*

Today is March 18, 2020.  Read this tomorrow and everything will change!

Coronavirus is not a break, it’s our new reality

*This post is sponsored