OPINION: We are Open — with a chance of Coronavirus
As new coronavirus numbers continue to rise, the battle is far from over.
*Editors Note: This story has been corrected to include the link to Ulta Beauty’s curbside pick-up
If you think back to the beginning of January, no one had any idea that our lives would change the next two months. The way we work, commute, basically anytime we ventured outside of our house, was about to change. Nobody expected the impact the coronavirus pandemic would have on our daily lives.
After approximately 2 ½ months of quarantine inside of our houses, governments in different states started reopening in different phases. Florida specifically had been in phrase one of reopening since May 4, but the governor of Florida, Ron Desantis, also lifted restrictions that initially were not part of the plan, including salons and barbershops.
In the state of Florida, residents were told to quarantine around the week of April 1. Before the week of April 1, businesses in Florida had started to slow down already. Many people were trying to avoid leaving their houses, with the exception of essential things like food and medicine. Schools and universities had started to transition to remote learning as a measure of precaution.
The problem with opening the state with the virus still in peak is that many people will think the coronavirus is gone. They’ll see the curve flatting and think, “oh, the curve flattened, so let’s go out.” They will ignore the fact that the stay-at-home order was to prevent the further spread of the virus and make sure our hospitals were not over-filled with patients. The flatting of the curve is not something that can be changed within a week.
Since the reopening on many states, the cases of coronavirus have gone up again, especially in the state of Florida. On June 12, the Florida Department of Health reported a new daily record high of 1,902 additional cases of COVID-19, which keeps on rising day after day. Desantis brushed off concerns about the rise of cases, although the Miami Herald had published an investigation that questioned the governors’ use of the numbers when it comes to relaxing the restrictions.
There is nothing wrong with certain places opening up slowly in different phases, as long as there are new protocols for those wishing to visit those places. The problem with opening up is that many people who think the virus is still a “hoax,” will not comply with those new protocols.
Those new protocols involve people wearing a face mask correctly inside places where social distancing is not possible. Making face masks mandatory, when social distancing is not possible, is part of the battle against coronavirus. The other half is making sure that those who do not follow the face mask rule will be given consequences for their actions. The use of the face mask is not only to protect us but to protect others from the coronavirus. The mask situation is not a “political issue,” it is a public health issue. We can not all stay inside our houses until a vaccine or treatment is present, but with the use of face masks, we can help prevent the further spread of the virus.
Other people think just because the stores and restaurants are opening up; they HAVE to go shop or eat inside of a physical location, even though you can get the same things online and also order to-go online. Certain stores like Ulta Beauty offer curbside pickup of orders so that people do not have to wait for their items to arrive in the mail. That plate of fried cheese curds can be ordered to-go you know.
Young people are now accounting for a growing number of coronavirus cases, mainly because younger people are more likely to go out, according to The New York Times. Although younger people have a smaller chance of dying, they can be asymptotic carriers. Young people could pass along the virus to others who have a higher chance of death either from age or preexisting conditions.
All of these concerns come along with the fact the United States did not take action of the virus seriously in the earlier stages. While Europe is reopening their flights up again, the United States is suffering the consequences. With coronavirus cases still on the rise in the United States, it is only a matter a time before the numbers become uncontrollable, all because the country failed to take serious action early enough.
