I haven’t left my house in more than 2 weeks. 

Thanks to COVID-19, people are suffering, some are dying. And while a few understand the severity of the national emergency… most don’t. 

Our goal should be to protect our families from this pandemic. My self quarantine is a choice. But at least I know it’s the right one.

Texas itself has more than 65 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The United States has more than 4,000. The entire world has almost 200,000 cases. 

The CDC advises everyone to stand apart from each other with at least a distance of six feet. This virus is mainly spread person-to-person. But, when my mother went to the store yesterday (in search of necessary supplies), she was only met with empty aisles and tens of people not following necessary safety rules. 

But, it’s not just the general population.

The federal government needs to be doing much more than they are right now. The president has been given many chances to reveal the truth of the situation but instead made no necessary actions. There should’ve been a push for more test kits, there should’ve been a push to emphasize to the public to take care of themselves, there should’ve been a push to diagnose those that might’ve been carriers

On multiple occasions, Trump has stated that the virus was less severe than the flu. He assured us that everything would be just fine. But we’re now sitting here isolated, scared, and helpless. How is it fine when almost 8,000 people are no longer with us? How is that in any sense or form fine? 

Honest communication is a must. People don’t know what they’re facing if all they hear are false promises that “everything will be just fine”. Although the U.S. has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, we’re simply not prepared for a global pandemic. 

It’s crucial that aggression is visible in our actions. 

Stock up as needed but only as needed. 

Half of the battle is fighting the panic. When somebody goes out and buys every single hand sanitizer in every single store, they not only have a very large excess of hand sanitizer, they’re denying multiple families of the necessities that they may very well need to survive. And finally, do with a purpose. If our government doesn’t successfully implement the plans it creates, it gives way for the chaos thriving among people to reign.

I understand that we haven’t reached the height of the pandemic’s impact yet. But, by the minute, the cases are only rising. The numbers are only going up. Yet, people still don’t seem to realize the risk that they’re putting themselves in by not following the tips they’re supposed to in order to stay safe. 

I don’t know why, but when I first got wind of the spread of some virus I had heard about, I immediately started washing my hands more often, avoiding doorknobs, and distancing myself from others. Maybe, it’s because my asthma makes me more prone to the complications associated with the virus. Or maybe it’s due to my paranoid mind. Either way, I’m thankful for whatever pushed me to start taking precautions.

Many schools across the country have been given this extended break for our safety. It’s not meant to be taken as a free pass to hit up theme parks and movie theaters. I check my Snapchat story and I see my friends making decisions that could extremely hurt them later on. 

Decide for yourself if two hours of “fun” is worth putting you and your family in danger.

Oftentimes, things matter more if it happens to someone that we care about, rather than it being ourselves. 

For critical situations like this, look at the situation through a different lens. We need to stay inside, and stay safe. If not for ourselves, at least for those that we love. 

It’s time to start taking things seriously. Because if not now, then when?