COVID-19 has caused us to engage in what is called social distancing, which requires us to be conscious not only of our own health and safety but of others as well by self-quarantining and staying inside our homes. 

Obviously, judging by how we aren’t at school now and how countless events are canceled to avoid huge crowds of people and potential spread of the virus, this is a pretty serious situation. Self-isolation is a necessity during these times, and it’s important to remember that so long as you stay inside, wash your hands, and keep your house clean and sanitized, you should be fine. Take this moment as a deserved day off at home. Keywords “at home”.

We used to joke about Netflix and chill like all the time. Seriously. We still make the joke. And yet the one time we actually get to do that, everyone decides it’s the perfect time to rush outside and crowd into places in order to panic buy like it’s the end of the world. You do not need to buy t12 bulk packs of toilet paper, or 19 gallons of milk, or the entire shelf of the medicine. 

Be considerate of the people around you, especially those who are elderly, immunocompromised, or in other ways more vulnerable to the virus than you are. Think about those who already struggle to afford these basic necessities and need to support their families, like single parents or families with low income. If you’ve indulged in panic buying and realized that you may have gotten too much of one thing, consider donating it to local shelters or people you know that do not have what you have, whether it be because the item(s) were sold out or they simply cannot afford them.

I understand that it can’t hurt to get a little extra of something, but in times like this, it’s time to be a little selfless. Again, we’re supposed to be staying inside as much as possible anyway, so there is definitely no need to make multiple grocery runs to stock up on your already huge pile of whatever it was that you got. Stay inside, wash your hands, and be considerate.