You may have seen #stayhome trending on twitter and instagram, millions of tweets and stories encouraging people to be responsible and flatten the curve seen above. This graph indicates the dangerous amount of infected individuals if preventative measures aren’t taken seriously. The goal to slowly isolate the virus and beat it is to flatten the curve, to enforce the cleanliness and protective methods. The labelled pandemic is bringing in more cases overnight than ever before as the number of confirmed cases rises past 500 000 worldwide.

Flattening the curve includes practicing the recommended protective methods including social distancing. Social distancing is when we make the effort to minimize contact with others especially outside of housemates. This is key to stopping the spread of the virus and limiting the amount of those in need of immediate care.

I personally haven’t been impacted greatly, I might not be working right now, but my family still can, for that I am grateful. However, I am now not able to visit my relatives, some of which are sick or grieving and that restriction is something I wish to be gone as soon as possible. People unnecessarily leaving their house and visiting friends are elongating the need for quarantine. A student thinking they’re immune because they are young is selfish. Anyone can easily still carry the virus and spread it to people who are vulnerable without showing any symptoms themselves.

Living in a greatly populated, ever-growing city makes it difficult to be socially distant, I understand. It’s hard to be distant when needing groceries or when you want to go on a walk, but limiting travel outside of your home only to when it’s strictly necessary is the difference between a possible hundred infected.

Here is a link to a short video by BBC News’s Health Correspondent Laura Foster explaining why social distancing is key to limiting the spread of COVID-19.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/health-52008673/coronavirus-update-why-does-staying-at-home-help

The point of this blog is to highlight the importance of taking responsibility and sacrificing any unnecessary outings to limit the spread and lower your chance of becoming infected. The OPP are warning that fines for individuals not practicing social distancing are on their way and that open businesses who are not on Doug Ford’s essential businesses list are at risk as well.

I apologize if this seems more like a rant than a thoughtful blogpost. I’m simply frustrated by any negligence demonstrated as is everyone who is following the proper safety precautions. We all want this seemingly unreal period of our lives to be over. Hope you are doing well and I hope we stay well.

Sources used:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/public-health-measures-mitigate-covid-19.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/health-52008673/coronavirus-update-why-does-staying-at-home-help

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-social-distancing-and-self-quarantine

OPP warn fines could come if social distancing not practised by The Intelligencer