The Corona Virus disease: otherwise known as Covid-19 is a newly discovered viral disease. Covid-19 originated in China in November of 2019 and has continued to skyrocket since. It affects people in many ways; from no symptoms at all, to mild, or even severe. Covid-19 has triggered a worldwide pandemic. The virus spreads rapidly and cases are rising every day. There isn’t much that anyone can do to absolutely prevent themselves from getting, but there are precautions that can be taken just as extra safety. Wearing a mask and social distancing both are proven ways to help everyone become less prone to getting the Corona Virus. These precautions are great, people just disobey them which makes the virus continue to spread. This pandemic is serious, and people need to start treating it that way. People need to start taking this virus serious and start taking safety precautions. Those who are disregarding the fact that this virus is real, and the precautions are also real, are the problem and the exact reason that the virus is so bad.  

When Covid-19 originally became present in America in March of 2020, there were a ton of cases, and the spread was outrageous. Doctors and educators informed the people that precautions can be taken in order to keep the disease under control. In the beginning, people were worried and basically had no choice but to take Covid-19 seriously. Restaurants and stores were closing and promoting strictly only curbside or call in. Even schools had closed their doors and were participating in online virtual school. Any place that remained open required masks and social distancing. Covid-19 cases began to drop, and people thought that they would finally be out of the mess and return to “Normal.” That was not the case at all. After months of quarantine, life went on and everyone tried to pick back up their lives pre quarantine. However, Corona never went away. Some people began to get fed up and stopped believing in the virus since cases had dropped. Cases only dropped because our lives were put on hold to protect ourselves. Those who doubt the existence of Covid-19 and go out of their way every day to not take precautions are the very reason that in August of 2020 Covid- 19 cases began to rise again. Except this time, it hasn’t taken a break yet and it has come back much worse. As of February 25, 2021 there have been 28,183, 938 Covid-19 cases given in the United states, and over 500,000 reported deaths of Covid-19 in America (Elfein).  The Centers of Disease Control and Preventions state, that the exact number of deaths in America is 510, 777 (CDC.) Of course, some many of these cases and death may would have happened either way, but just imagine how many more people would still be alive and healthy if people would have just continued to take precautions.  

There have been proven ways to calm down the spread of the virus, such as However, these fail when people do not take them seriously and participate. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control listing the two main precautions and what they are: social distancing and wearing a mask. A brief paraphrase from the South Carolina DHSC includes, being socially distant is refraining from leaving one’s home unless necessary, and when one leaves, they must perform in the act of remaining at least six feet away from others so that germs aren’t crossed between one another (SC DHEC) Another important matter they mention is wearing masks. DHEC states, “Face Masks, when worn properly, may help reduce the spread of the virus. They are not intended to replace physical distancing and hand washing recommendations which people must continue to use to protect themselves. Homemade masks may reduce the amount of virus one breathes out and may prevent you from touching your nose and mouth. This measure is recommended to be used by persons in situations where physical distancing may be difficult to maintain such as at a grocery store, or pharmacy, etc. Masks can protect people from the virus by preventing infected persons who may not yet be showing symptoms from passing the virus to others.” The CDC also has a whole entire section on their website of explaining how to wear a mask, how to improve your mask, why they are useful, etc. According to the CDC, “Masks are an additional step to help prevent people from getting and spreading COVID-19. They provide a barrier that keeps respiratory droplets from spreading.”

 What DHEC has to say about wearing a mask makes it difficult for it to be believable that some people genuinely believe that it is not important. Any time someone goes into a doctor’s office and they aren’t feeling well, they are asked to wear a mask and no questions are asked. Why is this? one may ask. When someone puts a mask on, the mask prevents infections from leaving your body and entering the air, which makes a safer environment for others in the doctor’s office who may have something minor? Masks are seen as necessary in this situation, but shouldn’t they always be deemed necessary. No one has any idea what kind of infections or disease they could potentially be spreading without knowing. Therefore, masks are needed and beyond necessary. They not only protect someone from bringing disease into their bodies, but they prevent spreading disease to others as well. Next time, thoughts of taking the mask off occur, realize that they are real and valid; they are not here to harm or to be uncomfortable, but to protect. Is giving your life up just because you don’t want to wear something worth it? 

Both social distancing and wearing a mask are so very important during this pandemic. Although, people are invalidating facts and are turning down which is becoming a safety issue. Many people still don’t even believe that Covid-19 is real, even though research has been proved and people are getting sick and dying. The people who don’t believe are the very problem this pandemic is serious, and people need to treat it that way. Though certain people have not been affected, does not mean that the virus isn’t real. It also does not mean that you should not take precautions. Just because the precautions are outside of your comfort zone, does not mean that it does not work. False claims against it not working or simply because they don’t like participating. However, that is the very problem itself. This virus is very real and should not be invalidated. We need to take it seriously or else it will only continue to get worse from here. People are dying every day; do you want to be next? Take precautions while you still have the chance and treat this virus with respect.