This COVID-19 scare is getting out of hand. Cancellation of events are happening left and right. And things seem to be getting worse before they are getting better.
I don’t know what to think of it. When I tune into the radio, or watch the TV news, the large majority of the time they are talking about the corona virus. And rightfully so.
All this bombardment of news can really color your perspective on things. Wash your hands with soap regularly for at least 20 seconds. Avoid large crowds. Practice social distancing. Wear a mask. Stock up on toilet paper. Buy more rice.
And on and on it goes. On the one hand, you get kind of tired of the same information being thrown at you over and over again regarding the virus.
But on the other hand, you need to be informed when a global pandemic like this spread with such rapidity.
Yesterday, the NBA announced that they will be suspending the season indefinitely. Other sports leagues have followed suit as well.
Is it time for full-out panic? I wouldn’t go that far. But at the same time, it’s good to be informed by the news media, regardless of how anxiety-inducing it could be at times.
To me, it feels like the world has come to a standstill and most human beings on this planet are coming together to fight a common threat.
Hopefully this whole situation blows over in the following months when the season gets warmer (in the Northern Hemisphere at least). But, you never know. That is wishful thinking at best.
For now, the best we can do is proceed with caution. When you minimize social interaction, you are not only reducing the risk for yourself. But you are reducing the risk for your community members as well.
The health care system is being placed on a significant burden these days - with the rising case of positive outcomes coming out across the country and the world.
When we minimize our social interaction and practice decent hygiene, we are helping to sustain our health care system further. And to minimize the load for the nurses and doctors that don’t have the luxury to take the week off or to work from home.
Fortunately, my work allows me to work from almost wherever I want, and I’m thankful for that. But, times like this force you to think about your significant family members, loved ones, and community.
It seems encouraging that people in the USA are now more aware of the potential risk exposure this could cause to everyone in the world. And it seems like all our petty squabbling between party members and nation states have come to a temporary standstill for now.
The stock market is plunging. The number of cases worldwide have spiked since earlier this year. And we should realize about time that this epidemic needs to be taken seriously wherever we are.
It feels like watching a movie. I usually get that feeling that such outbreaks will happen to others, but not to myself. But, now it seems like everyone is vulnerable and extra precaution need to be taken.
For now, I’m minimizing social interaction and public outings. And staying at home with my family and girlfriend. That’s the safe way to make sure that I don’t get this thing, and don’t prolong the burden on the health care professionals.
I’m no expert on this thing, so I rely on the news for appropriate information to make the best judgment on how to move forward. And I’m thankful to the professionals who are researching a vaccine for this.
But for now, I’m keeping it simple. Wash my hands with soap more often. And minimize social outings.
My meditation classes have been cancelled. Toastmasters has been cancelled. Work conferences have been postponed. Seems like the world has been put on hiatus due to this epidemic.
For now, we will wait out this pandemic together and wish for a safe recovery for those who have been affected. Stay safe everyone.