Governor Andrew Cuomo holds a briefing on Coronavirus by Darren McGee/Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo
COVID-19: Mind the Distance
When all the hype started about the COVID-19 in early February, many thought that it was being overhyped. But, suddenly, there was.
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NBA season, suspended. MAC tournaments, canceled. Colleges, closed for the rest of the semester. Schools, sending packets home for kids. USA Volleyball, canceled. NHL, season suspended. NLL, season suspended. March Madness, canceled. Saint Patrick’s Day parade, canceled. Disneyland and Disneyworld, closed. Trump declares a national emergency and schools are closed until April 20th. This is how far something can spread in one month.
When all the hype started about the COVID-19 in early February, many thought that it was being overhyped. We thought that people were over-exaggerating the harm of this virus. It didn’t hit the U.S then, so most thought there was no need to worry. But, suddenly, there was.
First, there were cases in the U.S. From the first case in the U.S, people started acting frantic. It was so new to all of us so we didn’t know how much we should prepare or if we should prepare at all.
So, grocery stores became packed and schools started shutting down in different states. People started hoarding disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, frozen foods and began washing their hands all the time.
We think that it is good to be overprepared rather than caught underprepared. It is good that schools are closing so we can practice social distancing and not catch and spread this virus.
While some say it is unnecessary to close schools and stay at home, I think it is just the thing to do. No one wants to catch the virus and, even if we did, we wouldn’t want to spread it to others, especially our older relatives. If we distance ourselves from the world and most people, besides those we live with, it will help to limit the exponential growth of this virus throughout the world.
Since school is being closed for about five weeks, a lot of kids are going to be home for a while. Kids might get bored, but at least they aren’t going to be spreading or getting the virus. Teachers have been busy working on lesson plans for students and administrators have been working on feeding them.
We think it’s very important for kids to do the work that teachers give out. This school cancellation isn’t a time to do nothing for five weeks. It still counts as school and all students should be doing the work that the teachers took time to plan out and distribute.
Even though none of us have experienced this before, we think everyone is handling it very well. Distancing ourselves is the only thing we can do until we get a vaccine, cure or treatment for the virus.
Want more information? Visit coronavirus.gov or Erie County’s webpage. The Panther Eye will continue to deliver rapid updates by Twitter and Instagram on this crisis and the district will update the school community on its webpage.
Lexi is a senior at Sweet Home High School and previously wrote for the Panther Press where she was the editor for the News section for two years. Lexi is now the Opinion section editor of The Panther Eye. She plays volleyball for the Varsity team at Sweet Home.