By Natalie “Lee” Arneson
As the months drag on and the weather starts to change, a pleasant Spring emerges from the chill of Winter and an increasing number of people are beginning to go out again. Travel posts and party pictures are slowly taking over social media sites—everything we should be avoiding while in a pandemic. While it’s undeniable that many folks are feeling stir-crazy—myself included—and the appearance of the sun makes staying in-doors even more difficult, we (yes, all of us, even you) can not afford to grow careless when it comes to COVID-19 safety precautions.
If we let ourselves grow careless as the sun continues to make its appearance, we’ll find ourselves repeating the surge in cases we had across the nation last Spring and Summer. After Spring Break of 2020, Florida experienced a surge in cases from all the vacationers coming in, as well as a resistance to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, such as wearing a mask in public. According to an article by ABC News, in the weeks after 2020’s Spring Break, multiple colleges reported a rise in the number of students who tested positive for COVID-19. Forbes also reported that many counties with universities in them saw an increase in the mortality growth rates.
The approval of various COVID-19 vaccinations would make it seem as though the increase of cases and death toll won’t continue into this Spring and Summer, but that’s just wishful thinking. There has been a plateau in cases recently, but this has only been brought on by the public following the COVID-19 safety guidelines—such as wearing a mask in public, social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings. If people start ignoring these rules simply because there’s a decline in cases, the case number—and the death toll—will go right back up. According to data from the Seattle Times, as of March 14, 2021 only 11.94% of Washington residents have been fully vaccinated with 20.71% being given the first dose. The Washington State Department of Health reported as of March 14, 2021 Thurston County has 6,826 confirmed cases and 79 deaths. Nationwide, only 12.3% of the population has been fully vaccinated, more than 29,751,000 cases have been reported, and over 542,000 people have died from COVID-19. These numbers will only grow if we act prematurely. We have not beat the virus. We are not prepared for businesses to fully reopen to the public, and we do not have enough people vaccinated to even have a chance at herd immunity.
While being out in the sun and interacting with others are important for many peoples’ mental health, it should be done in a safe manner. There’s many ways you can enjoy the warm weather while still keeping yourself and those around you safe. You could take a walk with a member of your household, or social distance with a friend in a relatively vacant park, or get food to go and have a picnic in your backyard. There are so many ways you can enjoy this change in weather without endangering countless lives because yes, all of our actions—even yours—will affect those around us. So, please, take caution and think twice as you make plans for yourself in this warmer weather. And for f—’s sake—wear a mask.
