Adults and students alike are used to being able to go outside, physically interact with their peers, and not have to remain 6 feet apart from another person if they encounter them.

Social distancing is difficult because the stay-at-home order because of COVID-19 leaves you feeling bored. No one enjoys it.

”So what if people just did not participate in it?” some of my peers are asking. Their immune systems are strong, and they’re healthy, so this order “doesn’t apply to me,” they’ll argue.

Not only is this mindset selfish and incorrect, but it’s also dangerous. 

The goal of the stay-at-home order is to prevent further spreading of the virus so fewer people get infected. It’s not only for those who have healthy immune systems, but also for those who don’t. 

The World Health Organization has made it clear that the COVID-19 virus is not your average cold or flu virus.

Twenty percent  of the cases of COVID-19 are severe, threatening to overwhelm the nation’s healthcare system.

With this time that we’re having “off” from school and work, it might be tempting to think of it as a time to catch up with your friends and family at gatherings and going about living your daily life. By doing so you’re not only putting yourself at risk but others as well.

The estimated incubation period for this virus is one to 14 days, meaning you could be infected with the virus and not show symptoms of having it. By going out, you could unintentionally spread the virus to others, putting more people at risk.

Going out has a counterproductive effect, further prolonging the quarantine and causing more severe measures to be put in place.

If a concern for your own personal health is not enough of a motivator to remain at home, then perhaps you could think about those who are not so lucky to have strong and healthy immune systems. Think about your grandparents, teachers, even your friend who has asthma, who could be affected by the coronavirus in a deadly way.

Vox news summarized it in their video “Why Fighting the Corona Virus Depends On You” by stating, “To slow the virus down, you need to act as if you already have it. By avoiding public transportation, the office, crowded places, and even small social gatherings, you decrease your chances of both getting the disease, and spreading it.”

 Remember that no matter how young and healthy you are, you could still contract the virus and be affected by it.