Normal Year? I think not.

Sitting at my desk, I surf the web for updates on the situation that has largely affected the start of the 2020 decade. You know, when I celebrated New Year’s at 12:00 AM with millions of people around the country, I didn’t think that this year would be any more eventful than the previous years. Apart from technological advancements like the start of AirPods, VR, or the political talks surrounding our country, I thought that my only highlight of this year would be my nerve-racking transfer to high school. But I was soon proven wrong. Very wrong.

The Biggest Impact: Basics about the Virus

The most serious topic today is the coronavirus. First off, what is the coronavirus? Classified officially as COVID-19, it is similar to that of a cold. People who are most affected are weaker in physique, such as age and medical conditions. The World Health Organization says that symptoms include runny nose, fever, tiredness, coughing, difficulty breathing in severe cases. The loss of sense of smell has also become an interesting clue to developing the disease. What is most terrifying about this virus is that a human can carry it for 2 weeks before actually showing symptoms. This makes detecting the virus difficult and taking precautions/keeping clean has been the best way to defend oneself. There isn’t a clear reason why the virus became the way it was today. Wuhan, China was the first stop for the virus, and many of the people succumbed to the virus before preventive measures were taken. The full quarantine of the city was announced, but many people escaped to other places before then. The virus was unknowingly spread through travel, and it is now a dangerous pandemic. The majorly affected countries now include China, Japan, Italy, Spain, and America. Sadly, there are at least 195 countries impacted by the illness and hundreds of thousands are suffering. Although the numbers flying around vary in specification, we know that the number of cases is climbing, and the best thing we can do right now is stay clean and away from others. Many are working at home now, and people have stopped going to large gatherings and decrease the chance of exposure. Most schools have shut down and in Virginia, the governor has said that schools will be closed for the rest of the school year. Welp, there goes the fun school graduation parties and stuff. Friends, I guess I won’t be seeing you until autumn rolls around.

Changes

I’ll admit that in the beginning, I didn’t think much about the coronavirus and the people dealing with it. I thought that it was too far away to concern my family or me, which I know is not right. My family and I have mostly stayed inside and we have tried to watch the news often, for updates on the situation around the globe. We are now very careful to wash our hands and keep surfaces clean. It’s difficult because, to be honest, we’re not normally that dedicated to cleanliness. It’s a scary time right now. I mean, if even schools are shut down and people are being quarantined, it must mean that the epidemic is serious and is making an extensive impact everywhere.

Now, as I sit at my desk, typing on my computer, I stop and think. When will the virus go away, and when can everything return to the way it was? But I know that when this all dies down, things will have changed forever. Loved ones will have gone, and the ones who have healed won’t be the same. But we will stay strong and continue on, so keep fighting and washing those hands!

Stay Positive

“STAYING POSITIVE does not mean that things will turn out okay. Rather it is knowing that YOU will be okay no matter how things turn out.” – Unknown.