By Mia Cerrato – Editorial Editor

“Social Distancing” is the term given to community practices that are currently being recommended for the word to confront the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Those recommendations are necessary and important. 

The restrictions vary from simple tips, such as hand washing, to more drastic things such as cancellation of schools, and advising to work from home. Those require a lot of planning, preparation and adjustment to everyday schedules. But these tips and tasks are necessary if people are to better contain and slow the virus’s spread. For those who are young and healthy, the chance of contracting the virus is minimal. On the other hand, for those who are over 65, have respiratory issues or with heart disease or diabetes. The slower the spread of the corona, the better it will be for hospitals or other medical establishments  to treat the people in need. These facilities would like to keep the amount of patients smaller than the amount of hospital beds. 

People have to isolate themselves, but everyone needs to maintain social connectedness. The community needs support from one another despite the fact that people must be secluded from each other. The community has to make conscious choices to reach out to others. Particularly for the elderly among friends, family and neighbors, make a call to see how they are. Make plans to talk on the phone, FaceTime, or Skype to keep them company during this time of self-isolation. 

While all this isolation is beneficial, it leads to lost hours of work and layoffs. The secludedness is putting a huge strain on the financial system. If no one has a job how will they pay for rent, food, and personal items? People who works in a restaurant, in entertainment, or in sports could be out of work. All of those establishments have help staff such as custodians, maintenance workers, waiters who will be out of work. The more we keep socially distant, the sooner these people will be able to get back to work.

The correct plan of action to combat the coronavirus is to remain in self-quarantine and to keep distance from others. It is beneficial for yourself and those around you.