For just about the last six months, everybody all over the world has been dealing with something nobody saw coming, with the exception of Bill Gates, the COVID-19 pandemic. The last six months have been chaotic to say the least. Schools, businesses and companies have all been trying to figure out the best ways to operate in this pandemic. We have seen businesses unfortunately go under, schools go virtual and companies downsize. We have seen record unemployment numbers, we are on the verge of economic collapse and there is still no real end in sight for the global pandemic. I hate when people have a “doom and gloom” outlook on things, but this pandemic has made it really hard to look at things in a positive light.
Our country’s response to this pandemic has been abominable. The rest of the world, if they were not already, is laughing at us. New York has gotten on the right track and is doing well, but overall, it has been a dumpster fire. Just the mask versus anti-mask argument alone is a big enough annoyance. And speaking of that, the amount of people who refuse to wear a mask and think wearing a mask is a violation of their constitutional rights, is astounding. Maybe trying to have a positive outlook on things blindsided me, but I was shocked that being asked to wear a mask when you are in a public space became such a polarizing political debate. It is a shame that happened because in the end both sides want the same thing. Both sides want this to be over. Sure, one side wants it to be over now because it thinks it is some kind of violation of rights and the other side wants it to be over after people wear masks and “flatten the curve.” Wearing a mask should only have to be temporary. It is not ideal and no one really wants to do it, but there should be a certain level of respect for others and a respect for safety that should top your opinion of wearing a mask. Unfortunately, some people just do not see it that way.
Oswego State’s response to this pandemic has been great. They have tested students and there are strict social distancing guidelines in place. Setting up that online symptom tracker form for students to fill out can help the school quarantine students to potentially curb things. However, nothing is guaranteed. There can still be an outbreak, like what happened in SUNY Oneonta, forcing the school to shut down and go fully online. The latest jump in the numbers should be concerning to everyone, but there should not be a panic yet. Stay safe, wear a mask, social distance and maybe we can get through this so we could have the chance for a normal spring semester.
Photo from Flickr
