“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak is a phenomenon that we haven’t seen before in our lives. As the virus is given pandemic status from the World Health Organization, universities, workplaces, churches, and other public facilities all around the world are shut down in most countries as governments attempt to reduce social interaction and avoid further spreading of the virus. Major sporting events such as the NBA and European Football are also postponed for at least a month as professional athletes have become infected with the virus. It’s safe to say that no one had expected the viral outbreak to be as severe as it is today. With that being said, as most of us are in self-isolation for the foreseeable future and online classes will take place for the rest of Spring 2020 here at Cairn University, here are some things that you should know regarding the Coronavirus outbreak:

Masks help prevent the spread of the virus:

While masks do help with the breathing of possibly infected air, most masks are not effective in preventing the virus from entering your body, as the Coronavirus is spread through droplets which may cling to masks. Masks are more effective when used on sick people, as masks shield the user’s breath and coughs, providing cover to everyone else. So you really shouldn’t be stockpiling masks and selling them on eBay for a profit. Profiting off a pandemic is just wrong.

Stockpiling:

I’m sure we’ve all seen the news about the riots for toilet paper and other household supplies in the media, but stockpiling supplies aren’t ideal in a situation like this. With fears of a government lockdown, many supplies are being stockpiled, which leaves a scarcity of items that are essential for everyone. Many people who actually need the items, such as the elderly and sick, are having a hard time finding supplies because they are bought in bulk. What’s also unethical is how people are selling these items for a profit online. Let’s all buy what we need and not take the things that we don’t need.

Racism and Stereotyping:

As someone of Asian descent, I’ve been rather unsettled by reading the news of many Asians around the world being bullied, called names, and harassed by ignorant people who think that because the Coronavirus started in China, the virus originates from Asian hosts. The decision from many government officials to call the virus the “Chinese” virus is also disappointing. Although the virus originated in China, there is no correlation between ethnicity and the virus; unlike human beings, the virus doesn’t discriminate who it can infect. You should also AVOID contact with people who you think has the virus, not hit or spit on them.

 It’s also really sad to see many Asian owned businesses lose customers as they fear that the establishments are infested with the virus, even though there is no clear evidence that the infected people were at Asian establishments when they got infected. It’s also a good time for us to order takeout from our local Asian restaurants to avoid them closing down. By supporting your local restaurant, you’re directly supporting a family that relies on business to make ends meet!

All in all, even though the COVID-19 outbreak is a global pandemic and has infected hundreds of thousands of people around the world, the best way to stay safe is to limit going out and interacting with people. Stay at home as much as possible, use this time to reflect on life and get closer to God. Remember to wash your hands and don’t touch your face to avoid any virus from getting to your body. A good quote that I read today on the internet was “when all of this is over, sports games will sell out more than usual, students will be happy to go to school, people will be happy to go to work, the economy will bounce back, and we’d all have found a new appreciation for the life we thought was mundane.” Stay safe and I hope to see you all next semester!