Written by: Kimberly McKernie, guest writer
As concerts are postponed, sporting events are canceled, schools are closed and tourist hot spots are shut down, experts recommend that even those who show no sign of illness stay home during this time of a global pandemic.
Remaining inside is a good way to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus and it is an important measure to help “flatten the curve” of daily cases that put pressure on our health care system.
So far, here in the United States, the coronavirus pandemic has had devastating consequences across the travel industry. The public has made many comparisons to the situation in the 9/11 terrorist attacks — which brought the travel industry to its knees — which are not overly far-fetched.
With the virus ruining plans and travel for most spring breakers and business trips for the working class, the travel industry is doing anything and everything to keep its head above water.
Members of the community have come together to help one another, from online lunch dates to long phone calls, focusing on building and maintaining relationships to ease the loneliness of quarantine. While practicing physical distancing is an important way to flatten the curve, it is important to highlight the ways people can still engage with one another.
Despite the stay at home mandate, many people are still going to grocery stores when it is possible. But this is not your moment to go to multiple locations in search of a specific ingredient or walk the aisles looking for inspiration. Instead, prepare by making a shopping list so you can get in and out quickly.
“When you go to the grocery store, have an idea of exactly what you want to get, which store you want to go to, and minimize your time there,” said Matthew Moore, Ph.D., an assistant professor of food science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Dr. Moore also recommends shopping during off hours when the store is less likely to be busy and, if you are a senior citizen, using those shopping hours set aside for you. Of course, you want to do this all while maintaining your distance from other shoppers. “Avoid going down an aisle with one or two people or wait for them to leave before grabbing that food item you need,” Dr. Moore said.
Throughout this whole pandemic, in country after country, people have responded by taking to their balconies, windows, and rooftops to sing to one another, to applaud and show gratitude to their health-care workers, to play music, and to lift one another’s spirits.
*Note: this article expresses the ideas and opinions of the author and are not a reflection of the views of the Triangle or Bryan College as a whole.
Kimberly McKernie is a junior majoring in communications with a focus on media and culture.
