Are We Really Afraid of COVID-19?

What’s scarier than a worldwide pandemic? A fast spreading virus that closes down schools, businesses and crashes the world’s economy.  Of course the health risks are serious, but when it comes to the coronavirus, actually getting infected with the virus isn’t what people are most scared of.

According to the CDC, a pandemic is defined as a global outbreak of disease that can spread between people rapidly. Coronavirus was declared a pandemic on March 11th by the World Health Organization. Ever since, people have been working rigorously to try to help stop the spread of the virus. One way people have tried to stop the spread is the stay at home order. In Colorado, Governor Polis enacted this order with the intent of it ending on April 11, but recently he sent out another order that the quarantine is to be continued until April 26. 

When it comes to quarantine, you are not supposed to leave your house unless it is for an essential need, like groceries or an essential job. The order has really brought out the hoarder within many people. With no toilet paper to be seen, or hand sanitizer, you can see how much people have the need to hold on to things when in a time of panic. And more people are scared of running out of essentials in a time of crisis than the crisis itself. 

 It is human to feel the need to be prepared for the worst, but that doesn’t mean taking ungodly amounts of something from the store to make yourself feel more prepared. This actually does a lot more harm than you think. When you take something from the store that you don’t need you are taking that from someone else who needs it for their family. The mass hysteria can be more terrifying than the coronavirus. Peoples’ urges to run to the store,stock up on their necessary groceries, causes a ripple effect. 

Another alarming realization is that most Americans live paycheck to paycheck. A lot of Americans have lost their job due to them not being necessary. Hundreds of people are not making enough money to pay their rent or buy groceries to eat. Also, for children who rely on their lunch from school, their meal is not available for them and now go hungry. 

The coronavirus isn’t just scary because of the virus that infects you; it’s the repercussions that come with the closing down of business and schools trying to stop the spread.