Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Mississippi’s and the country’s economy is in a major downturn, which is why the country has begun reopening. As of this past Monday, all businesses in Mississippi have reopened. Although this is an enormous first step in facilitating the recovery of the economy, everyone should still follow social distancing guidelines and other sanitary practices because this will help to manage transmission of the virus until the disease either subsides or a vaccine is created.
One of the easiest ways to maintain social distancing suggestions is to comply with all rules that businesses set regarding the pandemic. For example, if a business requires customers to wear a mask, everyone should wear a mask in order to prevent respiratory droplets from traveling long distances. Although the virus is too small for a mask to actually stop transmission (all viruses are this small. They are so small that they cannot be seen under a normal light microscope), masks do stop respiratory droplets from sneezing, coughing, or talking from traveling a significant distance, which will likely reduce transmission of the virus. Another way to reduce transmission is for people to carry hand sanitizer with them or in their vehicles. Everyone should also actively use their hand sanitizer. One common misconception is that wearing gloves will reduce transmission; however, when used for shopping in businesses, gloves will usually lead to cross-contamination. Properly using hand sanitizer is the best way to reduce transmission on the hands and skin.
Other ways to reduce transmission mainly involve using common sense when doing things. For instance, when going to the gym, everyone should wipe down equipment before and after use. No one knows where other people’s hands have been or whether or not they carry the virus. Furthermore, older people and people with autoimmune diseases should exercise increased caution by attempting to stay six feet away from others and adhering to other guidelines. People with symptoms should also self-isolate until they are better, and people who have been around those with symptoms should self-monitor for symptoms.
As everything reopens, everyone can and should return to their normal lives. People should return to work, schools should begin in-person summer activities, churches should resume services, families should hold family functions, and people should travel on vacations. By following all of the social distancing and other sanitary guidelines, all of this can be done while helping to manage the transmission of COVID-19. This virus is not going to just end. Like the Spanish Flu, COVID-19 will become a common disease, and a vaccine will be developed. Until then, distancing and disinfecting is the best way to manage the virus while returning to normal.
