opinion
the party’s over As seasonal flus and holiday gatherings grow near, it is important to take precautions in light of the growing COVID-19 infection rate. BY FEATURES EDITOR SOFIA AGUAYO & PRINT CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AVERY BRUNDIGE
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tudents have been hearing these words since school began in August: “We’re taking these precautions so you will be able to continue coming in to school.” The first time the virus forced school to move to connected learning followed Halloween weekend. This is no coincidence. A large number of students went to non socially-distanced Halloween parties despite persistent instructions to consider the safety of their communities. According to Center for Disease Control guidelines, everyone must practice social distancing and wear masks when attending gatherings, especially if they are in an enclosed space such as a basement. With COVID-19 cases spiking up in the Midwest higher than ever before, students should keep in mind the broader community and take the proper precautions if they chose to socialize outside of school. Following the ever-changing CDC guidelines and limiting the people in a “social circle” are very challenging tasks and require enormous amounts of self restraint and responsibility; however, they are tasks citizens must complete if the country wants to see a change in the trajectory of future COVID-19 cases. If students still wish to be noncompliant with these guidelines, then they need to take other precautions to ensure that even their most vulnerable peers feel comfortable coming into school. An example of this could be to take up the offered option to learn from home through connected learning. This is a reasonable compromise, allowing the students freedom during their weekends while maintaining a healthy and safe environment at school. Although the likelihood of students developing harmful or life-threatening symptoms comes out to be very low compared to the statistics for adults and elderly, according to the CDC’s COVID-19 tracking, it is necessary to consider the wellbeing of the
teachers and faculty members that risk their own exposure to the virus coming into school everyday. In the week following Halloween, there were at least five adult members of the Sion Community that tested positive for COVID-19, according to an email sent out by Alicia Kotarba. While grateful that none of these adults became severely sick, it is truly alarming that there was large potential for a much more grave outcome. Students should take all their teachers and more vulnerable individuals they come in contact with into consideration next time they think about attending a party and remember that their decision can entirely alter the life of another. Following Halloween weekend, COVID-19 cases spiked 74% in the state of Missouri, according to the New York Times. Missouri is following a trend of about 5,000 cases per day. That is nearly five times more cases than the state’s previous spike which, in its peak, produced about 1,000 per day. Increasing leniency combined with seasonal festivities and travel are surefire superspreaders, according to the CDC’s Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings guidelines. Although the pandemic can be incredibly isolating, remaining distanced and following the appropriate CDC guidelines and suggestions will support normalcy in the near future. Other events that have recently sparked controversy and a climb in cases include political rallies and celebrations. The Black Lives Matter rallies in early summer were originally met with pushback, as major cities were experiencing incredible spikes in case numbers at the time. More recent examples of major crowds include Trump Rallies, The MAGA March and Presidential Elect Joe Biden’s party in the streets. Street celebrations and rallies do not hold the same weight as civil rights marches and therefore do not hold the same power to temporarily break COVID-19 restrictions. To gather in support or celebration does not even compare to the historical significance of the Black Lives Matter. While cases climb amvvong gatherings and holidays, the question lingers: when will the country return to normalcy? The answer: the nation may decide. Evaluate the extent to which the itch to gather exceeds the need to learn in a safe school environment. Evaluate whether a traditional Thanksgiving celebration outweighs the repercussions of settling for another year of ineffectual masks and social distancing. Evaluate what sacrifices must be made to secure this fleeting normality.
Missouri Daily COVID-19 Case Count 5,000 CASES
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According to The COVID Tracking Project
