Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
I went into February 2020 full of optimism for a positive year ahead, only to watch the world completely change one month later. I knew coronavirus was something serious when the release of the new James Bond movie was postponed. By the time stay-at-home orders were issued in Michigan, James Bond was the last thing on my mind. In the three months that followed, I revived my love for current events, reconnected with my family during quarantine, found a new hobby sewing face masks.
February 2021 feels remarkably different: the cold weather has us spending more time at home, restaurants are cautiously reopening, and the “new normal” is starting to wear on all of us. But there is a light at the end of this very long tunnel: to keep the economy open and our neighbors healthy we need to take smart steps along the way.
Keep wearing your mask: find a style that fits your face shape and is comfortable. Everyone has different preferences. Masks can help reduce the spread of Covid-19 by up to 70%, and it’s a kind gesture to show friends, family, and strangers who cross your path, that you care about them and their health.
Keep your distance: I know we’re all missing the comforts of hugs and the smiles of our friends and families, but 40% of people who have Covid-19 may be asymptomatic– don’t be that guy who doesn’t know you have it, and gets someone else sick.
Keep your hands washed: simple, easy, and helps prevent more than just Covid. Keep hand sanitizer with you, and sanitize your hands before removing your face mask.
Continue to support your local businesses, both big and small: order takeout, get a new lounge set from a local boutique instead of a large chain, and tip extra for all services. My family did take-out-Tuesdays over the summer, and I make a weekly run to my favorite Thai food restaurant to help support. Utilize curbside-pick-up options at your favorite stores to safely shop: this is one of those pandemic “perks” for me- I love that I can get anything from my groceries to a new pair of jeans brought straight to my car. The economic hardship on the service industry has been hard to watch, adding an extra dollar or two to a manicure, or onto your dinner bill, can go a long way in helping someone else pay their bills and to show gratitude.
Be kind: no one is truly thriving right now. This pandemic has caused heartbreak and hardship on everyone in some way. Be sensitive to the comfort levels of others, and keep in mind that a stranger might be working through something challenging- when in doubt, be nice. Our human interactions are more limited now than they’ve ever been, consider every small exchange a valuable time to uplift someone else with a genuine conversation or a kind word.
I still haven’t seen the new James Bond movie, and I hope that when that day comes, our world is a safer and happier place. I hope these small tips are reminders that we’re all in this together, even though we might feel far a part.
For more information and resources on how you can help stop the spread, visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Spreading hope, not covid,
Kaitlyn
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