Ibrahim Boran“Stay safe!” We have all heard this phrase over and over again from our friends and loved ones during these past few months.
Although this phrase may seem repetitive, we must acknowledge that people are looking out for each other by giving a friendly reminder. With the rising number of COVID-19 cases everyday, we try our best to keep ourselves and each other safe by following safety precautions.
Sadly, it’s clear not everyone is as concerned about the pandemic as they should be.
We all have that one friend who does not care at all about the pandemic, believing they are totally invincible. You know who I am talking about. This is the friend that does not bother to wear a mask or perform hand hygiene but will attend large social gatherings. It almost feels like they are in denial of the drastic increase in COVID cases and they just don’t want to acknowledge the risk it has on themselves and others.
As much as we would like to scream at them for being ignorant and slap a mask on their face, they will come up with a silly excuse as to why they are not following safety precautions without fail. They may give you excuses like they are healthy enough to not catch or spread the virus or that they cannot breathe well with a mask on. It is beyond frustrating, especially for the good citizens out there who actually follow the safety precautions.
You try to explain to friends who are against wearing a mask that we must follow safety precautions not only to protect ourselves but to also protect others around us, even though wearing a mask can be uncomfortable at times. But do they listen to you or any of the leading public health experts? Nope.
It has been over six months since we started practicing social distancing — it has simply become a routine within our lives. It is clear safety precautions must be followed in order to prevent the spread of COVID. The Alberta government has made it mandatory to wear masks in public places and banned social gatherings. But sure enough, our friend who can’t help but break the rules, continues to go out without wearing a mask.
I understand that people are getting sick and tired of the ongoing pandemic and just want it to be over so that they can get back to their normal lives. However, we need to understand that we are all in this together and must try our best to keep our community healthy. So do not think twice before giving your friends who break COVID restrictions an extra reminder to “stay safe.”
