Tips on protecting yourself from COVID-19

The beginning of the year 2020 was hopeful as a new decade awaited us. The crisp number 2020 almost seemed to shine in all its brilliant potential, as the world turned a new leaf in the timeline of history.

And yet, now that the year has begun, the world has been struck with unprecedented hardship on a global scale. No one could have guessed that a pandemic would hit a worldwide hub like China, and spread with the tendrils of globalization to some of the farthest reaches of human inhabitation. Indeed, history is being made at this very moment, as we sit in our living rooms and do our best for those around us by staying as far away from them as possible. It seems a paradox, but it is what we must do, wearing masks and social distancing, especially among our elders, in order to make sure that we are not unknowingly hurting those that we love.

The craziest thing is that, although those who have their immunity compromised, either by old-age or pre existing illness, are the most at risk, completely healthy, young people can catch COVID too. I was just emailing my pen pal who lives in England, and sure enough, he told me that he and his girlfriend both caught the virus. I was so shocked, having initially only pictured already-weakened people getting sick from the virus, but now realizing with horror that someone as young and healthy as myself could be susceptible to it as well.

Even if we donÊ»t worry too much about our own infection from the virus, what scares me most is being potentially asymptomatic and yet still being able to transfer the virus to more vulnerable people around me. Because of this, although I do not feel any symptoms myself, I try to be as careful as possible even around my most immediate family by washing my hands before cooking and portioning food and other items separately which we would normally all grab and share together. Although in my home in HawaiÊ»i, this new norm of social distancing seems at first glance to counter the idea of warm aloha spirit, I feel that now, with the threat of COVID-19 ever present around us, the best way to show aloha to those around you is to give them space and wear a mask to protect them as well as yourself during these new, unique times.

Jocelyn G