The Coronavirus pandemic has taken the world by storm with over half of a million cases worldwide, the most now in the United States at over 100,000 cases. Unlike China, Italy, and many other countries on lockdown, many American citizens primarily young adults are not taking the virus seriously. The virus has run rampant through the United States even with government lockdown of nonessential businesses and nearly zero contact rules set by restaurants. 

Many college-aged students decided to go out for spring break, despite the virus, not wanting to miss out on “partying”. People are not taking this unforeseen pandemic seriously and it is baffling to see people completely ignore the requirements for the sake of spring break. Many are going stir crazy being stuck at home for a few weeks but do not realize that this is just the beginning and going out is going to make the pandemic last much longer.

Understandably, many are stressed and worried about paying bills due to the loss of hours put in at work, and the lack of income in the United States. The New York Times reports that over three million people have lost their jobs, the number only ballooning as businesses try to stay open without nearly as many customers. What’s not understandable is the same people using their jobless boredom to go out and party around hundreds of others rather than social distancing, as instructed, to prevent more people from losing their jobs as the pandemic rolls on. 

Out of the thousands who have already gotten the virus, most are people between the age of 18 and 49. In Sonoma County alone, half of the men and women who have gotten the virus are between those ages showing that the virus is not only susceptible to young adults but being spread by them as well. One spring breaker had this to say in Miami to the Reuters, “If I get corona, I get corona, at the end of the day, I’m not going to let it stop me from partying…We’ve been waiting for Miami spring break for a while.”

Not only are they not taking the Coronavirus seriously for themselves, but completely disregarding the millions of other Americans who are taking it seriously. The longer Americans do not listen to the CDC and the government on social distancing, social isolation, and staying safe, the longer we will have to keep doing this, the longer American citizens and businesses will struggle. Not only is it upsetting, it’s deplorable to the millions of Americans suffering and fighting to stay safe during a literal outbreak.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci said in an interview on CNN that, “Even though when you look at the total numbers, it’s overwhelmingly weighted toward the elderly and those with underlying conditions,” he explained, “the virus isn’t a mathematical formula. There are going to be people who are young who are going to wind up getting seriously ill.” Sadly enough we will stay in this state until everyone takes it seriously and the United States is able to control the vast and quick spread of the virus as it is active. Eventually, if COVID-19 gets worse, American life will be completely put on hold and we will be obligated and/or forced to stay home until further notice. The faster all Americans take this seriously, the faster this isolation will end.