COVID-19 has shown us exactly how people respond when something like this arises. Unfortunately they are not responding in the way that we would hope.

There seems to be two categories that the majority of people fall under. There is the group of people who think that the media is blowing this way out of proportion, and this “flu” isn’t going to stop them from going on Spring Break or having parties. The other group includes the people who are hysterical, buying out shelves of toilet paper, bottled water, and hand sanitizer. Both of these groups are acting ridiculously.

The people brushing off COVID-19 are acting in narcissistic and selfish ways. Yes, if you are a young adult with no immune system deficiencies then the Coronavirus will most likely not kill you. However, this does not mean you can’t affect someone else’s life for the worst.

Is going on Spring Break that important? So important that you’re willing to risk the lives of someone to whom the coronavirus can be fatal? Are you willing to affect the lives of that person’s family forever?

A possibility is that people doing this don’t care about anyone else, but more-so, it may be a case of being misinformed. It is important to constantly be updated on the most recent news when something like this occurs. Not just for your sake, but for everyone’s sake.

The other group of people overreacting are causing a different kind of problem — perhaps one that is more selfish. Buying out countless rolls of toilet paper and bottled water does not make you prepared; it makes you a hoarder. It’s also borderline silly because the Coronavirus affects the respiratory system, which isn’t a cause for stocking up on extra toilet paper.

Like with the first group, staying informed is the best way to not fall into this category. Stock up on essentials, and don’t hoard. Consider people who have actual immune deficiencies such as the sick or elderly and who are frantically running store-to-store to get masks and other sorts.  Consider that these individuals are finding empty shelf after empty shelf. Consider people living paycheck-to-paycheck who aren’t able to get their weekly supplies for their families. Consider thy neighbor, and we will all be able to get through this a lot better