During Memorial Day weekend, throngs of individuals strolled along the Ocean City Boardwalk, seemingly oblivious to the ongoing pandemic. Maryland had recently relaxed its stay-at-home mandates, entering Phase 1 of reopening, and it felt like a collective sigh of relief was in the air.
My scientifically inclined teenage daughter recently shared a video demonstrating the mathematical wonders of circles. Concepts like roulettes, trochoids, and brachistochrones were introduced, and while I struggled to fully grasp the equations, I recognized their validity both theoretically and practically. It astonishes me that a ball can travel faster along a slightly curved path than a straight one, defying my long-held belief that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Yet, experts in mathematics have proven this to be true, and I trust their findings.
One would think this approach—acknowledging one’s limitations and relying on experts—would extend to more aspects of life. However, it seems many have forgotten the reality of COVID-19.
Hello, America? What’s going on here? Just a reminder: COVID-19 hasn’t vanished. It didn’t just pack up and leave when restrictions were eased. The virus is still very much present, spreading its deadly nature as viruses do. Science remains relevant.
For weeks, I saw countless posts on social media expressing concern over lockdowns, with people worried about their jobs and family businesses. I empathized with these struggles. Yet, how many of those same individuals were out celebrating during Memorial Day weekend? On my street alone, multiple households threw large gatherings.
Let’s be clear: the virus is still here. It remains contagious and lethal. We must live with the understanding that COVID-19 could potentially lead to serious consequences for ourselves and our loved ones.
To those who joined large gatherings over the holiday, I’m frustrated. It’s infuriating to witness such blatant disregard for public health. Acknowledging science and caring for our community isn’t “living in fear”—it’s the responsible thing to do, especially when over 100,000 lives have been lost!
Sure, having a small get-together with another family that has been isolating is understandable. I get it—we’re all tired of being cooped up. But those who threw wild parties during the holiday are recklessly inviting the virus to spread. They’re ignoring the serious implications of their actions, risking not just their own lives but also the lives of others around them.
Do we seriously need to reiterate that COVID-19 is not akin to the flu? It has a longer incubation period, a higher mortality rate, and there’s no vaccine available yet. In just three months, it claimed double the lives that the flu typically does in an entire season—even while we were under a nationwide lockdown. And it’s still out there, unyielding.
Most of those celebrating likely belong to the lower-risk group regarding personal health outcomes. If they become infected, they may not suffer severely but could easily spread the virus to more vulnerable individuals. This is unacceptable.
While I understand the desire to socialize, what happened this Memorial Day was disheartening. We appear to be a laughingstock on the global stage, showcasing a baffling disregard for the gravity of the situation.
No one is suggesting we lock ourselves inside indefinitely. Enjoy socializing, but please wear a mask. Meet with friends who have been isolating, but keep gatherings small, preferably outdoors, and maintain safety precautions. It’s not complicated to be a considerate human being who understands the ripple effect of their actions.
The harsh truth is that COVID-19 is still out there, continuing to take lives. We won’t fully grasp the consequences of Memorial Day for another few weeks, given the virus’s incubation period. I dread the looming surge in cases that seems inevitable.
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