By now, many are sick of hearing anything to do with COVID-19 or Coronavirus. However, getting back to life before COVID is not as simple as out of sight out of mind. Now, over a year into the pandemic, it is just as important to remember that we still are fighting this virus.

C- Continue to wear your masks.

Although many people are starting to getting vaccinated, not everyone is. That means, unfortunately, that the virus can still be transmitted and spread. Wearing your mask not only protects you but it protects others. It is not like you can go out in public and know who has gotten their vaccine, so it is better to be on the safe side.

O- One hundred fifty-eight million cases worldwide. 

To put that number into perspective, that is a little bit over one-third of the United States population. Over 158m people have been infected with COVID-19, and the sad part is not all of them recovered. The case count has slowed down over the past few months, but there still are new cases every single day. Until the daily case count is at a zero, this virus will continue to affect our lives daily.

R- Regularly wash/ rotate your masks

If you think about it, these days, masks are just like cellphones.  Over time, use, and leaving them in random places… they probably should get cleaned and sanitized.  And, if you are anything like me, then you leave your mask everywhere. By that, I mean, kitchen tables, desks, cars, sometimes they fall on the floor, on hooks in your house, etc. No matter where you leave your mask, even if it is on your face, it still collects germs. Regularly washing or disposing of your masks is a pretty good idea.

O- Over three million deaths worldwide

The number of COVID-19 deaths worldwide is staggering. Yet, there are still things we can do to make sure it does not get significantly higher.

N- Normal only comes when the virus is defeated

Before COVID-19 is a time we all wish we could go back to. It was a time when parties with friends never required much thought, forgetting to wear a mask was not even a thought in our heads, social distancing was not a thing, and our favorite events were not being canceled, postponed, or modified left and right. To get back to this time we once thought would never go away, we have to stay cautious of our surroundings. We have to stay mindful. Just because you are vaccinated does not mean CDC guidelines no longer affect you. Those guidelines are here to stay until the virus goes away. Until COVID-19 has no one more to infect, we are fighting this virus just as hard as we did the day before.

A- Always quarantine if you were instructed

While many of us are sick of getting that quarantine notice, whether it is from work, school, or a family member, it does not mean it is any less important. If you come into close proximity with someone who is infected by COVID-19, please do us all a favor and self-isolate. By now, it is probably the last thing you want to do, but it is one of the crucial items on the list to stop the spread of COVID-19.

V- Vaccinate yourself

Vaccines are currently eligible for anyone 12 and older. If you go to NASH, that should be you. While there are many unknowns about a vaccine, just know there have been hundreds of trials with both vaccines available. They would not have been released to the public if they were not safe. If you still are intimidated by the vaccine, talk to your health care provider, and they will be sure to give you all of the information you need.

I- If you have symptoms, get tested

If you lose your taste, have a fever, body aches, sore throat, etc, there is a chance you could have COVID-19. Even if you believe you have not been exposed to someone who tested positive, it is better to know if you in fact have the virus yourself.  If you test positive, then you can self-isolate to protect others. If you test negative, you can treat it like you would any other illness and go on with life. Even if you are exposed to someone and show no symptoms, after five to seven days it is never a bad idea to get tested… just to make sure. It is better to be safe rather than sorry.

R- Remember the people who have lost their lives

If you need any motivation as to why to continue to follow CDC guidelines, think of the millions who have lost their lives. While you may not know one of these many people directly, they were somebody’s family, close friend, husband, wife, or child. Think of the pain that many of them went through when they passed in a hospital room alone. They possibly never got any type of memorial service. No closure was given to their families, and they were just expected to move on. Think about how we can move forward instead of backwards to help our world recover.

U- Universities may require vaccines

Many of us, including myself, are off to college next year. With over 600,000 COVID-19 cases in the United States linked to college and universities, the possibility that students will need to be vaccinated is not something that is surprising coming from all these schools. Thinking ahead, they are just trying to protect their students and faculty but also want students to have a “normal” college experience. Just think that universities are looking out for you.

S- Stay socially distinct as much as possible

Anywhere one goes there seems to be a sticker or reminder of the importance of socially distancing. Think about it this way — those markers will not disappear until this virus disappears. With that being said, you might as well just follow the guidelines until this virus doesn’t affect you anymore. Otherwise, the longer you fail to social distance, the longer everyone else will expect you to.