Hey young people, it’s time to conform to realities of the coronavirus pandemic
On March 14th, as the number of U.S. COVID-19 cases rose to 2,943, the masses gathered in downtown Nashville to drink, sing, and dance. Two days later, as the number rose to 4,663, hundreds of young adults gathered on Clearwater Beach in Florida to enjoy a day in the sun. As if it were just another spring break. As if we are not amidst a pandemic.
Millennials are famous for doing things in a way they haven’t been done before. From athleisure, avocado toast, and “Netflix and chill” in 2015 to leopard print and CBD-everything in 2019, they continue to push the boundaries on societal norms. But now is not the time to push the boundaries.
Data from South Korea, which tested more than 300,000 citizens for COVID-19, showed that the greatest proportion of positive individuals were in the 20-29 age range. It’s likely that these people are asymptomatic, fully capable of fighting off the virus with their young, healthy immune systems, and fully capable of passing the virus on to those not able to fight it.
Our young population may be a substantial vector for COVID-19 transmission. On March 17th, as the number of cases rose to 6,411, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, “We can’t do this without the young people cooperating. Please help us.”
If the virus spreads rapidly over a six-month period and infects 60% of adults, (as could easily be the case if people continue gather in large crowds) a Harvard Global Health institute study estimates that 500-800% of hospital beds in many U.S. cities would need to be emptied or added. Imagine what could happen if just one of the Florida beachgoers was COVID-19 positive. They pass it on to three others, who pass it on to three others, and so on and so forth. Then those people go home to their families, friends, roommates, etc. The consequences could be devastating.
A recent New England Journal of Medicine article, showing that COVID-19 may have the ability to be aerosolized for several hours, makes it even more critical to maintain distance between one another. If this were true, the six-foot rule being embraced by many would be useless. Aerosols are small, light particles that can travel long distances through the air. Droplets, on the other hand, are heavier and can only travel up to six feet before falling to the ground, landing on another person, or landing on a surface. In the face of massive uncertainty, We should err on the side of caution.
In a day and age where it is becoming increasingly popular to do your own thing, it is time to conform — at least for now. It is time to come together as a nation and a world to protect our vulnerable populations. Our elderly, immunocompromised, pregnant, and many others are depending on us to take responsibility, practice social distancing, and flatten the curve.
As I write, with the number of U.S. cases surpassing 11,000, footage has emerged of millennials partying on a “booze cruise” in the Bahamas. The number of cases shows no signs of slowing down. Please millennials, and everybody, stay home. Conform for now. Push the boundaries later.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 12:19 PM.