I’m a little angry today. Well, maybe I’m a lot angry.

Because of some, COVID-19 has become even more of a threat to all of us.

Mississippi’s numbers are rising as well in most other states. Why, because we are a self-centered, egocentric and greedy nation.

We think of no one but ourselves; therefore, this virus rages.

For months, the Centers for Disease Control has put out guidelines as to how we are to protect the public, yes, the PUBLIC, from the coronavirus.

But no, there are many who either think this is a hoax, a political ploy, or just a plain old inconvenience, so they choose to ignore the recommended course of action.

I have not only been angry but outraged by many of the television news stories that show people congregated in masses.

For all of you who went to the beach, I hope you had a good time flocking together like a bunch of buzzards. Your actions have prevented others from possibly going on a vacation in the near future because now the numbers have spiked. Those who are older than you or who have underlying health conditions have to play it safe even longer.

Do you realize what this is doing mentally to our mothers, fathers, grandparents and friends and family who may have underlying conditions?

The more you roam freely, the more it forces them to have to continue to stay indoors.

For people who are refusing to follow the guidelines, you are also hurting small businesses.

If you look at other countries who maintained a mask order and social distancing, for the most part, they are now up and running.

No doubt, I will get plenty of blowback for speaking my mind, but as I said earlier, I’m angry. This week, I did a story on how coronavirus can affect people with diabetes.

I was prompted to do the story because of a local child who was diagnosed with diabetes earlier this year and now faces this virus with far more risk than many.

In addition to making sure her son receives his needed insulin, now his mother has to worry about him contracting COVID-19 and what it could do to him since he now has an underlying condition.

Shame. Shame on all of us for making a bad situation worse.

Schools are on the verge of opening, and parents have to make tough decisions. Do they send their children back into the classrooms or choose to do distance learning?

I empathize with them. They have no good choice.

All this could have been avoided if we had just followed the guidelines from the beginning.

Until there is a vaccine or curative treatment for the coronavirus, the only thing we can do is wear a mask, social distance and wash our hands.

I am so proud of our mayor and our county supervisors for issuing a mask mandate. Our governor has issued masks mandates in some counties, and I wish it were statewide. Now, finally, the President is encouraging people to wear a mask.

Although we come from different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, we are still one nation, one collective body under God.

I pray we start acting like it real soon.

 

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.