Saturday, April 1, 2020 –
Recently, I have been shouted at several times by friends, family, and complete strangers. Just the other day an acquaintance screamed bloody murder at me for “not taking this seriously.” Apparently, they take issue with my non-panic.
Indeed, I was yelled at for: going to a park to walk away from our crowded neighborhood; praying in an empty Church; and going to a garden store at non-peak hours, when nobody was around, to buy my vegetable seeds and mulch.
The person doing the yelling was: wearing the same gloves they had been wearing all day (presumably not washing their hands); a face mask they kept pulling down to talk (aka yell) with their non-washed, gloved hands; and has had numerous non-family members over to their house (which they proudly posted photos of online).
I ask you, which of us is taking this seriously? I’ll wait…
In the meantime, it is true that I have not risen to the level of terror instilled in most Americans right now. I have not horded toilet paper, nor have I gone out in full body armor. No, I do not wear gloves and a mask out in public.
The CDC does NOT recommend masks for people with breathing issues. They also do not recommend masks for people who cannot stop touching their face because you are just spreading the germs. If you do not know proper on-off protocol (i.e. you touch it with dirty gloves, put it on wrong, or do stupid stuff like constantly pull it down to talk), you are actually causing more risk.
By the way, HERE is the CDC’s page on face masks with how-tos, instructions, proper care and wear, etc. “Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.”
As for gloves, I choose to practice good hand washing over the false sense of security of gloves. Even at home, we wash our hands multiple times an hour as well as after we touch/do anything. Several doctors have proven that gloves cause more harm than good, and in fact spread Coronavirus FASTER, mainly because idiots don’t know proper glove procedure and fail to wash their hands…AT ALL (eww!).
Again, HERE is the CDC’s page on hand washing. Likewise, HERE is the CDC’s page on hand hygiene and gloves. And finally, HERE is the CDC poster on how to remove gloves. Pro-tip: you are supposed to change them often and wash your hands after each use!
So yes, I’m taking this very seriously. My family is not “throwing caution to the wind,” as I have been told. We take every (sane) precaution and practice excellent hand washing, hygiene, social distancing, etc. We are also not, however, going to run screaming into the night full of fear.
To quote the movie Strictly Ballroom (1992), “A life lived in fear is a life half lived.”
Go ahead, yell at me. You would not be the first. You will not be the last. Also, you look ridiculous in your non-washed gloves and incorrectly worn face mask. #Eyeroll
Saint Luke the Evangelist, pray for us!
