“COVID-19” is perhaps one of the most trending topics and biggest threats of this millennia thus far. Trending? Yes. Taken seriously? I don’t think so. I believe people are becoming desensitised to the dangers of this virus. Take a morning stroll through the streets of one of Guyana’s towns or even large villages and you’ll notice a pattern. Yes, some of us inclusive of myself need to leave home to get business done. Whether you have to pay bills, shop for essential household items and even to work—that’s understandable. However, I have made some alarming observations on my ‘essential shopping runs’ in my hometown and I am upset at the absurdity I saw. It is upsetting to see persons walking with a ‘bare face’ on the roadways with no safety mask on, it is upsetting to see persons disregarding the “six-feet=apart” signs and protocols at public settings and it is also upsetting to see that social gatherings amongst friends, families and even strangers are as trending as the killer virus itself.

As a child, my mother always said, “There is a time and place for everything” and she is correct. There is a time and place for partying and attending social gatherings, but that “time and place” is not now! This virus thrives and spreads when we are in clusters, when we come in close contact with an infected person and when we are careless with recommended safety precautions. Sure, some might say social interactions are a necessity for survival, but social interactions will mean nothing when COVID-19 passes by. If by chance you simply do not care about the virus then I urge you to think about your loved ones. Be mindful that the elderly and persons with existing lung illnesses. They are more at risk to contract the virus. You should not only look out for yourself, but those around you and that will in return impact the nation at large in decreasing the numbers.

The COVID-19 virus is a serious threat. We are living through a pandemic. I repeat: we are living through a pandemic. That piece of information should be enough for you to take the necessary precautions. Do you know when is a good time to sit by the Kitty Seawall or to hang out at the Guinness Bar? The best time to engage in such activities is when our nation has a unifying, positive message that the COVID-19 virus is no longer a threat. Currently, we ought to sacrifice our wants for our needs and one of those needs should be surviving this pandemic. The most appropriate celebration worth throwing a party over right now is the reduction of all COVID-19 cases and returning to a state of normalcy. Your partying needs can wait, this virus will not. It waits on no one and I hope the next time you think of leaving your house for unnecessary indulgences, you remember that the population of our country is approximately 800,000. We are a small nation and currently as we speak, our country has an alarming 235 cases. The ratios might be small (for now) but countries such as Italy and the U.S.A once had 235 cases as well—do you think Guyana is ready for more?