Being high-risk for COVID-19
March 26, 2020
Nowadays life is kind of crazy, this new virus that goes by the name of COVID-19 has been spreading pretty steadily throughout the U.S. While this disease may not be too bad for many people. It has the ability to make older people and people with chronic medical conditions very sick. And I happen to be one of those people with those chronic medical conditions. I can’t exactly go hang out with a big group of friends or go to the store or anything like that. So for as long as school is out, I will be spending most of my time hanging out inside and getting used to hearing my friend’s voices over the phone.
Knowing that if I do contract COVID-19 and have a fairly high chance of getting seriously sick is pretty scary and that thought is the thing keeping me leashed to the inner walls of my house. I’ve had sickness like the flu before but this is a lot worse for people like me and It honestly scares me. I’ve never been a germaphobe or an antisocial person but this pandemic has changed me into an introverted germaphobe that doesn’t want to go outside and keeps a bottle of hand sanitizer in a holster on my leg. I have lived with Cystic Fibrosis all my life and have always felt like I’ve never had to worry. I have always been so healthy that I’ve never been scared of getting sick because it passes along as anyone else passes it. But COVID-19 seems to be ruthless to people with medical conditions which is why I can’t take any risks. It’s crazy how in one weekend I went from feeling great with no worry of COVID-19 to, Oh no I have the lungs of an 80-year-old man who has been smoking his whole life. I need to stay inside and not get sick.
The whole social distancing thing to slow the spread of the virus is a really good idea that a lot of my friends don’t seem to follow because getting the virus won’t affect them as bad and they know that. But social distancing isn’t about oneself, it’s about slowing the spread and keeping it at bay for the high-risk people. I strongly advise everyone to think about the real risk of this virus spreading so quickly and take a second thought when going to hang out with that big group of friends.
Tavish MacLean • Apr 2, 2020 at 5:29 pm
Evan,
Your Dad shared this article with me and I really appreciate it. I have a son who’s in great shape and works out every day, but has Type 1 Diabetes and is mildly asthmatic. He’s not living at home anymore – has an apartment and works in downtown Seattle – and I worry about him. I try not to be the overbearing Dad when reminding him how to be safe, but it stems from a well-founded concern that the coronavirus will impact him in a much harsher way than most other 20 year-olds. My hope is that everyone takes this very seriously and does their part to maintain social distancing so we can overcome the threat and return to a slightly-modified new normal. Be safe, and thanks for sharing your perspective!
Ali Ware • Mar 27, 2020 at 1:13 pm
A very important reminder! Thank you, Evan. We ALL have to do our part and not make selfish decisions that will put the weakest among us at lethal risk.
brian meier • Mar 27, 2020 at 10:30 am
Great article, Evan. Well said.