Much as it might seem, like everything is normal in one’s own little world and backyard, there is reason to heed to all the warnings to stay at home. I can relate well to concerns of a parent, trying to keep a child active and entertained during the quarantine. I have a very out-doorsy and social 3 year old who is used to going to story-time several times a week and parks and other outings at least twice a day.
It is especially hard, on a perfect warm and sunny day, to NOT go outside and play!
It looks like the neighbors are having a get-together and other kids are out on their bicycles and nobody seems to be sick in the near neighborhood.
So, what could be so bad about going out for a little play? If this is how a parent is thinking today, it is completely understandable. However, I want to share why it is very important, to try to see beneath the obvious and be aware of the hidden dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic.
First of all, let me clear the myth, that this is just like a flu. The flu can be quite dangerous. However, it does not spread quickly into a worldwide pandemic! It is not that the media has created a panic-based pandemic around the world.
The facts are that the COVID-19 coronavirus, a virus similar, yet not quite the same, as just another common cold virus, is a relatively new, dangerous and highly infectious one.
In my opinion, the reason the virus has spread so fast around the world, is because, unlike the flu, where one can feel sick soon after getting infected, with the COVID-19, one may go with no symptoms at all for about 2 weeks. During this time, one can still be highly infectious. Imagine someone with a flu and fever. They are likely to take time off work, stay home to rest and not go out shopping or working out at the gym.
This way, they limit their ability to infect others significantly. With the COVID-19, one can feel ‘normal’ and asymptomatic for up to 2 weeks, whilst going out to work, meeting people and infecting others along the way.
So, why would I not want to take my toddler to the harmless playground nearby? Because it is not guaranteed that me or anyone in my family has not been exposed to the virus. We could be spreading the virus in the playground and play equipment. It is also possible that someone else spreads the virus on the play equipment and we would be bringing it home.
With the flu, at least one can get Tamiflu or be vaccinated ahead of time. With the COVID-19, no clear treatment is apparent. A whole lot seems to depend on individual health and immunity levels.
Perhaps my family will be healthy enough and strong to fight it off. Perhaps another person who visits the playground could get seriously sick or worse. Would I want to risk doing that to someone? And what if it does that to me or someone in my family?
This may seem like a very straightforward, simple and logical reason to NOT go out during the quarantine.
But seeing the number of kids running around and the number of hangouts and get-togethers happening in my neighborhood, I guess this simple reasoning and fear is not sticking with families.
When we can’t see the fire or smell the smoke, why would someone panic? COVID-19 is like a fire that cannot be caught by the smoke alarms until it is too late.
If one could just be safer than sorry, why wouldn’t one do that?
One more thing to note is that the virus is not entirely a living entity. It can only live in a host. Thus, we can break its chain of transmission, we could be saving a lot of people and even whole communities.
How many times do we can the opportunity to save the world by relaxing indoors on the couch?
So the next time my toddler tries to drag me out to a playground, I will remember my role as not just a parent who wants to keep my 3 year old as happy as he can be, but also a citizen of the world and a parent whose duty is to keep my child, my family and society safe.
Maybe I can find a way to play dress up and build castles with cardboard boxes in the backyard instead!
Stay home, stay safe and let the pandemic blow off in a haste!
The opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and not guided by any medical agency. For the most accurate guidelines, contant your medical providers.
