Alex Sconziano, Reporter
@ASconzCourant
As the world begins to move back to normal, a question on many people’s minds is when is it ok to start seeing friends again. With summer vacation coming up, some people are already hanging out with friends and trying to go back to normal. However, until there is a vaccine for the virus, it is important to stay safe and responsible during this time.
Even though many public places such as restaurants have opened back up, the social distance rule of six feet apart remains in place. Getting together in large crowds is still not a good idea. Seeing friends again is not going to be what it was like three months ago, and seeing them responsibly is very important in keeping yourself and those around you safe.
After doing some research, I realized that seeing friends again will be awkward at first. Some of the most important things to remember when seeing friends again during the quarantine are to wear a mask, stay six feet apart, socialize outside, and keep the gatherings small.
It is important to remember these things when seeing friends in order to keep everyone safe. Hilary Godwin, Ph.D., is the dean of the University of Washington’s School of Public Health in Seattle and gave TODAY some tips regarding socializing with friends in this new normal. “The most frequent way COVID-19 seems to be spreading is people in close proximity to each other indoors for extended periods of time,” she said. “The perfect way to reintroduce getting together socially with friends would be sitting out on your front porch on chairs that are six feet apart … hanging out with good separation outside where there’s air circulating.”
Some other great ways to see friends in a responsible way again are going to the beach and setting up towels six feet apart, going for walks socially distanced, or having a barbeque with tables set six feet apart and guests bring their own food. If you are unable to remain six feet apart, then bring a mask. By bringing a mask, you keep the people around you safe by containing the spit and tiny particles that fly out of your mouth and hit others around you when you speak.
Now, seeing friends again is very important to maintaining mental health, especially in these uncertain times. Social interaction is vital in a time where it is essential to avoid anyone that is quarantined with you. However, seeing friends again comes with risks. The coronavirus affects people differently. For example, young people can appear to be fine and healthy, seeing non-symptomatic. But in reality, they could be a carrier of the disease and pass it on to someone else. It is easier to see if older people have the virus, as they show more of the symptoms due to weaker immune systems.
When hanging out with friends again, it is important to realize that it’s a gamble. It is important to think about the chances you are taking, before hanging out with friends again. Dr. William Schaffner is a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and told Insider magazine about the risk of socializing. “Every time you figuratively or literally open the door a little wider, there’s that risk,” he said. “You have to decide how much of that increased risk, however small, you’re willing to accept.”
In the end, the world is going to slowly get back to normal. Friends are going to see each other again and large gatherings will be safe. It is very important to be responsible when seeing friends again during quarantine. Remember to wear a mask, stay six feet apart, socialize outside, and keep gatherings small. There are plenty of safe ways to socialize at this time, but with the pandemic, it will not be back to 100% in terms of seeing friends again. Socializing with friends is very important during this time, but how you act has an impact on the safety of others.
