Remember to follow state guidelines this holiday season. You can read more about the Oregon restrictions here and look up county-specific information here.

How much has coronavirus already affected you and the people close to you? Really think about it. You are probably stuck inside most of the time or maybe not able to see certain family members because they live out of state or they are at high risk for COVID-19. Everyone everywhere has been affected by this pandemic, whether the consequences you’ve faced have been big or small. There is a worry that the virus might get worse as we approach the upcoming holiday; Christmas. Although the virus is playing a major factor in the possible cancellation of Christmas, Christmas is playing a huge factor in the spread of the virus.

Many people think the coronavirus is going to spike drastically during the Christmas season, due to all of the indoor family gatherings. This is a major issue especially when people are not wanting to wear masks or follow any of the COVID restrictions. Christmas has become an open invitation for the spread of the virus as many people are attending holiday parties and coming in contact with a large number of people. This could be avoided if people would take the suggested precautions, like staying 6 feet apart or wearing masks. These are proven to actually work because the masks block the little virus droplets and social distancing makes it less likely for you to come in contact with an infected person. 

The bottom line is to just wear a mask! Not all day or every day, but when you know you are going to be around a lot of people like the store because we are in the middle of a pandemic. The virus has killed 1.6 million people which continues to kill and infect people every day. Be considerate of the people around you because they are doing the same thing as you which is trying to stop the spread. Some people may not care about themselves but are willing to take all precautions because it could impact the elderly, pregnant, or other family members as they are prone to have weaker immune systems. So please be considerate to those around you; you may not care but others do.

Christmas not only affects coronavirus, but the coronavirus also has a large impact on Christmas this year. An example of that is that high risk people aren’t going out and spending the holidays with their families. They are staying at home, so they don’t have to risk their health. Another example is that a lot of people are out of jobs or working less, which harms their ability to have a big Christmas dinner or purchase gifts for family. Christmas is a time to be with the people you love not to be scared and stressed.

Christmas definitely affects coronavirus and vice versa. It affects all of us and that is why we all need to do as much as we can to try and get rid of this virus.  We need to continue wearing our masks in public areas, as well as around a lot of people, and also make sure to stay 6 feet apart. Do you really want future years to be like this one or our holidays to be like this? Make sure to be considerate of others, wear a mask, and be safe.