It’s been 700 days since the Tigard-Tualatin School District closed schools on March 13, 2020, and yes, the pandemic is still ongoing. Our brains may be boggled by how 700 days is long enough for there to have been two seasons of quarantine and Netflix’s Tiger King, but it’s important we reflect on the consequences of the pandemic as its two-year anniversary approaches.

With all the uncertainties, some people might have forgotten not only the stats about COVID-19, but the protective guidelines surrounding it. Let’s pause to go over them, though we’ve probably heard them a thousand times before.

Getting vaccinated is the number one way to protect ourselves and others. Masks go over both mouths and noses. Regular handwashing and social distancing of six feet or more is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). And, to prevent super-spreading, attendance at large gatherings should be limited.

We understand that these guidelines can feel tedious. It’s hard not to spend time with our friends or family members, or travel, or attend concerts and parties. Everyone has struggled with this; we’re all experiencing these challenges. Yet it’s what we need to do to keep each other safe – especially as Omicron and new variants pop up around the world.

According to the New York Times, 858,000* people have died from COVID-19 in the United States and over 5.5 million* globally. This is still a grave, ongoing problem. People are dying every day. 

The pandemic is not over.

Considering COVID-19 is also a social issue, we all have a collective responsibility to help one another. Everyone says they want the pandemic to end, but this is not always shown in practice or through our actions. It appears some people in our community have forgotten why it’s important to wear masks properly or refrain from attending large-scale events.

Those of us who have given up on these simple ways to reduce risk should not be surprised when we are held accountable for our lack of empathy and inaction. There aren’t any more lives to waste waiting for community members to wear masks properly or get the vaccine. It’s selfish for us to exempt ourselves from the aforementioned guidelines because we are tired of the pandemic or want it to end. 

To this day, getting vaccinated, continuing to wear masks properly and limiting contact with people outside your household are the top ways to stop the spread. So please, everyone, let’s do our part so all of us can move forward into a pandemic-free future together.