2020 has been an incredibly challenging year. Major change has gripped the world and we can’t help but wonder what other things could possibly happen before the end. Major events that have happened include massively destructive wildfires in Australia and California which burned acres of land. The death of the famous and beloved basketball star Kobe Bryant happened. Black Lives Matter protests and riots happened across America and called for justice for George Floyd and other murdered African Americans. The Covid19 Pandemic shut the entire world down for most of the year! Thousands have lost their lives or loved ones to Covid19, and global lockdown has caused strain and hardship to millions worldwide. Schools have shut down for the year and turned to online learning. People are advised to take as much precaution as possible, now wearing their masks and handwashing more than ever. We only hope that 2021 will be a better year.
The year began when Australians faced one of its worst fire seasons. Flames burned acres of land, thousands of people were displaced and at least 34 or more killed. What’s worse was the fires engulfed more than a billion wildlife such as Koalas, Kangaroos and more. Then on March 22nd in the United States, a state of emergency was declared by California Governor Gavin Newsom. California wildfires have been burning across the state and since October 2nd of 2020 a total of 8,155 fires have burned 4,142656 acres of land. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection this is one of the worst wildfire seasons. Heat waves are becoming more common, snow is melting earlier in spring, and more people have been wanting to stay inside to stay cool.
Recently professional basketball legend Kobe Bryant died in a tragic helicopter accident. The loss of Bryant left the world in shock and grief. The star had grown to have many loyal fans as he grew up to become a basketball player for the Lakers. Bryant had won five NBA championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20 year career with the Lakers. The helicopter accident happened on January 26th of 2020 and Kobes 13 year old daughter Gianna, as well as seven of her teammates and their parents were aboard the aircraft that crashed. All lives were lost. Vanessa Bryant, now widowed, spoke during her husband’s memorial service in Los Angeles. On national television she gave a heartbreaking speech and then thanked everyone for their support and prayers they had been sending from around the world. Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant are extremely loved by people from all over the world, even by people they haven’t even met.
In the midst of these things came the Covid19 Pandemic that interrupted all our lives and shifted the entire world into virtual communication and social distancing. Students everywhere are accessing online school. As a college student, I personally feel that online learning has been a lot better than meeting in person but the transition has been different for all of us. Life must go on somehow, but the goal is to slow the spread of the virus to alleviate the strain on the healthcare heroes who are fighting the virus on the frontlines. As a fellow human, here are some tips and tricks to keep healthy and stay protected during this tough time.
10 TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE DURING THE 2020 PANDEMIC
- Wear a mask
- Wash your hands
- Keep a safe distance (At least 6 feet)
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects/surfaces daily
- If you choose to go outside to be with other people, shower as soon as you come home
- Take care of your body
- Eat Healthy
- Drink lots of water
Remind yourself that things will get better, after all..
It’s us against the world.
