Self-quarantine. This is a concept that people all over the world have chosen to either blatantly ignore or accept amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

No matter what you believe, this is serious. This is a pandemic and this will continue as long as people choose to be careless and to ignore the state orders set in place.

While I have been quarantined and isolated at home, I have spent a vast amount of time on social media scrolling aimlessly through platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

As my thumbs glide across the screen of my phone, onto the next post, I have seen post after post of people out and about. 

I’ve noticed people I know and even celebrities at the beach in large gatherings or getting together at a friends house. Initially I was jealous, but I eventually came to the conclusion that by staying home and social distancing I would be slowing down the rate at which COVID-19 can spread. 

When COVID-19 first started to spread, memes throughout Twitter and other platforms were spreading as fast as the virus is currently spreading today, with the U.S having a record of over 200,000 cases. 

For example, the song “It’s Corona Time” by Chumino is trending on TikTok with over 175.2K videos.

With memes and jokes arising as COVID-19 spread, I learned that this says a lot about our generation and society today. People are numb to the idea that this will be an event remembered as a grim part of history and how we choose to handle this pandemic will only determine our near future. 

But within the last week, as I scrolled through TikTok, I started to see more videos regarding the concerns within this pandemic.

I started seeing teens my age upload videos about how society has begun to alter and suddenly the memes mostly became no laughing matter. 

I am usually a hopeful person that looks on the bright side of life, but if people are just now coming to the realization that this is a global pandemic, it’s too late.

“All of Italy is shaking their heads at the United States,” said former Denver Post journalist John Henderson, who now lives in Rome, Italy.

Henderson, along with other residents in Rome, have been ordered to shelter-in-place. He has only left his home to go to the grocery store and pharmacy.

Italy has even extended their nationwide lockdown after witnessing the number of COVID-19 cases decreasing just to be safe.

“You guys are going to get hit with a tsunami of death,” Henderson said. “I swear you will. You have no idea what’s coming.”

Everyone has to do their part. Residents in Italy are known as the most affectionate people in the world, but now can only be seen waving to each other from afar. 

“You started too late [and have] had too few tests,” Henderson said. “You’ve had too many people spread this thing. You guys are ten days behind Italy and you haven’t done nearly the precautions that we have.”

The United States currently has a record high of COVID-19 cases, with New York leading the nation with more than 83,000 cases and 1,900 deaths. 

“The most important thing you can do to stay healthy and kill this thing is [to] keep your distance,” Henderson said. “Keep a meter apart, keep two meters apart. Don’t touch anyone, don’t touch anybody. It’s much more important than wearing a mask, it’s much more important than washing your hands. It’s much more important than hoarding toilet paper.”

Over the course of COVID-19, the movie “Contagion” has started to become a nationwide trend. People all over the world have streamed the movie to see how closely the storyline relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The basic plot of “Contagion” revolves around a global virus outbreak and how CDC workers are trying to find a cure. The film portrays how rapidly a virus can spread throughout a globalized society. 

The film constantly switches between healthcare professionals, government officials, and everyday people as they find themselves among the pandemic and the breaking down of society.

The movie is an eye opener.

The trend of social distancing comes up quite frequently throughout the film. Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 thriller makes you think about life beyond the virus and how to prevent a pandemic in the first place. 

So, what am I trying to get at here?

Well, the focus for people my age is the need to understand the importance of social distancing. We need to take this seriously. Unfortunately, it begins with not hanging out with your closest friends on the weekends, and not even meeting up with them at parks.

COVID-19 thrives off of social interaction and group hangouts, and will only continue to spread with these interactions reoccurring.

Instead, give your friends a call, send them a text message, contact them on social media, or write them a letter if you want to stay connected. 

The best thing for you to do is to keep your distance. Whether that means keeping at least six feet of space between you and the person walking on the same sidewalk when taking a walk or just waving at your elderly neighbors from a distance. 

This issue is no laughing matter. 

People are dying and we need to stop being selfish by ignoring necessary precautions. I am speaking on behalf of those who want the chance to graduate with their closest friends, who they might even consider family, and those who want the chance to experience at least one sports game for the last time.

It’s time to inform others by realizing this is a pandemic and we need to be proactive. It’s time to stay home, check in on others, and social distance to stop the spread of COVID-19 before it becomes a common reality to all.