Taking risks involves belief in a plan and courage to follow it up with action. Then there are times when taking risks means ignoring information and living life carelessly. Tons of people are adhering to the Stay Home Order, wearing masks in public, and washing your hands frequently. But then there are those who don’t follow the rules, who questioned authority, and always do what they want regardless. Those types of people are the very folks that are keeping the coronavirus alive and spreading. Now by no means am I saying they are 100% responsible for the blame, however, they do account for a good portion of it.

Can you hear the words of the overzealous 22-year-old Miami spring breaker Brady Sluder who said, “If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I’m not gonna let it stop me from partying.” Hundreds with the same mindset flooded beaches everywhere covering the miles of sand with their bodies in such close contact that the number of positive COVID cases among college students rose greatly. With the spring breakers were families and other individuals who didn’t think COVID-19 was a big deal either. At that time the number of positive cases of coronavirus in the United States topped around 55,000 and the death toll was over 700. Now, according to the CDC, there are 776,093 people who tested positive for COVID-19 and a reported 41,758 deaths.

With these increases numbers came some light bulb moments for many college students, including Sluder. He felt extremely apologetic and remorseful for his actions. In a post via Instagram Sluder said, “Don’t be arrogant and think you’re invincible like myself.”

Sluder, however, was not alone in his invincible thinking. There are still adults of all ages who believe corona can’t touch them. Therefore they are endangering others. To them I say, WAKE UP! Your risky behavior is putting everyone in danger and prolonging the spread of COVID-19.

Risk is defined as a possible loss or injury. Risky behavior is the kind of behavior that places an individual at a greater risk of illness. Being at risk is a condition marked by a high level of susceptibility. Individuals who are most at risk, who are most susceptible to acquiring COVID-19, are:

*People 65 years and older

*People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

*People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma

*People of all ages with underlying medical conditions,

particularly if not well controlled

*People who have serious heart conditions

*People who are immunocompromised

• Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications

*People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or

higher)

*People with diabetes

*People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis

*People with liver disease

Information from CDC.gov

Social distancing has proven to be the best method of protecting the above groups and each other. Being at least six feet apart from others minimizes one’s exposure and slows down the spread of the virus. Additional steps in protecting one’s self include wearing appropriate masks in public every time you go out, avoid touching your face, and washing your hands frequently. Now there is an additional step when you wear PPEs throw them away properly, like in a trashcan and not on the ground creating litter. This is dangerous. Anyone who picks up the contaminated gloves and masks could catch COVID-19.

If we know the rules why are we not practicing them? The coronavirus is real. It is scary. It is deadly. It is here knocking at your door. Throwing caution to the wind might be a death sentence for you or someone you love. How would you feel then?

Medical professionals, government officials, and scientists have already confirmed that practicing social distancing lowers your risk, slows the spread, and is the best thing to do at this time. Need I remind you that Houston has yet to reach its peak with COVID-19.

Houston Style Magazine urges everyone to please stay safe and stay at home. And if you must go out in the public for essential errands put on a mask, move quickly to finish the errands, and protect yourself and others.

Stay Home. Work Safe. Wear a Mask. Keep Your Distance 6 Feet Away.

We are all in this together.