Spring Break Continues, Despite Coronavirus
In response to the continued spread of COVID-19, the CDC and White House released new guidelines for social distancing on March 16, 2020. But spring breakers in Miami continued to party during that week. Unbothered by the possibility of contracting or spreading the novel coronavirus, several people on spring break told news outlets that the party must go on, despite an unfolding pandemic. (1, 2)
“If I get corona, I get corona,” Brady Sluter, who is from Ohio, told Reuters. “At the end of the day, I’m not going to let it stop me from partying.” (2)
And Sluter wasn’t the only person with this attitude. Thousands of people flocked to Florida’s beaches for spring break despite warnings from the CDC that COVID-19 is spread through person-to-person contact. While we are still learning about the virus and its transmission, the CDC believes that it can be spread between people that are within six feet of each other. It can also be transmitted “[through] respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes,” the CDC’s website says. (3, 4)
Miami Closes Businesses During Spring Break
Miami officials followed the example of many other U.S. cities by closing bars, restaurants, nightclubs, movie theaters, and gyms starting at 11 pm on Tuesday, March 17. Their decision angered some spring breakers. (2)
“What they’re doing is bad, we need a refund. This virus ain’t that serious,” Atlantis Walker, a 21-year-old from Indiana, told Reuters. “There’s more serious things out there like hunger and poverty, we need to address that.” (2)
Decisions to close beaches, such as Miami’s South Beach, drew similar complaints. (2)
“It’s really messing with my spring break. What is there to do here other than go to the bars or the beach? And they’re closing all of it,” 21-year-old Wisconsinite Brianna Leeder said to Reuters. “I think they’re blowing it way out of proportion. I think it’s doing way too much.” (2)
Misleading Information
Early information on COVID-19 cases communicated that people over 60 and immunocompromised individuals were the most vulnerable to the virus. Reports stated that these groups were the most likely to be hospitalized or die after contracting it. It’s possible that this information gave young adults a false sense of invulnerability to the novel coronavirus, leading to situations like the one in Florida over spring break. (5)
But a report released by the CDC on Wednesday, March 18 found that people between the ages of 20 and 54 made up 38% of the cases of COVID-10 serious enough for hospitalization in the U.S. While older adults were still the most likely to be hospitalized or die as a result of contracting the virus, these numbers highlight the need for caution and social distancing for all people, no matter their age. (5)
“I think everyone should be paying attention to this,” Stephen S. Morse told The New York Times. Morse is a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. “It’s not just going to be the elderly. There will be people age 20 and up. They do have to be careful, even if they think that they’re young and healthy.” (5)
Stopping the Spread of COVID-19
As the number of confirmed cases continues to rise in the U.S., the country still lacks adequate testing kits and processing facilities. Because people with the disease may not show symptoms for two to 14 days (or be asymptomatic), it’s possible to have contracted COVID-19 and have no idea. This makes it even more crucial to follow the CDC’s guidelines and avoid spreading the virus to others.
On its website, the CDC highlights six steps to take in order to protect yourself and your family during this crisis. They urge the American public to learn the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and take appropriate measures if they begin showing symptoms. They share additional measures to take for those who are at higher risk of contracting the virus. And they list preventative measures people can take to protect themselves and their loved ones. (8)
Additionally, the CDC encourages individuals to stay up-to-date on local information regarding the novel coronavirus, especially confirmed cases. They suggest creating a household plan in case of further disruption to daily life. And the CDC advises knowing the emergency operations plans of the schools and workplaces of themselves and their household members. (8)
