Upon checking off the last items of our grocery list in ShopRite, my mom and I began to make our way to the self-checkout aisle. When we reached self-checkout, I saw a sign reading “Please keep your social distance.”

As more customers began lining up towards the cashiers and self-checkout aisles, I noticed that the sign did not stop customers from standing close together.

Social distancing is the limitation of contact with people outside your household as far as you can, according to the Government of Jersey. Due to the coronavirus, state and local governments across the United States have encouraged residents to practice social distancing to stop the spread. Currently, there are 20 states that have gone as far as to implement stay-at-home orders, including New Jersey. 

Although state governments and many public institutions have made efforts to keep everyone safe from the virus, the lack of social distancing at the supermarket is just one example of people not doing their part in slowing down the pandemic. Despite recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people, videos and photos of spring breakers in Florida have shown young adults partying closely together on the beach.

The ignorance that has been projected is not just a threat to themselves, but a threat to those around them.

Despite teens and young adults being less susceptible to the virus, they must remember that they are not immune to the virus. Many coronavirus cases are asymptomatic, making the virus easier to pass onto people with underlying health conditions and older generations, including our own grandparents. 

Disregarding the warnings that have been set by the government and other federal agencies is the greatest sign of disrespect to the doctors and nurses who are working sleepless nights to treat people who have been impacted by this disease. 

As of March 30, there were  771,797 cases across the globe. We have the power to reduce this number and save the time and resources that have been given to treat this disease, yet people are still acting carelessly. 

Social distancing is not a punishment — it’s protection.

The more we practice social distancing, the greater the possibility of combating the coronavirus and resuming our lives. Until then, we must remember that no party or gathering is worth jeopardizing our lives and others, and that sometimes, the greatest form of medicine is stepping away.