Column: The dangers of ignoring the pandemic

Although COVID-19 vaccines are being released and distributed across the United States, cases are growing at a rapid pace. Currently in Aiken, South Carolina, there are more than 11,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

As of last week, the average number of new cases in SC increased to more than 3,000 cases each day.

USC Aiken requires all students to wear a mask on campus and practice social distancing to follow CDC guidelines. Despite school requirements and recommendations for the pandemic, there are still students, faculty and staff that aren’t taking the pandemic as seriously as they should.

Here are a few reasons as to how and why you should take the pandemic more seriously:

Protect yourself and stop the spread of COVID-19

COVID-19 has killed more than 400,000 people in America and more than two million worldwide. If we don’t start taking the pandemic seriously and do our part in stopping the spread, this number will continue to rise.

Tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty

“Informal economy workers are particularly vulnerable because the majority lack social protection and access to quality health care and have lost access to productive assets. Without the means to earn an income during lockdowns, many are unable to feed themselves and their families. For most, no income means no food, or, at best, less food and less nutritious food.” - Kimberly Chriscaden, Communications Officer, World Health Organization.

“We are in this together and we will get through this, together” - UN Secretary - General Antonio Guterres.