Returning to Normal After COVID-19

 Chicago Public Schools are going back! During this cold weather, it is important to use hand sanitizer. After all of the pain and frustration, wearing masks among their own peers will be important for students. But above all we should hope they have hand sanitizer available in all of the hallways. Parents should also be sure to tell their teens and preteens to wash their hands before meals!

I like the fact that our high schoolers can return back to campus safely. They just need to make sure that they are focusing on their work and staying healthy and safe, instead of being on their cell phones. They need to keep themselves safe by wearing their masks before entering campus. They need to think more about protecting others than their personal lives. They should make sure that their teachers and professors are doing the same too! We hope this return to campus will be a good call since this has been a hard, rough year. Everyone needs to stay at least six feet apart, even if it is difficult because COVID-19 is not over yet.

Until the teens and preteens get vaccines on their campuses, the schools will not be safe. Teachers should also keep their eyes out for students who are depressed that it took so long to return back to school. We don’t want other types of pandemics on our hands related to drugs and mental health!

Parents have to be a good example and make sure that their children want to talk to them, helping them get the vaccine when it is possible. They still have to wear masks. Parents should tell them to make sure they are healthy and avoid exposure to others if they are sick. They should take their temperature before they go to school or on dates. They should also avoid any unnecessary travelling.

I hope as students enter the first day of class each will respect those who have not yet taken the vaccine. The CDC should have a part in making sure that students will not be exposed to classmates who have not been tested. Students who are not tested will need to stay home. They should go to Cook County facilities to make sure they do not have COVID-19. They should have their whole household get a check-up. They should be tested before they go out into the environment so it is safe for them to be in the community. Then restaurants and beaches could stay open. Maybe when all of the city of Chicago is vaccinated, even seniors who are treated will be able to see their grandchildren and have a clean and happy visit without dying!

To make more businesses open and to see the schools go back, and to see our young people back in high school and college, the first thing is to make sure they get the new vaccine before rushing back to campus. They should let their classmates know to get tested to make sure they do not have the virus. They should convince their families to get the vaccine before making any plans to get together and to not be in a hurry. Grandparents should not have hard feelings about their grandchildren not seeing them yet.

The virus can now be treated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. They are also testing a spray. It is a great idea anyway!

The best way for citizens to not go backwards is for citizens to wear masks. How hard can it be? It is best to stay safe in your atmosphere at home. Maybe the city could go back to normal. Just make sure to get vaccinated. That is the best way to have schools open. Do not put COVID-19 out of your mind yet -- life is positively too short. In 2022, hopefully all outdoor activities like all the parades will be back.

Hopefully we will also be able to see all sports teams again performing with full self-confidence. Then we could have a baseball season and have the air and water show. The lakefront could finally be open. Families will be able to celebrate birthday parties and graduations all together again. People will be able to go off to college and get better paying jobs. By having vaccinations, they should be good to go -- but we should still stay six feet apart just in case. We should be very thankful that there are more places to get vaccinate. As all the cities and states enter spring break, people need to keep social distancing to stay safe!

Spring breakers do not respect the guidelines. There are teens and young adults who are not taking the virus seriously enough. They do not listen to the president. 

Meanwhile, at the border, the young men and girls should be allowed to come to America, but they should make sure they do not have COVID-19. Every last individual should be tested because it does not make any sense to keep human beings created equal in cages. I hope that the president takes everyone that is on the border out of the camps, gets them tested for COVID-19, then sets them free or gets them treatment.

Now is also the time for Chicago to have common sense about the distribution of the vaccines. They are not toys! I am very worried about Loretta Hospital. They are making mistakes knowing people are not treating the virus like it is life or death. There is no reason that our citizens that are in jail or are on psychiatric wards cannot be six feet apart to prevent the virus from being transmitted. That could affect people as they are spread.

We have so much crime because citizens are out of work. Cook County Health Department cannot help with vaccines because CTU and CPS used them. I cannot get over how many assaults and carjacking are happening. Uber drivers are so worried for their lives. What is the sense of carjacking, of taking someone’s car during the pandemic?

The United Center was told that the appointments were canceled. They did a good job of bringing vaccines to CPS and CTU teachers and security guards and other workers in the main office and gym coaches, nurses, and maintenance. Now they should do a good job for the rest of us!

The best thing to do is hope that next year will be a better outlook. We will see the light! It could take some time for the global pandemic to end. There are restaurants that do not have any seating in their establishment. Right now many of them just do delivery service. Many people in their offices are working from home. Parents have to work at home and be teachers to their children. But this will change! Many of the students they are teaching will go on to seek scholarships and higher education. What I want to tell all parents and teens is that one day in life their son or daughter will support themselves, making mom and dad proud by getting a degree and a good paying career in a world without COVID-19.