Many are divided these days about how quickly we should return to normalcy after the events over the past year with COVID-19. 

At the beginning of all of this in Spring 2020, some believed that we shouldn’t change anything. This method preferred to utilize the concept of survival of the fittest, whereas others thought we should have gone into a complete and strict lockdown to get ahead of this virus before it got too bad. 

We now find ourselves in a time of just as much confusion and uncertainty as before. I personally had to re-learn how to act in a maskless and non-distancing society again. I felt this the most with going out to bigger social events and interacting with lots of new people both back at home and in recent weeks since I moved back to Grand Junction.

I, and most people I’ve talked about this with, eventually got comfortable with wearing masks everywhere we went, especially through the winter to keep my face slightly warmer. The additional time alone to work on hobbies and passions also became an appreciated aspect of the pandemic.

We now sit in a time where some of our teachers want us wearing masks everywhere we go, while others couldn’t care less if we come into class with a mask or not. 

It’s hard to say exactly where to go from here as  COVID-19 is still lingering in Mesa County considering the new variant and low vaccination rates.

Just two weeks ago I went to my first concert since the pandemic began and they required everyone to either show proof of a negative Covid test or a vaccine card before being allowed inside. 

I am glad that many things I enjoyed which were cancelled for our safety are coming back; yet with the strain continually developing and changing, it feels to me as if it is only a matter of time before we are looking at another year of strict precautions. 

It still feels weird at times to be in rooms full of people and meeting new people with the concern of contracting the virus not being as prominent of a thought in my mind. 

The current state of division in the world and debate of how quickly we should go back to complete normalcy has put us in a difficult position, as people will complain and argue about it no matter what happens.  

Not to mention, this issue has also become heavily influenced by politics when it should have been a human safety and concern issue from the beginning. 

There is no real answer at this point, however, a good starting point seems to be getting vaccinated and remaining wary for the many people who could be at greater risk when contracting the virus than others. 

With low vaccination rates and a nationwide debate on what the next steps in this process will be, we have reached a point where the most we can do is be aware and take the necessary steps for the health and safety of those around us.