Corona virus: What we should really leave in everyday life

Football fans and Bundesliga professionals have shown how not to do it. The Bundesliga game Borussia Mönchengladbach was played against 1.FC Cologne as a ghost game in front of empty ranks and immediately after the game Gladbach fans and players met behind the grandstands to celebrate the victory together. What was intended with the ghost game was gone. Instead of avoiding a large crowd to prevent contagion with the corona virus, a large group came together – and fatally, the professionals also celebrated.

Ultimately, there are also examples that have led to everyday life being drastically restricted for all of us since Monday. Because, of course, in a specific situation we quickly think about what we can do "instead" and then come up with everyday ideas. But often it is precisely these things that each of us should now leave to work to contain the virus.

Some simple examples:

Playground instead of daycare

The thought is now really obvious. The children have to be looked after – and then why not meet in a playground? A typical case – and unfortunately exactly the wrong behavior. Neither on the playground nor in private gardens should larger groups of children and caring adults be brought together – here too the rule is: keep as little contact as possible and keep your distance to prevent the virus from spreading. Wherever possible, playgrounds will be cordoned off for the next few days. The places will certainly be checked from time to time.

Fatal: Corona party instead of club night

It is an idea that is often very popular even with opponents of vaccination. Instead of behaving in such a way that you don't get infected, you just put it on – and hope for what you call herd immunity. Once as many as possible have survived the disease, there are fewer infections. That may just work to some extent within the party crowd of young people who are considered less of a risk group. But in the case of the new type of corona virus, against which there is no cure so far, this is how you play with the lives of people with pre-existing illnesses or the elderly. The Vice President of the Robert Koch Institute, Lars Schaade, therefore said very clearly during the daily press conference on Monday: "Please, don't do that!"

Café, beer gardens, park: keep your distance

Spring is beginning and we will be outside in the coming days. In the past few days, it has been repeatedly observed how people found each other in street cafes, beer gardens or simply on lawns and sat tightly together. You also have to avoid that to prevent possible infection. In the meantime, restaurants have to keep the distance between the tables anyway during the remaining opening hours. Where, for example, permanently installed spaces are blocked off: Please note!

Grandma and Grandpa: distance instead of visiting

If there is an exceptional situation, then at least finally time to visit Grandma and Grandpa? This is also fundamentally wrong. Older people in particular could be seriously endangered by the new corona virus. The vast majority of the corona dead are older people. Therefore, even if it were nice: Call instead of visiting. And unfortunately, the grandparents are also absent from childcare. Distance is the best protection.

Helpfulness – but please at a distance

In many neighborhoods you can already see notes hanging: "If you can't or don't want to go shopping – I can help". Organized initiatives are also available to care for the sick and / or the elderly as well as people in quarantine. This willingness to help is wonderful, but traps lurk here too. It also applies in this case: keep your distance and thereby cut the path of infection. Specifically means: Obtain the shopping list by phone and put the full shopping bag in front of the door and walk away or step back several meters.

Attention when shopping

Perhaps the most difficult case in everyday life: supermarkets and other shops where you can meet your daily needs remain open. Very few people think about keeping a sufficient distance when doing the necessary shopping. This is certainly difficult, especially when queuing at the cash register. Nevertheless, the following also applies here: Provide a distance of one and a half meters as far as possible and, especially when in contact with the cashiers, make sure to sneeze or cough in the crook of the arm, for example.

Can I do something else?

All of this undoubtedly severely restricts our everyday life. Except for shopping, going to the doctor or to work – if home office is not possible – you shouldn't travel as far as possible. But according to virologists, you don't have to bury yourself in the apartment. In principle, there is nothing to be said against walks and stays outdoors – but not in large groups.

This article was originally published on stern.de.