Wow, what a year we’ve had. I think I can speak for all when I say that 2020 has been a crazy year. COVID-19 came out of nowhere and took over the world like a wildfire.
Studies show that 40% of the people who’ve contracted the virus may be asymptomatic, but they can still spread COVID. No one is immune to the virus, but there are steps we can take to protect ourselves and others! The key steps are washing and or sanitizing your hands, staying 6+ feet apart from other people when in public places and most importantly, wearing a mask.
I want to stay on this key point of wearing your mask. You may or may not know, but germs travel! Have you ever heard the phrase, “say it, don’t spray it”? Well, that is a key example of what may happen when we speak, “spraying it”. Spraying it can be saliva or simply your breath…but it all could be carrying the virus. Wearing your mask helps prevent you from spreading the virus, but it also protects you from contracting it from someone else. Doctors say that wearing a mask can help reduce the spread by about 70%. Health experts recommend wearing cloth face masks. In Michigan (and in most of the USA), face coverings are required in indoor public places; and also in crowded outdoor spaces where you may be in close proximity to other people.
There are many people who don’t have the option of staying home, or away from places where big crowds gather. I’m actually speaking of myself when I say I don’t have the option. Even though I’m known as a food influencer, but I’m also a flight attendant. When the talk of COVID-19 first came about, I was actually working. Little by little, small changes were made. The small changes led to big impacts within the airline industry. For me personally as a flight attendant, I never thought that my world would be turned upside down. Many of my friends from other airlines were furloughed, and some airlines even shut down for good. I was fortunate enough to keep my job and my airline implemented additional safety measures such as: masks and gloves became mandatory for all airline employees and mandatory masks for all guests. The way our guests would board and deplane the aircraft even changed. I never thought I’d see the day where the airline industry would be in jeopardy.
I’m a guy who likes to keep up with his appearance. Every two weeks, I get a manicure from my favorite nail shop near my house in metro Detroit. When COVID-19 hit and Michigan shut down, the nail shop was one of the businesses that closed. It was months before they opened back up. When they finally did open and I was able to go in for an appointment, I noticed a lot of changes in the shop. Every nail tech went through a COVID-19 certification course, and they displayed their certificate. Each booth had plexiglass added between one another and also between you and your nail tech, in addition to masks being a requirement to be serviced. The biggest change I noticed was the sheet I had to fill out prior to my service. This sheet was like a log. This log would help the nail salon keep track of all the people they served. I was informed that this log would allow them to properly report anyone who was in proximity to a person that may have tested positive for COVID. I later learned that this was called ‘contact tracing’. In Michigan, contact tracing is so important, because it can help control the spread in our state.
All Michiganders are encouraged to download and use the MI COVID Alert mobile app. You can download this app in the Apple or Google App stores. It’s also encouraged for you to invite your family and friends to download the app. MI COVID Alert is a free, easy to use, and anonymous app to help you stay informed and protect yourself or others from spreading COVID-19. It’s important that if you receive any phone calls from your local health department or MI COVID Help, please answer. Remember, if you start to feel sick or have any symptoms, please stay at home! If you test positive for COVID, you will be given the next steps by your local health department.
The common goal we have as Michiganders is staying safe, and for our beautiful state to safely reopen! Join me by wearing your mask! Be sure to visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website for more information on how to #SpreadHopeNotCOVID! Don’t forget to download the MI COVID Alert app on your phone. For COVID testing locations or to schedule an appointment visit Michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest; you can also dial 2-1-1 or Michigan’s COVID Hotline at 888-545-6136, then press 1. I know for me personally, I am looking forward to amazing restaurants to open back up. Traveling to restaurants is a big part of my daily livelihood, and the sooner we can get back to that, the sooner I can stuff my face; I mean I can produce more content!
