By Justin Pimentel
Ever since the virus came to town, and we were all forced to go into lockdowns, remember last March, a lot has changed especially in Passaic. People are told to wear masks and remain at least six feet from each other, not only Passaic but in the entire country.
In Passaic so far, the coronavirus has taken the lives of at least 1,268 with around 22,551 cases. Schools have been affected, as well, ever since the coronavirus showed up and lockdowns have been put into place, so students have been transitioned into online classes.
These online classes are the first time something like this had to be put into place which led to a very rough transition in Passaic High School, as well as the rest of the nation. Even though Passaic High School and the rest of the district rose to the occasion, transitioning back is going to be a slow process.
Passaic has a lot of good news alongside the bad.
Governor Murphy said on Twitter that, “I spoke with Dr. Anthony Fauci, The good news is that a vaccine is on the horizon – we anticipate broad distribution by this spring, We have a plan ready should that timeframe hold, Let’s get through the remainder of this fall and winter together.”
Vaccines have just been approved in England and in Canada, and now in the United States where they have been developed. Murphy states that a vaccine may soon be on the horizon for all people in New Jersey. We are certainly looking forward to that. Before vaccination a free COVID tests are also said to be most likely done through saliva during specified hours.
The online classes in PHS were a rough transition last school year, as many students are having difficulty getting used to it as well as the teachers. It isn’t surprising as this is a new thing for both teachers and students as online classes are something that are new and never before done.
The plan now, at the time of the writing of this article, is that this learning plan will last until February when they plan to switch back to a more normal (read in classes) with high expectations that a vaccine should be developed by then.
What restrictions will be placed in the schools is something that the governor has yet to discuss. But no matter what is put into place it will definitely not be the same as it used to be. How weird will it feel to be back in school after all this time out of it?
Apart from the effects COVID-19 has on the school system it also has many effects on other workplaces. Workplaces such as restaurants and dining are said to receive restrictions that will help calm the spread of the virus. With a recent spike after the Thanksgiving holiday, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania governors placed new more restrictive lockdown orders on restaurants and other places where people gather.
A few restrictions and requirements that have to be met is that restaurants, unless they have a barrier, must place tables at least six feet away from each other. These new restrictions will help slow the spread of the virus, but what is as important is the cleaning that is done after each group finishes their meal and exits the restaurant. Better cleanliness is nearly as important as staying a distance away.
The virus has forced many changes and affected us in Passaic, and it will take a long time to revert back to normal. Eventually, as the plan stands right now, things will slowly open up under regulations and then the government will slowly remove the regulations as things get better. The new restrictions will be uncomfortable, but it has been decades since something like this has ever had to be put into place. When and how things will transition back to normal is still being planned and confirmations are being made slowly.
Those in charge in Passaic and around the country, and even right here in PHS are working hard to get us back to normal as soon as possible and as safely as possible. A vaccine has arrived, and doses are on the way which will indefinitely help provide a massive positive change in our society as things will be able to move back into how they used to be slowly. So for now, the only thing we can do is keep going, follow instructions, and stay on task. We will see each other soon in school later this year. Keep those grades up!
