Opinion: SVCC students celebrating this holiday season

By Ethan Ainley

          Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the seasonal flu epidemic, it is important that families celebrate the holiday’s differently this year. 

          However, not every SVCC student is taking COVID seriously this holiday season as per a survey done by The Skyhawk View. When students were asked if they plan to change how they celebrate the holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year) 55.56% said “Yes”. While 44.44% said “No”. 

          Those results are concerning as the Sauk Valley is already seeing increases in cases and it will only get worse if changes are not made this holiday season.

          The biggest change that SVCC students can make with the holidays is not gathering with family outside their household or at least following specific guidelines if they do. It seems that students are split on if they will celebrate with family outside the household or not.

          There was a tie in votes when students were asked if they will be gathering with family outside of their household. Out of the 90 students surveyed, 45 said “Yes” and the other 45 said “No”. 

          When asked what they will change this holiday season many students replied with nothing. One student went as far as to say, “Not a damn thing.” This is a self-destructive ideology that SVCC students and their families need to stray away from.

          It is reckless to ignore the impact that gatherings on a holiday are having on positive cases. On November 6th the Illinois Department of Public Health reported a single-day state record with 10, 376 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. This was six days after Halloween. 

          The students that plan to change how they celebrate the holiday season gave answers such as limiting their time with family, celebrating virtually, celebrating with immediate family in the household, or not celebrating at all. It is these options that SVCC students should be considering this holiday season.

          Students gathering outside of the household should follow the CDC guidelines for celebrating the holidays this year. One of these guidelines says that everyone, “... should consider the number and rate of COVID-19 cases in their community and in the community where they plan to celebrate when considering whether to host or attend a holiday celebration.” 

          The CDC guidelines include holding outdoor gatherings that are short, limiting the number of people, and attendees should adhere to wearing a mask and social distancing. The preemptive measures that every SVVC student needs to consider taking can be found on the CDC’s website. 

          The Sauk Valley area has recently been put under new mitigations due to failing to lower the positivity rate below 8%. With this increase in cases this early in the fall, it is crucial that SVCC students still planning to visit family outside of the household follow the CDC guidelines.