issue 22// vol 46 opinions // no. 15

Celebrities catch COVID-19,
and everyone cares

» Why are they given special treatment in this time of crisis?

Morgan Hannah
Life & Style Editor

 

Fs off, let’s start by stating—on the
record—that celebrities are no different
from the rest of us. They’re just people
with cool jobs that are living their daily
lives, same-same. The only true difference
is that, somehow, they’ve been recognized
for their work more than the rest of us, and
therefore they make a significantly larger
sum of money than us. Also, they are often
treated like they are important than the
rest of us—yet it’s the general public (and
their money) that is skyrocketing celebs
to this level. But should they be treated
any differently when they test positive for
COVID-19? Should they receive special
treatment? The short answer: no.
American cultural icon, Tom Hanks
and his wife, Rita Wilson were the first
stars to go public with their positive
diagnosis of the virus. Somehow this
stunned the world, but it really shouldn't
have. Since then, Hanks and Wilson have
been released from the hospital—where
they likely didn’t need to be to begin with.
Hanks himself stated that he and his wife
are “in self-isolation, the symptoms are
much the same. No fever but the blahs.”
Despite their shared age of 63, the pair have
had it easy in terms of symptoms.
According to the LA Times, after
Hanks and Wilson told the world they
tested positive, a handful of celebrities
have since revealed that they too have

Who do we look out for?

 

tested positive. This almost seems like a
power play—like these celebs expect the
virus to gain them an audience. Otherwise,
why not keep it to themselves and their
loved ones, like us “common folk” do?
Among the infected, should anyone like

to know, are actor Idris Elba, bond girl and
model Olga Kurylenko, Game of Thrones
actor Kristofer Hivju, and actress Rachel

» COVID-19 in your neighbourhood

Morgan Hannah
Life & Style Editor

 

A: the coronavirus spreads throughout
the lower mainland and the world, it’s
time to ask the pressing question: who do
we look out for? And the answer really is

a matter of opinion. Depending on who
you talk to, some may say “every man

for himself,” and others will try to help
everyone they come across. The answer
should land somewhere in the middle of
the two though.

Not to sound dramatic, but it’s of the
utmost importance to look after yourself
first, at all costs. Gauge your health and the
risks that are exposed to you when you are
in public—are you at high risk? According
to the Centre for Disease Control and
Protection (CDC), the elderly, pregnant
women, and those with underlying health
conditions, such as heart disease, lung
disease, diabetes, asthma, and other
respiratory illnesses may experience severe
illness from COVID-19 and should consider
staying home as much as they can. When
staying at home isn’t an option, avoid
crowds, public transit, and sick people.
Additionally, ensuring proper hygiene is
incredibly important. These steps will help

to reduce your chances of contracting the
virus and will help to prevent the further
spread of the virus.

Now that you've taken care of yourself,
family members, children, or a significant
other are the people you might choose
to look out for next. Maintaining a good
relationship with every member of your
household is important, both for their
health and yours, as well as in weathering
the storm together. It’s unknown how
long the virus will continue to be a threat
and therefore you may rely on each other
for a good while. Moreover, it is vital to
ensure that all members of your household
that are sick offer the smallest risk of
transmission possible. This is to prevent
the spread of the virus within your home.
This includes not sharing personal items,
such as towels and cups.

Roommates are a strong third tier to
include in your care—you may find yourself
dependent on them for financial aid if you
fall within the group that is at high risk
of developing severe illness. Maintaining
good relations with those that you live with
is obviously essential, and making sure that
they are doing what they can to prevent the
spread of the virus when coming and going
is vital for your health as well as theirs.

The list could stop there, depending

Illustration by Morgan Hannah

Matthews. All of them are fine, by the way...
From another vein of the rich and
powerful, Utah Jazz basketball player, Rudy

Gobert pulled a dick move and jokingly
touched every microphone at a press
conference while waiting for his COVID-19
test results. He then tested positive.
Seeing how the athlete had close contact
with hundreds of people, including fans,

on your
capabilities,
resources, and
personal health.
However, if you
have the means

to, looking out for
your neighbours is
a great way to keep
your immediate
community safe
and healthy. If
someone falls
victim to the virus,
you could give
them a call and
ask if they need
any help. Perhaps
some light grocery
shopping or soup
prep will earn you
brownie points
and ensure that
you too are looked
after when the
going gets tough.
Just remember to
always stay vigilant
and wash your

hands.

 

teammates, and staff, following action
included doling out test kits to the whole
Utah Jazz team. Only one of Gobert’s
teammates, Donovan Mitchell, tested
positive. According to The Atlantic, 26,905
COVID-19 tests have been confirmed to be
taken across the USA—and the Utah Jazz
basketball team has used up 20 percent of
the states’ entire stock of kits. Kits that are
being rationed across the country. To offer
another image, the Utah Jazz basketball
team used a few more testing kits than a
whole state did (on average).

Wendell Potter, former
communications director at the American
health insurance company Cigna, reports
that the health-care system in the United
States is basically made for the rich and
powerful. This is unethical bullshit. The
health-care system has always reserved a soft
spot for the rich, famous, and powerful—but
especially during a pandemic, preferential
treatment should not happen. COVID-19
will be most strongly experienced by those
least capable of fighting it in the USA and
the rest of the world.

The virus has not uncovered America's
health care inadequacies so much as it has
displayed them boldly. It’s looking like
it’s up to us to take care of ourselves and
our neighbours in times of crisis—seeing
that we arent part of the elite. Let’s start
by investing our time, money, energy, and
care into family and friends rather than
household celebrity names.

Illustration by Morgan Hannah