As America starts to open back up, people have started to go about their daily lives and start their summers. Restaurants are starting to allow dine in while department stores like Macy's open back up and while it's exciting to see our lives go back to "normal" it's important to remember why America is opening back up in the first place.

Coronavirus-related restrictions are being lifted, and it's not because coronavirus cases are decreasing, it's because of the economy.

As of now, 36 states have reported an increase in cases as they opened back up. Florida reported a total of 9585 new cases on Saturday, numbers that can be compared to the number of cases in New York during the peak rate of infections in early April. And it's only going to get worse if we don't enforce strict social distancing guidelines and put a pause on reopening states.

I still see people walk around with no mask on or go into places like Starbucks or Dunkin' thinking they will get served with no mask.

At this point, wearing a mask is common decency and is the best way you can protect yourself while you're outside.

You're disrespecting those around you and those who are working when you show up somewhere without a mask. What good are you doing by not wearing one?

Although restaurants are opening up, it does not mean you should go and dine-in. These places do not care about their employees and you are essentially saying the same when you go sit down for a meal without a mask. Although cases in New York are tracking steadily at the moment, nothing has changed since the start of the pandemic. We still have not created a vaccine and until we do, social distancing is the only thing we can implement to save lives. Eating out at a restaurant or partying with your friends might be fun for now, but will it be fun when a family member gets COVID-19 because you wanted to have a little fun? Because you "can't stand " quarantining anymore? I'm tired of staying home too, but if I can withhold going out to eat with my friends for a couple more months, you can too.

Living in the midst of a pandemic sucks, watching your summer go by or have your internship taken away because of coronavirus sucks, but we must follow basic social distancing guidelines to save the lives of those who are disproportionately affected like Black and poor POC. Do your part.