With the flurry of concern that follows the recent outbreak of the coronavirus, many people are on edge about coming to school. Teachers, staff, and students alike have all started to stay home. Our school says that "If you are sick, stay home" but our attendance is still being affected. My younger sister recently caught a cold, and my mother rushed her to the emergency room to get her checked out. She didn't have anything serious, but I stayed home to take care of her.

Teachers have been calling out sick. Santa Clara County has already canceled all mass gatherings, but is school not a mass gathering? I go to Andrew Hill, our school has almost 2,000 students. If one person in a classroom gets it, the other roughly 30 students are more likely to get it as well, and then the 30 students go to their next classes, and they might also get it. The people they live with might get it, then the people go about their day and could spread it even further.

With the county stopping mass gatherings, we might as well put the whole county under quarantine anyways. Mass gatherings could mean churches, schools, work, events, and more. Is it not better safe than sorry?