The first month of 2020 has finally come to an end. And while a new month can mean a fresh start, some of the terrors of January have been threatening to run over into February. The main one right now being: sickness. 

After the holiday season starts dying down and normal life returns, most people find themselves with weaker immune systems. Whether it’s from the stampede of very young cousins, the long nights staying up or even just a change in the weather, the winter season after December is notorious for being filled with sickness. Along with that, most people will be returning to school, which increases the chances of running into an already ill person, or passing a sickness on to someone else. Schools and college dorms are especially susceptible to growing and spreading illnesses because of how confined these spaces are. Countless germs can be found on nearly every surface like door handles and desks, making sickness hard to avoid. 

Even just one month into the new year,people are finding themselves growing sick.

As if worrying about the common cold isn’t enough, there has also been a severe outbreak of the flu and a new disease, the Wuhan Coronavirus. Despite all the headlines and public fear, there have only been a few cases of it within the United States. But it’s still critical to avoid both this disease and the flu as much as possible. One of the best, and most simple ways to do that, is to just wash your hands.

While this may seem like an obvious thought, a lot of people think that’s just after using the restroom or touching something extremely gross. In actuality, during the sick season, it’s important to wash your hands a lot more frequently. From shaking an acquaintance’s hand to using a gas pump, even just a few seconds of contact can make you liable to catching something. Even if someone doesn’t seem sick, they can still be a carrier. In fact, even you can be a carrier without realizing it. So do the best thing for your and others’ health, and just wash your hands!