Author Spotlight
Winnie Wolf
The current 30-day statewide quarantine has affected every East student in some way, whether they’re halfway through their 14 days of quarantine after traveling over spring break or they’ve been stuck inside since school was out on March 13. Here are East students’ opinions on the guidelines they’ve been following since:
Junior Annabel Huxtable traveled to London, England with her family for 6 days over spring break.
Q: Did your parents have any concerns about traveling when the coronavirus became a serious global concern?
A: “We had already flown to Atlanta when we found out Europe had cancelled all of their flights, but the U.K. wasn’t part of that. We knew that might change and we were really hesitant, but we decided to go.”
Q: Did the government or health officials try to keep you in the U.K. once your and your family had made it there successfully?
A: “We weren’t forced to stay there, but our flight home to KC was cancelled. It was the Wednesday in the middle of spring break that the U.K. cancelled flights from everywhere. Because we were international and had to be screened, there were only a few airlines we could go to. We ended up getting on the very last flight that wasn’t full before we had to be out of the U.K.”
Q: What does your quarantine look like now in Kansas City? Is it different because you were in the U.K.?
A: “At the airport on the way home, we had to fill out health forms and talk to the CDC. Now I’m on a 14 day quarantine like most people here who traveled somewhere with high risk for the coronavirus.”
Sophomore Libby Fox has been following the quarantine procedures for more reasons than parent enforcement.
Q: Why do you stay at home?
A: “My little sister and my step dad both have Type 1 Diabetes. Basically any sickness might mess with it, causing their blood sugar to go too high or too low. Especially with the coronavirus, we don’t know too much about it, so I stay home to make sure they don’t get sick.
Q: Do you think everyone should be following these guidelines? Or just those at risk or have the possibility to get someone else sick?
A: “I think everyone should be actively following them. You never know if someone or something you come in contact with could get your family or someone else sick.”
Freshman Maxwell Arnold’s spring break trip to the Cayman Islands was cancelled by his parents due to safety concerns for COVID-19.
Q: What are your thoughts on being quarantined right now, even though you didn’t travel anywhere?
A: “I just want to get out of the house. I’ve been mostly inside, thanks to my parents. I can sometimes leave the house to play sports and stuff but I definitely can’t see any of my friends.”
Sophomore Maliyah Darrington has been a foreign exchange student in France for the last seven months. But instead of staying until July 5 to complete her full ten months, she was sent home by her program last week.
Q: At what point did the coronavirus become a concern for you and the program you were with?
A: “It first became a concern two Fridays ago when France announced that they would be closing schools — and that was when the kids at the organization started getting worried about getting sent home. The following Monday they announced quarantine for France and the next day, Tuesday afternoon, was when I found out my program was cancelled.”
Q: Can you describe what you were feeling as you were packing up, saying your goodbyes and realizing you had to come home?
A: “I was really sad. It was really difficult to leave because everyone was in quarantine, so I wasn’t allowed to see my friends to say goodbye. It was hard not being able to say thank you to my friends who basically made my whole six months what it was. The only people I got to say goodbye to was my host family and that’s it.”
Q: What does your quarantine situation look like now? Is it any different from those who live in KC?
A: “For me, it’s a little more strict. I’m really not allowed to go outside because I am coming from a European country. For 14 days I am not allowed to see anyone or go anywhere and neither can the rest of my family. I’ve been back in Kansas City, but I haven’t seen anyone, so it feels like I’m not even back, I’m like in my own world.”
Junior Beau Warner has an opinion on the news coverage of COVID-19 through the media.
Q: What are your opinions on the way the coronavirus is covered through media and news outlets?
A: “It’s a big deal and something that needs top coverage for sure. But on the other hand, the insane amount of information we hear about it everyday is one of the reasons that people are freaking out as much as they are.”
Junior Lauren Sawalich traveled to Florida for six days over spring break and returned to new safety measures from her mom for her quarantine.
Q: Can you describe the actions your mom has taken during this time?
A: “I have to stay in my house unless I want to go outside for a run or bike ride. And if I am outside, I have to be six feet away from people, even if I know them. Not to mention, my mom is also making me wash my hands after everything I do. She’s basically bleaching the whole house — every square inch of it has been cleaned.”
Q: What are your thoughts on this past week?
A: “If everyone could just stay at home and follow the quarantine guidelines, there’s a possibility this could all end way sooner. I’m team stay home — but if I could leave, I would go to a friend’s house for sure, no public places.”
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