ALISA OPPENHEIMER
Special to The Leader
As COVID-19 continues to spread and impact everybody, Fredonia students are continuing their education from home.
Fredonia’s student body resides all over New York, the state with the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, as well as the largest number of deaths due to the virus.
While New York City is probably the area that has been hit the hardest, surrounding areas like Long Island have suffered the effects to a similar extent.
Being a native to this area myself, I can confidently say Long Island just doesn’t quite feel like Long Island right now.
Both the counties of Nassau and Suffolk have an increasing number of positive cases daily.
As of now, Nassau County has a total of 20,140 cases, while Suffolk’s total number is at 18,803.
Living on the island currently feels lonely and unfamiliar.
No one is going out, or allowed out for that matter.
The news has been advising our community to stay home unless we are leaving to get essentials.
People are either working from home, not working at all or have to work their butts off and risk their own health because they are an essential need to our community.
Marisa Sultana, a sophomore at Fredonia, is one of the many students continuing her education from her home in Nassau County and facing the impacts the virus has had on our region.
“My mom is a nurse in Astoria, Queens,” said Sultana. “So, she has lost some of her nurse and doctor friends to this virus and it has been so sad.”
With her mom on the frontlines during this pandemic, Sultana often fears for her health and well-being, along with her siblings.
“I’m terrified my mom will get this, due to her exposure to it,” said Sultana. “She is exposed to this virus and the hospital doesn’t even have the right safety equipment for nurses and doctors, hence, some of them dying. My poor mom goes in to work 12 hour shifts and knows that the majority of her patients are going to die.”
Sultana’s mom works mostly with the elderly, so she witnesses some of the worst effects of COVID-19.
“The morgue truck basically lives at the hospital my mom works at,” said Sultana. “And it’s terrible because there are no visitors allowed, so my mom has to tell people their loved ones have passed and they didn’t even get to say goodbye.”
Sultana’s mom isn’t the only person putting her own life on the line, there are so many others doing jobs like hers.
Together, we should all be staying home to do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Some things that have particularly been keeping me busy include homework, classwork, a few puzzles and some Netflix.
Similarly, Lauren Collorone, a junior at Fredonia and Suffolk County resident, spends her free-time doing work, watching TV, crafting and working out.
With everything closed, Collorone tries to make the best out of the situation.
“I live across the street from a mall, and seeing it closed everyday is so strange, and honestly sad,” said Collorone.
“But I’m luckier than others, and I don’t want to take that for granted.”
Collorone lives at home with her mom and dad, both of whom are either not going to work or working from home.
“While of course, this all sucks, my parents are able to stay home or work from the comfort of the couch,” said Collorone.
Like many of us, Collorone hopes her summer will take place outdoors, hanging out with friends on the beaches of Long Island, but in order for that to happen, everyone needs to take the proper precautions.
“In all seriousness, we can’t be selfish right now,” said Collorone. “We all want to be connected again, so for now, just stay home.”