The new norm of staying at home and away from other people is causing many smaller problems in the effort to stop a major one. Some people have begun fighting for the reopening of the economy, even if many medical experts say it is still too early.

In the past few weeks, people in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach protested for the reopening of the state. Many carried signs, a majority of which argued that lockdown should be lifted because it infringed on their rights. Although these protests were peaceful, hundreds of people gathering without masks was risky considering the current pandemic. While the Southern California protests remained peaceful, a more threatening approach was taken in Michigan.

In Lansing, Michigan, a mob of people, some carrying rifles or other weapons, entered the state capital and demanded to be allowed to enter the House Chamber. They carried signs, calling politicians tyrants and saying that their constitutional freedoms were being violated. Luckily, Governor Gretchen Whitmer calmly remedied the situation.

“We have to listen to the epidemiologist and health experts, and displays like the one we saw at our capitol is not representative of who we are,” she said in reaction to this protest. However, a gun ban is being considered for the capitol building, where it was previously legal to openly carry a firearm. 

Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, has decided to re-open businesses like hair and nail salons in response to his constituents’ pleas.  In some states, re-opening partially or in whole have been experimented with. 

“I think that a lot more of this is cabin fever. People are just getting kind of stressed out being at home, stressed out because they can’t pay bills, things like that,” states nurse Angelic Fennessey. “…I understand, but I also see the other side of it, which is the very serious side of people and families dying from this, and I think that these very minute things, they pale in comparison.”

It’s perfectly acceptable and normal to be scared during a time like this, and no one is expected to enjoy their time inside. When quarantine gets unbearable, hopefully people can keep in mind that this temporary loss is a small one compared to the loss of a loved one.