Every year, on the Friday after the day everyone gets stuffed with turkey, stores get cleaned out just like the tables on Thanksgiving evening.

On Black Friday, nearly a holiday in its own right, everyone forgets about the ¨no unnecessary shopping” deal made with their spouses or the fact that their closet has no more space. It is the one day a year where, without judgement, it is okay to go all out and shop until the trunk of your car simply cannot close. Left and right, every store has discount or sale signs plastered over their cheerfully-decorated windows for the upcoming holiday season. 

But instead, this year we can do all that indoors near our blissfully warm fireplaces with a cup of hot chocolate in our hands. This year, we can broaden our shopping horizons and explore stores we never would have had a chance to shop from in person. This year, we can forget about the waiting in crowded lines that lead out the front door in the frigid winter weather. This year more than any other, we should avoid crowded stores and shop online within the comfort and safety of our own homes with no worry or rush. 

To prevent others and yourself from catching the virus and for the safety of everyone, everyone should stay at home for Black Friday this year. 

Covid-19 has shut down restaurants, gyms, small businesses, and anything else you can think of. It is safe to say that the virus has had an impact on everyone and has caused people to improvise and compromise. 

According to the state of Michigan, as of right now just the Kalamazoo County has 7052 new confirmed cases, and on top of that, 1204 more probable cases. The case numbers are at an all time high. which led to the initiation of a “three week pause” by Governor Whitmer on November 18th. “Right now, there are thousands of cases a day and hundreds of deaths a week in Michigan, and the number is growing. If we don’t act now, thousands more will die, and our hospitals will continue to be overwhelmed,” she said after the new executive order was issued. Both Bronson and Borgess are nearing their capacity to care for Covid 19 patients. 

The recent order states that until December 9th, indoor gatherings are limited to “two households” at a time. Now, what two households looks like is different for everyone, but thousands of people crowded in a mall in line for American Eagle or Macy’s is without a doubt more than two households. Not only will participating in Black Friday this year go against the state’s order, but it will put lives at risk, including your own. Is wanting one discounted sweater really worth the high price of risking someone’s life?