265 days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as the first pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. 265 days ago, many of us had to look up the difference between “epidemic” and “pandemic.”

The trouble with this virus does not come from lack of research or even a bad immune system; it stems from our collective decision to feign ignorance. We go out to eat, we enjoy the simplicities of strolling down avenues, all in the middle of a raging pandemic. We don’t want to believe it, but things have not gotten better.