21-year-old woman who bragged about ignoring social distancing gets coronavirus

It feels like just yesterday that we were watching videos of young Americans on “Spring Break” vacation defiantly refusing to self-isolate.

But now that cases of coronavirus in the US have surpassed 100,000, some young people who once minimised the threat of Covid-19 are testing positive for the virus.

21-year-old Nashville woman Ireland Tate, who posted a video dismissing the need for social distancing, just tested positive for Covid-19.

You really couldn’t make it up.

Last week, Tate posted a video an proudly proclaimed:

So, I’m aware that we’re supposed to be self-quarantining and social distancing all these things to keep everyone safe. Cool. I get it.

I just don’t think that I’m going to get the virus.

But just few days later, she’s changed her tune after testing positive. She's not alone, either, as some of Florida's Spring Breakers also tested positive upon their return.

Tate met at a friend’s house with over 20 other people, flouting Nashville’s social distancing guidelines. Her friends also went out publicly, despite the fact that city leaders had requested for gatherings of no more than 10 people.

Following her diagnosis, Tate told Fox 17 that she’s had a change of heart.

It feels like someone is sitting on my chest at all times.

It’s really hard to breathe. I’ve coughed until my throat has bled.

While younger people tend to carry more mild symptoms of coronavirus, it’s certainly not the case that they can’t catch the disease. A 21 year-old woman in the UK became the youngest British person to die from the disease, despite having no underlying health conditions. And even if young people don’t have symptoms, they can still carry the disease and pass it on to other people who might be more vulnerable.

Thankfully Tate is now taking the disease more seriously.

While it may not be affecting you, you could be affecting someone’s grandma or grandpa or aunt or uncle or sister.

It’s a shame that it took such dire circumstances for her to change her mind, but we’re glad she’s now using her platform more responsibly. We hope she makes a speedy recovery.

H/T: DailyDot