This is a special episode. I am releasing it immediately, though I am still on a break until June. I’ll call it RAF207, it is being released out of order.
I’m recording in March of 2020. I know that probably everyone listening to this is affected by this issue. I thought you might want to know my thoughts and how I am approaching things.
What we are talking about is a virus. It is part of a category of viruses known as corona viruses. It is also referred to as the coronavirus, novel coronavirus, wuhan coronavirus (named after the supposed origin province in china), or COVID-19, which means coronavirus disease of 2019. The official name is Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
What is a virus? Viruses are considered biological entities but not living things. If they were, they would be the most numerous life forms on earth. Humans don’t get along nearly as well with viruses as we do with bacteria, so they cause disease associated with our fight to rid our bodies of them.
Why are we so concerned about SARS-CoV-2? I believe the main concern is that it is new. So we don’t have specific vaccines. All a vaccine does is provoke an immune response in the body, and that’s how we fight viruses on a personal level. The virus is also widespread, and is called a PANDEMIC.
What is a pandemic? A locally widespread infection is an epidemic. When an infection spreads worldwide, it is called a pandemic. There are 2 other pandemics that affect the world right now: HIV/AIDS (since 1920), and MERS (since 2012).
The earliest known pandemic was the Flu, which lasted from 1847-1848. There have been many since, that are no longer pandemics, including Bubonic Plague, Encephalitis, Spanish Flu, Asian Flu, Cholera, Hong Kong flu, VCJD, Swine flu, ebola, and most recently, the Zika virus, in 2015-2016.
Will I die if I catch the coronavirus? Probably not. Less than 4% of cases result in death, according to the WHO. By comparison, SARS has a 9.6% mortality rate,Swine Flu .02%, and MERS, another current pandemic, 34%. The mortality rate for seasonal flu is .1%. The CDC reports that 80% of deaths are of people 80 or older. If you have heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, you are also at higher risk of severe illness.
Will I catch the coronavirus? Answers vary greatly. The virus is spread between humans via particles put into the air by coughing and sneezing. So the more isolated you are, the less likely you are to catch the virus. This is why so many people are staying home as much as possible, and keeping their distance from others. In fact, the current recommendations to avoid catching or spreading it are the following, which you can review at any time on Google’s home page:
1 HANDS Wash them often
2 ELBOW Cough into it
3 FACE Don’t touch it
4 FEET Stay more than 3ft apart
5 FEEL sick? Stay home
The CDC expects most people in the US to be exposed to the virus in the coming months.
So why bother trying not to spread the virus? The main concern, as I mentioned before, is that this is a new thing. It’s not another of the flu pandemics we have successfully overcome in the past. So we need more time to develop a response. The more we can slow the spread of the virus, the more people will be able to take advantage of these responses as they are developed and made available. Every year I get a flu vaccine. Not because I’m concerned that I will get the flu. I’ve had it before and it has been no big deal. But if I get vaccinated, I am less likely to spread it to others who might be more vulnerable, either physically, like older folks, or economically, like anyone who couldn’t easily take a day off, or whose job is more critical. This is how I look at efforts to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Panic. I was recently trying to buy some Kleenex for my mom and dad, and couldn’t because the stores are all out, which means someone probably has a garage full of them somewhere. People were also hoarding bottled water. As far as I know, there will be no disruption in supply lines or operations of stores. I appreciate the folks that work in these areas. I actually work for a food company, which is taking seriously the need to keep things running. I am going to the grocery store as I need to, not stocking up or hoarding anything. I am working from home per company guidelines, and not attending any unnecessary events or gatherings. My gym is closed, but I can still exercise by walking.
I hope this has helped you to understand more about what’s going on with the coronavirus pandemic. Ignorance breeds fear, which leads to even worse things. The more we know, the healthier we will be, both physically as individuals, and as a society.
I guess I didn’t mention the symptoms of the virus, so you should know they are similar to the body’s reaction to any virus, namely coughing, fever, and shortness of breath. If you have these symptoms, contact your doctor.
And if you have a fever for good health, not a physical one, keep it and help others to catch it. And I’ll talk to you next time.