Social Distancing: It's a thing
Wow-what a month it has been. I am going to try and catch you up but it is A LOT.
So the entire world is currently dealing with a pandemic named Covid-19 better known as Coronavirus. Here is a link to some information but for record-keeping sake highlights:
What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause disease in animals. Seven, including the new virus, have made the jump to humans, but most just cause cold-like symptoms.
Two other coronaviruses – Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) – are much more severe, having killed more than 1,500 people between them since 2002.
The new virus, officially called Covid-19, is also dangerous - so far, around 20 per cent of confirmed cases have been classed as severe or critical. So far, around 15 to 20 per cent of hospital cases have been classed as "severe" and the current death rate varies between 0.7 per cent and 3.4 per cent depending on the location and, crucially, access to good hospital care.
This is much lower than fatality rates for Mers (30 per cent) and Sars (10 per cent), but still a significant threat.
Scientists in China believe that Covid-19 has mutated into two strains, one more aggressive than the other, which could make developing a vaccine more complicated.
How is coronavirus spread?
Like cold and flu bugs, the virus is spread via droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. The droplets land on surfaces and are picked up on the hands of others and spread further. People catch the virus when they touch their infected hands to their mouth, nose or eyes.
It follows that the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to keep your hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and water or a hand sanitising gel.
CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). On January 31, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. On March 11, WHO publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. On March 13, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency
So the entire world is currently dealing with a pandemic named Covid-19 better known as Coronavirus. Here is a link to some information but for record-keeping sake highlights:
What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause disease in animals. Seven, including the new virus, have made the jump to humans, but most just cause cold-like symptoms.
Two other coronaviruses – Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) – are much more severe, having killed more than 1,500 people between them since 2002.
The new virus, officially called Covid-19, is also dangerous - so far, around 20 per cent of confirmed cases have been classed as severe or critical. So far, around 15 to 20 per cent of hospital cases have been classed as "severe" and the current death rate varies between 0.7 per cent and 3.4 per cent depending on the location and, crucially, access to good hospital care.
This is much lower than fatality rates for Mers (30 per cent) and Sars (10 per cent), but still a significant threat.
Scientists in China believe that Covid-19 has mutated into two strains, one more aggressive than the other, which could make developing a vaccine more complicated.
How is coronavirus spread?
Like cold and flu bugs, the virus is spread via droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. The droplets land on surfaces and are picked up on the hands of others and spread further. People catch the virus when they touch their infected hands to their mouth, nose or eyes.
It follows that the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to keep your hands clean by washing them frequently with soap and water or a hand sanitising gel.
What seemed like overnight the situation rapidly changed. The Center for Disease Control & Prevention has been updating the citizens as this has progressed and boy oh boy what a rollercoaster ride.
Here is some information from their website:
On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). On January 31, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19. On March 11, WHO publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. On March 13, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency
In response to the pandemic in the US, the following has happened in my life that is making me anxious and trying to maintain:
All Disney Parks & Resorts worldwide have been closed (which means that my talk to the Land interns & Ethan's class trip have been cancelled)
I am currently working from home for the rest of the month which means I've been trying to figure out how to conduct my gardening helpful how to's in video form.
There is a national, state & city-wide state of emergency....everything is closing or is closed, schools, restaurants, cultural institutions, etc
Birthday parties & celebrations have been cancelled
Flights are super discounted with waivers on change fees....thinking of booking a trip to Puerto Rico for only $80 in September
J still has to go to work though since he is in the food industry
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics may be cancelled
I read an email from a colleague that said plainly:
"Social distancing is the only real way we can prevent a total breakdown of our healthcare system. Flawed as it is by social distancing ourselves we can lessen the instances of fellow citizens being treated in the hallways of hospitals that are overwhelmed with patients. Exhausted healthcare workers may not breakdown. We can curb the spread better than countries like Italy"
As an extrovert, it's going to be hard...but with friends and family in the most susceptible populations....I'm doing it for them.
Until next post....laters
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