Upon googling “corona” the first thing that came up a month ago was an ice cold beer image and an advertisement for Corona Extra beer. Not anymore. Now it is everywhere. COVOID-19 has swept the world by storm. This epidemic starting in the small town of Wuhan, China has killed many people, infected large nursing homes, cancelled study abroad and spring break plans for students everywhere. Although the issue may seem trivial to some or overly talked about whereas others are doing everything they can to worry more about the spread of this virus, we all are concerned and want to know if this could actually cause a world wide pandemic.
Let’s start with what we do know, what happened in China?
According to the CDC summary on the coronavirus, the disease appears to have originiated in a seafood market where animal trading occures illegally. Coronaviruses are shockingly not new and are on every Chlorox wipe bottle in the nation, and are known to jump from animals to humans; so it is assumed some stallholders contracted the virus from contact with animals. Then it began rapidly spreading from person to person beginning with medical professionals, which has caused the large epidemic to strike China. Communities of Hubei are of China were put on quarantine and many companies began to temporarily close within the area, but the virus was not contained and began to spread to neighboring countries and pop up in other areas of the world, including the United States.
What do we do? Well, we don’t really know. Until the virus runs its course there are not many measures we can actually take to prevent the rapid spread of the pathogenic virus that is running all over the world.
HOWEVER: Protect yourself? Yes! The World Health Organization’s article lists ways to protect yourself from contracting the virus. It is important to practice these measures in order to prevent yourself from developing the disease, and if you do contract it to prevent others with weaker immune systems from receiving it from you.
- Wash hands frequently
- Maintain social distance
- Avoid touching, eyes, nose, and face
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
- Seek medical help immediately if you have any newly developed symptoms
Lexie's MCRO blog 