The news that there are now four reported cases of the novel coronavirus disease in Florida has driven most South Floridians into a frenzy.
Hand sanitizers, canned foods, Vitamin C supplements, and water packages are some of the things that have quickly disappeared from stores in the past 48 hours. Some people are now publicly wearing masks and carrying gigantic hand sanitizing bottles—this, accompanied with the vision of empty stores, makes the sunshine state seem like a place taken out of a pre-apocalyptic movie.
The dire reality is, South Floridians—just like the rest of the world—are scared. And, it’s normal to be: nobody wants to get sick. But part of this reality of fear for the coronavirus also includes a crude fact: some people are not actually informed about what the virus is or how to prepare for it.
So, here are some questions about the virus, answered.
What Exactly is it? Is it True There’s More Than One Coronavirus?
The virus, “COVID-19,” is a member of the coronavirus family: viruses that are common throughout the world and can affect both humans and animals.
Originally, these viruses were only known to infect animals, but some of them—seven in specific, including the novel coronavirus—have been registered to cross the species barrier and move from animals to humans. These seven diseases that can affect humans are 229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1—which are four viruses that were first identified during the 1960s and are known collectively as Common Human Coronaviruses—and MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 (also known as COVID-19)—which are three relatively new viruses.
The new coronavirus that everyone is worried about is COVID-19, which was first recognized during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China at the end of last year. Many of those initially infected either worked or frequently shopped in the Huanan seafood wholesale market in the centre of Wuhan, so it is believed that COVID-19, which is a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before, first infected animals and then moved on into affecting humans.
What Are The Symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms can range from mild to severe respiratory complications. In some cases though, patients haven’t developed any symptoms at all.
The most common symptoms resemble the flu and include dry cough and fever. Other patients have also developed nasal congestion, sore throat, runny nose, diarrhea, and shortness of breath.
In severe cases, patients have developed pneumonia in both lungs and multi-organ failure.
How Many People Have Died?
As of 4 March, the global death toll was 3,190, while more than 93,000 people have been infected in more than 80 countries. The majority of deaths have occured in China, where there have been 2,981 deaths and 80,270 cases, with more than 44,000 patients having recovered already. South Korea, the nation worst hit by the outbreak besides China, has had 5,328 cases.
In the United States, patients with the coronavirus have been treated in 18 states. There have been over 160 cases confirmed across the nation and the death toll is currently 11—ten of them which came from California.
Florida now has four confirmed cases as of today, March 5th.
Is the Virus a Death Sentence?
The World Health Organization reported this week that the coronavirus is more lethal than the flu and has a death rate of now 3.4%.
There’s a lot that health officials still don’t know about the disease, but based on data, it is believed—as put by Special Pathogens expert Dr. Syra Madad for Business Insider—that the coronavirus “seems to be a mild type of viral infection.”
It is not a death sentence.
Is it True It Doesn’t Affect Children?
The virus can affect anyone, from all ages. But, old people are more likely to develop the severe symptoms of the disease that relate to extreme respiratory complications.
The China Center for Disease Control reported last month that the vast majority of cases in China — 87% — were in people ages 30 to 79, based on data from 72,314 diagnosed cases.
Older individuals, especially those who have pre-existing health complications, are simply more susceptible to the disease.
What is The Government Saying?
A week ago, President Trump appointed Vice President Mike Pence as the one in charge of the U.S. government response to the novel coronavirus spread. This received much criticism, specifically because Mike Pence has repeatedly made statements contradicting science.
President Trump says the U.S. has the virus under control, and yesterday, during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, he even claimed the World Health Organization’s data on the virus’s death rate is wrong:
“I think the 3.4 percent is really a false number — and this is just my hunch — but based on a lot of conversations with a lot of people that do this because a lot of people will have this and it’s very mild. They’ll get better very rapidly, they don’t even see a doctor, they don’t even call a doctor. You never hear about those people.”
But despite President Trump’s remarks, key lawmakers in the House and Senate were moving around Congress this past Wednesday to reach a deal to provide $8.3 billion in emergency aid to combat the novel coronavirus nationally and globally—a bill that is expected to be taken to President Trump by the end of the week.
Are There Travel Restrictions?
There are currently no domestic travel restrictions within the U.S., and new test kits for the virus are being distributed across the nation. But, despite the fact that there are no domestic travel restrictions, there is a travel ban on Iran that was extended in response to the Coronavirus disease.
Any foreigner who has visited Iran within the last 14 days cannot enter the United States. This was announced on Saturday by Vice President Pence.
Vice President Mike Pence also announced this past Saturday that the U.S. raised the travel warning to level 4—its most severe warning—to affected areas of Northern Italy and South Korea. There is currently a temporary suspension of Milan flights.
Foreign nationals who have visited China in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter the United States either, according to the CDC. American Citizens and permanent residents who have traveled to China in the past 14 days, on the other hand, will be allowed to enter the United States—but will be redirected to one of 11 airports to undergo health screening.
With approximately 100,000 CoronaVirus cases worldwide, and 3,280 deaths, the United States, because of quick action on closing our borders, has, as of now, only 129 cases (40 Americans brought in) and 11 deaths. We are working very hard to keep these numbers as low as possible!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2020
Are Schools in Florida Going To Be Closed Down?
This week, Governor Ron DeSantis held a state-wide call with school superintendents to discuss coronavirus concerns.
For now, schools are going to remain open. But school districts are now going to conduct case-by-case risk assessments for any out-of-county travel, especially to areas with confirmed cases of COVID-19, which is going to potentially affect many school field trips.
Hand sanitizing dispensers are now being put around schools too.
The Department of Education is NOT closing hundreds of schools in rural areas of our Country. This is just more Fake News. We are investing greatly in our schools, and always will!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2020
Prevention is key! Providing additional training to Head and Lead custodians to ensure our schools and facilities remain clean. pic.twitter.com/U6z4u5LzH8
— Alberto M. Carvalho (@LAUSDSup) March 5, 2020
Will Wearing a Mask Protect Me From The Virus?
While wearing a mask gives one a sense of security, it doesn’t protect the way we expect it to, especially when most people are either wearing the mask incorrectly or are wearing the wrong one.
There are two types of masks: the surgical mask that most people are wearing to protect themselves, and the NH95 mask, a special mask that filters air particles and is the one that healthcare workers use. This mask is specifically hard to breathe through, and it is rather for those that are infected with diseases.
There are other public health products that are proven to be more effective.
What Can Help My Family And I Protect From It? Does Washing Your Hands For 20 Seconds Help?
Both the WHO and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended basic measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
One of them, which everyone has probably heard about already, is washing one’s hands for 20 seconds—seriously.
The CDC said: “wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.”
Besides washing one’s hands, covering coughs and sneezes with tissues helps too—don’t cough or sneeze into your hands. Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects—doorknobs, phones—and surfaces is another precaution we should take.
While it is true that the virus’s death rate is not what many were expecting, we should prepare—not because we may feel personally at risk, but so that we can help lessen the risk for those who may be vulnerable to the lethality of the coronavirus.
Is There a Cure? Do Antibiotics Help?
There is currently no vaccine to protect from COVID-19. There is also no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19, and antibiotics don’t help—antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses.
The best way to protect oneself is to take everyday preventive actions and following what the CDC, WHO, and even local health organizations are saying.
It’s scary to be living through an outbreak like this one. But, such outbreaks are inevitable.
There is still a lot that we don’t understand in regards to these viruses, which are everywhere in our environment, and the idea of a looming pandemic reaching humanity simply stresses the importance on investing in global health security, which is something that many scientists are expressing at the moment.
The shelves at a local pharmacy, vitamin c, hand sanitizer, disinfectant sprays and tissues are all sold out amidst fears of #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/tIOod8GwRz
— The Harbinger (@HarbingerMLEC) March 2, 2020
