They Said It Was Just a Media Hoax: The Truth About Coronavirus
I remember just two weeks go, I would hear people talking to each other or see people, healthcare workers and the general public alike, posting things on social media about Cornonavirus being blown out of proportion by the media, a disease that was just “made up,” a hoax, or that it was only killing the elderly. That information is not true.
13 Things (out of many) To Know About Coronavirus aka COVID-19
For full and most up to date information, please visit CDC and WHO
1.) This novel Coronavirus has spread to 185 countries and has caused more than 11,000 deaths around the world and young adults are not exempt from getting sick. 29% of United States Coronavirus cases are people between ages 20 and 44, while only 5% of cases were in patients younger than 19 years old. 20% of patients hospitalized with this Coronavirus have been among people ages 20-44.
2.) Coronavirus and COVID-19 are being used interchangeably amongst the public at this time. COVID-19 is a strain of Coronavirus. Coronavirus is a large family of respiratory viruses that have been around for decades, but it has many strains. COVID-19 is this new (novel) strain of Coronavirus that appeared first in Wuhan, China in late 2019, with its origin in bats, per the CDC.
3.) There is currently no approved vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness, right now, is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Symptoms may take 2-14 days to appear after exposure: fever, dry cough, and trouble breathing.
4.) Most people infected with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness. Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. If you are sick and MUST go in public, you should wear a facemask when you are around other people and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.
5.) The virus is believed to spread mainly by way of person-to-person contact: between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet) and through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.
6.) These respiratory droplets can be inhaled into the lungs or land in the mouths or noses of people who are close by!
7.) Keep a distance of 6 feet between you and other people in the general public.
8.) COVID-19 is “detectable in aerosols for up to 3 hours, up to 4 hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to 2 to 3 days on plastic and stainless steel,” per NIH.
9.) Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
10.) Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
11.) When sanitizing surfaces, remember “the dying is in the drying.” Germs are killed as the solution dries. Let the sanitizing solution air dry.
12.) Healthcare workers are on the front lines caring for patients with confirmed or possible infection with COVID-19 and therefore have an increased risk of exposure to this virus.
13.) Be kind and lift us up: Grab a piece of paper and write a healthcare worker a hand written thank you note. Find a stamp and drop it in the mail. Donate some PPE (personal protective equipment) to a hospital.
To make things a little easier to digest, I made this as a condensed list and it is not all inclusive. I encourage you to visit the Centers For Disease Control for all comprehensive reports. Facts on COVID-19 are changing almost daily. The information above is current as of March 21, 2020 9:00pm CST. Some of the items above are direct quotes from the CDC and/or NIH.