Liam HalawithMaroon Echoes Editor Unless you are currently tuning in from Bikini Bottom, you have heard an earful about COVID-19. You have heard about the symptoms, the mortality rate, and infections spreading across the United States. If you’re like me, the information is too shocking and too complicated to be easily understood. So I’m here, your friendly Maroon Echoes editor to help you decipher this information.
First off we are going to talk about the virus itself and how it is transmitted. COVID-19 has been pronounced a pandemic, COVID-19 (stands for Corona Virus Disease - 2019) is caused by a new type of coronavirus. A coronavirus is a type of virus that can be transmitted between humans and animals. In the initial stages it has been traced all the way back in Wuhan, China. Human coronavirus have existed for at least a century but this is a newer, more deadly and viral strain of the virus. It is now transmitted between humans that are in close contact with each other (6 feet). The transfer comes from little droplets when someone coughs or sneezes. It has also been known to spread through a phenomenon called “community spread. This can occur when a person comes in contact with a surface that has the virus on it. The virus can survive on a surface for several days after someone sneezes or coughs in the area. The most common symptoms of the virus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms, including headache, sore throat, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, have also been reported, but are less common. This is similar to a cold, the flu, and many other viruses often leading those infected to shrug it off and put off getting tested then going on to spread it to others. This virus is in many ways different from the flu. It is more severe due to the unknowns about the disease and no available vaccine. To protect yourself avoid going places where there are known cases of the virus; avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol. If you think you are sick, stay home – don’t go anywhere unless absolutely necessary. Cover your cough or sneeze, preferably into a tissue that you throw away. Clean “high traffic” objects like door knobs and handles. If you are recommended to stay home by a medical professional, please do so. If you don’t do so, you are putting others at risk including your loved ones because while you might not die but your grandma and grandpa might. Don’t take the chance, stay at home! Those who are most vulnerable to the virus include the elderly and those with weak immune systems are those who are most likely to develop a severe case of the virus. It isn’t as likely to kill young people but it is not guaranteed that you will survive. So stay home, and practice social distancing because these are the only guaranteed ways that this will end anytime soon. If we, as a nation, do not follow guidance from the CDC, it will only prolong this crisis and cause more deaths. This crisis has led to closures in Iowa, ordered by the Governor, not only in schools but in stores. Almost all businesses except those deemed “essential” have been ordered to close or offer their services remotely. This has also led to a massive economic downturn leading to the federal government passing legislation that guarantees every American adult (with a social security number) will receive a one-time $1,200 check with $500 for every child. Thankfully vaccines and treatments are currently in the works but it will take at least another 12-24 months to come up with solutions. This crisis has been predicted to last into the summer, causing shutdowns and restrictions for most of the rest of the school year. As of now, Iowa has closed all schools until April 10th. School in the Mount Pleasant Community School District as of publication is scheduled to resume April 13th unless things change. In conclusion, There are around 450,000 cases worldwide with almost 21,000 deaths. In the U.S. there are around 69,000 cases with over 1,000 deaths. This crisis is far from over, it will take a concerted effort from the country as a whole to turn this around. So please heed the advice above, take temporary inconveniences to help everyone stay healthy. Take this time to appreciate your loved ones. For tips on how to spend your quarantine keep reading! We’ve got you covered. The Maroon Echoes used information from the CDC and the government’s coronavirus.gov website. For more information visit coronvirus.gov or cdc.gov. For updates on the situation in Iowa visit kcrg.com
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