Featured
5-Minute Read: Everything You Need To Know About Coronavirus (Covid-19)
There’s been a lot of panic in the US ever since news of the coronavirus broke out. Since then, there’s been mass hysteria that’s been further perpetuated by the media. I’ve been keeping tabs on the news and unfortunately the majority of news outlets aren’t fact-checking their statistics, death-tolls, and facts.
Therefore, I decided to put together a 5-minute quick read to give you all the verified facts you need about the Coronavirus, so you’re not out there panicking like everyone else. Share this with everyone you know, and help spread FACTS instead of hysteria. All facts in this article are sourced from legitimate sources such as the Center Of Disease Control, World Health Organization, and science journals.
I’ll also keep this as updated as possible. Last updated: 8/3/20.
What IS the Coronavirus?
For those who think that coronavirus is some sort of “new” virus, you couldn’t be further from the truth. The term coronavirus simply refers to the type and general shape of the virus. The virus is round and appears to have a “crown” when viewed under a microscope, hence it’s named “corona” (Latin for crown) virus.
Coronavirus’ real name
The one that’s scaring the living crap out of most us right now has several names, Novel Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and COVID-19. If you see any of these names on the news, they’re all talking about the same virus.
Coronavirus comes from animals
Coronaviruses weren’t supposed to infect humans. The virus infects animals and because of our contact with livestock, a spillover can take place. A Spillover is when a virus that’s NOT meant to infect humans, actually infect humans. It’s extraordinarily rare and considered an anomaly. Humans get viruses from animals all the time, but the viruses can’t bind or reproduce their human host, and in 99.99% of cases nothing happens.
In the rare event that the virus can successfully reproduce and infect a human host, we have a problem. And usually a MAJOR problem.
Are Asians More Likely To Get/Spread COVID-19?
Anyone can contract COVID-19. Any misinformation about Asians and Chinese being more susceptible because of genetic markers is purely xenophobia and utter nonsense.
If you see any posts like these on social media, do the following:
- Call them out on their bs.
- Recite facts from the CDC or WHO
Don’t let these idiots spread misinformation and fear among your community.
How It Affects Children
In China, more than 44,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were children. And 416 cases (less than 1%) were children younger than nine. Zero cases of fatalities in children reported thus far.
How it affects children
- Coughing
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Less than 50% have a fever
Symptoms tend to be more subdued in children than in adults. This is likely because children tend to have healthier lungs than adults. Children who were diagnosed with COVID-19 recovered quickly within 1-2 weeks and sustained no permanent lung damage.
How It Affects Adults
Adults will get worse symptoms than children, but nothing fatal. If you’re a healthy adult who’s survived the common cold and the flu each year, you’ll likely be perfectly fine. Prepare for the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
How It Affects The Sick And Elderly
Elderly and anyone with heart disease, diabetes, or any lung disease, are more likely to experience more severe and sometimes fatal symptoms of the COVID-19.
- Pneumonia
- Kidney failure
- Death
Most reported deaths have been from those with the conditions above and the elderly.
Proper Way To Protect Yourself
Stop wearing facemasks and start washing your hands. Facemasks simply don’t work. The virus spreads via droplets which can leave any surface it makes contact with contagious for up to 2 weeks. Facemasks won’t protect you. Hand sanitizers, soap, and water will.
Tell your loved ones to wash their hands too and that should greatly reduce their likely hood of contracting the virus.
Other Types Of Coronaviruses
This isn’t the first time. Far from it. Below are other strains of the coronavirus that you may be familiar with, but didn’t recognize it as “corona”.
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
It started in 2002 in China also from contact with animals. Infected 26 countries. More than 8000 reported cases and 774 known deaths. Luckily it was contained in 2003. )
MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)
Coronavirus named MERS-CoV originated in Saudi Arabia in 2012 from contacts with camels. Later research found that MERS-CoV originated from bats. 2494 laboratory-confirmed cases with 858 known deaths so far bringing death rate to 37.1%.
DO NOT Trust Statistics – Yet
Any published numbers you see online, are likely wrong. None of it is even close to the truth or remotely accurate. Here’s why:
- Most cases aren’t reported: It’s only been known to be life-threatening for the already sick and elderly. Most people simply aren’t rushing to the ER when they get a fever or start coughing.
- Not enough tests: Last week federal government promised to ship 1.5 million test kits, however, it’s unclear how many actually were sent. Some sources claim 1.1 million, others claim only 700K. What is known, is that there aren’t enough kits being made or distributed nationwide.
News outlet will claim the spread of the coronavirus has “exploded” or is “getting out of control”. It’s a virus, and this is what actually happens in ANY viral pandemic. It’s a virus that’s airborne and naturally, the number of people it actually infects is always significantly higher than reported cases. This doesn’t mean the coronavirus has gone out of control, not at all. It’s simply behaving predictably – infecting exponentially more people than we can monitor.