Blog - Public Sample 1: WUHAN CORONAVIRUS

The world at large is still grappling with the impact of the coronavirus. What started as an isolated incident in Wuhan, China, has quickly become a major cause of concern, as it heads towards becoming a global pandemic.

Indeed, more than 150 countries, have reported cases of the virus (as at 18^th March 2020) with new cases of infection expecting to unfold as days go by. Thus, it is normal to worry about your own safety and the safety of your loved ones. But as with any pandemic, knowledge is the key to surviving and avoiding infection.

Read along as we cover:

What the coronavirus is
The timeline of its spread
Comparisons to other pandemics
Myths associated with the virus
How it is affecting the world’s economy
How countries are dealing with it
How you can protect yourself and care for someone who has been affected by the virus
The relationship between coronavirus and animals
Information about research on vaccination and cure

Let’s begin.

Chapter 1: Coronavirus: A Comprehensive Background

What Is The Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses [1] are classified as a large family of viruses. They cause various types of illness ranging from common colds to more damaging and serious diseases such as SARS-Cov (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Coronaviruses happen to be zoonotic in nature. This means that they can be transmitted between animals and people.

Here’s the thing. There are various known coronaviruses present in animals. However, those viruses have not yet infected or ‘jumped’ to humans. The latest known coronavirus that has infected humans is the COVID-19.

What is COVID-19?

On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization sent out a tweet alerting the world that they had finally found a name for the 2019 nCoV (new coronavirus). They named it COVID-19.

They had deliberated over the name for two whole months and the naming system they came up with is said to set the stage for naming any other new viruses that may develop in future and adhered to WHO guidelines of providing names not related to individuals, animals, groups of people or geographical locations.

All in all, COVID-19 is the latest coronavirus known to have infected humans. It is often referred to as Wuhan coronavirus since it was first discovered in Wuhan, Hubei, China. However, as recent events have shown, this type of coronavirus is not limited to China. It can and it has spread to other regions. And as such, it is important to know its signs and symptoms, even if you are not from China.

Signs And Symptoms Of COVID-19

As of now, there are various signs and symptoms that have been linked to COVID-19 include:

Cough
Fever
Shortness of breath
Pneumonia (in severe cases)
Kidney failure (in rare cases)
Death

As you can imagine, these symptoms are common symptoms associated with a variety of diseases including the flu. As such, in order to determine whether or not someone has been infected by the virus, further deduction is required. One of the foremost questions you need to ask yourself is if you have been in places affected by the virus.

Since the virus is rampant in places such as China, people who have traveled to those places in the past 14 days or who have been in contact with someone suffering from the disease and who are experiencing the mentioned symptoms are advised to seek medical advice.

In other words, you don’t need to worry needlessly or fear that you have been infected with the coronavirus if you don’t meet two out of the three criteria. These include:

Showing the symptoms associated with the COVID-19, including coughing, fever and shortness of breath.
Being in contact with someone who has been infected by the virus.
Having traveled from China or a country with severe infection cases (like Italy and Iran) within 14 days of showing the symptoms associated with the virus.

Why 14 days? Well, this has something to do with COVID-19’s incubation period.

Incubation Period

The CDC places the incubation [2] period of COVID-19 between 2 to 14 days. This basically means that if you are infected with the various, you can start showing symptoms as early as two days or as late as 14 days after the infection.

However, on February 27, 2020, The Guardian reported the first case of a woman [3] in Japan testing positive for the coronavirus a second time. Other cases of second positives were reported in China.

This gives rise to questions with some of the burning issues being how long the virus can stay dormant in the body before making itself known. But some speculate that the people with second positives could simply have been re-infected with the coronavirus after being given the all clear.

Now comes the interesting part.

COVID-19 can be mild or severe. Experts speculate that some people who have been infected were simply treated for ‘colds or flu’ and dismissed. Globally, over 180,000 people are said to have been infected with the disease (as at 18^th March 2020), resulting in over 7176 deaths. However, over 80,000 people have fully recovered from the disease and they did this by simply managing the symptoms of the disease. But some people are said to be more at risk of developing severe coronavirus than others due to their age and other health issues.

But knowing what the COVID-19 is and the symptoms to look out for is not enough. You also need to know how it is spread in order to protect yourself.

Chapter 2: How It Is Spread

The COVID-19 was first detected in China. The first infections were traced to a wet market that sells wild animals in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. As we’ve stated, the coronavirus is zoonotic. This means that you can get the virus from eating or being in contact with animals that are carrying it.

In the Huanan market in Wuhan, vendors sold animals such as scorpions, wolf pups, bamboo rats, golden cicadas, civets, squirrels, hedgehogs, foxes, salamanders, crocodiles and turtles. Since a cluster of infections were linked to the Huanan market, a lot of people made the conclusion that the animals sold in the market were responsible for the infections and from there on it spread to other people.

That was a reasonable conclusion.

However, the first recorded case of infection was of someone not linked to the market. This raised various questions. Some people speculate that since China has since recorded thousands of cases of minor infections, it is possible that the person was infected by someone who had links to the market but who was not said to have the coronavirus. This is not a far-fetched assumption.

But it must be noted that such assumptions are based on the knowledge of previous pandemics.

For example, the Ebola virus is a well known pandemic that was traced to a bat, which infected a monkey and the infection jumped onto a human who ate the monkey. This is why some people theorize that the coronavirus might have followed the same route. A bat may have infected some animals which in turn infected several people who ate the infected meat from the market.

But despite how the corona virus started, it is important to note that it can now spread from person to person. This brings up some questions:

How Does COVID-19 Spread From Person To Person?

A person who has been infected with COVID-19 has the ability to infect other people with the virus. The virus is thought to spread:

Between people who are within 6 feet of each other.
Through respiratory droplets. For example, when someone who is infected sneezes or coughs, the droplets can be inhaled by other people if they land in their noses or mouths.

Close proximity with someone who has been infected with the virus increases the chances of infections since you will basically be breathing the same air. If the person is coughing and sneezing, you risk infection the closer you get to him or her.

People who are infected with the virus are said to be most contagious when they are at their sickest or most symptomatic. However, it is possible for someone to spread the virus even when he or she is not showing symptoms. But fortunately, this is not the main way the coronavirus spreads.

Can You Get Coronavirus From Infected Surfaces?

If a surface has the coronavirus, it might be possible for someone to get infected if they touch the object or surface and then place their fingers in their nose, mouth or eyes. However, this is not a main method of infection.

The fear of getting infected from objects has made people wary of accepting packages from China. But you need to remember that the coronavirus is a respiratory virus that is similar to the flu. Given that people don’t stop accepting packages from China when the flu season hits, there is no reason to stop receiving such packages.

Packages from China have to travel through various changes in temperatures. By the time they arrive at their destination, the possibility of them carrying the virus is minimal assuming they had the virus in the first place.

Can A Quarantined Person Infect You With Coronavirus?

Quarantine refers to the act of separating someone who was exposed to a contagious disease from others. The person may or may not have developed symptoms associated with the illness. As long as they were exposed to the illness, quarantine is taken as a precaution.

The purpose of keeping the exposed individual in isolation is to determine whether or not they are suffering from the disease. As such, such an individual is usually held in isolation for the whole duration of the incubation period of the disease. For example, if someone is exposed to COVID-19, they will be held in isolation for at least 14 days from the time of exposure. This is in line with the incubation period of the coronavirus.

The symptoms usually start showing at the fifth day but to be on the safe side, the individual is kept for the whole duration of incubation. Individuals who are found to be ill can then start receiving treatment and individuals who are not infected are allowed to return to society.

According to the CDC, a patient who was kept in isolation is supposed to meet certain requirements before they can be released to the community at large. These requirements include:

The individual being free from fever. The patient should show no signs of the fever without using medication meant to reduce fever.
The individual should not show any symptoms associated with the disease including cough.
Two respiratory specimens collected from the individual at least 24 hours apart should test negative.

Once the person is cleared and released from isolation, the person is not considered to be infectious anymore.

Who Is At Risk Of Developing Severe COVID-19?

The first thing you need to understand is that anyone, no matter age or gender, can become infected with the coronavirus. Some people are more at risk of infection than others. These include people such as health workers who are tasked with caring for those infected with COVID-19 and also people who are in close contact with those infected.

However, the virus seems to be more severe in older people and people who already have a compromised respiratory system. But given the recent spread of the virus to other countries, it is prudent to keep an eye out to ensure that you are not exposed to the virus. This is where the coronavirus timeline come it. It showcases the start of the virus and what is happening in the present in regards to the virus.

Chapter 3: Coronavirus Timeline

As you know, the COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei, China. And as with any unknown virus, it became paramount to keep an eye on it and track the events that occurred due to the virus. The following is the coronavirus timeline:

December 31, 2010 – On this day, cases of pneumonia detected in China are reported to the World Health Organization. At this point, the virus causing the upsurge in such cases is unknown but according to Wuhan Municipal Health, the cases [4] occurred between December 12 and 29.

January 1, 2020 – The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market is closed by Chinese health authorities. This was after they discovered that the wild animals sold in the market may be the common source of the virus.

January 5, 2020 – On this day, China makes the announcement that the reported unknown cases of pneumonia in Wuhan are not MERS or SARS. The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission says they have initiated a probe into the outbreak.

January 7, 2020 – Chinese authorities state they have identified the previously unknown virus as a novel coronavirus. It is named 2019-nCoV [5] by the World Health Organization.

January 11, 2020 – The first death attributed to the coronavirus is announced by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission. The 61 year old man who died is said to have suffered respiratory failure due to pneumonia. He was said to have been exposed to the coronavirus at the Huanan seafood market.

January 13, 2020 – A case of a Chinese national infected by the coronavirus is reported by Thai authorities. The patient is said to have arrived from Wuhan.

January 16, 2020 – On this day, Japanese authorities confirmed a case of death of Japanese man being infected with the virus. The man had traveled to Wuhan.

January 17, 2020 – The second person is confirmed to have died in China. The United States starts screenings for symptoms at airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.

January 20, 2020 – China reports a third death and 139 new cases of coronavirus.

January 20, 2020 – Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says they are taking the first steps towards developing a vaccine.

January 21, 2020 – The first case of the virus on US soil [6] is confirmed by officials in Washington State.

January 22, 2020 – Chinese authorities say that they have confirmed 547 cases of the virus in the mainland. Wuhan states it is temporarily closing its railway and airport stations. This followed the news of the death toll having risen to 17 in Wuhan.

January 23, 2020 – WHO convened an emergency committee to discuss the virus stating that it is not yet a public health emergency that merits international concern.

January 23, 2020 – The Beijing Culture and Tourism Bureau announces that it has cancelled large scale celebrations of the Lunar New Year. This is in effort to curb the spread of the virus.

January 26, 2020 – On this day, the China Association of Travel Services announces the suspension of all local and international tours.

The death toll from the virus rises to 56 and about 200 new cases of confirmed infections are reported. Hong Kong closes its Ocean Park and Disneyland themes.

New cases of infections are confirmed in Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and the US.

January 27, 2020 – Chinese authorities report that the death toll is at 106 with 100 deaths reported in Hubei province. Another 4, 515 cases of infection were reported. This was up from 2, 714 just the previous day making the new infections 1,423.

January 30, 2020 –On this day, the World Health Organization declared that the coronavirus is now a global emergency. In China, the virus spread to all 31 provinces with 7, 711 infections reported and 170 deaths.

The Philippines and India confirmed that one person had been infected in each of the countries.

January 31, 2020 - The cases of infections in China jumped to 9, 809. The United Kingdom, Spain, Russia and Sweden confirmed their first cases of infections.

Since then, various countries have continued to report new cases of infections around the world. As of March 11 2020, statistics of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 are as follows:

Source: Novel Coronavirus Map [7]

But it must be noted that given the incubation period of the coronavirus, it may take awhile for new cases of infection to be confirmed. This explains why the number of new infections rises each day.

For more up-to-date statistics, check out this Novel Coronavirus map [8] and this one [9], as it tracks the spread of the coronavirus.

Now, given what we know now of the coronavirus, the question stands, where does it stand in comparison to other pandemics?

Chapter 4: Comparison To Other Pandemics

In light of the spread of COVID-19, it would be prudent to compare it to other pandemics so that we can know the potential effect of the virus. One of the questions that were first to come up, was:

Is COVID-19 SARS?

The answer is no. However, the virus that causes SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and the one that causes COVID-19 are related. This is why the virus that causes COVID-19 is named SARS-CoV-2 or in full, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2.

SARS vs. COVID-19

Both SARS and COVID-19 are coronaviruses. The viruses that cause them are related. But SARS happens to be more deadly than COVID-19. But when it comes to infection, COVID-19 is more infectious than SARS. This means that although COVID-19 is less deadly, you are more likely to get it than you are to get the less infectious SARS. For example, those infected by SARS in 2002 numbered 8098 [10] but as now, those infected with COVID-19 are said to be over 118,000 and counting. SARS spread to over 24 countries while as of now; COVID-19 has been confirmed in over 119 countries. This shows how infectious COVID-19 is.

COVID-19 was discovered on December, 2019 and is currently making rounds around the world. On the other hand, SARS has not been reported since 2003. But both of these two diseases have a strong link to China. For example, in November 2002, SARS was first reported in Guangdong province, Southern China and in December 2019, COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. This is why some people speculated that the new infections were SARS but that speculation was disproved.

So, how likely are you to recover from the two diseases?

Well, as far as we know, there have been more cases of mild COVID-19 than deadly ones. Experts place the mortality rate at 3% but they caution that it is still too early to make conclusions where COVID-19 is concerned. But whereas COVID-19 has more mild cases than fatal ones, SARS was known to lead to an often life threatening type of pneumonia. And if you know anything about pneumonia, it is a cause of concern on its own without even adding the term life-threatening. Of the 8098 confirmed infections, 774 proved fatal. This put the mortality rate of SARS at 9.6 percent.

Also, half the people who were 65 years and older, died after contracting SARS. And we’re still waiting for statistics but it has been reported that COVID-19 is more severe in people over 65 years. Thus, in both cases, it seems that older people have a disadvantage.

What about the symptoms? How do they compare?

As for the symptoms of SARS, they are:

Fever
Dry coughing
Aches
Breathlessness
Chills
Diarrhea

On the other hand, the symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever and shortness of breath. But it should be noted that someone infected with SARS starts with a fever and then the rest of the symptoms present themselves within a week leading to pneumonia. Since one of the symptoms of COVID-19 is fever, it can be challenging to determine which disease someone is suffering from just by looking at them. And as you know, having a fever is not uncommon in many diseases. Thus, only tests can confirm the true nature of diseases.

As of the origin of disease, SARS-CoV, the virus that causes SARS is said to have originated from bats and was linked to civet cats which passed on the virus to humans. But as of now, although the virus that causes COVID-19 has been linked to bats, it is not clear which animal infected humans. As of now, the major suspect is said to be pangolin but this has not yet been confirmed. What we do know is that a number of wild animals were sold in the market in Wuhan was the disease was linked.

Thus, SARS and COVID may or may not have infected humans from the same animal but they both jumped from an animal to human beings.

Now let’s look at how COVID-19 compares to MERS.

MERS vs COVID-19

MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) is a disease caused by the MERS-CoV virus. MERS, just like COVID-19, is classified as a coronavirus. MERS was first discovered in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and in 2015, the virus surfaced in South Korea. It was said to be the largest outbreak that occurred outside the Arabian Peninsula.

MERS is not as closely related to COVID-19 as SARS is but its symptoms resemble those of COVID-19. They include breathlessness, coughing and fever. As far as infection is concerned, MERS infects those who are in close contact and all the infections that occurred because of the virus were linked to the Arabian Peninsula.

MERS has a high mortality rate. It is fatal [11] in 35.2% of the people who become infected with it. And like SARS and COVID-19, the virus is linked to bats. MERS is said to have spread to humans through the dromedary camels.

As you can see, SARS, MERS and COVID-19 have some similarities and differences. But as of now, more knowledge is needed to truly understand COVID-19. But this has not stopped people from speculation and as such various myths have come up in regards the disease.

Chapter 5: Myths Associated With The Coronavirus

When the coronavirus was detected, little was known about it. In the absence of information, there were a lot of speculations and suggestions on how people can protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus. Some of these include:

Thermal scanners can detect coronavirus infection in people

Thermal scanners can indeed tell if someone has a higher than normal body temperature. Thus, they can be useful in pinpointing those who have developed a fever. Since fever is one of the symptoms of the coronavirus, some think they can be useful in detecting the virus.

But remember, a thermal scanner only tells if the temperature is above normal. It does not tell you why the temperature is high. There are various reasons why someone can have a fever and someone can be infected with the virus without showing symptoms earlier on. As such, thermal scanners cannot detect the coronavirus infection in people. They can only detect fever.

Hand dryers can kill the coronavirus

The suggestion that hand dryers can kill the coronavirus is not founded on research. Yes, hand dryers tend to be a source of heat and some speculate that this can give them an advantage over killing the virus but remember we do not know at what temperature the virus dies and how long you need to sustain that temperature in order to kill it. As such, if you want to protect yourself, stick to using soap and water to wash your hands religiously or use a hand rub that is alcohol-based if your hands do not look dirty.

Ultraviolet disinfection lamps are effective against the coronavirus

Ultraviolet lamps are not good for your skin. The only thing they will do if you use them on your skin is irritate your skin. There is a reason why people are warned against exposing their skin to UV lights. They not only irritate your skin but they can also make you susceptible to skin cancer. Thus, you should not use them to sterilize any part of your body.

Spraying chlorine or alcohol on your body kills the virus

Both alcohol and chlorine are often used to clean or disinfect surfaces. But it should be noted that spraying such substances on your body cannot and will not kill any virus that has already entered your body. In fact, if you use such substances on your body they will end up harming your mucous membrane and that may make you more susceptible to the virus since it can enter your body through your eyes, nose or mouth.

Pets can spread the coronavirus

A main concern when it comes to coronavirus is animals. This is because animals are capable of infecting humans with the virus. But one thing you should remember is that not all animals carry the virus. And the animals said to infect humans were actually used as foods by the humans. Thus, there is no reason to worry that the pets you keep in your home can infect you with the virus. But you can make a practice of washing your hands after handling your pets.

As of now, the virus is spreading from person to person. If you or your family members get infected with the virus, it would be wise to keep a healthy distance from your pets as we don’t know yet if humans are capable of infecting animals with the virus.

Pneumonia vaccines can protect you against coronavirus

There are certain vaccines that help protect people from diseases. For example, pneumococcal vaccine guards against pneumonia and the Haemophilus influenza type B guards against the flu. However, these vaccines are made to protect you against particular diseases and should be used to offer protection against those diseases. As of now, there is no vaccine or cure against COVID-19. Remember, every virus is different. Thus, the only way for a vaccination to offer protection from a disease is if it was made to offer protection from that particular disease.

Packages from China can spread the virus

Fear is a real thing whenever the thought of being infected with a deadly disease arises. However, you do not need to put a stop to receiving packages from countries affected by the virus. As a whole, coronaviruses don’t survive for long on surfaces or objects such as packages or letters. Thus, your package should be safe once it reaches you.

However, you may have to check with your local authority to determine whether or not they are receiving deliveries from certain areas.

Eating garlic can protect you from infection

As you know, garlic is a healthy food. It contains some antimicrobial properties that are useful in fighting disease. As a matter of fact, it is often used in common cold remedies. However, when it comes to the coronavirus, there is no evidence suggesting that garlic can prevent you from catching the disease.

Spraying saline on your nose can help you recover from infection

Limited evidence shows than rinsing your nose with saline regularly can help you recover quickly from colds. But this only applies to the common cold. The same cannot be said in regards to respiratory infections. And there is no evidence to show saline helps people recover from coronavirus quickly.

Antibiotics can protect you from the virus

The purpose of antibiotics is to fight against bacteria. It does not work against viruses including the coronavirus. Thus, antibiotics should not be administered in the prevention or treatment of the coronavirus.

However, if you are infected by the coronavirus, you may end up getting a bacterial co-infection. In this case, your health care provider may administer antibiotics to deal with the co-infection.

Sesame oil prevents the virus from entering your body

Sesame oil cannot kill the coronavirus. As such, if you apply it on your body, it will not prevent the virus from entering it. But one thing that can help you disinfect surfaces is a chemical disinfectant. Bleach or chlorine-based disinfectants can be used to clean surfaces. However, such products don’t work to stop viruses from entering your body when you put them under your nose or on the skin. Furthermore, if you apply them on your skin, they can cause irritation.

Remember, myths and misinformation stem from people speculating about a topic without having all the facts. As such, one way to stop such myths is to be informed and avoid passing on unconfirmed information. Now, one thing that is not a myth is the impact of the coronavirus on the world’s economy. Let’s look into this.

Chapter 6: How It Is Affecting The World’s Economy

Before the coronavirus hit China, a bruising trade war with US caused its economy to see its lowest expansion in 30 years. And then the coronavirus hit. Already, China’s economy [12] does not look good in light of COVID-19 and although its effect on the world’s economy cannot yet be fully quantified, individuals and companies around the globe are already seeing some significant changes.

Here’s the thing.

Over 700 million people in China were placed on some kind of lockdown once the coronavirus became a major cause of concern. This lockdown affected how people spend money and how companies conduct businesses. Some areas impacted include:

Consumption of luxury goods

With millions big spenders in China, cutting back on that source of income will obviously impact a lot of companies. These wealthy consumers buy luxury products from around the globe. Countries such as Canada have already seen a decrease in sales as far as such products [13] are concerned.

Britain has only suffered from the effects of COVID-19. For example, the British brand Burberry was forced to close 24 out of 64 stores in China. What’s more, the brand’s executive stated that the coronavirus is impacting luxury items negatively. No one wants to buy luxury items when they have more pressing concerns such as avoiding a pandemic.

The automobile industry

The global automobile industry has not been left behind. As it too has seen a decrease in the amount of cars [14] people from China are buying. Also, China ordered several car plants to close. This prevented global automakers such as Toyota, Volkswagen, Renault, Daimler, Honda, Hyundai and General Motors from operating in what is the largest car market. S & P Global Ratings stated that COVID-19 would force the carmakers to slash their production by at least 15% in the first quarter alone. This is huge in terms of the money they are expected to lose.

Tourism industry

Another sector that has been affected is the tourism industry. Remember, not only is China cautious about keeping the virus from spreading to other countries but other countries are also hesitant to allow travelers from China to enter their borders. Countries such as United States issued an outright ban prohibiting people from China from traveling to its borders. And cruise ships [15] that were already on the go have become vessels for lockdowns. This means that people are stranded on such ships and not reaching their intended destinations. In other words, COVID-19 has prevented consumers from traveling and spending money on their travel destinations.

But there is another cause for worry.

This happens to be China’s emergence as an economy. China was nicknamed the factory of the world more than 15 years ago. A lockdown not only affected the local inhabitants but the world at large. For example, things such as oil saw a rise in prices and things such as iPhones became scarce as the parts to make them could not be availed. COVID-19 was seen to drive demand for commodities such as copper and oil [16]. And as you know, the price of oil affects the prices of other goods and services. Thus, individuals around the globe will start feeling the pinch if they are not already.

The Airline industry

When the coronavirus hit, one of the things the Chinese government did to stop it from spreading was ground planes. This resulted in a $12.8bn in revenue loss in China. But China was not the only country affected. Other countries also prohibited their citizens from traveling to China. This resulted in a loss of revenue and according to IATA (International Air Transportation Association); the airline industry is projected to lose at least $29bn due to COVID-19. That is obviously a large sum of money that could also impact the industry in other areas.

Remember, airlines also depend on other industries such as the hospitality industry. If people are not traveling, hotels are not being booked; vendors are not selling their wares and so on and so forth. Some industries are forced to cut back on things such as personnel in an effort to recover.

As the coronavirus continues taking its toll and more and more numbers start coming in, it will become clearer as to the impact the virus has on the economy. But something that should be noted is that the virus itself is not the driving factor of the losses experience. Rather, the way governments, businesses and consumers respond to the virus is.

For example, people tend to stay home when they know something outside their home can make them sick. This prevents them from traveling, working and shopping. In turn, the demand for energy and consumer goods fall. And when governments and companies implement lockdowns and shutdowns, the shops, factories and companies remain closed and halt any profit making activities. This greatly impacts the economy. Thus, in as much as governments want to stop the spread of COVID-19, they also need to prevent panic from spreading to ensure that the countries can recover once the coronavirus is no longer a threat.

What’s more, the individual impact of the virus on the people affected by it should not be brushed aside. Remember, people livelihoods are at stake. If you cannot work, you cannot earn and this sets you and your family back. Thus, it is vital that you know how to protect yourself in order to lessen the impact the virus has on you and your family. Let’s see some things you can do.

Chapter 7: Simple Common Sense Guidelines To Protect Yourself And Prevent Infection

As many infections are being reported around the world, COVID-19 is greatly becoming a major global emergency. As such, it is your responsibility to protect yourself and the people around you from being infected with the virus.

There are certain things you can do:

You should make a habit of thoroughly cleaning your hands. You can use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. When you wash your hands using a hand rub or soap and water, you effectively kill the viruses you may have come in contact with.
You need to maintain a distance of 3 feet or 1 meter between yourself and someone who is sneezing or coughing. This is because the liquid droplets from their mouth or nose may contain the coronavirus. If you stand close to them, you may end up breathing in the droplets and this may lead to disease.
You should avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose. This is because a lot of people tend to touch surfaces. It is a subconscious habit. But here’s the thing, such surfaces can and do pick up various viruses. If you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your mouth, eyes or nose, you may end up transferring the virus to your body.
You and the people around you need to enforce a good respiratory hygiene. When you cough or sneeze, you should bend your elbow and sneeze or cough into it. Alternatively, you can use a tissue and then discard it immediately once you are done coughing or sneezing into it. Remember, droplets spread the coronavirus. If you follow good respiratory hygiene, you’ll lessen the chances of spreading diseases like COVID-19, cold and flu.
Don’t use your hand to cover your nose or mouth. As we’ve said, people tend to touch surfaces subconsciously. You may touch a surface that is contaminated and transfer the virus to your body. And in case you are infected with the disease, you may end up spreading the infection to other people without knowing it. This can be prevented by stopping the habit of touching your nose or mouth for whatever reason.
If you are feeling unwell, you should stay indoors. If you develop a cough, fever and experience difficulty in breathing, call in advance before seeking medical attention. This will help the local health authorities to give you directions on the procedure to follow for your own protection. It will also minimize the chance of spreading disease to others in case of infection.
You should keep up to date with information provided by your local public health authority. This is because they have the most up-to-date information in regards to the spread of the disease in your area and they can advise you on specific measures to take to protect yourself.

What About Preventing Infection At Work?

If you are in an area that has confirmed infections, you should look into staying at home as much as possible. However, if this is not possible, follow the stated guidelines to protect yourself. Avoid touching people, wash your hands and observe good respiratory hygiene. If you show any of the symptoms of the virus, stay at home.

And while we are on the subject of work, it should be noted that some cluster of infections were linked to large gatherings such as conferences. Conferences often involve large crowds meaning more people seated in an enclosed area for long periods. This gives viruses an opportunity to spread from one person to another. Thus, it would be wise to stick to virtual conferencing during a pandemic.

All in all, as already stated, you need not worry excessively about the coronavirus. If you take these simple measures and are not in an area where the virus has been confirmed, you should be alright. What about if you are in such an area? Well, this is where face masks come in.

Chapter 8: Should You Wear Face Masks?

According to WHO, if you don’t have respiratory symptoms, there is no need for you to wear a mask. This is especially so if you don’t live in an area that has reported several cases of infections.

Here’s the thing.

Whenever there is a pandemic somewhere in the world, people get worried. No one wants to be sick but such worry should not lead you to be overly cautious. Remember, there are people who need face masks and other protective clothing. People such as caregivers, health workers and those who have been infected by the virus are all in need of masks. However, when others rush to buy masks, it creates a shortage and the people who really need it have to do without it. That is a recipe for more disaster.

One of the respirators that have been on high demand is the N95 respirator. Thus is a particulate-filtering respirator that is used as a face mask. It is said to filter 95% of air bone particles and should thus, offer some protection against COVID-19. The Aberden plant in South Dakota that manufactures the masks is said to have a seven-day schedule in order to meet increasing demands. This is despite citizens being discouraged from panic buying face masks. But the owners insist that their first priority is to provide masks to patients and health workers.

Thus, don’t use a face mask if you don’t need to. But in case you do, there are several guidelines you should follow:

Before you touch a face mask, you first need to clean your hands using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
Next, pick up the mask and closely inspect it to make sure it does not have any holes.
Familiarize yourself with the mask so you can tell which side is the top side.
Once done, place the proper side of the mask on you face and then use your fingers to pinch the stiff edge or metal strip. The face mask should be able to mould to your nose.
Next, carefully pull down the mask until it covers your mouth and chin.
When you’re done using the mask, carefully pull it away from your face and your clothes via the loops behind the ears. This way, if the mask has a contaminated surface, it would touch your face or clothes.
Place the mask in a closed bin immediately after use.
After you discard the mask, you need to clean your hands. You can use an alcohol-based run to do so. But you may need to clean your hands with soap and water if the mask was visibly soiled.

All in all, remember that face masks have their purpose. Their purpose is to prevent someone from infecting others with disease or to protect someone from being infected by disease. Thus, gauge the likelihood of either scenario happening before you decide whether or not you need to use a face mask.

But unfortunately, despite your best efforts to protect yourself and those around you from the virus, someone you know may become infected with the virus. If this happens, there is a lot you can do to ensure that the person recovers and that the rest of the household is spared from being infected with the virus. Let’s see how you can effectively play the role of caregiver.

Chapter 9: How To Be A Caregiver

If someone close to you is infected with COVID-19, you need to know how to help them. If they only have a mild case of the disease, chances are that they are given medication to deal with the symptoms and sent home to recover. If so, there are certain things you can do to help the patient and protect yourself and others who may be in the home from infection. You should:

Familiarize yourself with your healthcare provider’s instructions. This will help you know what medication is needed and when to give it.
Ensure that the patient has what he or she needs at this time. Remember, the patient should stay indoors until he/she recovers. Thus, you need to provide support for things such as prescriptions, groceries and other items they may need so that they are not forced to get out of the home.
Monitor any symptoms the patient has. This will enable you to know if he or she is getting sicker. If there is need to take the patient to the hospital, you need to call the healthcare provider and then inform them that the patient has COVID-19 and that it has already been confirmed. This will help the health officer to prepare to receive you and it will prevent other patients in the waiting room from the disease.
It is important for members living in the same home as the patient to stay in another room. They should be separated from the infected patient as much as possible. If there is a separate bathroom, household members should plan to use it for the duration of the patient’s recovery.
This is not the time to receive visitors. Unless there is an essential need for someone to visit your home, advise those living outside your home to refrain from visiting the household members.
If there are any pets in the home, the infected individual should not be charged with their care. He or she should not handle pets or any animals at this time.
All the shared spaces available in your home need to have proper ventilation. You can get an air conditioner or leave a window open so that the air remains fresh instead of stale.
This is the time to upgrade your hand cleaning routine. You should use soap and water to thoroughly wash your hands. You should make it a habit to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before you rinse them off (sing the happy birthday song until the end while washing – that’s how long you should wash). You can also use an alcohol hand rub to clean your hands. Remember, viruses that are on your hands can enter your body through your nose, eyes and mouth. If you keep your hands clean, you minimize the chances of that happening.
You need to avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes. If you must touch those areas, you need to wash your hands first.

Before you enter the room the patient is, both you and the patient should wear a face mask.
Wear gloves and a disposable face mask whenever you handle anything that has the patient’s urine, vomit, sputum, saliva and nasal mucus. Once you’re done, you need to discard the items. Do not reuse them. Rather, carefully remove them and then clean your hands using soap and water.
Do not share any items with the patient. Use separate dishes, cups, towels, beddings, eating utensils and other items. Any item used by the patient should be thoroughly washed.
Use a cleaning spray to clean surfaces that tend to be touched a lot. These include surfaces such as doorknobs, tabletops, phones, tablets, keyboards, bathroom fixtures and counters. When cleaning such surfaces, ensure you have proper ventilation and wear gloves.
You need to thoroughly wash the laundry used by the patient. If it has any body fluids on it, wash it immediately. Make sure you wear disposable gloves whenever you handle soiled items. Such items should not come into contact with your clothes. Once you’re done washing, thoroughly clean your hands.
All used face masks, contaminated items and disposable gloves should be placed in a lined container. They should not be directly mixed with other household waste. Once you discard the items, clean your hands.

Remember, you can safely care for someone infected by the virus without putting yourself or other people in danger. Everyone in the household has to remain vigilant and observe the highest degree of hygiene until the patient has recovered fully.

But unfortunately despite everyone’s best efforts to contain the virus, sometimes it spreads quickly and becomes a pandemic. When that happens, the local authorities may decide to call for quarantine. Let’s see what you need to do to prepare for quarantine.

Chapter 10: How To Prepare For Pandemic And Quarantine

The people of Wuhan had no warning. One day, they were living their lives and a few days later, they were on a lockdown. As such, many found themselves in dire circumstances as they did not know where to get basic needs such as food. As the disease spreads to other parts of the world, it is not farfetched to think you can experience a lockdown – the whole of Italy was put under lockdown on March 8^th 2020. You need to keep an eye on the situation and prepare for quarantine if the situation escalates. In that light, there are some things you can do. You should:

Stock the pantry

COVID-19 is not a natural disaster. It does not directly affect things such as power lines. As such, you may likely have power during the duration of the quarantine. This means that you can actually store things in your refrigerator. You can purchase items such as frozen foods and vegetables. As per the government [17] , every household should try to have at least a two-week supply of food and water.

However, that having been said, you should ensure that you also stock up on nonperishable food. Foods such as grains can serve you for a long period of time and they do not need to be stored in the refrigerator. And when you’re buying food items, plan to have a variety of items to ensure that you’re eating healthily during the time of quarantine. Stock up on things such as nuts, trail mix, grains, beans, soups, oatmeal, nut butters, whole grain pasta, dried fruit, and olive oil and root vegetables.

Another thing you can do is start a mini farm in your backyard. This is in case the quarantine goes on for longer than you imagine. A fresh supply of vegetables can help you endure a long period of quarantine.

Don’t forget the basic necessities and vices

As you stock your pantry, you should not forget things such as toothpaste, toilet paper, soap and feminine care products. Such things often skip the mind in light of other pressing matters but they are also important.

You should also look into upping your purchase of soap and alcohol-based hand rubs. As you’ve discovered, one thing that is emphasized as far as pandemics are concerned is hand washing. Washing your hands can keep a lot of diseases away. During quarantine, you’ll want to ensure that everyone in your household adheres to a hand washing routine. This will keep you safe until and after the quarantine period passes.

Apart from buying the necessities, you should also look into buying things such as coffee, tea and various beverages. Such things make the day better even if they are not vital for survival.

Don’t forget your pets

Pets are part of your family and unless you want to get rid of them during the time of the quarantine, you should prepare to keep them safe and happy during this time. This means providing things such as litter, medication and food. Also, remember to play with pets such as puppies so that they can use their energy in positive way. Your pets may be able to tell when you’re stressed. Thus, it is vital that you don’t neglect them just because you are scared of what is going on outside your home.

Stock up on medication

Quarantine is put in place to stop the spread of specific diseases. But you can still get sick from other diseases during this time. For example, you may end up catching the common cold or someone may get into a minor accident that requires first aid. As such, it would be helpful if you have some over the counter medication with you and also a first aid kit.

It would also be useful if you have your health records with you. You may have to seek help and it would be good if you have all the information to enable the healthcare providers know what they are dealing with. Also, if you are on certain medication, it would help to talk to your healthcare provider to see if they can describe medicine to last you for a few months.

If you attend therapy, you should look into setting up such sessions via video conferencing or phone sessions. Remember, your mental health is just as important as your physical health especially when pandemic strikes.

Look into online banking services

Here’s the thing. When an area is on quarantine, a lot of the times, the government arranges drop off points. This means you can actually purchase things online and have them delivered to the drop off points. However, if you don’t have a means to pay for such services, you will be in a dilemma. Online banking services allow you to access your cash without leaving your home. You can pay for your groceries and other deliveries as the quarantine period goes on.

Prepare to work

Nowadays, a lot of companies have the means to allow their employees to work from home. This means that your work life need not come to a halt just because the area is under quarantine. Inquire about such opportunities and determine what you need to work effectively from your home. Some things you can look into setting up include messaging platforms such as Skype and video conferring platforms such as Zoom. You can also look into dressing for work as usual in order to put your brain in work mode.

Also, make a timetable so that you know just how much time you will be spending on work each day. It is easy to be distracted when you’re working from home. And it is easy to neglect your family because of work. You need to strike a balance that will enable you to do your work without neglecting your family.

Look into games

You need to occupy yourself and your loved ones during quarantine. Instead of listening to or watching gloomy news throughout the day, you can play several games that will help you pass the time and bond with your family. Online games are one possibility. But it would also be good to have things such as scrabble, board games, playing cards and jigsaw puzzles handy. You should also look into get some craft and drawing supplies especially if you have young ones to entertain.

If you have a backyard, you can make a makeshift campsite and have cookouts and night under the stars to give the illusion that you are on holiday. The idea is to disrupt the monotony that comes with being in one place for long period of times.

Prepare to exercise

Exercise is something you should really think about when you are cooped up at home. There is something about quarantine that makes life bleak. If you sit down for long hours without exercising your body, you’ll not only suffer physically but also emotionally. You should plan to do various exercises that don’t require much space. You can do things such as press ups, sit ups and jogging on the spot.

Jogging on the spot is especially useful because it gives you the stamina you need to move long distances should the opportunity arise. What’s more, you don’t have to jog for long hours to achieve an above average level of fitness. After doing some stretches, you need only jog for 5 minutes. The thing that will change is how fast you jog on the spot as the days go by.

Talk to your kids

The idea of quarantine is hard enough for adults to swallow but it is equally hard for kids to understand. Kids have a hard time with things such as timeouts. Now imagine them staying at home 24 hours a day for weeks or even months. That will take a toll on them. It is up to you to make them understand what is happening and to keep them occupied as the days go by. Don’t hide what is happening from your kids. They can sense something is wrong. Instead, use simple language that they can understand to explain the situation and give them hope that things will be better.

Yes, there is a lot you can do to prepare for quarantine in case of a pandemic. But let’s now look into the issue of vaccination and treatment.

Chapter 11: Research About Vaccination And Treatment

As the coronavirus continues to pop up in new parts of the world, the search for a vaccine has intensified with various universities, research centers and pharmaceutical companies trying to come up with a solution to combat the virus.

The good news is the world today is better equipped to come up with viable solutions. This is mainly attributed to the previous coronaviruses that impacted the world. Research on SARS and MERS set the groundwork to better understanding coronaviruses and this has greatly helped the search for a COVID-19 vaccine and cure. Indeed, within a week of its discovery, Chinese scientists were able to sequence the genome of the virus and they shared this information to the world to enable more people to take up the fight against the disease.

The viral genetics is the key to help create pharmaceutical treatments and vaccines. Unfortunately, there is still a lot that needs to be done in order for a vaccine to be developed and approved. But in the meantime, some promising potential vaccines include:

INO-4800

Beijing Advancing Biotechnology and Inovio [18] Pharmaceuticals partnered to develop INO-4800 vaccine. They were awarded a CEPI [19] grant to further the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. Inovio pharmaceuticals was already known for developing a MERS vaccine that’s been going through human trials and as such, their input into developing a COVID-19 virus cannot be overstated. And although the vaccine is currently in the preclinical testing, the company states that it should be able to start testing on humans as early as later this year.

mRNA-1273

Another CEPI-funded potential vaccine is the mRNA-1273. This vaccine was developed in collaboration of the biotech Mordena and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Unlike the INO-4800 which targets the DNA, mRNA-1273 targets the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). This messenger tells the cells to develop particular proteins and injects genetic code to the patient’s muscles so that they can start to produce the viral protein to enable the immune system to protect the patient. The mRNA-1273 vaccine is already slated to enter human trials [20] within the next few months.

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson’s Jansen has gone with a tried approach that gave birth to its effective Ebola vaccine [21]. This is by developing a vector based vaccine and adding a bit of coronavirus genetics that will allow the vaccine to be injected into the patient’s muscles. Once the vaccine is in the muscles, it generates a protein that is supposed to fold so as to provoke an immune response to deal with the virus. Johnson & Johnson is working in collaboration with the biotech, BARDA [22] to speed things up. Human trials of the vaccine are projected to take place in autumn.

Baylor College of Medicine

In 2016, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research came up with a vaccine that was a candidate to stop SARS. Unfortunately, by the time it did, the disease had been contained and interest in the vaccine waned. Thus, it did not undergo clinical trials. Given that SARS and COVID-19 are closely related and they bind to the same receptor and have a similarity in about 80% of their amino acids and genetic code, it is not farfetched to imagine that the vaccine could work on COVID-19. But this needs human trials and as of now, Baylor-s Peter Hotez and his colleagues are appealing for funding so as to move to the trial stage.

All in all, although many companies are trying to find a vaccine for COVID-19, it should be noted that approval for any vaccine found can take up to a year or more and in the meantime, people continue to be infected with the virus. As such, those people who have already been infected need treatment. This is why scientists are investigating various drugs [23] that may be used to treat COVID-19. The main drug-based approaches to the coronavirus include:

Antivirals

The work of antivirals is to combat viral infections. Since COVID-19 is a virus, antivirals can attack it directly. They attack the various parts of the virus and thus they are effective in preventing viruses from intruding in cells and interfering with their reproduction. Antivirals stop or slow down infection.

One antiviral that has been touted as far as combating COVID-19 is concerned is remdesivir [24]. Gilead Sciences developed it and since its development, it has started undergoing clinical trials in China and at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the US. Remdesivir works by copying the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 and hence interrupts it. One advantage about this antiviral is that it does not disrupt human cells. Instead, it disrupts the virus.

According to WHO [25], remdesivir has been shown to have a real efficacy against COVId-19 and thus, it will prove vital in the fight against COVID-19.

Immune system boosters

Of thousands of people affected by the coronavirus, a majority of them made a full recovery. This is attributed to the mildness of the disease that infected them and their bodies’ ability to fight off the symptoms.

It is true that the immune system is your body’s first method of defense. Viruses are seen as invaders when they enter the body. When the body detects an invader, it quickly dispatches white blood cells to get rid of the intruder. The B cell, a white blood cell that generates antibodies, works to bind itself to the invaded and flag it as a target for destruction. Thus, it makes sense to boost your immune system if you are infected by COVID-19.

Most immune system boosters can help you recover from mild coronavirus. They do so by giving your body a fighting chance and many times that’s what we need to make a full recovery in a mild case.

Therapeutic antibodies

A biotech company known as Regeneron is working to develop therapeutic antibodies. These antibodies are to be administered to the patient and their work is to boost the immune system so that it can quickly counteract the effects of the virus. According to Christos Kyratsous, who is the vice president of infectios diseases research at Regeneron, the antibodies can help treat the disease as well as prevent an infection. Trials are set to start during summer.

Apart from the various companies trying to come up with pharmaceutical treatments for COVID-19, there have been others who are using well known medication to treat the disease. For example, countries such as Japan want to treat COVID-19 by using HIV drugs such as ritonavir and lopinavir while countries such as Thailand have already reported success in treating those infected with a variety of HIV drugs [26] in conjunction with oseltamivir. This is a drug that treats influenza and goes by the brand name Tamiflu.

As you can see, there is a lot being done to not only treat patients infected by the virus but to also find a vaccine to prevent the future spread of the virus.

But in the meantime, we should not lose focus of the human aspect of the virus. COVID-19 has affected the lives of millions of people. Let’s look at the effect the virus has had in Wuhan, where it originated.

Chapter 12: Wuhan Before And After The Virus

Before COVID-19 struck, Wuhan was known as China’s Chicago. This was in reference to its vibrant economy and cultural heritage. The city has over 3500 years of history and it was home to the famous Wuchang uprising that ensured the Qing Dynasty was overhauled.

As a city, Wuhan is known for its Yellow Crane tower, spring blossoms, tranquil lakes, vibrant nightlife, shopping malls and art. It also has numerous rivers giving it is name the ‘city of rivers’. As the most populous city in Central China, Wuhan found a way to captivate its residents. Dining, markets, malls and the nightlife brought the city to life not just during the day but also during the life. But without warning, the streets brimming with 11 million residents would soon become a ghost town.

After COVID-19 was discovered, things changed.

One thing that was curtailed was movement. The city of Wuhan was sealed off. This limited the 11 million residents living in Wuhan to their compounds. They were only allowed to come out of their home once in every three days and not everyone at that, just one person per household.

Think about that for awhile. Imagine your family existing in your home for weeks on end without knowing when the lockdown is likely to end. One resident named Pan Hongsheng said he felt like a refugee when speaking to AFP. He felt that no one cared. Pan, his wife and two kids did not know where to get their next meal once the supplies they have run out. His situation is not an isolated incident.

Many people in China, like most people in the world, have to work for a living. Once companies closed and movement was restricted, many people did not have a means to earn an income. As such, even if they could purchase items, they didn’t have the money to do so especially in the instance of increased prices of commodities. But for those who could purchase commodities, help came in the form of courier services.

In light of the lockdown, people turned to buying goods using online apps. After buying the goods online, the companies sent couriers to deliver them to the people. In order to protect the couriers and customers, certain measures were taken. These include:

Providing couriers with face masks and disinfectant. Couriers were advised to regularly clean their hands after handling packages.
Checking the couriers’ temperature several times a day. This is due to the fact that one of the symptoms of COVID-19 is fever. Thus, checking the temperature at various intervals would capture an increase in temperature.
Preventing contact between couriers and customers. Couriers were forced to leave packages at a stated location and move away to allow the customers to pick up the packages.
Encouraging online payments. Customers were advised to pay for the goods online to prevent hard cash from changing hands. In case there was an exchange of cash, couriers were to disinfect the cash and wash their hands after handling it.
Some neighborhoods started buying goods in bulk. People in neighborhoods would come together to state what they needed before making an order. This way, supermarkets could deliver such orders in bulk at a designated point.
The government provided drop-off locations. These were places where deliveries would be made in order to prevent people from venturing into other areas.

Some districts enforced their own rules. For example, some forced neighborhoods to engage in bulk buying because they prohibited the supermarkets from selling to one person. This, individuals were forced to plan ahead for things they might need even though they didn’t know when the controls put in place would be lifted. Some of the complaints that arose were to do with the amount of cash some items were going for with residents saying they were too high. Another complaint was that by the time some goods reached them, they were rotten. This had to do with perishable foods such as tomatoes. Some residents claimed to have thrown away as much as a third of the food they had bought because it was not safe for consumption.

But life, as they say, goes on. Today, the city of Wuhan is solely returning to normal or as normal as it can be after having gone through a lockdown. But even as people gradually return to the streets and controls are lifted, the scars they endured will take a long time to heal if at all. This is especially so in light of the stigma associated with the coronavirus.

Chapter 13: Stigma

Stigma is something that comes up whenever fear and anxiety are present in society. And let’s face it; the thought of a pandemic is enough to cause fear and anxiety. But it is not an excuse to stigmatize others.

When reports of the coronavirus surfaced, the first thing many countries did was ban people from China from traveling to their countries. For example, the US government issued travel advisory and not only banned Chinese citizens from traveling to the US but also advised American citizens living in China to get out of China. What was the difference? The difference was that Chinese citizens could not enter America whereas American citizens were allowed to enter in the US albeit after being observed for awhile.

One may argue that the US government has a right to protect its citizens but the message it sends is that while American citizens are to be accepted back in society despite having traveled to regions with the coronavirus, citizens of other nations do not have the same luxury. They are to be viewed as a potential threat. That message is one that had a rippling effect. The effect came in the way that people view Chinese and Asian Americans. As if overnight, it became custom to avoid such people for fear that they may infect others with the disease. This is clearly wrong.

The truth is that your nationality does not detect whether or not you are susceptible to the coronavirus. What’s more, stigma creates more fear. It stops people from seeking medical attention for fear that they will be treated in a harsh manner and this hurts everyone not just the person infected. Stigma also prevents others from providing the support needed for communities to recover from pandemics. Remember, the coronavirus is not limited to a certain geographical location. Everyone needs to work together in order to contain it. Isolating people from certain areas makes it difficult to effectively issue information and support that will help control the virus.

So, what can be done to curtail stigma? Well, you can:

Choose your words wisely when talking about COVID-19. Share information without adding on to the fear.
Offer factual information about how the virus spreads and how it does not spread. This includes information about products, places and people the virus affects. As you know, although the virus was first located in Wuhan, it is now in various countries including countries such as the United States, France, German, Canada and Italy. Thus, stigmatizing people who only come from Asian countries is not helpful.
If you are a health official, it is important you remember that you took an oath to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of those who come to you for help. This will stop you from causing panic and fear as you deal with possible cases of infection.
Speak out whenever you see negative behaviors or hear negative statements about a particular group of people. The only way to combat fear is by providing accurate information. Misinformation only breeds isolation. If someone is excluding another person from an activity based on their ethnicity, you need to call that person out. This way, people will see that there is nothing to fear by including anyone who is not infected from regular activities.
Don’t share images that reinforce the stereotypes that people already have.
Provide social support from people who are worried about their relatives or those who have returned from countries with the disease. Remember, if someone was in an area that the coronavirus was rampant that person is already very worried about being infected with the disease. Such a person needs support at this time. Your words of comfort can help calm them and give them the strength they need to seek medical advice.
Provide support and show compassion for those who have been impacted by the disease. If you know someone dealing with the disease, you can offer encouraging words or provide them with some things such as food to help them during this tough time. If you don’t know anyone affected by the disease, you can donate to relevant organizations that are helping thousands of people deal with the impact of the disease.

As you deal with others, it is vital that you keep in mind that we are in this together. Now is not the time to allow stigma and misinformation to spread. Now is the time to come together as a society and show that we are capable of going through tough times together and come out stronger for it.

Conclusion

We have come to the end of the book. Thank you for reading and congratulations for reading until the end.

It is obvious that COVID-19 is a cause of concern. This coronavirus that was first discovered in Wuhan, China, showed that it had no issues about crossing borders and affecting other countries. As its news spread, so did misinformation and this lead to a lot of knee-jerk reactions that have nothing to do with curtailing the spread of the coronavirus. This is why it is important to have the right information about what the virus is, how it spreads and how you can protect yourself from it. This book provides that information and revisiting it from time to time will help you and your loved ones stay safe at this trying time.

If you found the book valuable, can you recommend it to others?

Thank you and good luck!

[1] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30183-5/fulltext

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/27/japanese-woman-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-for-second-time

[4] https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200121-sitrep-1-2019-ncov.pdf

[5] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

[6] https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/22/asia/china-wuhan-coronavirus-deadly-intl-hnk/index.html

[7] https://infographics.channelnewsasia.com/covid-19/map.html

[8] https://infographics.channelnewsasia.com/covid-19/map.html

[9] https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

[10] https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-officials-discuss-novel-coronavirus-recently-emerged-china