Pandemic

...Have you heard about the new virus that has been going around? OF COURSE you have!!

The media has made it a priority to disperse the news about the Coronavirus, now called COVID 19, but unlike the H1N1 or the Ebola virus that have come and gone... this time they are making it to be a lot more aggressive than it is. It is starting to be called a pandemic.

The symptoms of the COVID-19 are: runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, coughing, fever and in some cases difficulty breathing. Which in severe cases can turn to pneumonia, respiratory syndrome or even death. Yes, it sounds freakishly scary and yes, i also freaked out at the beginning. Having said that, have you actually researched it yourself?? Have you gone online and checked it out?... no?... let me tell you what I found.

This virus is very easily transmitted if you are not taking the appropriate measures to stay safe. It can only be transmitted by being in contact with "splatter" meaning bodily fluids that come out when coughing or sneezing which is why everyone is recommending to cover your mouth when doing both. If you have not been doing this your whole life, where have you been? it is called good manners! They are also recommending to wash your hands with warm water and soap, which you should be doing regardless. The next recommendation is kinda tricky because I am sure we are all guilty of touching our faces with dirty hands, just carry a little hand sanitizer on you at all times.

I am not denying that it is a dangerous virus and if you are over 60 or already have a condition you are more susceptible to having stronger reaction to it. I am simply saying that if you are being careful and taking the precautions needed, you have nothing to worry about.

There are many people that are just going in to panic mode...A perfect example of this is the fact that there is no toilet paper anywhere. Why toilet paper?! If anything i can understand maybe stores running out of sanitizer or hand soap. But even then, did people not buy hand soap before??? Like were people just not washing their hands at all?...

Again, I am not dismissing the issue I am simply saying that A) it has been blown out of proportion and B) people are over reacting like crazy.

I understand European countries closing their borders and the quarantine in China because they have most of the cases but everywhere else? Here in Saskatchewan, there has been one confirmed case in Saskatoon. What did this do? Well let me tell you, some care homes are quarantining their residents just in case, people are cancelling meetings and parties due to being scared of the virus. Ebola was worse and nobody freaked out like this.

The media is to blame for this, instead of reporting actual facts they are only focusing their attention on the number of deaths that have happened due to this. They do not talk about the people that have survived, the people that had mild symptoms and got better. No, they report the number of deaths. This is only to freak people out, they should be talking about how to prevent contracting the virus, what to do or not to do if you feel like you are getting sick. They should be giving people hope by stating that people have been able to fully recover. Instead they are making it look like a prequel to The Walking Dead, everyone is freaking out about the virus... People are going as far as stocking up on canned goods as well as toilet paper (LOL)...

I just hope this blows over soon, just like the previous illnesses that have gone around and disappeared without making a sound. It is a virus that attacks the respiratory system, it can be transmitted by being in contact with saliva splatter (boogers and other bodily fluids). Wash your hands, don't touch your face with dirty hands, and just in case do not greet people with a handshake.