What do I need to know about COVID – 19?
First of all, kids seem to be reasonably well protected against serious illness with this. It seems to be the most vicious in the elderly and those with coexisting illnesses. Most kids will have a fever, and a cough which is a lot like the flu. Currently there is no treatment for COVID– 19, although we do have treatment for influenza if caught within the first two (possibly three) days.
COVID–19 is a coronavirus. Coronavirus’s have been around forever but this strain can lead to some severe illnesses. Just trivia, both SARS and MERS were coronavirus’s. This one seems to spread much more easily and, so far, no country has been able to contain it (no matter what you saw on the news or on the Internet).
This is now a PANDEMIC. Which means it will not be limited to one country, one state or one city. So, it is time to stop the garbage out there and listen to the folks that study illnesses for a living. We need to start being smart about preventing the spread.
What do you need to do to prevent COVID-19?
Most importantly, DO NOT FREAK OUT. We need to use something so rare in society that is almost a superpower… COMMON SENSE.
- Wash your hands. Don’t just run your hands under water and glaze a bit of soap on it. Rub for 20 full seconds. Say “happy birthday to you” two times to help you remember.
- Hand sanitizer works great, but you still need to rub for 20 full seconds. If you got something visible on your hands, you need to wash with soap and water.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. This includes anyone’s unwashed hands.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with the tissue – then throw the tissue in the trash.
- If a tissue not available, then cough into your elbow. Then go out and buy some freaking tissues, if you can find them anywhere.
- If someone is coughing or sneezing in the house, then clean and disinfect regularly touch objects using regular household cleaning sprayer wipe. Those of you with OCD, all of this is only likely to make your issues worse.
What should I do if my child or I are sick?
If you are mildly ill, STAY AT HOME. Don’t go to the store, don’t go to the mall, don’t go out to eat. If you or your child have high fevers (usually above 101.5°F), severe cough with fever, difficulty with breathing – then get evaluated. Since this looks a lot like flu, we may be able to determine if influenza is the culprit. Testing for COVID-19 would likely be reserved for people with severe illness such as respiratory distress, where they are having trouble breathing.
There is no treatment for COVID–19. No vaccine has been made yet. No medicines have proven to be effective. Prevention is the only way to help you and your family.
Should I wear a mask?
COVID-19 appears to be spread by droplets so you typically have to be in close contact, within 6 feet, of someone for it to spread to you. The N-95 respirator mask (these are the folks with two big rubber bands behind their backs and the mass the covers to face down to the chin) is great… Mostly because it will make you so miserable, you won’t want to go into public. N-95 mask really should really be reserved for healthcare workers and first responders. If a simple facemask keeps you from touching your mouth nose and eyes, by all means, wear one. It may keep droplets from landing on your face.
How do we prepare for this?
Digging a bunker underneath your house lined with cinder blocks and at least 6 to 12 months of nonperishable food items, multiple weapons, hazmat suits as well as iodine for radiation poisoning. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. Don’t buy into the hype. If you have a chronic medical condition requiring medicine, now might be a good time to think of the refill. If you or your child has asthma, make sure you have an inhaler.
Also, now may not be the best time for travel. I say this just having come back from vacation. The more exposures to many people that you have, the easier it is to get exposed to any type of illness. If you travel by airplane, wipe down your armrests, tray tables and anything likely to be touched regularly. Then clean your hands with an alcohol-based cleanser.
Is there something I can get that can protect me?
Anybody selling something to take to protect you is a snake or a salesman. If hand washing were a pill, maybe I could convince someone to take it. However, that is the best thing to do. There are no vitamins, silver supplements, “natural remedies”, oils, homeopathic medicine etc., etc., etc. that provide any form of protection. They are good at getting rid of disposable income. “My brother’s, cousin’s sister-in-law’s best friend stated that she got it and this fixed it”. BULLPOO (feel free to substitute other appropriate terminology). Don’t let con artists play on your fear. Wash your hands, avoid touching your face, avoid people that are ill, and stay home if you are sick. Did I mention wash your hands.
A dose of reality.
As of 3/11/2020, there have been 4291 deaths from this coronavirus with the vast majority occurring in China. As of 3/11/2020, there have been 118, 000 cases of Covid – 19. In the US, more than 500 cases have been reported as well as 19 deaths. Reports out of China show that of the 70,000 Covid – 19 cases, 80% had mild illness and recovered. 15 to 20% develop serious illness. Of these cases, only 2% were younger than 19. People over 60 years old had increasing risks of disease and this increases the older you get. The highest risk of serious death and illness is in people over 80 years old.
As a comparison, 10/1/2019 to 2/1/2020 at least 12,000 people died from influenza although this number can be as high as 30,000. And yet every day, I get someone in for their well check that declines the influenza vaccine even though they are physically already there. There is no prevention for COVID-19. And I will admit that the influenza vaccine will not keep you from getting the flu. But it is the best thing we have right now. For COVID-19 the only thing you have is prevention.
So people, it is time to be smart. Quit buying in to the crap that is on Facebook, on the Internet, or what your aunt Shirley told you. If a vaccine might protect you, then get the vaccine. If hand washing might protect you, then wash your hands. It might not matter to you, but this could cause serious illness in my kids with asthma, my kids with immune deficiencies, my kids with cystic fibrosis, my kids on immunotherapy for cancer. There is enough suffering in the world, don’t add to it by being careless.
