Social distancing has forced us all to be stuck at home. It is just day four and it’s not really fun anymore as I’ve run out of movies to watch and games to play. I’ve gotten so bored that I’ve resorted to taking good old bathroom selfies.
Speaking of social distancing, about two weeks ago I was rolling my eyes at this COVID-19 epidemic (now, pandemic) telling myself, “Oh boy, can it go away already?” I concluded that the media was just doing a great job at blowing things out of proportion. Last week, I was thinking maybe I need to educate myself more because it did seem to be getting out of hand. The panic was still “annoying” in my head but I didn’t realize the consequences. I mean, a literal shut down of the entire country? Oh no, no, no! I started wondering why great, learned doctors were panicking at this situation like regular folks.
So, this week, after having to distance myself and stay at home, I got to watch all the news, read all about COVID-19 on various platforms, heard many doctors from around the world address this situation and also look up other people’s opinions, and I see now why there’s such pandemonium all over the world. Guys, this is no joke! It IS a pandemic. At first, I thought, if it’s just like a cold, what’s the big deal with getting it as long as one can heal themselves at home by drinking soup, resting, and swallowing Theraflu. Why can’t we just get back to our normal lives already?
Unlike the flu or other common viruses that have existed for a few years, this coronavirus, COVID-19, is still being researched. It’ll be subject to further necessary analysis for a couple more months, if not years.
However uncomfortable you feel with the disease in your body, you’d have to live with it and, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), everyone will react to it differently, depending on your immune system, age and general health, among other factors.
There’s not enough research to tell at what point the healthiest person who contracts it could potentially die.
There’s no research to tell how to completely get rid of it.
There’s no research to tell if Dettol or Chloroquine or all these solutions people have been mentioning on social media can actually treat it.
In essence, there’s no research to tell us much aside from the fact that, prevention is way better. That’s why doctors are panicking. So, let’s take it seriously guys. Let’s try to prevent this from spreading at all costs.
Let’s come together to help limit who gets infected by it before living with COVID-19 becomes the new normal, which will suck because patients will be perpetually sick until a conclusive remedy is found. No matter your conspiracy theories or beliefs, no matter where you think it came from, no matter if you think the government has a hand in it, it’s here, now.
For further information, check out SCAD’s dedicated FAQ page, the CDC, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Let’s stay healthy, wash our hands thoroughly, practice good hygiene and remember, we’re #strongertogether.
