[Townhall] Amid the partisanship, fear-mongering, and political jousting, what do Americans really need to know about Coronavirus -- which appears to be spreading significantly beyond its initial containment inside the United States? There are relatively few active steps people can take in preparation, though basic steps like frequent hand-washing are sensible. Here's your first piece of good news on this front, via the Wall Street Journal:
Public health experts advise staying calm and following the same precautions recommended for preventing flu or any other respiratory virus. Stick with the basics: Wash your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, and stay at home from work or school when you’re sick...Public health experts say the threat of a coronavirus outbreak shouldn’t feel like a death sentence. Though it poses a serious risk for some‐namely older individuals and those with underlying health conditions‐for the majority it will likely be a relatively mild illness.
Nobody should downplay a pandemic with a death rate in the two percent range. It is very serious, and would cause a lot of deaths if the disease continues its rapid spread. However, beyond the epicenter of Wuhan -- and especially in advanced countries -- its fatality rate is much lower, and for most people who are infected, they'll experience a fairly mild illness. In more good news, Israel scientists believe they are well on their way to developing a cure: |