Mariah Robinson
Journal entry for April 27, 2020
Origin:
SARS-CoV-2, otherwise known as Covid-19, is a worldwide pandemic that’s origin is unknown. While it is believed to have started at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China; it is still unclear how this outbreak escaped. Some scientists believe the virus started out in a research laboratory located in Wuhan that collected bats for scientific study. Others believe that Wuhan had deliberately released the virus as a bioweapon. Tom Cotton tweeted saying he ranked such a breach(Natural transmission) as more likely than two extreme possibilities: an accidental leak of an “engineered bioweapon” or a “deliberate release.” But still, no evidence shows that it started in a laboratory as a potential bioweapon. Solid scientific research demonstrates that humans didn't engineer the virus, and it originated in bats (coronavirus is common in animals including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. But it is extremely rare for it to transfer to humans).
Cases:
Worldwide: 2.99million confirmed cases/ 875 thousand recovered cases/ 207 thousand dead cases.U.S.: 987 thousand confirmed cases/ 109 thousand recovered cases/ 55,439 dead cases
Globally, about 3.4% reported Covid-19 cases have died.
Flu vs. Coronavirus:
In many cases around the globe, cases of the coronavirus have been signed off as the flu. The flu and coronavirus have similar symptoms; confusing scientists in the early development of the coronavirus outbreak. Both the flu and coronavirus are respiratory infections that attack the nasal passages and healthy cells in your body.
Symptoms of the flu include:
Fever
Chills
Muscle aches
Cough
Congestion
Runny nose
Headaches
Fatigue
These symptoms are very closely related to Covid-19 symptoms:
Fever
Tiredness
Dry cough
Aches and pains
Nasal congestion
Runny nose
Sore throat
Diarrhea
Differences in the coronavirus and the flu are that the seasonal flu kills only 1% of the infected cases, while the coronavirus kills 3.4% of those infected. When you get the flu, it is normally pretty easy to tell when you have it since the symptoms pop up right away. With the coronavirus, it may take 5-6 days for you to show any symptoms. However, it may take up to 14 days! Without symptoms, you may not be able to tell the common cold from the coronavirus. Pretty scary right? So imagine walking around for a week being infected not even knowing it.
Take vice-principal at Saint Raphael Academy in Rhode Island for example. He was enjoying a field trip to Italy, France, and Spain with his school; using hand sanitizer frequently during the entire trip. When he returned home, he started feeling symptoms after remembering that he shared a microphone with a man who was becoming ill. Later he was brought to the hospital, telling WJAR, “You feel like you're asphyxiating, and you’re panicking because you can’t breathe.” Other comments were, “One inch from death” and he described his illnesses “Hit like a hurricane”. He made tremendous improvements and will be getting back to his students shortly. If your average school principal can get the coronavirus, so can you! Here are ways to prevent the spread and contamination of the coronavirus:
Stay home as much as you can
If needed to leave your home, keep your distance(6 ft is considered a safe distance)
Wash your hands often!
Cover your cough!!
Sick? Call ahead
If at any point you feel that you might contain any symptoms, call your local pediatric or nurse right away and ask for testing options. ~stay safe:)