What is it?
by Quinn Wittman
According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus is “a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.” The virus can be transmitted through animals and people with varying symptoms.
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How is it Spread?
by Quinn Wittman
There is limited research on how the Coronavirus actually spreads from person-to-person. However, researchers believe that the viruses transmit via fluids in the respiratory system, such as mucus.
Although, researchers have found out that the coronavirus can be spread by;
- Coughing and sneezing without covering the mouth can disperse droplets into the air.
- Touching or shaking hands with a person who has the virus can pass the virus between individuals.
- Making contact with a surface or object that has the virus and then touching the nose, eyes, or mouth.
- Some animal coronaviruses, such as feline coronavirus (FCoV), may spread through contact with feces. However, it is unclear whether this also applies to human coronaviruses.
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have come to the conclusion that people who are over the age of 65, young children, or women who are pregnant have a higher chance of coming down within the virus.
What is the global impact?
Infographic by: Ryann Thomson
Data as of 6 March 2020
What is the national impact?
Infographic by: Ryann Thomson
Data as of 6 March 2020
What now? What to do?
by Maggie Eckhart
The CoronaVirus, when searched on Google as of March 6, 2020, is causing and constructing mass hysteria. A Bright red panel appears with the words ’SOS’. Is this really necessary Google? The infliction of this is the end of times from the ‘SOS’ is quite overly exaggerated, unless you’re an 80 year old human that is unhealthy already.
Compared to the hundreds of strains of influenza, CoronaVirus does not amount to much. According to Johns Hopkins health, the CoronaVirus only has 97,870 cases worldwide while Influenza is just short of 1 billion cases.
There have only been 3,347 deaths from the CoronaVirus which doesn’t compare to the 291,000-646,000 deaths per year caused by Influenza.
But, in new light of the most recent strain of the CoronaVirus, scientists and doctors alike are trying to determine the mortality rate, which as of now, is currently higher than Influenza. This is because the new strain of the CoronaVirus eliminates the previous immunity to i according to Johns Hopkins medicine.
So, how are schools, businesses, and people reacting? Schools, for one, are closing down due to the fear of spreading the new strain of the CoronaVirus. Businesses however, are losing money. People are shoving themselves in their homes in fear of receiving this popular disease which is leaving local businesses dry.
Walmart on the other hand, along with any retailer that sells hand sanitizer or bleach, are being flooded with panicking citizens. According to a Walmart employee, sales at her store have doubled in the past 2 weeks due to the rise in purchases of cleaning and antibacterial products.
Masks, hand sanitizer, bleach and soap are MIA in most grocery and material stores. The shelves are barren.
The CoronaVirus is leaving Americans and other citizens of the world scrambling for aid for their worrying minds. The false breath of death in the air has people overthinking, and the virus is worthy of this fret. Stay sharp, and wash your hands!
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