Exactly What Is The Coronavirus?
Known also as COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), this coronavirus attacks the lungs – just like previous coronaviruses – SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) – and MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome).
Globally, as of today, there are over 105,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus – with over 75% of them being in the country of origination – China. Plus, there have been over 3,500 deaths attributed to this pandemic – a shade under 3.4%. More than 58,000 have recovered – 55%+ – but, for some reason, a few have actually been re-infected. This is based on an interactive map that is continuously updated by the John Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
Fever, fatigue, dry cough, and shortness of breath are the first symptoms to appear – mostly just after the initial incubation period – which could take from a few days – up to a couple of weeks. Other symptoms that can occur include respiratory congestion, breathing difficulty, sore throat, headache, chills, nausea (or vomiting), coughing up blood, and watery eyes.
In actuality, coronaviruses are very common. Anyone who has ever experienced a simple, common cold has contracted a variant of the coronavirus.
NOTES
With the exception of MERS, it appears that the majority of coronaviruses may have originated somewhere in China – and bats are the most common carrier – although there are a number of other animals – like snakes and pangolins (armored anteaters) – that are also good carrier candidates.
COVID-19 originated – supposedly – in the Huanan Seafood Market – a live animal and seafood market in Jianghan District, Wuhan, Hubei province, China.
UPDATE
As of 2 April, 2020, the total cases worldwide have ballooned to well over ONE MILLION! It is a scary place when, in less than 4 weeks since this article was published that the number of COVID-19 cases have increased TENFOLD! Be careful out there, every one – keep practicing SOCIAL DISTANCING – a minimum of 6 feet away from others. And, don’t touch your face before you wash your hands – that’s important!!!
Is This Coronavirus Actually A Chinese Bioweapon?
There are strong suspicions that COVID-19 was actually engineered in a bioweapons research lab less than two tenths of a mile from the Huanan Seafood Market.
It’s probably next to impossible to determine if COVID-19 escaped from a Chinese lab – since the Chinese Communist regime most likely would not admit to it – but, suffice it to say, that one way or another, this disease originated in Wuhan, China.
How Can You Get COVID-19?
An infected person sneezes anywhere in your vicinity. A sneeze can travel up to 200 feet! So, be aware of the people in your surroundings!
You touch an infected surface – then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth before you wash your hands with soap and water. The eyes, nose, and mouth are the three areas that coronaviruses can easily enter your body and get down into your lungs – where they will multiply willy nilly – long before your system starts to produce antibodies to fight them.
I know it’s difficult – but, try to avoid touching anyplace on your face directly after shaking someone’s hand or touching any shared common surfaces like a table, a chair, a doorknob, an elevator button, a handrail, a wall – you get the picture. If you don’t have access to soap and water, keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer on hand. Viruses can survive from several hours to several days – the harder the surface, the longer the virus can survive – waiting for you to stop by and unknowingly scoop it up.
TIP
Get in the habit of washing your hands more often – with soap and water. Work up a good lather and wash your hands thoroughly – between and around all fingers and thumbs – for at least 20 seconds. If you don’t want to count “one thousand and one”, one thousand and two”, “one thousand and three”, etc., then sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice while washing – since each time through the song lasts about 10 seconds.
Any physical contact you may have with a person infected with a coronavirus can put you in jeopardy of contracting it. Even the European practice of “cheek kissing” has been vehemently discouraged during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Maybe, the Japanese practice of bowing – instead of shaking hands or cheek kissing – makes more sense now?
Is There A Treatment For The Coronavirus?
No! None! Nada! Not at this time!
The U.S. Government recently announced that a vaccine may be ready for clinical trials within the next few months, but, it may be a year before it is available for public vaccinations.
The optimal solution for mild cases is to self-quarantine at home, drink plenty of water, reduce fever using over-the-counter products containing either acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and get plenty of bed rest. But, don’t forget the chicken soup – which is a great mainstay for bed-ridden patients!
If the coronavirus disease gets severe – that is, if fever gets too high or, if it is getting difficult to breathe – get to a hospital emergency room – on the double! You may need to be put on a ventilator to help get oxygen into your bloodstream!
High risk folks – the elderly, those with other underlying health conditions, and infants – are the most vulnerable to the deadly effects of the coronavirus – since their immune systems are not performing at maximum efficiency!
Preventative Measures For The Coronavirus (COVID-19)
There are a number of items that I advise you to keep on hand – to help keep you and your family from contracting the coronavirus – COVID-19. It’s better to be safe than sorry, isn’t it?
Wash With Soap Or Hand Sanitizer
Make sure that the soap is anti-bacterial. And, don’t forget – wash your hands immediately after touching any person or surface BEFORE touching any parts of your face. Wash those hands thoroughly for 20 seconds – minimum!
The hand sanitizer should contain a minimum of 60% alcohol to ensure that it can eliminate any coronavirus lurking on your hands or between your fingers. Apply a generous amount and rub it into your hands – let it dry naturally – don’t try to dry it off with a towel.
NOTES
If you don’t have any hand sanitizer, you can make it with rubbing alcohol and vegetable glycerin. If possible, use rubbing alcohol that is equal to or greater than 90% in strength. Mix alcohol to glycerin at a 3 to 1 ratio.
Example: 3 cups rubbing alcohol plus 1 cup of vegetable glycerin. Add a few drops of essential oil, if you want your hands to smell good, too.
Reminder: The homemade hand sanitizer should be at least 60% alcohol – just like the store bought versions – such as Purell. Using 90% rubbing alcohol, this 3:1 mix will yield a hand sanitizer with a little over 67% alcohol.
The Essential Depot vegetable glycerin is an Amazon Choice and comes in both 1 quart and 1 gallon sizes – the 1 gallon size being the lowest cost per ounce.
Medical Face Respirators
Ensure that these respirator masks are at least “N95” rated. The Medical Face Respirator Mask is specifically designed to protect against viruses.
Disposable Latex Gloves
Make sure the latex gloves are: 1) extended cuff and 2) medical grade. The extended cuff also covers your wrist and will protect those parts of your hands that most commonly come in contact with your face. The Microflex SG-375 gloves are powder free and a case of 500 is the most economical, if available. If you can’t get a case of 500, due to shortages, buy as many boxes of 50 as you can. Besides their obvious sanitation application, you can also use them for any household cleaning or mechanical work.
TIP
Choose a size larger than you would normally wear to make it easy to put on and remove. Being powder free, they can be awkward to get clammy hands into them.
Hooded Tyvek Coverall Suit
It is important to have a couple of these Tyvek suits on hand for each member of your family. God forbid that the coronavirus pandemic gets uncontrollable – but, if, in the future, it does – it may be too late to get these suits – so, get them now. I suggest ordering two sizes larger than the size of your normal clothes since this Tyvek suit will be worn over your clothing. A 3 pack of these DuPont Tyvek Coverall Suits is the best buy. Each suit comes with booties to slip over your shoes.
TIP
When wearing this Tyvek suit, wear two Microflex SG-375 gloves on each hand. One glove fits under the cuff – and one glove fits over the cuff – creating a tight seal. Using this technique, there is no way for the virus to get to your skin. This is another reason to get the gloves with an extended cuff.
Lightly cleaning a Tyvek suit with rubbing alcohol after each use may extend their useful life expectancy.
Safety Goggles
The form-fitting Dewalt DPG82-21 Concealer Smoke Anti-Fog Dual Mold Safety Goggles will keep the coronavirus from entering your eyes. And, don’t forget to wear your N95 rated Medical Face Respirator Mask.
Now, you’ve got all the tools you need to go to war against the coronavirus!
Stay Safe And Prevent The Spread Of The Coronavirus!
While you are following my guidelines and protecting yourself from contracting COVID-19, you are protecting your family and other folks – especially relatives and friends who are near and dear to your heart.
The coronavirus isn’t anything to sneeze at – pardon the pun. This is one seriously bad boy! But, we can conquer it – if we all pitch in and do the right thing!
Let’s stop this nasty virus BEFORE it becomes a monster that we can’t control! Stop the spread – should be our cred!
Comments and emails – noah@apathtoabetterlife.com – are most welcome – and appreciated!
