Coronavirus panic

To say that coronavirus fear has a tight grip on the world would be an understatement.

It’s all you hear or read about it.

I’ll admit I haven’t got too worked up about it. I believe using universal precautions, as we all should be doing, will essentially prevent the virus.

However, yesterday I was in the grocery store and saw an elderly woman fill her cart full of bottled water and giant packs of toilet tissue.

She asked everyone she came into contact with if they had heard about the “deadly flu” epidemic.

I saw genuine terror in her eyes.

This poor woman was scared to death.

I felt for her and all the others that are convinced that this is much bigger than I believe it to be.

Media induced hysteria? Could be.

But there’s a part of me that that wonders why concerts are getting postponed, entire seasons of professional sports are suspended or cancelled, and an entire country has shut down?

I find it hard to believe that these organizations and businesses would voluntarily forgo millions of dollars because of headlines and social media rumors.

That being said, I’m still not convinced there’s a reason to panic.

I will however be a little more diligent in my hand washing and practicing standard precautions.

Risk factors for COVID-19 include recent travel from or residence in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19 as determined by Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO), or close contact with someone who has COVID-19, such as when a family member or health care worker takes care of an infected person.

As always, wash your hands often with soap and water, or hand sanitizer. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, mouth), clean and disinfect surfaces, and if you’re sick stay home.

COVID-19 is new, but coronaviruses are not.

Remember, according to WHO, about 80 percent of people with COVID-19 either have no symptoms or develop a mild illness that doesn’t progress. People who have a mild case usually recover within a week. It takes about two weeks before they feel normal again.

COVID-19 may not be the deadliest disease of all time, but it certainly has had the biggest impact that I have ever seen.

See you out there.