My, how things can change in a week...
I was just thinking how, last weekend, I served in the toddler room at church taking care of some cute little 2-3 year-olds. Other than an increased emphasis on using hand sanitizer, there didn't seem to be much discussion of the coronavirus, and from what I could tell, the congregation was approximately the usual size. The only alarming incident of the day was when a two-year-old escaped her parents in the crowd after the service and could not be found for some time. (Don't worry - after walking around the entire building, I was able to locate her and return her to her parents.) :-)
One week later, church services and gatherings - as well as schools, universities, library classes, and sporting events - are either cancelled or being held virtually or at a limited scale. (Much to our sadness, my husband and I also cancelled his 50th-birthday trip to Jamaica which we had been looking forward to for many months now.)
As connected as our world is today, a global pandemic was just a matter of time so we should have been prepared, but it's still incredibly alarming. Thank goodness the virus isn't more deadly, as this could be much worse...
Even so, the disruption to our everyday lives is already startling in its scope. Kids are home from school, businesses are shutting down or cancelling events, parents are missing work, stores can't keep shelves stocked, the stock market is hitting daily lows, the travel industry is plummeting (and during the busy spring break season)... It feels like we're inches away from panic in the streets - yet the virus has really only just begun to spread in most countries.
Our job now, as a society, is to do our part to control the spread of the disease. The success of any proposed government action is going to depend on our willingness to participate in control measures. Thankfully, there are a number of things we can do to protect ourselves from the coronavirus and therefore slow its spread throughout our population.
I was just thinking how, last weekend, I served in the toddler room at church taking care of some cute little 2-3 year-olds. Other than an increased emphasis on using hand sanitizer, there didn't seem to be much discussion of the coronavirus, and from what I could tell, the congregation was approximately the usual size. The only alarming incident of the day was when a two-year-old escaped her parents in the crowd after the service and could not be found for some time. (Don't worry - after walking around the entire building, I was able to locate her and return her to her parents.) :-)
One week later, church services and gatherings - as well as schools, universities, library classes, and sporting events - are either cancelled or being held virtually or at a limited scale. (Much to our sadness, my husband and I also cancelled his 50th-birthday trip to Jamaica which we had been looking forward to for many months now.)
As connected as our world is today, a global pandemic was just a matter of time so we should have been prepared, but it's still incredibly alarming. Thank goodness the virus isn't more deadly, as this could be much worse...
Even so, the disruption to our everyday lives is already startling in its scope. Kids are home from school, businesses are shutting down or cancelling events, parents are missing work, stores can't keep shelves stocked, the stock market is hitting daily lows, the travel industry is plummeting (and during the busy spring break season)... It feels like we're inches away from panic in the streets - yet the virus has really only just begun to spread in most countries.
Our job now, as a society, is to do our part to control the spread of the disease. The success of any proposed government action is going to depend on our willingness to participate in control measures. Thankfully, there are a number of things we can do to protect ourselves from the coronavirus and therefore slow its spread throughout our population.
First, let's set a few things straight about this virus. Calling it "the coronavirus" is a bit misleading, as there are numerous coronaviruses in our world today - and many of them have been around for thousands of years. A 2013 article in the Journal of Virology suggested that coronaviruses have probably been around longer than humans have!
The current coronavirus in question (officially known as COVID-19) belongs to a large family of viruses which can affect both humans and animals. In fact, coronaviruses are most common in animals - both birds and mammals can contract and carry them. Occasionally - as in the current case - one of these viruses will mutate and spread to humans.
There are currently seven known types of coronavirus that affect humans, and all but three of them are relatively harmless and cause the symptoms we know as the common cold. All types of coronaviruses cause upper respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and nasal congestion. Some may also cause a fever or headache.
However, only a few of these viruses have caused major health issues on a global scale in recent years - most notably Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - and now COVID-19.
This doesn't mean there haven't been serious coronavirus outbreaks in the past. However, prior to the advent of global travel, most outbreaks would have been localized and unable to spread very far from their origins. As our population increases along with our mobility, we are likely to see more serious outbreaks of this type in the future.
So what can we do to protect ourselves?
Although many people are asking about vaccines, most vaccines take at least a year or two for development and testing, so we are not likely to see a COVID-19 vaccine in the near future. This means, we each have to do our part to take responsibility for our own health, and the health of those we come in contact with.
Here are the two main ways to protect yourself from the coronavirus:
1. Follow CDC Guidelines
The first thing that we can do as individual citizens is to follow the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control. These guidelines are designed to slow the spread of the disease by taking commonsense measures when it comes to hygiene and potential exposure.
Here is a list of the measures you should take to avoid contracting/spreading the coronavirus:
Along with these commonsense measures, the best method to prevent contracting the virus yourself is to...
2.) Boost Your Immune System
There are a lot of rumors going around right now about how to protect yourself from catching the virus. Let's just clarify that drinking bleach or Mad Dog 20/20, snorting cocaine, or smoking marijuana will NOT protect you from the coronavirus! (Nor will buying 200 rolls of toilet paper...) However, there ARE legitimate things you can to to help increase your body's natural defenses.
While strengthening your immune system doesn't guarantee you won't get sick, it does reduce your risk of contracting the coronavirus (or any other virus for that matter), and if you do get sick, those with strong immune systems tend to experience milder symptoms and recover more quickly.
Here are a few ways to build a strong immune system and stay healthy:
Before I wrap up here, a few notes of sanity.
It can be easy to get caught up in the panic in this type of crisis, but this generally only makes matters worse for everyone. Remind yourself that though this situation may be new and scary to most of us, it's important to put things into perspective. Currently as of this post, just over 5,000 people have died from COVID-19 worldwide. On the other hand, more than 3,000 people in the U.S. die in auto accidents EVERY DAY. 49 people in the U.S. so far have died from the coronavirus, but more than 34,000 Americans died from the common flu last year.
This isn't to minimize the seriousness of this outbreak. We don't know how far it may go just yet, and it will likely get worse before it gets better. But just remember, 80% of those with the virus experience mild symptoms similar to any other common cold or flu you may have had in the past.
Stay home if you're sick, follow the guidelines above, and don't go to the hospital unless your doctor tells you to - our hospitals and healthcare workers are already busy enough with those who have serious medical conditions.
And for goodness sake, if you already have a half-gallon of hand sanitizer at home, leave some for the rest of us! Healthcare workers need it more than you do - trust me.
Stay healthy out there!
Rose.
The current coronavirus in question (officially known as COVID-19) belongs to a large family of viruses which can affect both humans and animals. In fact, coronaviruses are most common in animals - both birds and mammals can contract and carry them. Occasionally - as in the current case - one of these viruses will mutate and spread to humans.
There are currently seven known types of coronavirus that affect humans, and all but three of them are relatively harmless and cause the symptoms we know as the common cold. All types of coronaviruses cause upper respiratory symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and nasal congestion. Some may also cause a fever or headache.
However, only a few of these viruses have caused major health issues on a global scale in recent years - most notably Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - and now COVID-19.
This doesn't mean there haven't been serious coronavirus outbreaks in the past. However, prior to the advent of global travel, most outbreaks would have been localized and unable to spread very far from their origins. As our population increases along with our mobility, we are likely to see more serious outbreaks of this type in the future.
So what can we do to protect ourselves?
Although many people are asking about vaccines, most vaccines take at least a year or two for development and testing, so we are not likely to see a COVID-19 vaccine in the near future. This means, we each have to do our part to take responsibility for our own health, and the health of those we come in contact with.
Here are the two main ways to protect yourself from the coronavirus:
1. Follow CDC Guidelines
The first thing that we can do as individual citizens is to follow the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control. These guidelines are designed to slow the spread of the disease by taking commonsense measures when it comes to hygiene and potential exposure.
Here is a list of the measures you should take to avoid contracting/spreading the coronavirus:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care. If you must leave your home while you are sick, wear a disposable face mask.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough into your elbow.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles) using a regular household detergent and water.
- If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent and water prior to disinfection. For disinfection, a list of products with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved emerging viral pathogens claims, maintained by the American Chemistry Council Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC), is available at Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fighting Products. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, or use a disposable alcohol wipe. Always wash your hands well with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- Practice social distancing, maintaining a perimeter between yourself and others - especially those who may be sick - of 6 feet whenever possible. (I have heard 3-6 feet from various sources, but the CDC website says 6.)
Along with these commonsense measures, the best method to prevent contracting the virus yourself is to...
2.) Boost Your Immune System
There are a lot of rumors going around right now about how to protect yourself from catching the virus. Let's just clarify that drinking bleach or Mad Dog 20/20, snorting cocaine, or smoking marijuana will NOT protect you from the coronavirus! (Nor will buying 200 rolls of toilet paper...) However, there ARE legitimate things you can to to help increase your body's natural defenses.
While strengthening your immune system doesn't guarantee you won't get sick, it does reduce your risk of contracting the coronavirus (or any other virus for that matter), and if you do get sick, those with strong immune systems tend to experience milder symptoms and recover more quickly.
Here are a few ways to build a strong immune system and stay healthy:
- Eat plenty of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. These foods contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which help strengthen your immune system and provide your body the nourishment it needs to stay strong and healthy.
- Take immune-boosting vitamins - especially C and D and zinc, and be sure to drink plenty of water. Remember that Vitamin D is fat-soluble, so to help your body absorb it properly, you should ideally take it with food that contains a bit of fat.
- Eat immune-boosting foods such as garlic, ginger, shiitake or maitake mushrooms, and hot peppers. These foods may help trigger an immune response and combat pathogens entering your body.
- Get plenty of sleep. Sleep may be the #1 way to keep your body healthy! Lack of sleep weakens your immune system and drains your resources, so getting enough sleep is essential to staying healthy. Current guidelines recommend at least 7-8 hours per night. If you feel like you're coming down with something, you may need as many as 10 or more hours.
- Avoid sugar. Sugar has a highly depressive effect on your immune system. In fact, some research suggests that drinking just one can of soda can depress your immune system by 75% for 4-6 hours. Imagine if you drink several per day, as many people do? Diet drinks aren't any better for your health either, so you should avoid those as well, especially when trying to keep from getting sick.
- Exercise. Getting plenty of exercise every day is a great way to sleep better, de-stress, and help your body eliminate toxins. If your gym or fitness center is closed currently, you can easily work out at home. Try a quick HIIT workout to work up a sweat and blow off some steam, or a relaxing yoga video to release stress and anxiety. Just remember that when you feel extra-tired or as if you may be coming down with something, exercising too hard could stress your body and deplete your resources further, so listen to your body and do what feels right.
- Reduce stress. Stress takes a major toll on your immune system, so it's important to do what you can to stay calm - yes, even when it seems like the world is going crazy over this virus! Take up meditation or yoga, practice affirmations, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and do your best to remember that this, too, shall pass.
- Use natural remedies at the first sign of illness. Finally, if you do feel like you're coming down with something, take immediate action to give your body some extra support. Bundle up and stay warm. (Some experts suggest that you should take special care to keep your neck and head warm. I like to wrap a flannel pillowcase (folded several times lengthwise) around my neck when I go to bed if I feel like I'm fighting something off. Increasing the temperature in this area may help your body fight off pathogens.) Drink hot teas and broths - especially those that contain ginger, cayenne, and/or garlic. Load up on the vitamins mentioned above. Get extra sleep. I also like to put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in each ear for 45 seconds or so twice a day if I feel like I'm coming down with something. This may help to kill off germs in the sinus cavities - plus, it cleans out your ears! :-) Lastly, if you experience symptoms of COVID-19, immediately self-quarantine, and call your doctor for instructions and information on testing in your area (keep in mind that tests may not yet be available in all areas).
Before I wrap up here, a few notes of sanity.
It can be easy to get caught up in the panic in this type of crisis, but this generally only makes matters worse for everyone. Remind yourself that though this situation may be new and scary to most of us, it's important to put things into perspective. Currently as of this post, just over 5,000 people have died from COVID-19 worldwide. On the other hand, more than 3,000 people in the U.S. die in auto accidents EVERY DAY. 49 people in the U.S. so far have died from the coronavirus, but more than 34,000 Americans died from the common flu last year.
This isn't to minimize the seriousness of this outbreak. We don't know how far it may go just yet, and it will likely get worse before it gets better. But just remember, 80% of those with the virus experience mild symptoms similar to any other common cold or flu you may have had in the past.
Stay home if you're sick, follow the guidelines above, and don't go to the hospital unless your doctor tells you to - our hospitals and healthcare workers are already busy enough with those who have serious medical conditions.
And for goodness sake, if you already have a half-gallon of hand sanitizer at home, leave some for the rest of us! Healthcare workers need it more than you do - trust me.
Stay healthy out there!
Rose.
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