Coronavirus - Remain Calm. Do Not Panic

In fairness, that is absolutely nothing like the Covid-19 coronavirus, how it is transmitted, how it survives outside the body, how it survives after death, or how dangerous it is to those infected. It has as much in common with the Covid-19 coronavirus as it does with a chocolate dildo.

Other than that, spot on.

Covid 19 sounds like a Fine Gael housing plan.

Most that get C19 it will be a bad flu with a 1-2% death rate. Estimates of 40-70% of the worlds population to get infected. 

I would say the death rate will be much higher. It disproportionately effects the elderly, those with chronic pre-existing conditions and  the immunocompromised (which scares me because i fall into that category) it seems.

It also potentially damages your lungs in a worse way than the common flu. One thing we can say with absolute certainty, Ireland doesn't have  the infrastructure to deal with an epidemic. We already have a capacity crisis in our hospitals as it is. 

Many of those initially infected either worked or frequently shopped in the Huanan seafood wholesale market in the centre of the Chinese city.

The initial symptoms are a persistent cough, a high temperature and breathing difficulties. Wiping sweat from your forehead even though you’re not engaged in any strenuous activity is also a symptom. As this is a viral flu, antibiotics are of no use. The antiviral drugs available against flu in extreme cases will not cure Covid-19. Recovery over the next few weeks and months depends on the strength of the individual’s immune system.

Some people have been hearing that a vaccine will be available within the next couple of weeks. This is NOT true. Scientists are saying it will take between eight and twelve months before a vaccine for Covid-19 becomes available.

In the coming days, if you suspect you have the coronavirus – high temperature, persistent cough, difficulty breathing, do not go to your GP, or to the local A&E. There is nothing your GP can do for you except advice you to go home and isolate yourself from the rest of the household as much as you possibly can. 

Better to ring your GP’s surgery and ask advice. 

More and more doctors are now contracting the virus, because they are coming face to face with patients who already have.

Because there won’t be any vaccine available until much later this year, and none of the antiviral drugs they give to people with compromised immune systems and those with other underlying health issues have an effect on this virus, doctors are saying you’re best to avoid work or school and stay in bed; take paracetamol, or those familiar hot lemon/blackcurrant drinks containing paracetamol, and stay hydrated. 

Remember, none of us is indispensable. If you go to work with this virus, then everybody you work with most likely gets the virus; thanks to your generous lack of consideration.

The World Health Organisation is saying that this virus is highly contagious. So we should avoid crowded places, and moving around within confined areas where we are mixing with a lot of people. 

Many of us remember the MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) virus back in 2012, which was a member of the coronavirus family; and SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome), also a member of the coronavirus family, back in 2002. Both of these serious viruses were contained very quickly, preventing their spread from reaching the rest of the world. 

Unfortunately, due to increased global travel, and cheaper and more frequent flights to almost every corner of the world, Covid-19 is now unstoppable. It is on the move.

Small children and elderly people are most at risk of getting the virus, as well as those with serious ongoing health issues. So it’s important that each of us does our part in trying to avoid it. Here are a few tips:

The virus gets into you through your nose and mouth. Pick up a bottle of sanitiser from your chemist or supermarket and keep it in your bag or your pocket. They cost only a couple of euros. 

Rub in onto your hands frequently during the day, and even rub a hint of it under your nose; particularly if you use public transport, or you have to take a flight somewhere. Computer keyboards need to be sanitised. Also encourage young children to bring a sanitiser to school with them and show them how to use it.

Stop shaking people’s hands for a few weeks, and that includes the ‘sign of peace’ gesture during Mass, if you are a churchgoer. 

Carry tissues with you. Blow your nose into the tissue and bin it. If you feel a sneeze coming on, then sneeze into the crook of your elbow if you can’t grab a tissue in time. 

A sneeze travels at about 100 miles per hour. A single sneeze can send 100,000 germs into the air. That means a single sneeze from someone with coronavirus can infect everyone in a single classroom, office space, or most passengers on an average domestic airplane. 

Sneezing in public with your mouth wide open, as if you’re shouting, is about as sociable as picking your nose. It’s revolting. Carry plenty of tissues. 

Finally, don’t panic. It serves no positive purpose. Check in on your elderly neighbours and parents and reassure them.