Covid-19, or as it is commonly known as coronavirus, is an infectious disease originating in Wuhan, China. The disease is thought to be natural and of animal origin, it quickly spread to other regions and on March 11th, 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially declared it as a pandemic.
Some of its common symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. It is spread through close contact as well as respiratory droplets which are produced when people cough or sneeze.
What can you do to prevent it?
It is important that you follow the government’s advice. Quarantine of infected people and at-risk populations is a way for the government to limit the immediate spread of the virus. The best way you can prevent and limit the spread of the virus is through frequent handwashing, cough etiquette and avoid touching your face. Social distancing is also a very important prevention method to think of and do. Through social distancing you minimise the risk of getting the virus but most importantly passing on the virus. The incubation period of the virus can range from 2-14 days meaning that even if you have the virus, you might not notice it.
Some facts and figures
As of 30th March:
· 723,700 total confirmed cases worldwide
· 34,018 total deaths
· 152,032 total recovered
Should you be concerned?
Most of us at the school do not fall in to the risk group of the coronavirus. Elderly people have a higher risk and are more vulnerable to this disease although there are always exceptions. However, this doesn’t mean that you are completely safe. It is important that you still partake in the prevention methods because even if you directly aren’t affected by the virus, people around you might be. You should be aware and informed of the situation however, there is no need to panic.
Let’s look at the positives
Sadly, the media tends to focus more on the negative sides of this pandemic in attempts to shock and scare readers. But, there are positive aspects which tend to be overlooked.
The number of cases in China have drastically decreased and the country had no new cases for five days in a row up to March 23rd. This is a huge improvement if we look back at the peak in early February where there were between 2,000 and 4,000 new cases per day.
Nature has also returned in Venice, Italy. Due to the country’s lockdown and the lack of tourism and people in general, we are seeing various animals returning to the city’s waterways. The water has become clear again due to the lack of motorised boats. Swans and even dolphins have returned to the waterways.
Map from NASA. Shows the decrease in Nitrogen Dioxide levels due to the coronavirus quarantine in China.
Although quarantine can be lonely and inconvenient. It is a good time to do the things you enjoy, self-care and even learn new hobbies. So, instead of sitting in your room all day, try to find a new hobby or spend your time perfecting your craft.
Video by Kurzgesagt about the coronavirus
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I liked that your specific explanation of COVID-19, and also positive results by covid-19, such as enhance of environmental issues. Also, your article taught me how to prevent covid019 and whether should I be concerned.
A balanced report and a reminder that we can be concerned but logical about what the situation really is and is not.
Well done Amelie - very apt given our situation. There are some very good podcasts from the BBC about Covid-19 - this one is well worth a listen to find out how the Chinese have turned the tide on the pandemic: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csythh and at the other extreme, why the USA was too slow off the mark: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csythj