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Practical steps to get
ready, without hitting the panic button
While
COVID-19 has a high transmission rate, it has a low mortality rate - of those
who have tested positive for COVID-19, 80% do not exhibit symptoms that would
require hospitalization - there’s no need to panic - It helps to look at
coronavirus in the context of other illnesses to get some perspective.
Article by: Rebecca Dolgin
In
a less-than-reassuring press conference last night about the coronavirus, we
finally got the news we already guessed, but were collectively dreading.
It
isn’t a matter of “if” but “when” the coronavirus will hit the United States.
“Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this country,” said the
Center for Disease Control (CDC) spokesman, Benjamin Haynes.
And,
sure enough, as we woke up this morning, there was already news of a person in
California who had been diagnosed with the virus.
The New York Times reported, “A person in
California who was not exposed to anyone known to be infected with the
coronavirus and had not traveled to countries in which the virus is
circulating, has tested positive for the infection.”
This
new case represents what the infectious disease community calls “community
spread” and it’s important because experts agree community spread is the
tipping point that leads to a pandemic.
So,
what does this mean, for us?
Harvard epidemiology professor Marc Lipsitch told The
Atlantic last week. “I think the likely outcome is that it will ultimately
not be containable.”
Yikes. But he also said this: even though he predicts
some 40 to 70 percent of people around the world will be infected with the
virus that causes COVID-19, “it’s likely that many will have mild disease,
or may be asymptomatic.”
The
California Department of Public Health agrees.
In a statement yesterday it said, “While COVID-19 has a high transmission rate, it has a low
mortality rate. The international data we have, of those who have tested
positive for COVID-19, approximately 80% do not exhibit symptoms that would
require hospitalization.”
In other words, there’s no need to panic. It helps to
look at coronavirus in the context of other illnesses to get some perspective.
The coronavirus currently has a death rate of 2%
worldwide, far below the 9% to 12% death rate of the 2002 SARS; though higher
than the common flu in the U.S.
It’s
still unclear exactly how contagious the virus is, but the CDC estimates
symptoms occur 2-14 days after exposure.
It’s
mainly spread through the respiratory system (think: breathing or coughing on
someone). Signs of the virus are fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Like
with many other illnesses, older adults and those with weakened immune systems
are most at risk.
Psychological
Implications Of Coronavirus
If
you chat with five different friends, you’ll see a range of responses — some
are already ordering face masks and stocking up on water, others thinking maybe
they won’t got to Italy this summer, and still others haven’t heard anything
about the virus.
Despite
the information we do hear, part of the trouble is humans are not great at
assessing risk.
According
to Paul Slovic, Ph.D., who researches risk and decision making at the
University of Oregon, how risk is conveyed determines how it’s interpreted.
And,
people use their emotions, not logical analysis to evaluate risks.
“Catastrophizing is an example of an unhealthy
thinking pattern which may make contamination seem more likely than it actually
is,” says Dr. Julie Kolzet, Ph.D., a
licensed psychologist in New York City.
To feel less anxious, Dr. Kolzet suggests getting news
from reliable sources and thinking about the facts. “Ask yourself, what’s
the evidence for this and the evidence against it.”
Another
tactic is to ask yourself what the cost is of believing the worst-case scenario.
How
To Minimize Coronavirus Risk
(According To The CDC)
Wash
your hands. Using soap and water, lather up for at least 20 seconds or use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.
This
is especially important after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after
blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Cover
your cough or sneeze. Use a tissue that you can throw away. And, avoid touching
your eyes, nose and mouth since the virus is transmitted through the
respiratory system.
Stay
home if you’re sick. Chances are you don’t have the virus, but officials advise
staying home if you don’t feel well.
And,
if you suspect you may have coronavirus, call your healthcare provider.
Keep
surfaces clean. Use a disinfecting cleaning spray or wipes on high-touch
surfaces like light switches, doorknobs, your phone, and remote controls.
Stay
away from sick people. One thing we know about the virus is that it is very
contagious.
Don’t
buy a facemask… yet: If you’re not sick, not a healthcare worker, and not
caring for someone who has the virus, there is no need to wear a facemask.
Facemasks
should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the
spread of the disease.
What
To Do About Travel Plans And Work
There
are travel warnings for certain areas: level three warnings (the highest) are
in effect for China and South Korea and level two for Italy, Iran, and Japan.
For more travel guidance, refer to the CDC website.
The CDC also recommends that “businesses explore
strategies that would decrease the amount of exposure that people have with one
another, for example, telecommuting and staggered shifts. Those who travel
frequently for business should also consider cancelling any nonessential travel
in the case of a sustained outbreak in the U.S.”
Rebecca Dolgin is the executive editor of Psycom. As a former Editor
in Chief, Rebecca has spent over 20 years on major consumer websites and
magazines directing the editorial mission and strategy. Before joining Psycom,
Rebecca worked with Hearst Digital Media on digital brands like Elle, Cosmopolitan,
and Esquire. Prior to this, she was the editor in chief at XO Group
and oversaw digital, video, social, and print for The Knot (the #1 wedding
website), The Nest and The Bump, and launched the company’s
first in-house branded content agency, The Studio.
Holding degrees in both
journalism and social psychology has enabled Rebecca to approach service
journalism from a unique perspective–one that takes into account the social
context and group behavior patterns. Her research interests focus on language
and emotion.
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