A Covid-19 Blog.
Chapter 8
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Albert Einstein, German Physicist 1875-1959.
A reader of a recent chapter of this blog suggested I’m focusing too much on the negative side of this pandemic. So, in keeping with my desire to please my readers, may I suggest that we all take the time to think of positive things to do while we’re staying safe at home.
Like making cupcakes in honor of the voice of reason amid this storm, Dr. Andrew Fauci.
Dr. Andrew Fauci deserves The Presidential Medal of Freedom for his calm, level-headed guidance and reassuring presence during this pandemic. The National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases has this to say about the good doctor:
“Dr. Fauci was appointed Director of NIAID in 1984. He oversees an extensive research portfolio of basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat established infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis and malaria and emerging diseases such as Ebola and Zika. NIAID also supports research on transplantation and immune-related illnesses, including autoimmune disorders, asthma and allergies. The NIAID budget for fiscal year 2020 is an estimated $5.9 billion.
Dr. Fauci has advised six Presidents on HIV/AIDS and many other domestic and global health issues. He was one of the principal architects of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program that has saved millions of lives throughout the developing world.” (Source: The National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases)
The only reason I watch the U.S. government’s Corona Virus Update briefings is to hear what this wonderful man has to say about the latest developments in our fight against Covid-19. I would trust him with my life. In fact, I am trusting him with my life by following his recommendations.
There are plenty of wonderful people doing wonderful things during this terrible time. I wish I could divert my mind to write about all of them. But this is my Covid-19 blog, and I will write what’s on my heart and mind.
An interesting development today is something I’ve been asking for weeks. Could the differences in severity of this disease be linked to the initial infection load?
The authorities now believe that the reason some people get very sick (even without underlying risk factors such as illness or old age) has to do with the initial “load” of virus they’re infected with.
If you’re invaded by a huge number of the virus at once, they all get to work transforming your body’s cells (in particular the cells in your lungs) into tiny, little virus manufacturing factories.
If you only inhale a few virus cells, then your body launches its immune response before the invader gets its nasty little R.N.A. into more and more of your lung cells, reproducing itself in the millions.
But if large numbers of virus invade your body at once, your immune system may become overwhelmed. An unfortunate result can be an overstimulation of the body’s own immune response, where it ends up attacking healthy lung cells instead of only the virus.
A gloomy projection, isn’t it? Which is why we need to pay attention to the good doctor, Anthony Fauci.
He said two days ago; the government is seriously considering asking Americans to wear masks, to prevent droplet transmission of this deadly virus. First, they have to make sure we have an ample supply for the doctors, nurses and other health care workers on the front line.
If you are still one of the people who isn’t taking this seriously, perhaps today’s figures won’t alarm you, but here they are.
On March 31st, 2020 22:34 GMT, there were 857,738 confirmed cases and 42,024 deaths in the world from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
Today, April 2nd, 23:41 GMT, there are 1,014,256 confirmed cases, and 52,982 deaths worldwide from Covid 19.
My country, the U.S.A. remains at the top with 244,190 confirmed cases and 5,883 deaths. The number of deaths from Covid-19 has eclipsed the number of people we lost on 9/11/2001 in the terrorist attacks.
781 people in the United States lost their lives today because of this virus. Italy lost another 760 people, and Spain lost 961 people.
It is not only killing the elderly. It is killing babies born with health issues they would have otherwise survived. It is killing healthy younger people with no known underlying health conditions.
To put these figures into perspective, I also want to share:
Covid-19 is now the third leading cause of death in the United States. Cardiovascular disease and cancer deaths each year still outweigh Covid-19, but expect that to change in the next week.
I predict that by the end of the month, Covid-19 will hold that Number One spot with a lead to rival that of Canonero II’s in the 1971 Kentucky Derby.
There are 749,259 ACTIVE CASES worldwide (that we know of, that is)
Of those, 711,561 or 96% are in mild condition. 37,698 or 5% are in serious or critical condition.
There are 264,997 CLOSED CASES.
Of those, 212,015, or 80% have recovered or discharged, and 52,982, or 20% died.
We really don’t know how accurate these numbers are because of the lack of factual reporting from some countries in the world, and also because of the lack of widespread testing here in the USA.
It’s all a matter of perspective.
If you are feeling stuck at home, try this.
You’re not stuck at home. You’re safe at home.
And if you’re practicing social distancing, you are saving lives. Thank you.
THINGS TO DO DURING THIS SHELTER-IN-PLACE time:
Start a journal or a blog.
Write a list of all the things you’re thankful for.
Read books to your kids. Or to yourself.
Research your ancestry and learn where you came from.
Bake cookies. Learn how to make bread.
Learn a new language.
Plant a garden inside or outside.
Watch a movie, or two, or three, or twenty.
Play cards with your family. If you live alone, play Solitaire with yourself.
Dig out those old board games.
Find a new hobby.
Start a scrapbook. Try your hand at learning how to draw, paint or model with clay or play dough. You can make play dough (Recipes available all over the internet). Ever made your own jewelery? It’s fun!
Read a good book. Join Audible.com and listen to a good book. If you buy a book online, be sure to leave the author a review on Amazon.com.
Clean your house.
Spring-clean your house.
Clean out the attic or the basement (your kids will thank you one day).
Try meditation or yoga. YouTube has an abundance of free meditation videos available.
Go for a walk if you live somewhere you can avoid coming into contact with other people. If you don’t, walk your hallway and challenge yourself to beat your previous record for steps.
If you can’t exercise by walking, try arm exercises.
There are so many things you can try.
Tomorrow, I will try my hand at making some homemade masks.
I learned today of the very special materials needed to do so. Covid-19 isn’t something a regular piece of fabric can stop. But an ingenious doctor and his wife came up with an idea to use HEPA filter vacuum cleaner bags for home-made mask making. I’m up for the challenge.
Tune in to my next blog to find out how it went!
Julu's World 