Coronavirus – Headline Killer

Updated 25.3.2020

Coronavirus

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Hysteria around the coronavirus looks characteristic for era of social media. The headlines are far deadlier than the virus itself. Now the humanity has successfully contracted the virus, which is the most dangerous and contagious of all – FEAR.  One can evidence the cases of extreme paranoia and absolute nihilism. And the only thing we really need now is common sense. 

I suspect, that this time also, the biggest winners will be pharmaceutical companies – the sales of ineffective drugs and immune boosters continue increasing. 

The number of myths and delusions continues to grow. Every health company appeals for own products. A few pharmaceutical companies claim they were nearing a breakthrough in developing a vaccine against the COVID-19. For many, the answer is ready. Did we excess the limit of common sense here?

NOTE! Corona beer has no promotional or preventive effect on the virus development!

Together with global economic crisis, we face a fully new dilemma: to work or not to work… Jokes are far away. Both, employer and employee can find themselves front of the choice to risk one’s life or to risk the business/job. The survey undertaken by Company Debt Ltd has revealed, that working under coronavirus contracting treat scares the community. 500 people were polled on whether they would comply with an employers order to attend work, even if the Coronavirus was in full swing (more info: https://www.companydebt.com/articles/coronavirus-business-help/).

”Over 35% of respondents claimed they wouldn’t attend, with a further 6.6% claiming they would be prepared to lose their job over it”. #Company Debt Ltd survey.

So, where goes the border for those in risk groups?  It seems, that at the moment their jobs are the matter of employer’s goodwill.

Influenssa

In Europe, up to 20% of people contract seasonal influenza every year. And how are things in China? To date, Coronavirus infection has been reported in 0.003% of the population. Effective countermeasures, right?

As the situation of 25.3.2020, 6 weeks after the original post appeared, we live the time of Coronacalypsis in Europe. We didn’t learn anything from Chinese struggling with Coronavirus. Our negligent attitude to our health, basic hygiene, ignorance and lack of any common sense costed us COVID-19 kaos.   

According to the insiders’ information just received: in China, the return of employees from vacation is staggered. The extended holiday due to the virus was scheduled to last until 23.2. The factories have applied to the state for permission for an earlier kick off. One factory announced that they had started work yesterday (in Shenzhen, see photo). In the same city, others will begin next week. The third is awaiting a decision and hopes to start work later this week. Thus, in China, the state has its hands tightly controlled to prevent the virus from spreading. Previously, masks were mostly used by Chinese fast-food workers, now everyone does. It’s some kind of equality, eh?

Influenza was the world emergency for years. Neither any effective vaccine is issued, because the virus is constantly mutating, and the previously introduced vaccine is not effective for the next mutation. In the US, it is now advised to take the vaccine twice a year. It also provides only partial protection: one can’t avoid contracting the virus, but symptoms and sequelae may appear less severe.

Influenza has killed more people in the world than the coronavirus can ever do. (However, its mutations have not appeared yet). Influenza is more severe in both: symptoms (while some people do not even develop symptoms on coronavirus) and sequelae diseases. It is also more dangerous for children, especially newborns.

Apparently, children are not risking their life for coronavirus. Influenza statistics are not that joyful.

Here are some statistics:

1. Coronavirus mortality is currently about 2.3%
2. The same figure is 4.9-9% for Influenza. The figure is not accurate, because the cause of death (especially in babies – suspected by US authorities) is mislabeled.
3. You cannot protect yourself from a virus if you have already been in contact with it; the only way is to be absent from the risk group – if you can.
4. The development of symptoms, appearance of sequelae diseases and recovery are very individual.
5. Basic hygiene helps in all cases.

for better or for worse

What’s good about global viral phenomenon:

1. The importance of basic hygiene is emphasized: wash your hands; do not bite your nails, especially on the subway; do not pick your nose; and hand sanitizer is invented.
2. Awareness-raising: A well-selected source of information provides reliable information and teaches you how to deal with pandemics (who.int, thl.fi, etc.)
3. Schools and kindergartens pay more attention and respond rapidly if a child’s health condition leaves to be desired.

Here I would like to hope that parents will stop sending feverish, sick children to the nurseries and schools, even though they have an important meeting to come. Other parents may have important meetings tomorrow, that will be missed as their child becomes sick. A runny nose and eyes are also symptoms to look out for, as the child can infect 2-3 classmates before he or she develops a fever (if at all). Although your child’s symptoms are mild, in others the same virus (not necessarily the Corona) can cause both more severe symptoms and ailment. How do you know if any of your child’s classmates is at risk? How will it feel to look into their parents eye when that child is in the hospital attached to a respirator machine?

Respect not only your own needs but also the needs and health of others!

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#koronavirus, #coronavirus, #influenssa, #influenza, #beaware