Coronavirus: small size, big impact
Grace Myers, Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com.
Despite being small enough to be measured in nanometers, the Novel Coronavirus is making a big impact around the globe.
The first report of a mysterious virus came from Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019. The virus has symptoms similar to the common flu. According to CBS News, this mystery virus has infected thousands of people and has resulted in 1,114 fatalities in China.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory virus related to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS – CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS – CoV).
These types of viruses are common in animals like camels, cattle, stray cats and bats, but they can be transferred to humans. Once these viruses infect one person, person to person spread is possible. The new strain has never been found in humans, thus, making it a “novel” or new virus.
In terms of its existence in the states, the virus first made an appearance within U.S. borders in Washington state in January 2020. In total, the CDC has diagnosed 13 positive cases of COVID-19 as of February 12, 2020. No fatalities have been reported in the United States.
While the CDC says the virus is not spreading rapidly, the U.S. is still taking precautions to protect the health of its citizens.
According to the White House, President Trump issued a “Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus” on January 31, 2020.
This proclamation will restrict entry into the U.S. for those who were in the People’s Republic of China during the 14 days prior to entering the U.S.
Furthermore, the CDC urges all U.S. inhabitants to avoid all non-required travel to China.
Additionally, those who do arrive from China should monitor themselves for a fourteen-day period after their arrival for any respiratory illness type symptoms.
Domestic concerns aside, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus has had an impact on China.
Sophia Morgan, a single mother living in Wuhan, China, had been living under the quarantine with her 6 year-old-son for approximately 15 days at the time of this interview. Her normally busy town is now quiet; she now only sees an average of 10-15 people when she goes out.
“Our days are pretty mundane,” said Morgan, “We wake up, go downstairs, eat our oatmeal, have one snack, and dinner is usually beans and rice or some vegetable blend. I fill the days with different school activities, but somedays being inside just takes a toll on me and we just sleep.”
Furthermore, food is Morgan’s biggest concern; she counts their food items at least twice a day in order to calculate when to take her next grocery trip.
“I worry for my son mostly; he’s 6 and choosy about food. Normally, I accommodate his food eating preferences, but now he just has to eat what’s available,” the mother notes.
That being said, Wuhan is not starving, Morgan has gone out twice during the quarantine to get groceries, wearing gloves and a mask each time. “There is limited movement in the city, but you may go get groceries; the shops are opened and stocked… I’m quick, I go in, grab the items I need, and head straight home, no interaction,” said Morgan. “That’s the hardest thing in quarantine, no interaction.”
COVID-19 affects everyone.
Research on COVID-19 is still in progress. Visit in CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov for the most recent updates on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
