update on coronavirus
With the continued updates on the circulating coronavirus, COVID 19, we still need to be careful about which news sources we read and listen to. This news source by Johns Hopkins University has a panel of experts that are well informed about pandemics and public health preparedness.
Unfortunately, in the U.S. only 45 out of 50 states have the ability to administer coronavirus tests. That is irresponsible and unacceptable. Increasing testing raises the number of confirmed cases, but it may also give us an upside and lead to more public calm. For instance, severe cases that end up in the hospital are easy to track and it can skew the mortality rate upward. But the more we diagnose mild cases, the more we can drive down the overall case mortality rate. Here is a case in point…
“In South Korea, for example, where an ambitious and expansive testing strategy has resulted in more than 140,000 people tested for the disease, only about .6% of cases have resulted in death—much lower than the fatality rates seen in China and Italy, where testing efforts were more limited, Inglesby said.”
Some Universities have closed and are conducting classes on-line. In some community hot-spots where a cluster of disease is found, they are considering closing elementary, middle and high schools. Fortunately, young children are not the most vulnerable in getting sick, but they can still spread the virus to other children, teachers and of course to their parents. Then parents go to work and this can lead to another source of how the infection can proliferate.
I’m not here to give you advice on supplements to take to prevent or treat this virus, mainly because nothing has been tested that provides effective treatment. But I will tell you to stay calm, keep informed with good news sources, but don’t read or watch the news too much. Stressing ourselves out with fear and worry weakens the immune system.
Do things that you would normally do if you had a cold. Eat healthy fruits and veges, soups and drink lots of fluids. Avoid sugar, alcohol and too much caffeine. Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D, and Glutathione all strengthen the immune system. Get outside in the warmer weather and breath some fresh air. The sun is incredibly healing and it calms the nervous system!
We will all get through this…
As the British Government said so appropriately, “Keep Calm and Carry On”