OPINION:
The coronavirus, the mysterious pneumonia-like ailment that emerged from Wuhan, China, just a few weeks ago and that has gone on to spread to more than 40 countries, is highly contagious and deeply dangerous. Its fatality rate is “only” 2 percent, the complacent chortle. Of course, the Spanish Flu of 1918 had a fatality rate of “only” 2 percent. If enough people get a sickness with a fatality rate of “only” 2 percent, hundreds of thousands if not millions of people will die.
The coronavirus has firmly established itself in China, South Korea, Iran and Italy. So far, only a few cases have been found here at home, but we should not grow complacent. After all, it continues to spread quickly. More than 80,000 have been diagnosed, though the numbers of infected are undoubtedly far higher. For one, China and Iran lie like Persian rugs, and we have every reason to doubt the figures they release. Secondly, many thousands are probably walking around with illness unawares; symptoms don’t present for, it appears, at least two weeks. Others may think they just have a particularly nasty cold.
What is to be done? In a press conference Wednesday evening, President Trump assured the American people that the situation is under control. Wash your hands and stay home if you feel sick, he urged. Good advice.
The government might consider stepping up its border control efforts, though. Flights continue to travel between the United States and China and Korea. This despite the fact that the U.S. government is now urging Americans to avoid travel to those two countries, if at all possible. A vaccine won’t be ready for at least a year, the CDC says. That means the focus must be on preventing the spread. The economy and, more importantly, the health of millions depends on it.
This is not a call for panic. With prudent measures, the spread (we hope) can be stopped. The coronavirus is named, of course, for a “crown,” because of the halo-like shapes that it emits at the cellular level. Let’s hope it doesn’t become the king of sicknesses.
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