The Corona Virus
Despite having been discovered in December 2019 in China, I became aware of the corona virus on 21st January, 2020. This is the date when the first corona virus case was confirmed in the United States. Nonetheless, I did not consider the disease a threat or take any keen interest in it. Come 23rd 2020, the corona virus got my full attention after the World Health Organization declared it a world threat and emergency of global concern. This was brought to my attention by the world news on the television.
Corona virus, branded the title COVID-19, was first discovered in Wuhan China in December, 2019. According to WHO, the virus behind the COVID-19 is spread through droplets when a person positive of the disease sneezes, coughs or even exhales. What’s quick to note about these droplets is that due to their heavy weight, they do not hang in the air for long. Instead, they drop on the floor or nearby surfaces, which escalates the chances of transmission. Breathing within a one meter radius of an infected person also increases chances of being infected. Upon being infected by the disease, it takes approximately 14days for symptoms to show. These symptoms have been compared to that of flu.
The corona virus affects the respiration system, as soon as it enters the mucus membranes. After 5-6 days, or even 14, the body starts experiencing symptoms such as headache, shortness of breath, body aches, chills, nausea, diarrhea, sorethroat, among many others. The disease might then inflame the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. This difficulty in breathing may consequently cause pneumonia, and sometimes death. The corona virus has taken a toll on the normal lifestyle of almost the entire world. Since the disease requires utmost social distancing and avoiding crowded areas, many schools, including mine, have been closed down, and classes moved online. Majority of other countries struck by this crisis have also closed down their schools and many businesses. Passenger flights have been cancelled and some countries imposing total lockdown for a specified period.
As a family, we are first prioritizing staying alive by taking all the necessary steps, the most important being staying home. At a personal level, as much as the disease has taken a toll on my physical social live, I make up for that by face timing with friends and also keep busy by keeping up with the online classes. The corona virus has negatively affected the finances and economic status of my family, since many workplaces are closed inevitably.
As a country, some measures have been taken to prevent further spreading and deaths by this disease. For starters, events or places that might encourage crowding have been cancelled and closed down inevitably. These include churches, sports, schools, conferences, to mention but a few. Many workplaces have also been closed, to minimize interactions among people. A lockdown has been declared, where the only option is to stay home, meaning no movement till the lockdown is eased or lifted. These measures are quite satisfying, since the ultimate goal is to prioritize safety of the people.
I can recommend that people take personal safety measures like sanitizing constantly and using face masks while in public, while observing the one meter rule. With this in mind, the worries about contracting the disease will be minimal.
Having my classes administered online has not been a challenge so far. The discussion board especially helps in expression and further understanding of concepts.
If it is indeed true that the disease originated from a seafood market in Wuhan, then morality in food choices was compromised. With so many food choices to choose from, it is disturbing that people would opt to settle for weird animal meat. This immorality is worrying because what if in the future we suffer even greater losses because of simple choices that people failed to make wisely?
As adverse as the current situation is, the corona virus however does not affect how I will proceed with my education or even settle down in future. It does however affect my involvement with institutions like the church and other organizations. It is times like these that I have learnt the importance of living in harmony with oneself and others, as the future is really inevitable.
Conclusively, corona virus is a global crisis which has brought the world to a standstill, interfering with the normal running of things. With major health complications, it is wise to take utmost care and personal initiative to steer clear of this disease. As the economy takes a turn for the worth, it should be worth remembering that it is better recovering to an economy alive than dead.