We are hopefully all socially distancing, which lowers risk, although we can’t hide forever. So what does one do in this age of the contagion moving forward?

As a teenager, I used to run a padded track at a local high school. One day, I noticed a group of guys that were throwing javelins in the football field surrounding the track. These long spears weight close to 2 pounds.

As I was running the track, I noticed a javelin was thrown my way, plummeting through the air coming right for me. In a split second, I had to decide whether to dead-stop or keep running. I stopped, intending to move my body the right way to escape becoming the bullseye. And that’s where all of society is right now with the C-virus!!

Currently, the majority of Americans are Covid-19 virgins. From today’s statistics there have been 1,720,000 that have tested positive with 101,000 fatalities. That’s a mortality rate of almost 6% within the United States. So for every 100 Americans that catch this invisible particle, 6 will pass away from the virus. Worldwide mortality is almost 15%.

The family of viruses know as the coronaviruses (crown-like) are found in bats. Most bats survive because their immunity allows them to be much more vigilant with viruses. In a bat, the virus must act fast before the immune system senses problems and neutralizes this invader. Humans have immunity that usually acts a lot slower. Therefore these virus have more time to take over our cells, multiply and propagate throughout the body. Bat viruses are usually more deadly in humans.

A virus is non-living thing unless it gets inside a host. Viruses are a tiny piece of protein called RNA or DNA. So small that you can’t even see it with a microscope.

A virus host could be any living thing. Once the virus get access to a living organism, it sends a programmed message (genetic code) taking over the cell’s ability to replicate. It forces the cell to produce multiple copies of the virus. The cell finally explodes when all the copies have overwhelmed the boundaries of the cell. Then it spreads throughout the organism. The more deadly the virus, the faster it will try and take over.

So moving forward, social distancing is a must to lower risk. And that would be, as far away from another as practically possible. Six feet is the minimum for normal breathing. Google how far respiratory particles fly after a cough or a sneeze. I was shocked!!!

Research is implying that there is a strong possibility of a safe, effective vaccine before the end of 2020. Developing an FDA approved anti-viral treatment will take a longer period of time. Hopefully sometime in 2021.

As for that javelin, it went through my shoelace and pierced the absolute tip of my sneaker. I fell to the ground in shocked relief. As everyone in the field ran over to me, I just lay there, thanking God that it wasn’t my time.

Want to express my gratitude for everyone (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) in the medical community. The risk and stress is at times almost insurmountable. Came across a few articles that brought me to tears on what these health professionals are undergoing at work every day. If you get a chance, please check out Scientific America June 2020 issue.

Thank you to all the scientists and researchers throughout the world that are working non-stop on working on a vaccine as well as a treatment.

In addition, my thanks go out to those workers putting their lives at risk. Those include butchers, cashiers, technicians, convenience store workers, all delivery people including the postal services, gas attendants and many other sectors of the economy they remain open on a restricted basis.

Please keep thinking about maintaining a safe place for yourself and others around you. Wear protective garb in risky situations. I know it’s tough getting used although it lowers risk drastically.

Categories: Health