World Health Organization (WHO) declares Pandemic.
Only a couple of hours ago the World Health Organization declared the state of pandemic regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.
In this article I aim to spread as much information I can. It’s not being talked about enough and so, so little people have access to real information about how to contain it, what it is and how it’s spreading.
I am from Italy. All territory has been declared “protected zone” yesterday and today (11th March 2020) the president of ministry reinforced the safety measures taken.
Disclaimer: this article was written from an Italian point of view. All I write here is all I know about the emergency the world is in and what the official sources said to us through official medias.
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First and foremost, let’s answer: What is a Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of virus known to cause illnesses ranging from the common flu to other serious diseases like SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome).
They are RNA viruses that resemble a crown when under a microscope.
Coronaviruses were identified in the 60s and are known to infect humans and some animals. They aim to epithelial cells, as well as respiratory tract cells and gastrointestinal cells.
The source of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) is still unknown. The Superior Health Institute thinks it could have been a result of a spill over, meaning it came from animals and evolved to infect humans. It is still not certain.
(source: http://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioFaqNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=228 It’s in Italian, I’m sorry. I can translate it for you, should you need a whole translation)
With the what settled, let’s focus on why the WHO declared the pandemic state.
The WHO defines “pandemic” a situation that affects all continents. At first COVID-19 wasn’t considered a threat because of its lethality and the number of cases outside China.
Now it has been spread to all continents and the WHO declared the pandemic emergency.
To better understand what it entails, it’s worth mentioning that the word “pandemic” comes from the ancient Greek “pan” “demos”, meaning “all” “population”.
Ilaria Capua, director of the department of the Emergency Pathogen Institute in the University of Florida, states that the virus started spreading around mid-December/January, well before it was even disclosed that this virus existed outside Wuhan. This means it was in Europe (and every other nation) since then.
Since Italy declared its first case, the European nations have been kicking out Italians and blocking import of Italian goods. This was useless, as they got infected nonetheless and not by an Italian or a Chinese person.
Make an example of this and do not discriminate. It’s damaging and ultimately useless. It does not prevent contagion.
An important data is Italy having the highest number of cases in Europe, and possibly in the world after China. That is because almost everyone has been tested, starting from people who showed signs (and were confirmed infected) and then testing everyone they came in contact with in the last two weeks.
Be careful: the virus can be asymptomatic, so there are people who don’t experience symptoms but are vessels and can infect others. Although it’s rare without symptoms first.
Cases can be counted only if people get tested. So, if you’re from a country like the USA where the test isn’t free and costs a lot of money, please do not underestimate the number of infected people. It might be way more than you think.
After a mass movement of people coming from the red zones in the north of Italy (zones with a high risk of infection) to the south, and the carelessness of people who went against the decrees by gathering to party and protest, all of Italy has been put under quarantine till 3rd April 2020.
The government, working alongside medics and scientists, issued several emergency laws and sanctions to ensure public safety, plus a couple of hashtags trying to make people understand the severity of the situation.
President of the ministry Giuseppe Conte summarized all the new decrees with the trending hashtag “#iorestoacasa”, meaning “I stay at home”. That is, in fact, the first and foremost rule to apply when under quarantine and fighting a highly infective virus like this: stay at home and don’t interact with people.
As bad as it sounds, it is the necessary precaution. The virus can take up to two weeks to show symptoms, and even then, it’s not always detected immediately. Two weeks is a long time. One single person can infect dozens. And each in a dozen can infect other dozens and so on.
The decrees forced all unnecessary shops and stores, cinemas, theaters, bars and every other place where people gather to close. Only grocery stores, pharmacies and clinics are open to the public, but they must ensure safety distance between each client and regulate how many people at a time can enter.
Other commercial businesses, like restaurants, can only home delivery their products if they choose to operate.
Businesses with employees that usually work in offices are required to provide the necessary means to ensure everyone can work from home.
Ceremonies, events and shows are all cancelled.
Any movement inside and outside your city must be motivated by either work or health. People need to fill out a form stating why they are outside.
Lying and going around without taking the due precautions can result in fines and even jail time.
Medics launched their own hashtags too: #iorestoincorsia #turestiacasa. “I stay in the hospital ward” “You stay at home”.
This was a necessary step to take, to make sure people truly understand how paramount is to avoid needless contacts with others and contagion. Medics are working hard and to the bone, people are getting infected with such speed that the wards can’t keep up with demands, especially intensive care wards.
The decrees also include a set of rules taken from the WHO and adapted to the current situation that everyone should follow to ensure safety.
2. Avoid close contacts and maintain a safety distance of at least one meter with everyone
4. Preferably stay at home, especially if immunocompromised
5. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes with your hands
6. Use a one-time napkin for your mouth and nose if you sneeze or cough. Alternatively use your inner elbow
7. Open the windows as much as you can if you are with other people
8. Avoid handshakes and hugs, and sharing glasses and bottles
9. Clean surfaces with alcohol (75%) or chlorine (1%) based disinfectants
10. Do not take antiviral drugs or antibiotics, unless your physician told you to
11. In doubt do NOT go to the ER: call your physician and, if you think you got infected, call the emergency service (112)
12. Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
(Source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public )
Most importantly every authority recommends to use your own common sense, your sense of responsibility, and self-quarantine.
It’s not only about you as a person, it’s about public health and safety.
The word “responsibility” comes from Latin verb “respondio”, to answer. We have to respond to ourselves first, to our conscience. Then the government.
In Italy’s case the government is helping us, pointing us in the right direction and uniting the people to fight a common enemy. It’s not about the single person, nor about political factions, it’s about all of us. Helping each other by staying healthy and avoiding endangering others needlessly.
This is above the law. This should go without saying.
This pandemic is a level. There is no discrimination. The virus doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, healthy or not, a baby or an elder, a teacher or a business person. We are all the same.
This is the right time to understand this. This is the time to understand what it means to care for others and ourselves as a community. Love thy neighbor as thyself.
And this is why self-quarantine is important.
I understand this is difficult. We are social animals and we need that social contact. These times are challenging for sure, impacting our habits and forcing us to change them, but it’s not forever.
Give up physical contact now, to feel its warmth later. It will be enhanced and most rewarding.
If your government still hasn’t given the orders, made exceptional laws, you must do what it’s necessary to ensure your own safety and the safety of others.
Keep a calm fear. Stay at home, but don’t panic. There is no need if you take the right precautions.
Respect the prevention rules. Respect the elders. Respect yourselves.
We can do it. All together.
I’ll leave some useful links in case you want to learn more. All of these are official sources. I highly recommend spending some time on the World Health Organization website.
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
http://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioNotizieNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=italiano&menu=notizie&p=dalministero&id=4191 (This one is in Italian, let me know if you want a translation)
