The Pandemic - Entry One

At first, I think the government and health agencies did their best to contain the spread of panic. In fact, they likely did such a good job of it that now, when it matters, that most people are still going off that initial information. Except that, in the fluidity of the moment, the information has changed drastically and it is difficult to change the mindsets of those who have set them.

As healthcare systems are stressed to breaking and hospitals are full to brimming, the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 has been seen to have disastrous effects elsewhere in the world. In hopes of avoiding that same situation here, governments have began the arduous task of taking drastic precautions to not necessarily contain, but to slow the eventual spread.

For most, the virus won't effect them any worse than the common cold might have in the past, but for those that it is most dangerous, it is extremely dangerous, unless they can be treated. Unfortunately treatment takes time, resources and equipment, all of which we have in limited supply. If we can minimize the amount of people that require those resources, we can adequately treat those who require treatment as they need it and thereby minimize human loss of life on a large scale.

The conspiracy theorists are having a field day coming up with the most absurd ideas you can imagine but the truth is actually stranger than the fiction they are peddling and they only add to exacerbate an already difficult situation. There are so many contradictory statements being made that few know what sources to trust. Especially when we went from "it's not any worse than the flu" to "everyone who can, should and must stay home".

Unfortunately, most people are already barely surviving, clawing their way along in life trying to get ahead while under the duress of massive taxation, increased cost of living and unreliable employment. Asking them to stay home with a store of groceries when they can barely pay their rent is a huge ask. Nonetheless, they've asked.

They've prohibited gatherings of more than 50 people, closed bars and nightclubs, mandated restrictions on seated restaurants, closed schools - all until further notice and all in an attempt to help "flatten the curve". This is something that wasn't done in places China or Italy and their health care systems are ill equipped to deal with the results. In fact, in Woohan (where the virus originated) they built a 1500 bed hospital in 10 days to deal with the fallout of COVID-19.

In 1918, the Spanish Flu (a swine flu that made the jump to humans in Kansas and had nothing to do with Spain other than the Spanish having brought it to the world's attention) killed one third of the world's population (roughly 500 million worldwide). However, we can learn a lot from the Spanish Flu and from the looks of things, they have.

With highly virulent strains of influenza it is the spread that dictates the outcome and there is most always more than one wave. Typically there are three waves - each one worse than the one proceeding it. We are currently only witnessing the first wave. If they can stop the initial wave from picking up speed before the next waves, we can minimize the overall effects and possible mutations of the virus.

Already we have gone from believing that children aren't susceptible to understanding that they too can be affected after a 10 year old boy recently tested positive indicating a possible mutative predisposition to COVID-19. The situation is incredibly fluid at this time.

In the first wave of Spanish Flu, patients were allowed to have visitors to their bedside in the close cramped quarters of the barracks that had been hastily converted into makeshift hospitals. The spread of contagion became exponential in the United States thereafter. Proper quarantine conditions could have helped immensely in protecting the rest of the population. I can only think that this is the reasoning behind the drastic measures being taken across the globe now.

I can admit now that even I downplayed the virus initially but still I doubt we have reason for the incredible panic that has gripped the nation. After all, unlike Australia, Canada produces our own toilet paper products, there is no shortage and you don't need to hoard it. Still the store shelves are empty of these same items here before noon even with new shipments made every day. It's unfathomable really, everyday rational people now acting as untrained "doomsday preppers".

I don't disagree that we should prepare for the worst and hope for the best but we should do our best to maintain a level head while we are at it. It's already stressful enough without taking it out on each other. After all, your neighbour or the person in the line up at the grocery store isn't the reason we are where we are now.

During the Spanish Flu it took five farmers to start the spread of an infection that killed one third of the world population by the time it mutated into the third wave. For the first time the world is acting with an extraordinary abundance of caution in hopes of dealing with this virus before it can ever get to that point, and it is going to take us all to work together to help make it happen.

That doesn't mean that you need to panic or stay up all night worrying. It also doesn't mean you can't go out and get toilet paper if you need to... unless you are sick. If you are sick, even with an illness that is not COVID-19 related, you should avoid contact with others and remain in isolation to the best of your ability. Not just to stop spreading any germs that you might but also to protect yourself from compounding your illness by catching the virus at the same time.

If you aren't sick and are otherwise healthy you don't have much to worry about and if we can nip COVID-19 in the bud we might not have much to worry about from it in the future either. For those that have reason to worry however, our actions should be such as to give them comfort that we also have their well being in mind.

#covid19 #pandemic2020 #seasonsintheabyss