As the daily coronavirus case count rises worldwide – the “panic buying” has reached a crescendo in the USA this weekend. As can be seen on this interactive chart provided by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases continue to rise with North America following Asia and Europe.
Total Confirmed worldwide 145,267 with 5,411 deaths and 70,296 recovered. More than 138 countries / regions have been affected. In the USA alone there are so far, 2,084 cases, 44 deaths and 12 recovered. Bar far the largest number of deaths occurred in Washing State (37) due to the outbreak associated with the nursing home.
There is an incubation period for the virus that is up to 14 days, thus it is possible many people may be infected yet are asymptomatic. Director of National Insituite for Allergy and Infection Disease reported a concern for community-released spreading of the virus. With all the confusion, it’s hard to get a grasp of accurate numbers.
Highest Numbers ofConfirmed Cases by Country/Region/Sovereignty as of March 13th, 2020 at 7:30PM Pacific
80,949 China
17,660 Italy
11,364 Iran
8,086 Korea, South
5,232 Spain
3,675 Germany
3,667 France
2,034 USA
1,139 Switzerland
996 Norway
814 Sweden
804 Netherlands
804 Denmark
801 United Kingdom
725 Japan
696 Cruise Ship
559 Belgium
504 Austria
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently reported that up to 1-3 million tests could be conducted very soon.
By Whatever Name the Prep is Still Valid and Advised
The World Health Organization (WHO) is not yet calling the Coronavirus a pandemic, but reported it has “pandemic potentially” to spread worldwide.
Director of The World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke at a media briefing regarding Coronavirus.
“We are in unchartered territory. We have never before seen a respiratory pathogen that is capable of community transmission, but which can also be contained with the right measures.”
– Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus / director of who
Walmart and Costco Restocking Staple Items ‘Constantly’ as Quarantine Threat Looms
With CDC, WHO, and other medical experts urging caution and daily news on more Coronavirus related outbreaks and deaths, many shoppers are rushing to grocery and shopping centers to buy necessary supplies like food and water in bulk.
The sense of urgency is unquestionable with images of long lines and barren shelves flooding social media and news outlets. Supplies including disinfecting wipes, paper goods, grains, canned food, frozen goods, and water are a growing demand.
Face masks have reported large sales boosts and many stores have struggled to keep up with restocking. Limits on masks and N95 respirators have been placed to 10 per customer at places like Home Depot.
Getting your household ready for an emergency is helpful and always a smart idea. There is no need to go overboard but having a supply of food staples and household supplies is recommended. Ensure at least a 30 day supply of prescription medications, as well as over the counter health products (ex: pain relievers, vitamins, etc). Below are the general guidelines for self protection and reducing the risk of infection. These are, naturally, not bad ideas for anytime, not only in the face of a potential pandemic:
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Cover your moth when you sneeze or cough
Disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces around your house and work
Stay home if you are sick
Avoid handshakes and touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth in pubic
(If possible) steer clear from people that are sick
There is no need to wear a face mask unless you are sick
Practicing Good Hygiene is key, below are practical steps that if maintained consistently can help to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus: