It's crucial that we practice health
literacy in the coming days. Here's the facts:
COVID-19 isn't the first coronavirus.
In fact, the common cold is a coronavirus. But COVID-19 is a new strain,
a novel coronavirus. That means we're learning more each day about
how it is transmitted, which populations are more likely to have severe
symptoms and how to prevent it. One thing that isn't new is that we have a shortage of
health care workers and resources in America. That becomes a life-threatening
issue when a pandemic challenges the system's surge capacity.
BE SMART AND STAY APART!
* COVID-19 has a higher transmission
rate than the seasonal flu, which means each carrier infects about twice as
many others. That may be because people who are carriers are slower to display
symptoms, or may never have visible symptoms. [1]
* COVID-19 has a mortality rate many
times greater than the flu. While the flu usually takes the lives of about
one-tenth of one percent of those who get sick, the rate of those dying from
COVID-19 is estimated at 5 to 7 percent. That's 50 to 70 times more
deadly. [2]
* The COVID-19 virus can remain in
aerosol form (in the air) and on surfaces for about three days. Constant
disinfection of all surfaces and remaining 3 to 6 feet from others is
mandatory. [3]
* Four to six of every ten U.S. adults
have a risk of getting a severe, and perhaps life-threatening, case of COVID-19
because of their age or an existing underlying medical condition. That's a
double threat because of our lack of resources to provide immediate medical
care (ventilators) and the permanent lung damage that can result. [4]
* Severe outcomes from COVID-19 can
occur in persons of any age. Being young (under age 65)
does not make a person immune to this coronavirus. [5]
1. World Health Organization - March 17, 2020
2. National Institutes of Health - February 29, 2020
3. National Institutes of Health - March 17, 2020
4. Kaiser Family Foundation - March 17, 2020
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -
March 18, 2020