Coronavirus: should it be a cause for concern?

By: S. Costa Franco

News stations constantly updating the public, schools closing, heightened awareness about hygiene precautions and parents desperately concerned for their children's health. But what could possibly be the cause of all the commotion? Surely, we have all heard about it, the infamous coronavirus. Ever since the outbreak that started in China around the end of 2019, the coronavirus has been a raging topic in every news source, and it is spreading rapidly.  
Coronaviruses (yes, there are more than one), are a group of viruses that infect people and animals, meaning they are zoonotic. Some viruses cause illnesses which can be nothing to worry about, such as the common cold, but others can result in serious respiratory infections. The type of coronavirus that has currently been affecting many civilians is called the COVID-19. Some coronaviruses are already known, but this novel virus has never been seen before, and so, dealing with it in the best manner possible has been a challenge. 
It is important to understand the events that occurred after the outbreak to better deal with the situation. Here is a brief timeline of events: 

• December 31 (2019): China announced to the World Health Organization (WHO), that several strange cases of pneumonia had been identified in Wuhan, and the virus remained unknown. 
  
• January 7: After reporting that the cause of the infections was not SARS, China announced that a new virus (COVID-19) had been the source of the pneumonia cases, and it belong to the family of coronaviruses. The illness was believed to have originated from seafood goods. 
  
• January 11: It was announced that a 61-year-old man had died from COVID-19. This was the first death as a result of the disease. 
  
• January 13: A case of the Coronavirus was announced in Thailand (the first report out of China). A woman who had recently arrived from Wuhan was said to be infected. 
  
• January 30: As the amount of death due to the virus increased, it was announced by the WHO, that the Coronavirus outbreak was now a global emergency. From this point forward, the virus spread rapidly across a range of various countries. 
  

Multiple countries have a myriad of confirmed cases, and the numbers continues to grow. Russia, France, Italy, China, Japan, Thailand, the United States, South Korea and Brazil are examples of countries that the coronavirus has spread to. The first confirmed case in Brazil was right here in São Paulo, when a man that arrived from Italy was diagnosed. Several students in São Paulo have been diagnosed with the virus as well, from schools such as St. Nicholas, Avenues, Bandeirantes and even St. Pauls. Several schools have temporarily closed, and some have initiated a program where online and fully digitally based classes occur, where emails about work are sent and video calls between students and teacher take place from home.  
Some symptoms of this infamous disease include: 

• Coughing 
  
• Fever 
  
• Shortness of breath 
  

• Sore throat 
  
• Headache 
  
• Chills 
  

These symptoms are usually noticed around 2-14 days after the victim is infected, which is why it has spread so quickly. Many people interact with others as usual, without knowing they are sick. However, it's now known that the transmission rate for the disease is 1 for 3, so one person can infect up to 3 people. It is also possible to notice that these symptoms can be compared to the typical symptoms of the common cold, which helps us understand how the panic surrounding the virus is completely unnecessary. Dr David Uip, a very respected doctor that specializes in infectology in Brazil, says the most important word people have to remember when dealing with the disease is tranquillity, as it is important to be cautious but the virus is truly nothing to worry about. Young adults, teenagers and young children rarely ever have serious symptoms, and those  above sixty tend to reach a much more critical condition. The virus poses the biggest threat to those with previous pulmonary or cardiac disease, or those above the age of 80. Most people only suffer the most common symptoms and are not in any true danger, while some are not afflicted by symptoms at all. In Brazil, the coronavirus is treated as a typical cold, and more serious measures are taken in extreme cases, but there is no specific treatment for the disease yet, and most people can recover at home and do not need thorough medical assistance. 
This outbreak, however, does have multiple impacts on the global economy. The United States, for example, is facing a decrease in tourism and delays in supply chains, which are important aspects of the country's economy. In China, the outbreak has caused major issues in the global trade, and those that rely on the Chinese supply chains are hoping that the temporary mess is sorted. The disruptions in the supply chains could slow the sales of prominent companies such as Apple and Microsoft, and stock markets have lowered during this week related to fears about the virus. Could this virus outbreak stunt the economic growth of certain nations?  
The effects of the coronavirus are not solely economic, though. This outbreak is also severely affecting the world of politics. Many voters have questioned whether they should vote for President Trump due to inquiries about his capability to handle this crisis and his credibility when saying that the situation is under control. Multiple nation leaders, such as President Moon Jae-in of South Korean and Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe, have been heavily criticized on their handling of the situation and prevention of increasing cases.  
Now, after learning information about the virus itself, it is important we learn how to prevent further spreading. We have all been told this, but the simplest and quite effective way to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading is to wash your hands regularly before meals, after using the restroom, and after being in public places or boarding public transport. However, when washing hands is not possible, it is important to carry some hand sanitizer in your bag is very important. Attempting to avoid your hand having contact with your eyes and mouth as much as possible can also be significant when preventing the illness. Most people think that wearing surgical masks will prevent the spreading of the disease, but this is not the case; only those that are infected and the medical professionals that cure the patients should be wearing masks. Also, if someone notices the symptoms of the illness and believes they have this type of coronavirus, they should avoid going to public areas, including hospitals, as this could certainly cause the illness to spread. The ideal move is to call a doctor, and they should orient the patient on future steps. It is important to be aware of the virus and try the simple steps mentioned above that can be practiced by all to help contain it. However, once again, there is no need to panic or go into a state of turmoil. It is fundamental to remember that if everyone is more cautious when it comes to coronavirus and has a calm approach to dealing with it, everything will remain under control.