This is not a nice thing to be.
I see people on both sides of the severity debate - ones who suggest it is a terrifying and extremely deadly virus, and others who suggest it is nothing more than a bad cold or flu. Neither is helpful. For the average population, this virus is not 'absolutely terrifying'. It is difficult, a major inconvenience, and can result in longer-term lung damage. It is not, however, the same as The Plague, and is not a death sentence for everyone who contracts it. On the flip side, for the vulnerable members of our population, it has a high risk of causing fatalities.
That's the problem with many illnesses, though, isn't it? One person can get pneumonia and feel ill for maybe a day or two, others die from it. One person may fall ill with H1N1 and perhaps feel a bit nauseated but otherwise ok, others die from it. One person may even be diagnosed with Cancer and have zero symptoms, while so many others die.
The latter in each example are still people! No matter if they are elderly, young, sick, healthy, rich, or poor. They are neighbours, friends, coworkers, classmates, family. They have full lives and impact the lives of others with intricate webs of relationships.
To dismiss an illness like the Coronavirus as being 'not a threat' because the only people likely to die are the ill or the elderly is not just short-sighted, but it is condescending. To travel or disobey quarantine orders because you would prefer to go to a grocery store instead of having food delivered to your home is careless - and thinking that it doesn't matter because you were 'not around anyone sick or elderly' is just plain selfish.
It is this attitude that can kill people.
H1N1 broke out while I was in University. There was no vaccine yet, there was no real plan, and the majority of people who were diagnosed felt mildly ill. The minority - those who were very young, very old, or ill - were hospitalized and some died from this. The University issued a list - if you were diagnosed with H1N1, you were NOT to be on the grounds, you were exempt from every test or class requiring attendance, and you were told to STAY HOME!
Unfortunately, many did not listen. Many believed that since they only felt slightly unwell, they could be in the classrooms and auditoriums and it would affect no one because it was 'obviously a mild disease'. I had a full-blown yelling match with a girl who tested positive (stated so and showed the professor her test results) but who insisted on coming to class. Regardless of being exempt, she stated that she simply did not want to stay at home. She wanted to be with her friends.
My professor knew my medical situation and I had no choice but to leave.
Because of her selfishness, I was instructed by my physicians to refrain from being in any of my classes or being in public for the next three months. To avoid dying.
People who are immunocompromised are not necessarily easy to spot. Anyone on biologics is considered to be at risk. That could include people with arthritis, psoriasis, and IBD. Those with other illnesses, like asthma, or perhaps diabetes could be at risk. Patients on medications like Imuran, Methotrexate, 6MP, or other immunosuppressants are compromised. Those with current infections, those recovering from minor surgery, those who are prone to sinus infections, those with allergies: these are all people who could be deemed at risk.
Sure, the healthiest of the healthy people, aged 18-25, might feel virtually nothing, but is it worth risking the lives of others because you felt it was necessary to 'go to the mall' or because you were craving a certain type of food? Or you decided not to tell anyone you were ill, since you did not feel that unwell?
Please, PLEASE think twice before dismissing such an illness, especially in its first occurrence, before it is well understood or easily treatable. These are people's lives you are risking.
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