We interrupt this program . . .

So, how about that coronavirus . . .?

Before I begin this post, please remember these two important facts:

1. I am neither a doctor, nor do I play one on TV; and
2. These are my opinions.

Novel coronavirus (aka coronavirus or COVID-19) has been labeled as both an outbreak and a pandemic. Let's take a look at a few definitions:

epidemic: affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time (emphasis mine)

outbreak: a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease (emphasis mine)

pandemic: occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population (emphasis mine)

Based on the definitions (epidemic is included as more people recognize that particular word moreso than pandemic) -- I used the online Merriam-Webster dictionary (clicking on the links will take you directly to the definitions) -- as of March 16, 2020, coronavirus doesn't fit any of those definitions. The cases of influenza (flu) still outnumber those of coronavirus. But coronavirus is new, and we are used to hearing about the flu.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be watching and attempting to stop the spread of coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html)  has practical information on dealing with coronavirus, but here is my own, hopefully helpful, list. There's nothing earth-shattering here, just practical information we all learned through the years.

1. Don't panic. The media have been, for lack of a better metaphor, screaming "fire" in a crowded theatre. As a result, people have panicked, including stockpiling armageddon-level amounts of water, toilet paper/other paper products, and cleaning products.
2. Be informed. Visit your healthcare professional for your best care, or visit the CDC web site (link above) for more general tips.
3. Improve personal hygiene: Wash your hands (especially after using the bathroom); avoid unnecessarily touching your nose and face; don't cough or sneeze into your hands, use a tissue whenever possible.
4. If you're sick, stay home.

Wherever you may be (I'm lousy about blogging regularly, so I have only one or two people who read my blog at this point), stay safe. I'll be back with my look at how DC Comics should have dealt with their original Crisis in a day or two.