I live in a co-op building with about 100 apartments in New
York City. Today we all received two pages of “suggestions” for avoiding or
transmitting the coronavirus. These include wiping elevator buttons after
pressing them, but also to use hand sanitizer when you’ve been in locations with
other people (like walking down the street in this city? getting on a bus or
the subway? going into any store?), preferably before you come back into the
building. And there are already containers with disinfectant wipes by each of
the elevators.
The
suggestions also include stocking up on disposable surgical masks. Now, I have
heard multiple health officials on the radio say NOT to do this because they
should be reserved for medical and health personnel who will be in contact with
sick people. If “civilians” buy up these masks, they won’t be available to
those who really need them.
The New England
Journal of Medicine says that the death rate from this coronavirus is somewhere
between 1.4% and 1%, while for the flu it’s about a tenth of that. It is pretty
low, but more dangerous for older people and those with other health problems,
like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Somehow, this list of 11 “suggestions”
in bold-face type feels less helpful to me. Am I being too sanguine?
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That's very interesting, because today we got an email from the superintendent that we should not be concerned (yet) about the coronavirus in PA. It actually said that we should be more concerned about the flu. I wondered if I'm not taking all of the news seriously, because I'm not buying masks and stockpiling non-perishable goods. I think we have to find a balance between prepared and paranoid.
ReplyDeleteIt is challenging to know how to respond. I think you are just trying to be thoughtful about your next move. It seems like a good idea to be vigilant and aware while also not panicking to the point of well--panic!
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then someone says, "now is not the time for unreasoning panic," to which my late husband would always respond, "when is the right time for unreasoning panic?"
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