2. The history and science behind the novel coronavirus (Background).
The novel coronavirus otherwise known as SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 is said to have originated from Wuhan, China. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that are zoonotic in nature. Zoonotic viruses are viruses that are transmittable from animals to humans. Many coronavirus are said to cause respiratory illnesses. Respiratory illnesses are infections that affect the nose, throat, lungs and usually get better within 10 days however COVID-19 is proving different. Respiratory illnesses are spread via droplets in the air (from coughing or sneezing); from droplets landing on and contaminating surfaces (e.g people sneezing into hand and touching door knobs, or droplets landing on surfaces); from saliva (e.g by kissing or sharing drinks / spoons / forks etc); and by skin to skin (hugging or shaking hands).
The animal of origin that is said to have caused the novel coronavirus is the bat. However, the place of first known infections is said to be the Huanan fish market in Wuhan so questions as to the probability of the virus being transmittable through fish were raised (so far there is no evidence to suggest it came from fish). It is suspected that the virus was transmitted from the bat to an animal known as the pangolin. The pangolin is said to be an endangered species unfortunately. In China, pangolins are a delicacy which fetch a higher price. They are hunted for their meat and scales and other body parts are used for medicinal purposes. So the belief as is currently held, is that someone must have contracted the coronavirus from being in contact with a pangolin as the source. Interestingly enough the black market trade of pangolins happens both in Asia and Africa.
The symptoms of the novel coronavirus (according to WHO) include:
Dry cough,
Fever,
Tiredness,
Sore throat,
Shortness of breath,
Aching muscles or body,
A sore throat,
Diarrhea,
Protection measures against coronavirus (according to different sources):
Regularly wash your hands with soap and water OR clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that has an alcohol base (an alcohol base of 70% will be sufficient in killing the germs),
Keep a 1.5 (one and a half) metre distance between you and anyone else who might be sick,
Don’t touch your face,
Practice good respiratory hygiene (coronavirus etiquette) by coughing or sneezing into tissues which you throw away immediately after use OR by coughing or sneezing into your bent arm and not onto your hands.
Stay home if you feel sick to reduce the chances of you catching the germs equally to reduce the chance of you spreading the germs if you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19.
Keep up-to-date with the latest news from reliable sources with regards to COVID-19.
Treatment for the novel coronavirus:
Currently no vaccine for COVID-19 exists.
Mild symptoms: can be treated at home by resting, keeping warm, drinking plenty of liquids, eating healthy and taking a hot shower (for as long as it takes for you to feel better - but research this further as some people have mentioned instances where they started to feel better then got worse again until they got better again).
Severe symptoms: call your doctor / the corona hotline and describe your symptoms so they can send you to the nearest place where you can get tested and hospitalized without exposing others to the virus.
Cases of coronavirus are said to have officially been recognised at the end of December 2019; however as our knowledge about this virus develops; a growing theory or belief is that 2 doctors became aware of this new virus in China when patients started exhibiting new symptoms not commonly associated with other coronaviruses & when these brave doctors raised the alarm bells; their fears were dismissed up until the end of December when more patients started being symptomatic and the government was forced to lockdown Wuhan and declare an epidemic. All this is then to say the timeline of the first appearance of the coronavirus is possibly still unclear (newer sources are claiming it was spotted as early as November 2019 - however when considering these sources and the story about the doctors that raised the alarm I take it with a pinch of salt - that is, to say: because I don’t know which news sites are trustworthy in other countries, that just because it's trending news doesn’t mean it’s factually correct news; however I will still look into the this further).
Here, the first 41 patients with symptoms causing pneumonia were made known to WHO on the 31st of December, 2019. Pneumonia is lung infection caused by a viral / bacterial build up. It can cause pus to fill up the lungs. Here, people can experience double pneumonia (in both lungs) or single pneumonia (in one lung).
Then on the 1st of January, 2020 Huanan seafood market was forced to close as the source of the newly discovered virus was yet to be determined.Then on the 7th of January, this new virus was declared a new type of coronavirus.
On the 11th of January, 2020; China noted its first death related to coronavirus. Then on the 13th of January, the first case of coronavirus was recorded in Thailand and on the 20th of January the first case was recorded in the USA. Then on the 23rd of January 2020 Wuhan was placed on quarantine followed by Hubei.
Then very accurately, the WHO then declared the novel coronavirus a public health emergency on the 30th of January, 2020.
On 7 February coronavirus first whistleblower, Doctor Li Wenliang died of the novel coronavirus after having contracted the virus from patients with the symptoms that he tried to help. It is believed he was first made aware of the unknown coronavirus from Doctor Ai Fen who had ordered tests on the earlier patients of the unknown coronavirus.
Then at the end of March, 2020 Doctor Ai Fen was reported missing after an interview she did in China and the interview is said to be censored (I would still have to research this further). It’s unclear if she has been found or what? I cannot see nothing further online.
The rest as you know it is history (painful history - but history nonetheless).
Another prominent theory gaining traction is linked to Bill and Melinda Gates -sips tea- if you know you know.
We watched as this virus which now not so affectionately known by some of the following nicknames across the world including: Cory, Rory, Ms Coco, Covy, spread rapidly all over China and then to the world taking it from an epidemic and turning it into what’s known as a pandemic. Here, an epidemic is a high rate of infectious disease or virus at a specific time limited to a specific smaller area. Whilst a pandemic is a high rate of disease or virus over a whole country or the whole world.
It’s the 14th of April 2020 now; and I have seen many possible theories emerging from all over the world about the origins of the novel coronavirus and some are more likely and others are just fake news or not logical but whilst we may believe different stories of its origin we have to agree with the science: that COVID-19 exists and that its effects and spread are very real. So do your best to stay safe & to protect the health of others around you. Keep busy, keep fit, keep reading & keep meditating. Check out my previous post if you haven’t and check out my video on 21 things you can do during lockdown if you haven’t.
Let’s make the world a better place.
M.T.M
*Images are not my own.
Timelines and sources on the novel coronavirus:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-pandemic-timeline-history-major-events-2020-3%3famp
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-timeline.amp.html
Information on the pangolins:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/pangolin
Origins of the novel coronavirus:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/how-did-the-coronavirus-start-where-did-it-come-from-how-did-it-spread-humans-was-it-really-bats-pangolins-wuhan-animal-market
What are coronaviruses and the symptoms of novel coronavirus:
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses#:~:text=symptoms
