The corona virus has now been the cause of nine deaths in the Seattle area, and the second case of this virus has been reported in New York. For many, including myself, this means that the threat of this virus is now a greater reality and far less abstract. Vice President Mike Pence has lifted all restrictions on testing for the corona virus. Meanwhile, the virus continues to spread damage overseas. Iran has freed 54,000 inmates in order to prevent the spreading of the virus within prison systems, and in Italy, the death toll increased to 79, after the loss of 29 lives in one day. The Pope has been reported to be suffering from a common cold at this time.

After exposure to the virus, the onset of symptoms can occur within as few as two days, and at most after 14 days. Those suffering from corona virus suffer from fevers, coughing, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, respiratory issues as well as lung lesions and pneumonia. One of the greatest difficulty with diagnosing this deadly disease is mild cases of the virus can mimic flu or common cold symptoms. This has the potential to make it hard to make an accurate diagnosis, which is very important when it comes to such a dangerous disease.

Recommendations for protecting yourself and others from the corona virus begin with the simple yet vital task of washing your hands frequently, or using an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Experts also suggest limiting the number of times you touch your face each day, a habit that is easy to overlook but essential to avoid. It is important as well to practice kindness and empathy. The spread of the corona virus has brought not only death, but also an increase in xenophobia, especially directed toward Asian people. This is not the time to be turning against each other, but instead the time to be uniting as a country against a threat that affects us all regardless of racial differences.