So... how serious is the coronavirus?

Ok here’s my thing, germs are EVERYWHERE. So I’m saying that because I’m telling you since they’re everywhere don’t live in fear but rather keep up good hygiene practices.


People naturally think ok doorknobs are germy but then what about if someone borrowed your pen? You don’t know where their hands have been and what they touched that other people touched, etc. So things like that people don’t even think twice about.
Basically I’m saying the media tells you to wash and sanitize hands well and don’t touch your face because GERMS ARE EVERYWHERE. So it’s true that keeping up good hygiene practices will certainly help.
The situation is scary because there’s a lot we don’t yet know and it’s spreading but at the same time there are a lot of preventative measures being put in place to try to contain and halt the spread at least.
Go on with your life but be mindful of keeping up good practices for hygiene

It really shouldn’t impact your October event, but the severity of the virus depends on if you’re immunocompromised or elderly, which can make it legitimately dangerous. Otherwise it’s mostly an inconvenience.

It is serious not a hoax!
But you all have plenty of time so I wouldn’t be stress at this point.

I agree with Melle. I'm am a little freaked out by this virus, not so much about getting sick or anything right now. Knock on wood we do not have any cases close to us. But I am nervous about how people are reacting to the news and virus. My FH and I are going to go grocery shopping tonight to stock up on things because I'm worried about stores running out of groceries and food.

I want to put this in perspective too. My mom works in a pharmacy and unfortunately she has had a cold/ flu symptoms for almost 3 months. She just can't shake it, her immune system is somewhat compromised. She went to Wal-Mart yesterday with my dad, she has a cough. Someone from Walmart came over to her and asked her to leave. My mom asked why, the employee told her because of germs and she was coughing. My mom is super sensitive about this because she has been having these symptoms for so long. She started crying in the middle of Walmart. When I found out I called there and spoke with a manager, because I was pissed. People are over-reacting majorly. And before any one suggests going to the doctor for my mom she has been on several different types of antibiotics, had chest x-rays and been tested for the flu.

Tbh avoiding legitimate info/news coverage of it isn't doing you any favors. I'd read up on/listen to reputable sources in order to stay updated. I think the phrase "don't overreact, but take it seriously" best surmises the situation with it.

For the majority of people that get it they will recover. But for people over 60 and that are immunocompromised in any way it is very dangerous. Social distancing is the best way to stop the spread so that’s why things are shutting down. It’s also very new so there’s no herd immunity built up to it like there is the flu etc.

View Quoted Comment FH and I are also planning on doing some shopping this weekend just in case! I’m sorry your mother was treated that way ☹️

View Quoted Comment I’m not worried about me, I’m worried about my mother and brother! They both aren’t the healthiest. My brother recently beat cancer but he isn’t all the way healed yet. And he works in a hospital!

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Yeah. I work at a law firm too, so this didn't sit right with me. I asked my mom if she wanted to take some course of legal action and she doesn't want to. And her boss just asked her to take 2 weeks off with pay, so that's good. But he is worried about customers panicking. She is upset about this but not so much so since she be paid for it.

View Quoted Comment I will definitely do my research!

So, I'm in the NYC metro area.

This is very serious.

All major sports competitions are cancelled, nation-wide. Broadway has gone dark (it has not shut down since a strike 13 years ago).

We could be in for a very rough couple of months, so I would absolutely stock up on dry goods and see if you can shift to working from home.

Wash your hands like your life depends on it.

I work at a college with a student population that is extremely prone to anxiety. The advise we have given them is to check the CDC website periodically and turn off other news sources. Media tends to sensationalize events and the facts get buried in the process. By checking a reputable source on a regular (but not overly frequent) basis you'll have the facts you need without being drowned in panic and paranoid.

I also think the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Johns Hopkins University and Medical Center) is a great resource for fact based information. I'm checking both that and the CDC website once or twice a day to stay informed, but not have Covid19 concerns fueling my every thought and action.