“Panic is the sudden realization that everything around you is alive.” – William S. Burroughs

THE news and level of panic we heard in the Philippines, as well as the rest of Asia two months ago, are just starting in the United States in March.

When the Filipinos and other citizens in the Southeast Asia and, particularly, in China were experiencing the horror and anxiety starting in December 2019 and in January and February 2020, Americans appeared to be unmindful of the seriousness of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Many residents in the U.S. thought the virus wouldn’t reach the mainland.

They got it wrong.

Now, all of a sudden, newspapers, TV, and all media outlets in New York City are filled with COVID-19 stories from page to page, website to website, and one station to another.

This was after it was confirmed that there were 10 confirmed cases in the upstate New York and one in New York City with a total of 98 persons under investigation.

Even the webpage of major media establishments and health agencies are swamped with stories about the mysterious virus that have recorded 95,000 global cases, with infections in more than 75 countries and territories as of March 4.

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“Recently, a new coronavirus-2019 Novel (New) Coronavirus–that was first detected in China is now spreading worldwide,” the New York State Department of Health announced.

“This virus causes a disease called COVID-19 and can lead to fever, cough and shortness of breath. There are thousands of confirmed cases in a growing number of countries internationally and the virus is now spreading in the United States. There are ongoing investigations to learn more about this virus.”

Individuals who are experiencing symptoms and may have traveled to areas of concern, or have been in contact with somebody who has traveled to these areas, were asked to “call ahead to their health care provider before seeking treatment in person.”

Those who recently traveled internationally to the areas of concern and feel sick with fever, cough or trouble breathing, were told to do the following:
-Seek medical care right away. Call ahead and tell them about your travel and symptoms.
-Avoid contact with others.
-Stay home, except for seeking medical care.
-Avoid further travel until the illness resolves.
-Cover the mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not hands) when coughing or sneezing.
-Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

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We have been constantly warned here the 2019 novel coronavirus may cause mild to severe respiratory symptoms like: cough, fever, trouble breathing, and pneumonia.

Symptoms may reportedly appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.

How does novel coronavirus spread? Most of the early reported cases had contact with seafood and live animal market, suggesting an animal source of the outbreak.

However, most cases are now likely to be spread from person to person by droplets when coughing.

Since this virus is very new, health authorities continue to carefully watch how this virus spreads.

While there is currently no vaccine to prevent this virus, we were told these simple steps can help stop the spread of this and other respiratory viruses:
-Wash our hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
-Avoid touching our eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
-Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
-Stay home when we are sick.
-Cover our cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
-Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo