Coronavirus: The fact-checked guide to what we know so far
In the spirit of coming together in the battle against coronavirus, we’re gathering answers for you.
By Shelly Strom, for Think Save Retire
All of humankind must work together to beat an enemy too tiny to see. To get back our “normalcy,” requires resolve, patience and consideration for each other.
No adult alive today has been in a situation with so much at stake. Because the last time the world faced a similar situation was spring of 1918, when millions of people around the world sheltered in place during the Spanish flu pandemic. An estimated one-third of the world’s population became infected and estimated deaths topped 50 million. CBS News has a photo essay with details.
This time, our hospitals are bigger and better, yet we aren’t geared for tens of thousands of people to show up at emergency departments within days and weeks of each other, sick with the same devastating symptoms.
Hospitals in New York City, New Orleans and other hot spot cities are near capacity and anticipating being overwhelmed within days. Most cities where COVID-19 cases haven’t reached extreme levels are concerned their hospitals will soon hit capacity as well. And the survival rate for people who end up hospitalized isn’t great.
Which is why controlling the spread and preventing needless deaths is so important. It requires all of us to work from a clear-eyed, truth-based perspective. We here at Think Save Retire want to do our part with answers to many frequently asked questions.
FAQ Protecting yourself from getting COVID-19 (aka catching coronavirus)?
Should I actually wear a mask or other cover on my face when I go grocery shopping?
When you are in public, you absolutely should cover your face. This is because the CDC announced April 4 that covering your face with a cloth or a mask will reduce the spread of coronavirus. Keep in mind, wearing a mask won’t do a great job of blocking germs from other people so you still need to stay six feet away from others and avoid all gatherings.
CDC stresses that medical masks are to be avoided by the general public and prioritized for health care workers. Read more on tsr.com.
