What Coronavirus Does and How To Make Sure You’re Prepared

Over 3,000 people worldwide have already died from the COVID-19 coronavirus and now it’s made its way to the U.S. In Washington state alone, there have been 39 reported cases which have resulted in 10 deaths.

Earlier this week, a top official from the CDC said the agency expects the virus will begin spreading throughout communities in the United States and these disruptions to our daily lives have the potential to be severe.

With almost a dozen deaths already confirmed here in the states, it’s imperative that you learn how to prepare now.

In this article, I’m going to tell you what we know about this new virus, what you can do and what you’ll need in order to make sure you’re properly prepared.

Here’s What We Know About Coronavirus

Coronavirus is a respiratory illness that spreads from person to person. There’s currently no specific antiviral treatment to combat this virus. That means it’s absolutely essential for you to steer clear of anyone who might have the virus. Your risk of infection increases exponentially once you come into contact with someone who is infected.

Once someone with the disease coughs or sneezes within just 10 feet of you, it’s airborne and possible for you to catch it. Even more alarming, coronavirus can live on a metal surface for at least 12 hours- that means you can get the deadly virus just by unknowingly touching an object that has the virus on it and then touching your own mouth, nose or eyes.

Fabric will keep the disease alive for 6-12 hours, which means it could be lingering on that airplane seat way after the infected passenger has disembarked.

What might be most concerning is that symptoms can appear mild in the beginning, and the disease can spread before someone is even aware that they are sick. People typically start to feel ill between 2 and 14 days after infection, but there’s been a report of one person who only began showing symptoms a whole 27 days after being infected.

There is absolutely no vaccine available yet for the coronavirus. That means that the ONLY way to prevent the illness is by avoiding being exposed to it altogether. Therefore, we recommend taking every preventative action possible in order to help prevent the spread of the disease.

The global novel #coronavirus situation is rapidly evolving. @CDCtravel has issued travel health notices for countries currently experiencing community spread of #COVID19. For updated information on coronavirus disease 2019 and travel, visit https://t.co/NDxnCYVZzM pic.twitter.com/DqC4C9ZVGt

— Dr. Robert R. Redfield (@CDCDirector) March 3, 2020

Here’s What Coronavirus Does To Your Body

The typical symptoms of patients being admitted into hospitals are fever, fatigue and a dry cough.

But the virus expands far past these symptoms, infecting the tissues and airways deep inside of the lungs rather than the nose. This can end up causing serious respiratory issues that can lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs and the development of pneumonia.

Which can in return, turn into sepsis- a drop in blood pressure and multi-organ failure which will ultimately result in death.

From Visually.

Symptoms of Coronavirus

The first area it attacks is the throat, so you’ll notice a sore throat that lasts somewhere around 3 or 4 days.

Then the virus blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia. This takes about another 5 to 6 days.

With the pneumonia comes a high fever and difficulty breathing.

It should be noted that the nasal congestion that comes with coronavirus is not the normal kind. You will feel like you’re drowning, and it’s imperative to seek immediate medical attention.

Here’s What You Can Do

The best defense against the coronavirus is a strong immune system.

So how can you build yours up?

• get quality sleep at night
• stay hydrated
• minimize the amount of overly processed foods you’re consuming
• be sure to get enough micronutrients into your diet.

Beyond that, you should:

• avoid close contact with people who are are or appear sick
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth without washing your hands first
• be sure to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

If you’re unable to wash your hands, substitute with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

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Be sure you’re washing your hands and/or using hand sanitizer frequently throughout the day. The virus can only live on your hands for 5 to 10 minutes, which might not seem like a lot. But, of the course of an hour, a typical person touches their face about 23 times.

Beyond the daily preventative measures, reconsider or avoid travel to countries where the outbreaks of Covid-19 are rampant. This includes China, South Korea, and Italy. You should also exercise caution if you’re planning to visit Japan.

Once the outbreak has infiltrated the community around you, stay home as much as possible and limit contact with others.

Here’s What You Need

We all know it’s better to be prepared than to be panicking when coronavirus reaches pandemic status.

Here’s what you should have on hand to prepare.

1. Emergency Kit

Ready America 70385 Deluxe Emergency Kit 4 Person Backpack

• 4 Person Kit
• US Coast Guard approved food and water

$121.23

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Include in your kit:

• • Three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Three-day supply of water – one gallon of water per person, per day
  • Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit and manual
  • Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper)
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Extra clothing
  • Blankets
  • Basic kitchen accessories and cooking utensils
  • Manual can opener
  • Multi-purpose tool, such as a Swiss army knife
  • Photocopies of credit and identification cards
  • Cash and coins
  • Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions, and hearing aid batteries
  • Cell phone with charger
  • Whistle
  • Extra set of car and house keys

2. Hand Sanitizer Stock Up

One of the best defenses against the coronavirus is to make sure you are washing your hands frequently, especially if they’re coming into contact with your face. In the event that soap and water isn’t available, an emergency supply of hand sanitizer is absolutely necessary.

PURELL SINGLES Advanced Hand Sanitizer Gel – 125 Count Single Use Packets with Display Box – 9620-12-125EC

• It’s PURELL IN-A-PINCH – an easy, compact way to sanitize your hands. Just bend the pack and squirt with one hand -for a fun and refreshing cleaning experience
• PURELL hand sanitizer is America’s No. 1 brand used and trusted by hospitals. Proven to kill 99.99 percent of most common germs that may cause illness, without damaging skin, even after repeated use

Buy Now
Price incl. tax, excl. shipping