A Calm Discussion About Coronavirus – Your Role

Think about this whole situation. As you know, we’re in the middle of a mess. You’re literally seeing decades of neglecting science literacy in government and among the public come back to bite us as a country. I talked about the utility of science, its importance in our lives, the scientific method, and prevention. You’re seeing just how critical science is when it comes to improving life/saving lives. Let’s talk about your role.

The key points in the video are:

1. Get your health information from reputable sources (CDC, WHO, etc.). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

2. The coronavirus (COVID-19) is not the same as seasonal flu.

3. Prevention is key so wash your hands, social distance, stay home if sick. You don’t need symptoms to carry the virus or put others at risk. Consider staying away from large groups of people during this pandemic.

4. Don’t panic. You will be impacted by this unfortunately. We are seeing how important universal healthcare and basic income is… because how do we ask people already living paycheck to paycheck to stay home with no pay for weeks/months now? Scientists have been pointing this out for years but they ignore us until something happens like this thing. Think about who you’re voting for. Consider the importance of science and policy in government.

5. Expect disruptions. Multiple industries will be impacted by closures. Disney has closed, restaurants are closing, employers are reducing hours, colleges are closed, etc. Since we neglected science and infrastructure, we’re expecting disruptions to be worse than they should be, unfortunately. The numbers of infected are also highly underestimated, which also means much more impacts than otherwise expected.

From reviewing clinical data, I want to assure everyone that all ages are getting infected, including teenagers. We have several teenagers in Florida infected with the virus. So think of social distancing to protect others that are more vulnerable to COVID-19. This means rethinking your spring break vacations or going anywhere where there’s lots of people gathering. The clinical data suggests this virus is more deadly for ages 50 and up, especially with pre-existing conditions, but that doesn’t mean anyone younger should run around spreading it. People of all ages can be hospitalized form this virus. It’s possible to spread even though you have no symptoms. Be considerate, heed public health expert advice.

COVID-19 is not the same as seasonal flu. They are both viruses but COVID-19 spreads differently, the age impacted is different, there is no vaccine, and the fatality rate is higher. This outbreak is following an exponential growth graph, which means we should see an explosion in cases within the next two to three weeks. As to when this will peak, that’s yet to be determined. It’s complicated because we have poor infrastructure, lacked science-based policies, and were late to respond to this threat.

STAY POSITIVE. TURN TO SCIENCE.
Professor Ben Alonzo

*Ben Alonzo is a professor of earth and environmental science at Seminole State College. The views and opinions expressed in this video are not necessarily the views and opinions of any employer or partner. **Content that appears on our site or social media channels are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. For educational and reference purposes only.

Ben Alonzo is a unique scientist, tech expert, professor, and director of ULTRATechLife.com. He’s CEO of the media-tech firm Storm Sector, LLC. Ben holds an M.S. in Information Technology, M.S. in Geoscience, M.S. in Nutrition and Health, and a B.S. in Geoscience. He’s a highly-rated professor that teaches earth science, environmental science, oceanography, meteorology, and public health. His diverse background spans numerous fields, network and computer systems, healthcare, weather forecasting, consumer electronics, and web development. Ben holds numerous professional licenses and certifications, ranging from information technology to healthcare and emergency medical technician. He’s also an FAA-licensed private pilot that loves flying. He’s been writing about science and tech for over 10 years. You can see some of his past articles on the Houston Chronicle, eHow, Hearst, and other networks. In his free time, he loves scuba diving, traveling, storm chasing, producing videos and writing guitar music.

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