Coronavirus Part II

Many parts of the world are almost shut down, including many areas of the United States, because of the threat of Coronavirus/COVID-19.  While it’s clear that Coronavirus spreads rapidly and is more serious than the seasonal flu, I sometimes wonder if the media had called it another strain of the flu,  would we be closing much of the country and disrupting so many lives.

According to the World Health Organization:

World Wide deaths                                                             US deaths

Seasonal Flu  290,000 to 650,000/ Yr                               24,000 - 62,000 (thru 3/24)

Spanish Flu  50,000,000 in 1918

Coronavirus  36,800  (as of 3/30)                                      2,800                                          

A projection yesterday predicted 100,000 to 200,000 deaths from Coronavirus in the US.  That would be worse than seasonal flu this year.  Coronavirus is an unknown, and we all fear the unknown. 

I take a daily dose of Warfarin and must have a blood test every two or three weeks.  I drove up to the UNC Family Medicine Clinic and a person asked my name.  I parked and within five minutes, a technician rolled a cart to my car, took my blood and gave me the results in one minute.  I loved that service.

What’s ahead for our country and the world?  We’ll  wait and see.

Seasoned Man

stevelem@gmail.com