I feel that we need to know all the information to be able to help anyone we can, even those stupid enough in Colorado not to listen to Governor Polis. I have anxiety because nowadays we don't know if we are going back to school in the fall. Schools will have plans of when a global epidemic happens again, and hopefully the globe will be smart enough to understand that this can kill you. The world is going to be very different from the pre-crisis World. People won't touch things as much and hug as much, we won't be as social, restaurants are going to have a limit on people at a time. And that scares me, the fact that this will happen again and we will be powerless to stop it from happening.
@Noah I definitely agree with being scared and how much this crisis really is going to affect our country. But at the same time, it comes to the point where the states that have been improving and are not as infected need to start slowly opening up businesses. Almost all small businesses most likely will go out of businesses and even some big ones. It is really scary to think about our economy and how much it is being affected. We all need to realize that no matter when we are freed from quarantine, there is going to be a spike, and it will be scary. However, we will get through it together, and if it comes back in the fall, then we are much more prepared than we were this time.
(part 1)
My experience with the coronavirus has been weird because at the beginning I wasn’t scared of it because I thought that our country was ready to control the situation but now I know that it wasn’t prepared. Everyone was saying and continues saying that it is necessary to stay at our homes but in Mexico only a few percent do it, you can see people walking in streets as if everything was right and the truth is that it isn’t. Coronavirus cases have been increasing in the last few days and I can´t believe that people continues being outside, some of them take masks with them but some others doesn’t and I think that it is because there is a lot of economic problems in Mexico.
(Part 2)
I’m not worried for me, I’m worried for my grandparents and for my mom because she is a doctor and she enters every day to the hospital to check patients with coronavirus, some of them are confirmed but some others aren´t, and she has sent me some photos with her especial suit and when I see her with that I feel proud that she is helping someone who is suffering but at the same time I start feeling worried because I imagine all the things that could go wrong; for example, the bosses of the hospital wanted her to enter to check patients with coronavirus without protection and that was HORRIBLE to hear as a daughter because many doctors have died because the hospital doesn’t want to give them the especial equipment and my grandparents are part of the group of people that are more affected by the virus. Coronavirus has added more work to my mom, now she needs to take classes online with many doctors from around the world and it’s really comforting to know that they talk about the treatments. My father is also a doctor; he is a thoracic surgeon so he hasn’t had many contact with sick people but he tries to help people by giving online consults.
I was never that concerned, I assumed that people wouldn't be stupid enough to let it get to this point but I guess people are dumb. my mother is a nurse so I've been locked inside since this stuff started.
When the first few cases in China first occurred not many people in America were concerned but now I believe the coronavirus is something to be very concerned about and to take into consideration. It is now a pandemic that is widely spreading from China to Italy to the United States now. I feel like many people don’t take into consideration that this is a flu-like virus that spreads more rapidly than the flu. Many people still go outside instead of staying home because they believe that they are perfectly fine and that the virus will not get to them. But if people just stayed home then we are able to lessen the number of cases, and fewer people in the hospital which would less affect the doctors. Cases have been doubling every day too. I am not concerned about my health but I know that I will not be catching the virus because I have been quarantining and social distancing. I am more concerned about elders, babies, and pregnant women because they are more likely to catch the coronavirus. In the beginning, many teens were not too worried about covid19 coming to America or anywhere near them, I feel like they were more concerned about getting their 2-week break. I believe the media sends out false information about the virus, which stresses out many people to believe, and especially elders to believe. It is better to let doctors and scientists give out real information that can help us during this pandemic, and we just need to listen to it.
(part 2)
The article talks about schools closing and how many places in the US are unprepared. Students and parents are not informed properly and our overall risk of infection is low. Yes taking precautionary measures such as staying home if sick, cleaning hands properly, and not touching our faces, is smart. However I don't think we need to over react.
(part 1)
At the start of the Corona Virus outbreak we didn't think twice about it, teens made online jokes, and we weren't worried because it was all the way in China. As it began to spread among other places and deaths began, we started to talk about it but not that much. Before we knew it it was in California, in our very country, we started to talk about it then right? Wrong, sure we were having more conversations about the virus, but it almost felt like I was hearing different information from everyone. However now that it's in our state, there's no time to talk about it. Stores are running out of supplies and people are acting like it's the end of the world. Some think of handwashing as a new concept, while others are saying we’re all going to die.
Personally I believe that the media is stressing out our community with all the false information that is being spread. If we let the scientists and doctors do their jobs instead of logging in to your blog and saying there’s a 50% death rate. Maybe if we had a conversation sooner about prevention of spread it wouldn't have gotten so far. I had to cancel my spring break trip to the Bahamas because my mom didn't want flying, I may not be allowed to go to prom in Raleigh because the virus was found miles from it, my trip to Florida may even be canceled as well simply because my parents think I’ll come back as a carrier. These may sound like first world problems, but wouldn't you be upset too.
I am concerned about the coronavirus outbreak. Due to the outbreak, many schools are closed and online remote learning started. A lot of people are infected every day and it worries a lot of people. Even though it is lower of a risk for teenagers to be infected by the virus, the elderly and the babies have much higher of a risk. This also makes a lot of people nervous and anxious. Students cannot meet their friends or family members that live somewhere else as well. Also, people are stocking up a lot of food due to the virus and some other people doesn’t have food provided for them. This causes a problem in stock markets around the world. Additionally, some people are blaming it all on the Chinese since the virus was first located in China and this affects the Chinese people a lot. Hearing other people talk about COVID 19 is also worrying a lot of people.
Initially, student concern surrounding the coronavirus was minimal; we were aware of the low risk that it posed to teenagers and thus simply attempted to make light of a difficult situation, as our generation has the tendency to achieve. We took advantage of our extra week off from school, hung out with friends, made memes, etc. But as a series of shocking events occurred—school announced a three-week switch to distance learning, spring sports and activities were canceled, AP exams were shortened and moved online—the magnitude of the situation was revealed. Every message that teachers sent out contained the same two words: “uncharted territory.” As Wang described in her article, carriers of the disease are not always aware that they have it due to its often-mild symptoms; prevention is only possible through immense caution. Thus, the necessary role of teens became clear. The regulatory measures that have been taken by schools, cities, and the nation as a whole are necessary to ensure that this global crisis is handled in the most efficient and effective manner possible. In order for the world to rebuild, suggested actions such as self-quarantining and frequent hand washing must be taken seriously. Now, I am writing from quarantine with the knowledge that I am fulfilling my responsibility and making a difference in the best way I am able to: staying home and staying safe.
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I would consider myself mildly concerned about the actual virus. This is because if I were to catch this sickness I’m aware that it is very unlikely that I will die thanks to my strong immune system at my age. As for others I would say I’m concerned with the way it might affect the elders in my life. Yet my concern is still low as I don’t know anyone around me that has caught COVID 19 therefore it’s not an immediate threat to me or people around me. I have also read up on this virus and found out there are more deaths caused by the Flu then there currently is of Corona Virus. Therefore, it’s something that although terrible isn’t going to make the world go extinct. The mass hysteria worries me far more than the actual virus. It also worries me how long it might be till I’m able to go back to school and how long I will have to be indoors due to the recent push for self isolation. Those factors worry me much more than the virus does.
I am concerned because it’s a serious problem and a lot of people are dying and getting sick from it. I hope people stay safe and avoid the virus as much as possible. I am worrying about the people who are affected by it and I hope people recover and I hope corona stops soon. I get news from my parents, friends, and on social media. I think people are worrying because there is no cure/no vaccine but the death rate is really low and it’s just a new flu.
I feel like I have received accurate information on corona. Some questions I have for Covid-19 is when will it end? And is there a solution to get rid of corona? I personally like physical school better because there’s less stress, and being able to be physically in class instead of online learning, I don’t get as confused and I would have more motivation during school. It’s more fun being in class with friends and teachers.
The coronavirus isn’t something that concerns me. At first, I was scared, so I did some research about it and it and it turns out that it wasn’t that bad, it was just some new type of flu. Besides, the death rate of this COVID-19 is insignificant and is mostly older adults. Also, they’re people who recover from it, so there’s nothing to worry about.
On the other hand, my parent was quite terrified of this new outbreak; they have been stocking up foods in the house so that we don’t have to go outside to eat.
As a result, the school was closed because of the widely spread of the virus, and we were required to do online virtual school learning. In the beginning, I thought it was great, and I was happy that I get to wake up late and get breaks or eat in between my studies. But soon, that happiness of mine went away. I started to procrastinate a lot more than I usually did, and took more time to complete my assignments. Shortly the cons outbalanced the pros, I was drowning in all my missing assignments, and my grades went down so much. I couldn’t believe it. I wanted the coronavirus to stop and wanted to go back to school. I miss hanging out, talking to my friends, and my good grades. So, in the end, I’m probably more concerned about my classes than the coronavirus itself.
The coronavirus has been a big thing recently and a lot of people are worrying about it. A lot of people are freaking out and scared which is completely understandable. The virus is still relatively new and I think people are worried most about the fact there is no cure/vaccine for it yet. We don’t know much about it but we know that the symptoms are fevers, shortness of breath, colds and appear 2-14 days after getting exposed to it.
For me I am worried but I feel some people are overreacting. The media especially is trying to milk this as much as possible and over-explaining it to make people freak out even more which isn’t helping anyone. This is a chance for the world to come together and solve this global issue.
Recently schools have been closing down and starting to move towards virtual learning. I think it’s a cool way to move schools forward but my personal experience with virtual school hasn’t been the best. I think it’s stressful, too many distractions, different environments, less social interaction, no motivation, etc.
This dangerous disease came up in conversation a while ago. Nobody took it too seriously, since it was only in China. Before they knew it, the disease was spread across the entire world. This sparked a huge increase of purchasing paper products, such as toilet paper and paper towels. It also started a craze for hand sanitizer, and cleaning products. People are washing their hands more, which I believe they should have been anyways because of the other terrible diseases out there. This disease has outcomes we haven’t seen in a long time. It is mostly dangerous for old people, and babies because of weak immune systems. No older kids have gotten seriously sick yet, but they are huge carriers of the disease. This is causing schools to shut down for weeks until this pandemic gets better. Right now, people have no idea when this will come to an end. Living in Massachusetts, it is very scary because we haven’t hit our peak of sicknesses yet. Right now, the government is suggesting schools be closed for eight weeks, but all schools in Mass are currently closed for a solid three weeks. I am trying to make the best out of this terrible situation by spending time with my family. People should be appreciating what they have right now, and taking this social distancing and self quarantining from the world, to be grateful for the things that surround them everyday.
My thoughts on the outbreak are that I do not feel safe in my own town. The fact that the government officials and medical experts say that most cases are mild does not bring me peace of mind. The "truth" about the Corona Virus seems to change daily. I wish more attention was given to Wuhan,China when the outbreak occurred. I am hopeful that the world will be able to pull together and work as a team to fight back.
Coronavirus, Should we be scared?
The disease first came on the radar in about December of 2019 but now it’s a little bit more than on the radar. Since the start of 2020, the number of infections has grown to an alarming rate. Although, many scientists bring up the fact that the majority of us shouldn’t be scared. This is because unless you are a baby or a 65-100-year-old person the current death rate falls short of even one percent. The reason why this happens is those immune systems are less effective when they are in development or in the declining phase of the human body. So instead of always looking to ourselves, we should be more worried about the people who are seen as mentors to us. Whether that’s a grandparent or even an older friend you are really close to. The matter of the fact is the world has been through many major pandemics through its time. Although, the one thing that shows up time and time again is freaking out and causing utter panic never helps the situation. Instead maybe this spring instead of being discontent and panicked we should be more grateful for the people and things that surround us every day. I wish everyone who is affected by this disease sees an excellent recovery, and I wish the best of luck on whoever reads this.
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I am not concerned for myself, but for elderly people. The corona virus fatality rate increases exponentially by age. I am not so much concerned about the actual virus, but the possible lock-down. I know that many schools in Nevada including mine are closing in an attempt to slow down the spread of the virus in our state. Even though I am not worried about the virus, I am still taking extra precautions to try to prevent getting the virus or spreading it. My family is stocking up on food in the event of a lock-down. In conclusion, I am sure that my concern is not as much as others, but I am concerned that our country didn't act fast enough to prevent the spread of this deadly virus.
It’s been some time now since the outbreak of the new virus. Tons and tons of people infected and many killed. Rumors and news pass around the globe, yet more of the false news are gaining more attention. I haven’t really been thinking about the outbreak a whole lot, neither do I fear it. My parents on the other hand and like many other parents are quite terrified by this new outbreak. They fear the scenario of a house lock down and complete separation from society. So all they’ve been doing is stocking up packaged and preserved foods in the house. I don’t spend a whole lot of time reading the news that habit hasn’t really changed a whole lot considering a big event happening. I might seem quite chill for such an event like this, but I feel everyone just needs to calm down. The only thing bugging me is all the racial comments said about Asians because of the virus. I find it unsettling for such harassments against Asians and all the blame hovered over them in such a manner.
This is from Beckett, 2nd grade: I am not worried about my mom or dad because they are young. I am only worried about older people. I am very worried. There is no way I am going to get coronavirus. I wash my hands. A LOT. I am healthy and get good sleep. Also, it’s a grown up’s job to worry. I need to get good sleep. And eat. And wash my hands. That’s what they said at school about corona.
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My great grandma lives in New York which has already had cases confirmed so I worry for her. I have a cousin in New York with a baby and that worries me. Overall, as you can tell, I am not worried for my own health. I am worried about my family’s health. I don’t want any of my family getting sick with this virus and possibly even passing. I’ve also looked at the numbers of those who have died, those who were/are affected, and those recovering, which is making me calm down. Plenty of people with this virus are doing just fine. The death number is high, but not too high compared to the number of those with confirmed cases.
Like this article says, schools are taking precautions and trying to prepare for what to do if the virus comes to their area. They have been telling families and students to continue washing their hands and to keep sick students at home to avoid spreading anything. Overall, I was very nervous about this virus at first but now I have done my research and am a little less worried, I just don’t want anything to happen to any of my family.
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The coronavirus isn’t something that concerns me. At first, I was scared of it but my dad kept telling me that the coronavirus is another flu so since then,I haven’t worried much about it.
Unlike me, the coronavirus has many people concerned, causing them to wear face masks and use hand sanitizer frequently. My mom constantly reminds me to wear a face mask and wash my hands regularly but I always ignore her reminders and don’t wear a face mask when I go outside.
Because of the coronavirus outbreak, I am required to study at home. Virtual school does have many pros but it also has its cons. A few positives of virtual school is that I get to wake up later than usual, I get to work in bed and I get to eat, work and rest/take a break anytime I want. Some negatives of virtual school is that there are times when the assignment is confusing and teachers explaining it to you is hard to understand. Another negative is that teachers are only online for 20 minutes so I’d have to be online during those 20 minutes and I’d have to take some time to email them.
There are some things I miss about being at school physically such as hanging out with my friends and talking to them, but besides that, I don’t really miss school.
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I am not really concerned about the Coronavirus because there isn’t much happening around where I live. Adding on, the media show how low the death chance is and how even I get the Coronavirus it will barely affect a teenager like me. The only reason people are afraid of it is that currently there is no cure, and they just ignore the fact that if your body is healthy you can easily self-cure and it won’t be a big issue. However, my parent is totally on the opposite side, my parent check news almost every hour just to get the newest update and they are really strict everything I do like I must wash my hand, use hand sanitizer, and most importantly I’m not allowed to go anywhere that’s going to be crowded and touching stuff lot of people have touched.
I’m actually really proud of my home country and our school, my home country limited mask purchase and all sort of ruse. At the same time, our school immediately close down the school when coronavirus is starting to spread to different countries. Even though we’re not a big fan of virtual school this is the best way to avoid coronavirus spreading.
Coronavirus is an epidemic. Starting from China, they have spread to Europe and America recently. When the coronavirus first set foot in Vietnam, my parents were very concerned since we have seen the news that it has suddenly scattered. However, after we have gone through and get used to them, we are not as worried about the coronavirus. Since we have less attention to them, they threatened us more tightly. Now even going out to purchase a drink, my parents always remind me to bring hand sanitizer and wear face masks.
I can’t say that I’m not concerned at all since my relatives are currently living in South Korea. After I have seen that right now Korea has the second-highest infection rate due to an old lady that refused to check for coronavirus and have been moving around. Right now there are a lot of people that have been infected, and that it is spreading around the globe, we can’t always be safe.
Our school in Vietnam has been canceling school and moved onto virtual school. Since we don’t have as many opportunities to be in a large group, I miss normal school days. Just like me, other students and my friends will desperately desire school to resume. There’s nothing we can do about school closure due to coronavirus, and we’re hoping to get back soon.
At the time of writing this, the WHO has already declared the coronavirus a pandemic and the entire world has put a halt to all major events. It is not wrong to be concerned about a relatively new outbreak that originated from a different country, and we should certainly continue to practice good hygiene. But there is also a level of hysteria and unnecessary fear that comes out of this; it's bringing out the worst in some people (racist comments, stockpiling masks and soap, etc.), and that is what concerns me more. Everyone should have an increased sense of caution, and we need to determine what the best course of action is for ourselves.
Hearing people talk about the coronavirus it has lost its shock value. I wasn't worried until it was brought in to North Carolina. My mother, a nurse, was worried. We are supposed to go to Orlando at the end of March. We have been planning it for months but with the corona outbreak my mother wants to cancel a trip. As a young person it is more unlikely for me to die from the coronavirus. I am worried for my parents more. They are in their 50s and my mother is an avid smoker. Although the corona virus is only a virus it is still scary the power it has to scare people to buy everything possible that could help them.
@Emily Skane I completely agree with you. I am less worried for myself because I am young but my dad is in his 50's and does delivery work so I worry he might pick up something from the packages.
I think, corona virus is a topic that everyone in the world must be worries, because no one can see the virus, so is impossible to have a total control over prevention. I am trying to be protected, and I told all members of my family about how they should change their behavior as wash their hands more often that habitually. Also I told all them. Please buy much antibacterial and use it frequently during the day. With all these tips, I am trying to protect my family and their friends. Also I am trying to avoid propagation of famous corona virus.
@Fredy - SW thank you so much for the tips. I've been trying to stop bitting my nails as well. Also I do agree we need to stay away from the propaganda it's getting people more scared then we should be.
I have been seen the news all of these days and I didn’t think that corona virus is going to spread here in United States or maybe in a couple months. But, it happens too fast, I can say that I am really worry about the corona virus because my husband is Uber driver and I think that he is exposing every day. I think that the schools in New York City are not prepared yet for this pandemic. However, it is a good idea use the internet for something productive us study at home, in case that the corona virus does more damages.
There are hundreds to thousands of viruses that are all around us every day, why is the coronavirus any different? I think that a virus outbreak shouldn't make a difference on how clean we are and what we should already do every day. Germs are all around us constantly. On doorknobs, on handlebars, on the walls, we should already be as clean as we possibly can. Now that a virus has struck, everyone is saying “wash your hands” “ stay away from germy areas” but shouldn't we have been doing that before? If we stayed as clean as we are now, before the virus, then maybe it never would have happened in the first place.
As a student In living Vietnam I have been directly affected by the Coronavirus. Almost everybody here is wearing masks, personal hygiene posters are hanging everywhere. Even the schools had to close and move to Virtual Learning.
In my opinion the reaction to the Coronavirus itself is a bit overblown, statistics tell us that the disease is not highly deadly and there is a cure to it. Possibly people are worrying a lot because the virus is highly contagious, but I think washing your hands and staying away from sick people would be enough.
Speaking of Virtual learning I would say that it has been challenging for both students and teachers. Staying home for over a month already and not getting to see your friends and classmates is definitely hard, but the school and teachers were able to provide a great level of support. And it has really helped to get through those 5 long weeks of school closure.
We are currently closed at our school in Dubai until 5th of April. It remains to be seen if we'll be able to open again before Ramadan is finished.
For the past few weeks, I got to travel as if it’s a vacation. I got to spend time with my family and eat good food while others are suffering from this virus. I feel kind of guilty about this, I never stopped and thought about how great my life is. I go to an amazing school, if I get sick, my parents will pay it no problem. I can pursue my dream job.
I want to know more about the virus, but there’s so much misinformation, and sites like the WHO articles about the coronavirus are boring, I can’t bring myself to read it. I admit it SHOULDN’T be entertaining, it’s just a ‘me-problem’. However, a YouTuber named Doctor Mike has been making videos about the virus, he’s a professional doctor, and edits his videos in a way that I can sit through and watch.
My family is pretty chill about the virus, there are certain times where they’re annoying about it, for example, they act like a mask is a hazmat suit when it’s not. Overall, they’re not panicking like other people, they still take us out to restaurants, and like I said earlier, we’ve been travelling to different cities. Am I scared of the virus? Yes, a little. Is it gonna stop us from living our lives and having fun? Absolutely not.
@Sabrina I agree completely that the virus shouldn’t prevent people from having fun and living their lives. I do think the whole situation is really annoying because not only are people buying masks like you talked about that they believe will completely protect them, people also are spreading news about the virus that isn’t true or confirmed. I think once we understand it better and get a more accurate number for how many cases are in the world that’ll prevent some of those issues, but it is annoying how little we know. Great comment! Have a good day!!!
All schools in Vietnam have been closed for all students, including mine. I am currently in my 6th week of online virtual school, and it’s safe to say that I am enjoying it more than I would enjoy regular school. I get to wake up past 6 am, go to the gym every morning, work a part-time job, and strengthen my self-discipline and time management. My experiences with it so far have been mostly positive! I finish all assignments every week, with the exception of one or two that I miss, spend much more time with family, and pick up new hobbies and interests along the way. I also notice that with virtual school, I spend a lot more of my free time now outside, hanging out with my brother, playing board games and listening to music. When I attend the usual 8-3 school day, I would usually come home and sit in front of a screen for another couple hours. Virtual school has taught me to make good use of my time and prioritize! However, I do miss seeing all of my teachers and classmates every day and feel that the classroom atmosphere is much more encouraging than working alone at home. There are online calls and conferences that we can take part in, but they don’t give me the same competitive environment that physically being at school does. At this point, there’s nothing we can do but be positive about the situation and hope everybody is okay!
Corona Virus is one of the disease that impact the world. This disease started in China and has been expanded to another countries. I am concerned about the Corona Virus because I have been hearing about what is happening around the world, a lot people are getting that disease and the majority of them are dying. This is affecting to everybody because there are afraid of getting that. I live in a state that there are some rumors that some persons have Corona Virus in this case I feel afraid about that but I’m prevented with that washing my hands and then put some Alcohol.
As everyone knows, the Coronavirus outbreak started in December 2019 in China. The number of infected people and deaths increases every day. I am worried about the Coronavirus. Every day I try my best to protect me and my family from the virus. I avoid going to crowded places, always washing my hands, eating at home instead of going outside. Unfortunately, many people panic because of the information they read in the news. They get really scared about how fast it spreads in China and Korea, so they have been buying lots of masks and food. Wash your hands frequently, avoid putting your hands in your mouth, on your face, or near your eyes. Don’t go near anyone that is sick, and stay isolated if you are sick. It was inevitable that Coronavirus would reach the United States at some point. I know the corona can be bad but I’ve been seeing people on the news go to grocery stores buying goods, vegetables and rice. I know people is just preparing. I feel like the outbreak is very dangerous and that people should be careful about what they eat, touch, and drink and be more aware of their surroundings.
I am so much concern about the corona-virus. I think the whole nation have to be concern about this. If we are aware of that and take some precautions, it will be very helpful to prevent viral harmful situations. Every day I try my best to protect me from that virus. We do not have to be panic and take necessary steps to prevent the virus. I think for precaution of that virus we have to do some things. Such as wash hands frequently, eat healthy foods for good immune system, avoid travel to another country and use hand sanitizers. I think school and college should shut down for somedays .Than the virus will not spread rapidly. After control the situations they should open the school and college. Because still do not know how many people already infected by that. The symptoms can understand after 14 days or more lately. Therefore, in that time if it spreads by person to person it will be hard to control the situation. It is better to be careful in the early stage. I have to use subway every day and I am little bit fear about that. I think government should take some precautions to clean the subway with antibacterial cleansers. It will be very helpful to prevent the germs. In airports, they should check the travelers very carefully, that they are infected by virus or not. Because if the travelers are infected by that it will be spread more easily to the whole country. As soon as possible if we take the precautions, it will be easier to handle the worst situation.
Although Corona Virus is the biggest topic right now. People are alarmed by this situation. When I walked to the streets of New York, I see people wearing masks. This is something new to me because back then, people did not wear mask so often, but after they heard that the epidemic is spreading throughout the world, everyone started worrying. I know this is a very serious situation because there’s several people dying by this disease and people are taking a lot of precaution like for example, washing their hands every often , avoiding people sneezing, etc. By taking this in mind, we think we shouldn’t overreact to this events and just calmly follow the steps to avoid getting the virus.
@Tais S-W I agree I think if people keep panicking and freaking out it'll only make matters worse and cause more people to be overly concerned about it and need to go about it more calmly.
I am concerned about the coronavirus. The virus is spreading so quickly that I am worried about it because many people are dying. This virus has caused people to panic. My parents tell me to maintain my hygiene, washing my hands constantly, have hand sanitizer with me and avoid touching my face to keep myself protected from the virus. We have not discussed about the virus in school. Online classes could prevent a little bit of exposing the students, but not at all.
The people are alarmed because the situation about the corona virus. For this disease many people have died. The corona virus is spread mainly by direct contact with an infected person when they coughs or sneezes or by contact with someone. Most of the people walk with masks in the streets protecting from this disease. This situation is worrying for people are wearing their hand sanitizer because people want to be well and they don’t want get sick for the disease. This disease has already reached several countries such as South Korea, Italy, Germany or Spain. There are now confirmed cases in most of Asia, Australia, North America and Europe.
We have heard about this new kind of virus called Coronavirus since the end of 2019. The outbreak started in China, but it has spread all over the world. The fact that exists more than 100,000 cases in approxemently 100 countries scares people because it sounds a big number, but only 3.4% of people infected die. We don't have to be alarmed we have to take things with calm. Rumors are spreading everywhere and for example in stores we can see people buying a lot because they are panic. I think that keep calm and get informed from official media is the best way to do not be alarm. Also adopting prevention measures is going to help us to reduce the number of contagions and protect us. World Health Organization is giving us indications such as handwashing, covering mouth and nose when we sneeze, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, avoiding unnecessary contact with animals, cooking properly, and if you present symptoms seek medical care. We have to take care us and our loved ones, also we have to talk at home about how to prevent. Everybody has to adopt these measures to try to not spread viruses in our surroundings.
This topic has been controversial in this time. There are different positions and opinions around of that pandemic. Every day, I hear people on the train, school, street how they can prevent Coronavirus. However, the first thing we should do be informed about the problem. It could be causes, prevention and actions to remediate it. Something wrong occurs when we get information from unreliable sources, it causes that people get in panic and take wrong actions. In my opinion, people have to take essential prevention, but we have to keep calm and we should not exaggerate with this issue. Another way to prevent the panic should be that authorities take measures to combat lack of information and teach people about Coronavirus origin.
@Julieth - SW
I totally agree that the first step is to educate people about the problem. I too hear people talk about the virus all the time. The thing is that everyone has a different fact about it. Some say it can’t harm young people, but others say that is who it is deadly to.
I do not feel as though I am getting accurate or clear information. There is definitely more we all need to learn about it. I don’t think that our school or at home for that matter that I am being educated properly. Of course there are the standard things: wash your hands, couch into your arm, sneeze into tissue. But what about all the other ways it has gotten around? What are the symptoms? Are there activities we should avoid?
Personally, I am not worried about it at all. I think that is being blown way out of proportion. Furthermore, if everyone could calm down and we could all get on the same page, then we could go about it in an organized manner. Don’t get me wrong, I acknowledge and am aware that there is a threat, but I think as long as people are conscious about their hygiene there is nothing to worry about.
Coronavirus is something that everybody is talking about now. Many people are worried about it because this virus can be deadly. Actually many people is dying. However, in the majority of the infect people so far have only mild symptoms and make full recoveries. I am not worried because I think that the news exaggerate everything. However, it is good to be prepared for everything in this life. Therefore, we should take prevention like washing our hands more frequently. It is good to know that schools are making their own plans like to close it and allow the students to continue to do schoolwork at home.
I don’t concern about the coronavirus because there have been worst diseases than this. I know that this disease is a pandemic because it has spread in many countries of the world, but I’m not afraid of that. I got the news of the coronavirus by Facebook and I think that the information was clear and accurate. My parents always tell me that I need to clean my hands with water and soap frequently because actually there isn’t cure for this disease. Even if I’m not afraid of this virus I protect myself for the virus. Other methods that people can prevent is when anyone cough or sneeze others need to be far from them because we don’t know who have this disease.
Honestly, I feel Coronavirus is something exaggerated by people and that is a virus like others. I am not so worried about that but a little for the third age people because it might affect them more and the people of the Asia Oriental, because the virus was created there and is already spread. I have read there is a case of Coronavirus in my country Dominican Republic. It worries me because it is a small country and it could expand faster. I think we just need the necessary precautions such as hygiene and keep your distance from sick people. Although, there is no cure for the Covid-19 and people are preparing for a possible pandemic.
I think the corona virus, is at virus very dangerous for the people because many people they are dying. In my country the corona virus it is affecting many people and is causing many deaths. The corona virus is in several states of United States and also, affecting a lot of people because for the corona virus. In New York many schools they have the corona virus and the students are infecting, my mother always tell me be safe and something like that.
Many people discuss about the corona virus .The Corona virus has started ravages in China and has gone through to another countries such as Italy, French, and USA. The COVI 19 is very precarious that people are supposed to prevent different methods of medicine by washing hands, use hand sanitizer, avoid traveling at this time, and avoid visiting hospital if not necessary. In my opinion, I feel that I am concerned about the corona virus. At this time, it is a global problem. Dr Acton says, “This is teachable moment “.I really agree with him, everybody needs to learn much information about that virus and if people do not take precaution then the virus will affect your family and the area that you live.
If someone approaches me and asks, “Are you afraid because of Coronavirus?” My answer will be I am not. Because the human being is in a process, which means we are going to die someday. Personally, Covid-19 is not dangerous as we think. I think that social media purpose is to intimidate us, and who controls social media controls your mind. Even though, I am not concerned about the Cronavirus but I think about how people living in countries affected by Covid-19 feel. Although in the United States the Coronavirus have not propagated yet, there are people that are concerned and they are preparing in order of a quarantine by the Coronavirus pandemic. Maybe I should be scared not for myself, but for my family because if I am infected, I must be away from them.
Every day we are listening about coronavirus because outbreaks have already occurred in many countries with more than 81,000 cases. More than 100 people are already infected in New York City. We have to be careful to avoid being infected. Follow guidelines that experts recommend like wash our hands frequently with soap and water for 2 minutes, avoid touching our face, maintain a distance from anyone who has symptoms like fiber, cough, sneezes and shortness of breath, stay in home if we don’t feel well. Many people have fear and anxiety because coronavirus can be deadly. I think fear is overblown. We cannot create panic. We have to keep calm and follow medical instructions.
At the beginning, when I saw the news, I was not concerned of the Coronavirus because I thought that it was a simple virus. After watching the news, I started getting worry since in some countries are many people infected including the United States. Now, I am more careful when I take the subway and when I am going to eat something because I do not know where might be a person with the virus. Therefore, I wash my hands more often and I try to not touching anything when I am outside. I think that schools should be close because in this way students are less exposed to becoming infected and that people should not enter or leave the country while the Coronavirus is a threat.
I am really concerned with the Coronavirus. I know about the Coronavirus because of the news on television and social media but honestly, I don't feel that I have received the necessary information. News are more focused on saying how dangerous the disease is instead of giving people information in order to keep everyone safe and prevent the virus from spreading. Personally, I think that the influence of Coronavirus has caused a lot of impacts not only on me but also on the entire population. Therefore, scares it me because is already a deadly disease. The Coronavirus is contagiousness and highly dangerous disease and the cure hasn't been found yet.
The Coronavirus seemed to be very popular in the media lately. Although the media is making it sound really dangerous and extreme, this virus has been around for a long time, much like the Flu. Over the years in the United States, the Flu outbreak has caused around 12,000 to about 61,000 deaths since 2010. The media didn't cause anywhere near the amount of fear and panic over the Flu that it has with the Coronavirus. As of now, the Coronavirus has caused 22 deaths in the US and the entire Nation has gone into a panic. Although I do think it is and can be very dangerous it is like any other virus and panicking will only make it worse. However, I do think we should be taking certain precautions but not to the extreme that the media is making it.
I think this virus is not disturbing.
People panic because it spreads very fast.
We just have to take precautions. In fact if we wash our hands and we avoid gatherings, there is no reason to worry.
@Axeeeel I agree but i also disagree, The virus is spread through mucus droplets it is difficult to prevent getting it. However if people do take the precautions and wash there hands it should be easy to prevent!!
I live in Paris and Coronavirusv is not there yet... Our schools remain open and we continue our lives. We only had one case. However, in my high school, some students came back from Italy and were sick... Our teachers put them in a special room. Firefighters took them to the emergency room. After that, they found that they did not have the virus. Meanwhile, we were all concerned about the problem. Now the virus is spreading in the country, so we are all concerned ...
Hello I am a French student and I live in Paris so I am mainly concerned by this virus.
Obviously I take more precautions than before, I always have an anti bacterial gel on me, each time I go home I wash my hands thoroughly.
I take public transport every day, I try to refrain from touching the bars and I try not to get too close to people.
My school has still not taken special steps apart from giving us some advice.
when we were informed that in Italy, there were many people infected, 8 students of my high school were quarantined because they had gone skiing in the area.
I was a little worried because i knew one of them. so if he had the virus I had it too, but thankfully none of these 8 students tested positive.
Now we are impatiently awaiting the arrival of stage 3 so that the schools are shut down!
I think we are all concerned by the virus. In France some schools are shut down and the number of contaminated pepole increase everyday and a psychosis settles in.
I hope a vaccine will be found soon and that all will be okay.
Everyone should definitely be concerned, but, in my opinion, the media is blowing the situation out of proportion.
My school in China has been closed since January, and I haven't attended physical school in almost 7 weeks since I left for Chinese New Year break.
From personal experience, it's important for everyone to be well-informed on the virus and to take the necessary precautions to prevent infection: Examples include washing your hands frequently, using hand sanitizer, avoiding touching dirty surfaces and your face, wearing a mask in a public area if you feel sick, etc.
However, staying calm is important. In the United States, the situation is not serious enough for everyone to stock up on food and other supplies (which causes shortages) or to panic. It's fine to listen to the media, but be aware that some sources may be stirring up unnecessary fright. As long as you listen to the CDC and remain cautious and aware of the situation, you'll be fine.
Even if the Coronavirus is all over the news, I am not a tad bit concern about it. Schools in Asia have been shut down due to the outbreak, so we do all our assignments online. This is worse than being at school because you lose the urge to work. Other than the stress that it has given me, the Coronavirus hasn’t affected me or the people around me yet. I believe the virus isn’t something we should be scared of. The symptoms aren’t that frightening, so the only people who should be worried are elders and babies. I am not worried about catching the virus, because I have been a “temporally shut-in” for over three weeks. As a “temporally shut-in” I don’t really socialize much during the outbreak. This is not good for my social life but at least I don’t have to worry about getting contaminated by the things or people around me. I spend most of my time in my room and only go outside to exercise. Even if I do come in contact with people, I can just wash my hands and use hand sanitizer. To be honest, all the Coronavirus cases that I have heard of so far all involved an idiot who refused to go to the doctor. I don’t know why people are so worked up about this virus because I believe that if we all followed what doctors and professionals told us to, the virus would have been dead by now.
One hundred seventeen, that's the number of people in the united states who have the coronavirus. Today it was confirmed that one of those hundred is in my state. Two hours from my house someone has the coronavirus. To be completely honest I don't know how to feel about it, some people are going around and joking ,while others are hiding in their houses. Some people feel as if they are immortal, as if nothing will ever catch up to them, while others are still lying fearful in the homes hoping it won't get them. I'm not hiding but i also know that i'm not immortal, I am however particularly healthy, I have a strong immune system. Others aren't as lucky as I am, i'm very worried about my little sister who can't even handle the common cold without having to go to the hospital.
The Tokyo Olympics take place from 24 July-9 August,but
is it better to cancel it because of the coronavirus?
The Tokyo Olympics are being threatened by a fast-spreading virus that has been blamed for 12 deaths in Japan and has shut down most schools, sports competitions and Olympic-related events in the country. The virus that started in China has been detected in at least 70 countries, with more than 90,000 cases and 3,100 deaths reported.
The Olympics have been canceled only three times, all during wartime.
In my opinion, Japan should be canceled if this situation continues.
My family and I am actually quite concerned about the Coronavirus, because being Chinese we see everyday on the media how the virus is growing and with the recent increase of cases in Korea making it more concerning. The place where I live at is a small island that base its economy on tourism. With the virus growing, the airline from China was stopped reducing the risk of the island getting the virus. However, with the increasing numbers of cases going on in Korea and Japan flight might be stopped from those countries too. That would lead to our economy crashing, since we are already facing financial problems after a huge typhoon hit the island. Our school did cancel a student exchange program from Japan, for the safety of students but other than that nothing much had be done. Though it's likely that the virus could be on island from the tourist, let's just hope for the best.
I am definitely concerned about the coronavirus, but I do think that fears are overblown. People are spreading fear faster than the virus itself. If the coronavirus does hit my area, I think that my school and family are well prepared to fight back against it. I have gotten news for the virus through my friends and The Times. I feel good about the information, and I believe that it is correct. I still am not sure about the symptoms of the virus. My school has not discussed the virus in depth, but I am sure they will in the coming days. My school has been telling students to have good hygiene, but beyond that, they have done nothing. I think our school should at least talk ab out it with students, to make them aware of what is going on. In this case, I think that being informed is the most helpful thing.
Honestly, I am a bit concerned about Coronavirus due to several reasons.
First, I live on a remote island with poor healthcare; so if Coronavirus appears here, it would definitely cause panic and turmoil. Schools will close (I am pretty sure everting else will stop working too). Once people have to seat in their homes and have no work to do, that is where major problems occur. Secondly, the potential Coronavirus outbreak on this island will destroy its barely alive economy, putting years of development back to its initial state. However, from current scientific observations, Coronavirus does not survive well under hot temperatures, which is permanently present here; so the probability of the major outbreak happening is less likely. What is a interesting fact, though, is that our school does absolutely nothing to protect us, students, from getting infected if outbreak happens. My best guess to this decision made by PSS is that all flights from heavily infected countries are not allowed to come here anymore, making our beautiful island an isolated safe heaven... Hopefully.
I am also concerned about Coronavirus.
I am Japanese but now live in Finland. Here in Finland, the number of infected people is increasing.
I am particularly worried about the Olympics in Japan this July. I think it would be better to cancel or postpone the Olympics.
My concerns relating to the coronavirus isn't as big as everyone else in the world. The reason being is that i live in a small and secure island that is far from the rest of the world. Our island of Saipan can only be accessed through ankther island called Guam. If someone has had the virus it would be seen first and taken cared of in Guam. This may not be true but some sources say that the virus can't survive in high temprature climate. That makes me even more assured because Saipan has tempuratures that never go below 70 degrees. My other relatives live in the Philippines, which in fact have a high temperature climate, are safe as well because even though there was a case the virus didn't survive.
Overall, I'm not that concerned about the Corona Virus. I've been getting most of the information I know about it in a very informal manner, depicting it in a joking manner. There are memes about it everywhere on the internet, and I personally refer to it jokingly sometimes. In my lifetime, I've never actually feared something like a viral disease or something out of my control. It doesn't feel real, like it could actually become a problem where I live. Aside from the detachment I have to the gravity of it, I don't think there's as much weight as is depicted on the media. This season, the flu has caused a lot of illness and deaths, and has been very bad lately. However, there is no coverage or panic on the media, because it's the flu. Everyone gets the flu. Referring the article, out of 81,000 cases, having 3,000 deaths is about 27% of cases resulting in death, meaning a 73% survival rate. This is reassuring, and doesn't make it seem like the monster viral disease the media is portraying. At any moment, I could catch the flu, mono, staph infection, anything. I'm not going to stop living and going about my life because of a 73% survival rate. It's not concerning enough to me to change my course of actions, but maybe I'm just not fully informed of its' true damage.
I am not too worried about the coronavirus outbreak. Although we haven’t talked about it much in school, I am aware that it’s in my state and that I am at risk. My school hasn’t threatened to close down or have days off, but we have gotten emails explaining the little things we can do to prevent a virus from reaching us, like simple hygiene practices. Also, school trips to different countries have all been cancelled. Overall, I do not think it will be a big problem at my school.
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Lots of schools, including mine, are considering switching to virtual school, just as companies are having workers telecommute. My school, like many schools and companies, will use Zoom. There are plenty of articles about Zoom's stocks and pieces that mention people are using it, but my friends and I are worried about privacy. Zoom's privacy policy allows them to collect and use basically any data from anyone who "interacts" with their products, even if you don't have an account. We won't have a choice but to sacrifice our privacy, and too many people don't recognize this.
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So many people are absolutely freaking out about the Corona Virus, "OMG is it coming our way?", "Are we gonna die?" Vivian Wang says in the article, "Americans should brace for the likelihood of the Corona Virus coming to the US." He also mentions that there are already nearly 3000 deaths. I think it is time for everyone to just sit down and relax. Although this is nothing you shouldn't take seriously, we are not doing any good anxiously waiting and worrying about how fast it's spreading. Yes, we should prepare for the worst, but I don't foresee this turning into a very large problem in the United Sates. With the current technology we have, I am not too stressed about the affects of the Corona Virus and neither should anyone else.
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@Spencer Nolan I completely agree with what you said. I think that the coronavirus has potential to spread throughout the United States, but sitting and waiting for it to come is not going to benefit anyone. As well, the United States is known for its health care and I feel like if there were to be an outbreak, it would quickly be controlled. We have seen in the past that viruses such as Ebola, have been able to be treated and controlled throughout the US. I remember there only being a few cases here in the US because they didn't let it get out of hand. However, even if we have good health care, it is still good to prepare. You can't let it hold you back from your everyday life, but it should be a concern and prompt you to be washing your hands and paying more attention to your surroundings.
CoronaVirus. COVID-19. We've all heard about this virus either through social media, the news, family members or friends. To start off with, I'm not worried too much but I do fear a few things.
First off, there doesn't seem to be too many cases in Vietnam and spreading so I think we should be fine for now. I do feel that fears are overblown and feared upon a bit more than they need to be. There's actually more cases and deaths in Seattle WA where I'm from in the states than in Ho Chi Minh right now.
However, I think what I find most scary is that the disease can be spreading through hundreds of people without symptoms showing until it hits one person that starts showing symptoms and goes to the doctor to find that they have corona. As it goes from person to person it may not affect a lot of people until it gets to the old unwell person where it turns deadly.
Furthermore, I have very mixed emotions about virtual school. Sometimes it feels like way more work and I can fall behind but in the end, it's much more relaxing and I can get some more sleep in and spend more time with friends.
Overall CoronaVirus is taking over the world at a rapid pace now and it's our job to stay safe but also not overblow our fears and make others further scared.
@Zola I agree with you that people are much more scared than they should be. When a small group of people are very freaked out by something, those feelings then make other groups of people more scared until everyone is living in panic that they will get the Corona virus. I also think that the fact that one does not show symptoms until up to two weeks after they are infected with the virus makes me more concerned about the spread of the disease. Especially in a school environment where germs are spread very quickly, everyone has to make sure that they are taking precautions just to be safe. I also think that it is reassuring that we are not hearing about younger people getting the case severely. I agree with you that virtual school has its benefits but also downfalls and I do not think that it is a good way for students to effectively learn. In the end, I think that if everyone can stay calm about the spread of this virus then the virus (which is treatable) will make its way across the world, but eventually subside along with the panic that come with it.
If I were to rate my personal concern towards the Coronavirus it would be equal to that of the flu. Initially, the Coronavirus virus was described to me by the media as the second coming of the bubonic plague, which had me washing my hands every thirty minutes when I heard there was a possible case in Chicago. However, a few doctors from the hospital really put into perspective the threat the Coronavirus actually poses to me personally. They described it as a slightly more infective flu--a flu that instead of spreading to one person per infected, spread to two. Basically meaning anyone with a healthy immune system should not be too worried.
@Gabi Szymczak While I agree that anyone with a healthy immune system shouldn't be too concerned about surviving the Coronavirus, I disagree with your statement that it should be viewed as having the same severity as the flu. The Coronavirus is spread much more easily than the flu, as those infected do not show symptoms for the first two weeks. This means most of the people who have the Coronavirus currently are walking around unknowingly spreading the virus to others. Even if you are correct in stating that this is "a slightly more infective flu," according to the World Health Organization, the death rate of the Coronavirus is about 3.4%, while the flu's death rate is only 0.1%. Again, people with healthy immune systems shouldn't be worried about actually dying of the Coronavirus, however, those of us with healthy immune systems will still be greatly impacted by the pandemic. For example, most of us have loved ones in groups at greater risk, including grandparents and younger siblings. Our lives will be altered completely if we are forced to be quarantined or school is shut down. For these reasons, I disagree with your comment that the Coronavirus is no worse than the flu.
I am not very concerned about the corona virus outbreak because I feel I’m surrounded with people who are careful and aware that they have to stay extra conscious about staying germ free. I also know that for people under the age of 18, it’s very rare to even catch the virus let alone die from it. The hospitals are very efficient and serious about the illness as well; as long as they find those affected and keep them in solitude, it should prevent it from spreading too much. Therefore, I think that it’s unnecessary to fret over it because it’s pretty much equivalent to the flu and only ordinary percussions should be taken.
@Izzy Pizarro I agree that the corona virus is not something to fret over, but disagree with the majority of your claims. You said that, "As long as they find those affected and keep them in solitude". The major problem with the corona virus is that people don't know that they have it until they've already spread it to other people. Because of this, I also think that we should be doing more than ordinary precautions. Not to say people should be walking around with gas masks on or not going to school because of the virus. However I think it's probably not smart to travel to places with high cases of the disease as well as I think its necessary the public transportation such as train stations, bus stops, and Uber drivers should do their best to keep their vehicles clean. I also think it's important to stay germ free and wash your hands more often, but that's not to say you should go to Target and buy 100 bottles of hand sanitizer.
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@Izzy Pizarro I feel the same way. The virus is not nearly deadly or harmful enough to be scared about with the health services provided in the US. In addition, the people that are dying in result to this disease are generally old or have a weakened immune system. As a young person in America, I am not worried much about this virus at all. However, I do think that it is more dangerous than the flu and that effective measures should still be taken. Any virus that has the potential to kill should be protected against.
@Dillon Driscoll I completely agree with you in multiple aspects, first off I definitely think that everyone buying SO much hand sanitizer is a little bit ridiculous, I think its safe to say that a couple bottles would suffice. I also think that being more aware of your surroundings and trying to stay clear of a good amount of germs would also help.
I personally am not too worried about the coronavirus. As it even says in the article, the majority of those infected only have mild symptoms and make full recoveries. Although I'm not too worried, I do still think it's a serious issue that we need to work to resolve. This disease is not nearly as bad as some other plagues such as the most famous one, the black death, with almost a for sure chance of death within three days of getting the disease. The coronavirus takes about two weeks and is also barely fatal. Anything that is causing people any illness and or death however should be attempted to cure or solve the issue no matter what.
Just yesterday the first case in my state was confirmed and it started to worry me a bit more than I was before. I have always been quite paranoid when it comes to outbreaks like this, but this is just because I hate getting sick. Before I was only a little concerned but now that it has been confirmed in an area that is only about 3 hours away from where I live, I have started to get a little bit more anxious. I traveled to this city the weekend before the case was confirmed and I think that freaked me out even more. I always kind of knew deep down that this virus was gonna make its way into the United States but I wasn't so sure it would make it all the way to my state out of all 50 of them. I think that there are lots of people that are being a little bit over dramatic and some people are starting to spread false rumors about it being in my county and it's all starting to get a bit overwhelming but I think the worst thing anyone can do is panic because it will only make things worse. A lot more people have recovered from this then the amount of people that have died. So I think that this should be the thing that keeps our hopes up that the amount of people that are sick will start to get better. I just hope that it doesn't get anymore out of hand than it already is. The last thing we need is for the entire world to be in a complete state of panic.
Coronavirus is a big problem around the world right now and has frightened alot of people and many people are concered about the corona virus,thousands of people are infected with this virus around the world,but people worry about this sickness more than the flu that is killing more people, many people in our prepared with this virus but not as many, my family is not as prepard as the other people we dont have the stuff that prepares us for the virus.
I agree with your comment.
I am Japanese, but currently living in Finland.
Especially my parents lives in Hokkaido, where infections are highest, so i am concerned about my parents.
Beside in japan masks have been out of stock that people are in fear of the mystery pneumonia outbreak in the world.
I am not very Concerned about the Coronavirus im more concerned about the flu killing more people this year than covid-19. The reason why people are freaking out is because of the media and fake news for clicks and people dont know that they should get their news from the WHO or the CDC.
@Gio, I disagree I don't think people are freaking out about the coronavirus because of the media or fake news. I think it's because it's something new. Just think how scared people were when the flu started, and people were dying left and right. The coronavirus is something we've never seen before, we don't know how serious it will be yet, it could grow to be more deadly than the flu we just don't know. And that's what scares people.
@Gio I disagree with your statement the media and news are only making a big deal about Coronoavirus for more clicks and views. I do understand that the news does blow things out of proportion sometimes with fake news for their own good, however this not the case here. The news is making a big deal about this because it is a serious epidemic that people need to be concerned about so they can take the proper precations to keep themselves and others around them healthy. Yes it is true that there have been more deaths from the flu than the Coronavirus, however these two things are not comparable because they are two different illnesses. The flu and Coronavirus might have the same symptoms, however Coronavirus is dangerous in the way that people have it and spread it without showing any symptoms right away. The flu is different and we know how to preapre and take care of it because it is sonething we have been dealing with for longer. Coronoavirus is something new and unfamilar which is why the news and media needs to inform people about it for the well-being of everyone.
@Gio Although I agree that the flu is an illness that should be taken more seriously especially with regards to caution and sanitation among people, due to the large number of people contracting the Corona Virus, this virus is also cause for concern. For younger generations, this virus is obviously not as serious as it is for older generations with respiratory issues and poor immune systems. While you and I may be able to recover from this virus, the cause for concern lies in the lives of older people. The anxiety that is being provoked from much of the world is coming from the worry that while you may be able to recover, others may not. Whether or not the media is portraying an over or under exaggerated story of the spreading of this virus, it is still important to keep the world educated with regards to how they can prevent this virus from spreading. All threats to human health should be taken seriously, especially when the threat lies in the lives of our older generations. Additionally, the rate at which this virus is spreading is also a major cause for concern that the media should not take lightly. Keeping people educated will reduce the spreading of this fast growing pandemic.
The Corona has become a widespread epidemic in Asia. Though it is not deadly with only about a 3.4% mortality rate, it still should cause concern amongst parents and children. My parents are really concerned about the coronavirus as we live right in the hotspot for it. They’re now always telling me to wear a mask whenever I go out into public and to always wash my hands. After a while it looks like there’s less panic among people and there’s a problem with that because the numbers of infected are higher than they’ve ever been before. It's finally spreading across Europe and oceania but the numbers are currently low so hopefully they will be able to contain the infection.
I heard news a couple days back that Korea’s numbers skyrocketed because of a stubborn lady who refused to get quarantined. Their numbers are even higher than in Vietnam where I live and I believe they’re in second place for most infected. I’m really worried about my family living in Korea and I hope the best for them and because of the infection I won’t be able to visit Korea for a while.
Currently my school has been shut down for a couple weeks due to the infection and we’ve moved onto virtual school. It's not the best and a lot of people in my school prefer normal school to it but there’s nothing we can do about it.
@Bo Goon I live on the east coast of the United States where the coronavirus hasn't touched yet so I can't imagine what it's like living in the #2 infected spot for it. As I do still think that it's not as big of a deal as the public is putting it out to be, reading your comment has opened my eyes more to feel what it's like in impacted areas. I don't think everyone needs to be freaking out about it as much as they are, but everyone definitely needs to be aware and we need to do all we can to treat this disease as soon as possible.
The coronavirus is the latest global news story. It has spread from China to all around the world. I think the coronavirus is a concern as it is a threat to public health, yet I am not concerned with it as a threat to my own life. To me, the coronavirus is similar to the flu which is a seasonal concern. I have gotten news about the coronavirus through the news and the internet which is clear and accurate. In our school, the health office has taken extra precautions in reminding members to consistently and properly wash their hands. They will continue to watch for any cases near by or even in our building. As someone who is constantly washing their hands, I will continue to wash my hands and continue to be aware of the germs and potentially sickness that is constantly surrounding me, especially in a school environment.
@Shelby Comets I agree with your statement. In my state many people are concerned for friends, family, and themselves over getting the virus. We have only had one confirmed case which as be fought off and did not spread. Most stores have even sold out of face masks and hand sanitizer. I understand their concerns, but I think the concern should be for other nations as is still a smaller risk than the flu.
We might look at the coronavirus and think that it only has a 1% death rate but the people who died from this were weak and old people (old people who already have an illness they are dealing with). So the chances of us dying are slim, very slim. The chances of you getting infected is only a little higher than the death rate, but still, a lot of people are going to get infected. If you do the math considering other factors such as how old people get infected easily you get a percentage of 0.0002 % chance of dying because the infection rate is 2 percent. The areas where there are coronavirus outbreaks are Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. All of the people in these areas added together with a total of 4 billion people. Assuming that things continue on like this then there would be a total of 400,000 lives lost due to this tiny virus.
To me, the coronavirus outbreak affected me a lot as I have a lot of relatives living in China. In Vietnam, where I live, everyone was cured so we weren’t as anxious or as alert as before when going outside. In China, things are way different, the best thing you can do for the country right now is to stay at home. In China, we have a saying that you need to do something for the country, well here is a chance for everyone who has a place to live.
I personally am not very worried about the corona virus,I definitely think some precautions should be taken but I don't understand why the virus is constantly all over the news and people are acting like it's the end of the world. I get it's different than the flu especially because as far as I know we don't actually have a cure for it but in terms of how deadly it is the corona virus has a roughly 3% mortality rate while the flu has a roughly 1% mortality rate.This is a big difference but I just don't understand why everyone is taking such drastic measures for the coronavirus when for the flu no one really does anything. I found it interesting that Washington held a webinar for 250 school superintendents briefing them on the coronavirus. A lot of schools are taking such large measures by closing schools and attempting to set up mass homeschooling systems where as for the flu there are seemingly no precautions taken whatsoever.
@Reid Barden I completely agree and the fact that the economy is tanking because of peoples fear is ridiculous. Also the thing is that the people who have dies from it were very weak and old but if you have a average immune system you should to be able to fight it off. So if people just wash their hands and be careful I think we will be fine .
@Reid Barden & @David Laakso Your points are completely valid, I absolutely agree to the fact that the economy is tanking because of peoples fear is ridiculous. Another thing is that the people who have suffered fatally from it, were individuals who were weak and old, but if you have a average immune system you should to be able to fight it off. So if people just wash their hands and be careful, most of the population will be fine. Now thats not to say tough luck to people who get it, one thing to consider is that political powers across the globe are all working towards stopping this crisis. Consider the amount of science and knowledge being gathered, it is definitely more than enough to find a cure in no time. I also agree that that the news is definitely making it seem worse then it really is. In my personal interpretation it seems to be blown way out of proportion making my family and friends become paranoid in a very unhealthy way. Now when it comes to me, it does not worry me at all. I was a little terrified when I heard it came to my state, yet I then realized it was only one person and they were contained immediately. Meaning in the time being we should all fine.
Part 1
When I first heard about the coronavirus, I was pretty nervous. All I had heard was that it was a bad illness. When it started spreading, I was on my way to a trip to the Bahamas. That made me a nervous wreck. The trip was amazing and I don’t regret going at all. Being home, I’m a little less nervous. There was a confirmed case in Raleigh, which is only a few hours from my town. That honestly does scare me a little. I’ve done my research and I’m not so scared anymore. Like the article states, “On a more positive note, Mr. Kosuth said that evidence from China suggested that children were more resilient to the coronavirus than adults were.” which makes me wonder what they consider ‘children’. As I’ve read, the coronavirus is more likely to affect older people and very young people, but also people with illnesses already. That I think is the scariest part to me. I have a young sister and a father with cancer. I’m not worried about my own health, I’m worried about them. I also have grandparents who aren’t very old so it doesn’t worry me too much.
Comment: I look at the news every morning to see headlines like “Coronavirus spreads to every continent except Antarctica” and ““It's not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when” CDC official says” It’s hard not to be concerned about the novel virus. I am not necessarily concerned for myself, the effects are mild and most make a full recovery, I’m concerned for my little brother, at age 8, and my grandparents that are in their 70’s but have no health problems and are healthy. I have not been told anything from the school board here in NC even with the first case in our state arriving just the other day, I would not attend school if we have cases in this county. I think that the school system should at least have an online learning plan on standby in the event that the virus spreads and large groups of people are a dangerous place to be because you can be infected rather quickly. I am scared but also not really due to the mild effects.
Coronavirus indeed is a huge problem around the world right now and has been a topic that everyone is talking about. We all know that everyone has been very concerned about this virus outbreak of how quickly it has spread and thousands of people are infected.
Vietnam has gotten the outbreak under control and 16 people have been cured here. The first time I’ve heard about the coronavirus is while reading a news article in social studies which surprised me when I remembered back that there were a few people who got infected in China. Looking at today the number of sufferers has increased rapidly over just a few months. There has been some unclear and fake information about the situation nowadays which has made people more anxious about the situation. Everyone needs to have an understanding of what is going on and be more cautious.
Most schools in Vietnam have been closed due to the virus. Our school has been doing virtual school which has been challenging when you do not give attention to your work and the amount of catching for you to do is a lot. The one tough thing about virtual school is concentration, at home I seem to procrastinate more which makes assignments seem to be more difficult. In my opinion, I’d prefer being at school because it is easier to stay on task and the work is finished at a faster rate.
@Annie That's crazy, Having taken several online classes , I like them because i can work at my own pace and avoid the distractions at school. But it's personal preference and some people like you don't like it and that's fine. Is it like a Live stream of your teacher or is it a string of assignments that you have to do by a certain date?
@Annie It is quite interesting to hear how close the virus has hit for you. Judging by your proximity to the outbreak, it is understandable why one in your situation might fear. There are a few facts, however, that it is important to keep in mind. Firstly, one must consider the fact that the percentage recovery rate is a significant multiplier larger than the death rate. I understand you might recognize this, as you state how 16 people have been cured.
In regards to your problem about not being able to go to school soon, I have some amount of confidence that is nearing resolve. With the rate at which people are being cured increasing, it is likely you will reconvene with your classmates in merely a matter of time.
It is important to remember, everybody contributes to minimizing the threat of this virus when undertaking simple precautions, like washing hands and staying healthy. From this, we can ensure problems like yours get solved faster and more effectively.
I myself wasn’t very concerned about it at first but recently as it has started to make its way into the U.S.,and just yesterday my state I am beginning to get worried. Although only 3,000 have died of the 81,000 infected that's still concerning considering it is easily spread. The main reason for me being concerned is the first case of the coronavirus in my state was confirmed yesterday. And it just so happened that the place where the person lives is where I have to travel to this weekend with my school baseball team to play a game there. I know the chances are slim that we will come in contact with the infected individual but it still is enough to raise concern around our school and to ask the question: should we even go?
@Alexander Jacaruso That is so concerning. I go to the same school as you, if you bring the virus back here I am gonna be extremely concerned.
That was how I felt too, "Eh it's only in China."
Now I keep thinking, "What if school is cancelled, everything will be messed up."
With this virus being extremely contagious there are ways to drastically cut the chances of getting it. Wash your hands and don't touch your face. That is all. This can be an extremely effective way to prevent contracting the virus.
I hope you take this into consideration.
I do believe the virus will come to our town but we should still do everything we can to make that time last as long as possibe.
For me, I am a little worried about the coronavirus outbreak, but the fact that it might not harm me or anyone my age calms me down. My parents, however, are more concerned. They bought too many instant noodles, just in case. Bought tons of veggies and other stuff to stay healthy. It kind of made me feel like I'm stuck in an apocalypse. I wouldn't be surprised if they memorized the numbers of deaths and the numbers of people getting infected every day. Since my parents are reading the news every day, I get news from my parents, but I don't really care. My parents did say never to trust the information on the news too much and said that there could be more or fewer people infected. They don't really trust the government. Right now, because of the coronavirus outbreak, I have to stay at home and attend virtual school. It's not bad, but it's not good either. On the good side, I get to make and drink my homemade lemonade and oranges. Everything is within a step away, and basically, I sit and study till lunch, after that maybe watch a movie or draw, then study again till dinner, and repeat all over the next day. On the bad side, though, it's getting boring. I don't see my friends because their parents are overprotective. My swimming and running skills sucks. And I can't wake up early without an alarm anymore, which is surprising. I even think my double chin is growing every second.
@Soleil I am also a little worried about the virus shutting down schools. I can see the good and bad sides, but I think overall, it will not be a fun experience. My parents make it their daily mission to tell me the death counts in the US. I also think social media makes it out like we are in the middle of an apocalypse. I unfortunately, do not have my stash of Instant Noodles ready at hand. If the internet did not exist, I feel like life in quarantine would be much harder. But for now, I am trying to stay positive and look at the bright side. I am glad that people my age are not as prone to the death aspect of the virus. The number of deaths compared to the amount infected is quite far apart, which also makes me feel better. In conclusion, I agree with your points about the virtual high school having its ups and downs.
This past month has just been a hell hole for me. It started with this virus that no one layed an eye on to the cancelation of season 3 sports. With what has happened so far, I don’t know if it will even consider stopping. I really hope it will. It was about a month ago, when I’m casually on Instagram's story and an odd-looking story popped up for me. It said something about a CoronaVirus. At that point, I wasn’t really paying any attention nor caring about it at all. A week later, our school has decided to go online schooling. I feared that I would get sick and end up like the other people. I didn’t know how to react. I was ultimately sad and sorry for those families that have lost their loved ones but I didn’t want to end up like them. I would have to do my best and try to keep them safe and away from the virus. My fear would rise and rise and at a really high rate as I see the deaths rising by minutes. I had so many questions, questions like, how do we stop this, or what is going to happen to us, are we safe? I was scared and scared but I knew that I would be safe if I followed the rules and shared the word.
Even though the Coronavirus is spreading widely around the world with way more infected people than SARS, I think it will not cause as much concern where I live in. Because I believe that Vietnam has done a great job of controlling the disease and there are only a few cases reported. However, many people are over-reacted because of fake and unreliable news. The virus can spread through the air making only one infected person can cause harm to the whole neighborhood, which makes many people worry.
There's no need to be panic and always use reliable resources like CNN, that’s what I have been told. Also, students still have to take virtual classes instead, which is convenient for me because my house is far from school. I experienced new things through virtual classes like seeing teachers’ lessons through my Macbook screen. So, the Coronavirus outbreak is not the apocalypse to me, just a new experience.
Personally, I am not very concerned about the Coronavirus. In my school district, parents will always be parents and teenagers will be teenagers, worried and dramatic. So I think the fears are overblown heightened unnecessarily. We have gotten through past viruses before like H1N1 (also known as Swine Influenza) and Ebola. These are both dangerous viruses with one having standard flu-like symptoms and the other with organ failure. But we are all still standing. If people are worried about the coronavirus they have to stop talking and start taking action. There is no real way you can prepare for this when the virus will eventually infect the United States, besides being extremely sanitary. I have gotten information about the virus from the news. I feel that the news is always tragic when I watch it and everything is overblown. I want to know if there are any real and effective ways to cure this virus. I have not heard any word nor seen any action that alerts me to any pre-coronavirus-preparation in my school and so I can not speak for sufficiency of preparation. I think online schooling is a definite option for my school. We all have school given Chromebooks in our school and the administrators can control them so it would be really easy to go to YouTube and get a live video of lessons. Keeping the coronavirus in mind I will just be more careful and really think about my sanitation.
@Graci Yost I completely agree with you on the sense that the news is only sharing the bad. As young individuals who can be easily persuaded into believing things we need to keep an eye out, and make sure we are not being swayed into believing the Corona virus is completely deadly, and that there is no cure in sight. Our nation is working hard to solve and limit this epidemic, but the news isn't sharing that side of things, it is just about how bad it could potentially get. Although our school has issued Chromebooks to all of the students at my school I don't think out community is prepared for how much this disease could rock us. It is important to not over prepare, however reading some of these comments and understanding that most schools in Vietnam are shut down concerns me , and makes me feel as though we, as a community, should be preparing more. Although I hope this doesn't become a pandemic that sends our nation into panic, I hope us as individuals who could be directly affected become more informed about our future with the Corona virus.
@Graci Yost I would agree with you, that people, in a human nature, have blown the nature of severity with regards to the Corona virus out of proportion. Diseases along the lines of the Corona virus have struck before, and have similarly caused a scare among a large amount of people; and as Corona will likely be, the scare will pass, a wide spread and widely available cure will come out, and the scare and all the hype built around the disease will die down. Similar to what you said about pre-coronavirus-preparation in your school, I've seen none within in my own. While this isn't personally something I need, the publication of something along these lines from the school district would probably help calm down some of the masses.
What Will U.S Schools Do to Prepare for Coronavirus Outbreak
Many schools all over the U.S are preparing for the coronavirus outbreak! Schools are taking wise precautions in this situation but what should they do? Some schools have thought about closing down if there is an outbreak. But how will they teach school more schools have thought about online teaching witch could work but the problem with that is not all kids can afford internet or have computers at home. They will also not be getting the one on one help with their teacher. They’re also the problem of parents having to work and no one is home to watch them. Schools all over are trying to find a solution. Researchers have found that kids have a better chance of not catching the coronavirus like the chance of adults do. So hire more staff and teachers one school said well you would have to spend more money and also still risk the chance of students catching it. This is a big problem for schools all over the U.S there are fire, tornados, mass shootings, drills but there is no drill for the coronavirus. I feel as though there should be a school meeting with other school districts talking about what to do and what’s best for the student and parents to come up with a solution if there is an outbreak in the coronavirus.
I believe the Coronavirus is a bit overrated. Yes, the virus could be dangerous but in reality, most of the people are cured. But you always need to take precautions. There are thousands of memes of the Coronavirus that are not even funny. My school hasn't brought up the disease and I feel like they need to address it. People are going to laugh at the Coronavirus because they find it funny. But every threat that has hit America has turned into a meme. If the Coronavirus hits my school I believe that we should be homeschooled until the virus has passed. Because there is a chance that a student could die. Or we could check the kids to make sure they don't have the Coronavirus. Even though at the moment the death toll is twelve in the US, it is still way too much. Everyone needs to take precautions such as washing your hands, avoid touching your face and stay away from people who are coughing and sneezing. But we should never panic about the situation. Yes it is scary but panicking will never help anything and you should always stay calm. This virus started in Asia and then spread through America because people flew here. And I agree with Dr. Acton because this is a teachable moment. After all, we can learn what we should do if these outbreaks occur. There are some people out there who are worrying about the situation appropriately but then there are people who think they are going to die if they get this virus. In the end, I believe this will pass and we will be fine.
@Jude I agree that we should be taken out of school if the coronavirus is infecting people closely related with the school. I don't like the idea of going to school everyday not wanting to go near anyone because I am afraid of getting sick.
When something drastic is happening in the world people have precautions or certain things they have to do to avoid it from affecting them. In this case, it is the Coronavirus. News stations all around the world have been doing everything they can to inform citizens about this deadly sickness, but some people have not been doing enough to prepare. Schools, in my opinion, should be preparing the most even if it is only a 20-minute conversation. In class, students need to know what to do to avoid it or what to do if the Coronavirus is in their city. Simply reminding kids to wash their hands with soap for a minute to assure that you washed off all of the germs can help. No one thinks it’s going to be in their city or state until it actually is, and that’s the problem. We should all be preparing so that when or if it does happen we know what to do instead of freaking out. In the article, it talked about schools closing. Having your child at home alone for months while their parents are at work can cause stress, simply because of your child having to stay in the house all day not being able to hang with any of their friends. Another thing schools can do is send letters home to families. Schools should be doing whatever they can to prepare for this sickness. Everyone should be preparing for this illness like a tornado is coming, but instead, they are sitting back thinking that it won’t affect them.
The coronavirus has forced my school (among many) to convert to E-learning from the computers. I personally find this to have more cons than pros due to the difficulty of time management and computers not working at specific times. I personally dislike E-learning because it makes it very difficult to keep track of all the tasks that I need to complete and also very difficult to understand and find different guidelines for each project in some classes. It is also more difficult to get help for different classes and to clear questions without taking a long time through email. But on the other hand, some pros can be the fact that we are able to still be around friends when doing work and not having to wake up for the early classes.
Unlike virtual school in regular school, I can see friends more and ask for help from teachers with mostly immediate answers. Also in regular school, if the Wifi goes down for any reason it is down for everybody unlike how it is when the Wifi is out for only specific buildings. Virtual school is a very interesting experience but I would preferably not have to do E-learning as opposed to regular school. I feel that with school being out for more than a month it’s becoming a bit tiresome.
@Eliza With this E-Learning that was forced upon you, I believe that it is unfair. You should get the ability to ask for more help if you don't understand what is going on. Your school should make the E-Learning more efficient so you can do things easier. If your wifi goes off they should have the work that you have missed and should be ready for you to finish. I am truly sorry that this has happened to you.
I am pretty concerned about the coronavirus because there happens to be an outbreak in Vietnam already, but I think that we also don’t have to be too concerned about it. The biggest problem we’re facing is the fact that we are not sure about how did the coronavirus break out and how to cure it. All of the reasons and cure are guesses that haven’t been proven with truth, and that is why I am still pretty worried about the virus.
Because of the virus, students in countries near China like us are now taking virtual school. I don’t really enjoy virtual school, but it was going quite well for me. I enjoy physically being at school more than doing virtual school, and I have wanted to go back.
Most of the information about the virus I get is from the media, and it isn’t quite accurate. I do understand that the virus is dangerous, but maybe not that dangerous. Some of the media do put accurate information but that’s just a few. I am still wondering about how did the virus break out with no sign at all.
While the corona virus iseems very frightening, tue news is also making it seem worse than it is. Knowing this make me feel less concerned. The virus is just another epidemic that is blown out of proportion to scare people. While the infection rate and even death rate are high, many cases get well within 2 weeks of getting it. Also, because I’m younger, my immune system would be able to fight it off if I ever did get it. The only person I’m really concerned about is my parents, who could be badly affected.
@Allie I agree that that the news it making it seem worse than it really is. I has been blown way out of proportion and it does not worry me at all. I was little frightened when I heard it came to my state but then I realized it was only one person and they were contained immediately.
The 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak, believed to have originated from a seafood market in Wu Han, China, is now considered as a severe threat as it reaches 78 countries worldwide, accounting for 95,612 infected cases, and deaths measures already up to 3,287 since late December 2019. The World Health Organization, scientists, doctors, including other specialists in the medical field, have been extensively discussing, and contributing vigorously to the exploration of this subject referring its origin; furthermore, a potential cure to this deadly illness. In Vietnam, more than 1,000 schools across the country have been mandatorily deactivated by the demand of the ministry of education and health to prevent any further chaotic spread, and keep students safe. School closure length depends on the evolution of the epidemic. Instead of learning at school, students are now offered a method of E-learning or Virtual Schooling to assure that they are up to date with the predetermined curriculum. Personally, virtual schooling hasn't been such a cumbersome difficulty for me. I am doing well, though managing the workload and deadlines were hard the week into this experience; I quickly realized that all I needed to help me stay successful at Virtual Schooling is by setting a clear plan or goal for when I am going to complete my work. With an already set schedule including due dates, I can independently manage my assignments and turn them in without teachers chasing and pleading due dates.
I’m definitely concerned about the Coronavirus but I think my school is doing a fine job dealing with the outbreak. Up to today, it’s out 5th week of Virtual School and so far, everything is under control. I think the plan to go Virtual is great for controlling and limiting the spread of the virus.
However, I feel like some people’s education has suffered a lot without the classroom environment. It is harder to study at home and where we’re even more prone to procrastination. I honestly don’t think I’m doing a good job catching up with work and I feel like I don’t actually learn as much as I did in school. Procrastination also got the best of me and I found it harder to complete work. It’s like at school you’ve got people rowing on the boat with you and now you’re off on your own.
I believe my school has done the best of its ability to help us adapt to Virtual School. However, we still can’t help it but feel bored and lonely sometimes. It’s hard for students to switch to Virtual School seemingly overnight and adapt to the pacing of it. Although, we’re a few weeks in, I can’t help but feel lonesome and isolated and I wanted so badly to meet my friends again.
I still think everyone is trying their best to do a great job though and I really hope we can go back to school like normal and this whole virus thing will stop.
The Coronavirus outbreak seems pretty serious. It is happening all over the country. Although many people are affected by it, not everyone that has it dies. For me, I don’t worry too much about Corona, but I still need to keep in mind that it is contagious. People who have passed away because of Corona are mostly people that are old and do not have the strongest health.
Where I live, there is no serious outbreak yet. I still go out like normal, but I just need to be more careful, and sometimes wear a mask in crowded places. My family is not so concerned about it but we did change some few house rules that are pretty simple, like “when you enter the house wash your hands”, “wash your hand before we eat”, and that’s basically it. It's not hard but it’s one way to keep yourself safe. I think that the news that we are hearing are over exaggerating it making people worry, and although you’re not worried about it, it is good to be cautious.
@Jessica I completely agree with everything you have said. I feel like the outbreak is serious, not because of the mortality rate, as most people who get it recover, but more so about the ease in which the virus spreads. I feel like the world’s reaction to the corona virus is important now. If the strain mutates into something deadlier we would have a trained response. I also agree with your point about how the news seems to be exaggerating the dangers of the Coronavirus. Generally, I feel when there are possible threats, the automatic response is to try and learn more about what could hurt you. To do this, people turn to the news. In order to keep people coming back to watch or read a news source, the report can be amplified to create fear, which could maximize profits for news companies because more people are watching. Obviously, the news is necessary, but like I said there are underlying aspects in the news which serve to create mass panic.
When I first found out that the corona virus was a threat to America, I was really scared. All of the what-if’s and unknowns of the pandemic consumed my thoughts for days. After calming down and doing research, I realized that even if my area was infected with the disease and I contracted it, it would only be like a bad cold or flu to me. Sadly, not all people can say the same. Approximately 15% of people over the age of 80 and 9% of people ages 70-79 die from coronavirus. I am very concerned for people of that population, which includes my older family members, as well as other older people I know.
Selfishly, I am worried about how the outbreak could affect my daily routine and life. If coronavirus reaches Wilmington, my life would be put to a sudden halt. I would most likely not go to school or participate in my spring sport, as well as my other extracurricular activities. I would be confined to my house with only my immediate family, and I would not be able to see my friends for awhile. Looking at the big picture, if the biggest impact the virus would have on me is staying in my house for a few weeks or getting a bad cold, I am lucky. I don’t think I should personally be too concerned about the disease, but I should definitely take preventative measures, such as avoiding contact with sick people and frequently washing my hands.
The Coronavirus scares me but not really because the death rate is low and it usually only affects older people. So I am more concerned about my parents and grandparents. I'm also afraid this might ruin my learning because even though I don’t have bad grades right now it doesn’t mean that I’m good at virtual school or I’m learning as well as I would in school. I’m just not as motivated at home. I procrastinate a lot and that's not a good habit. I’m afraid if this continues it would ruin my summer vacation because the virtual school will probably extend to our summer vacation.
In Vietnam, our government forced schools to close because of the risks of the virus spreading. Our school has been giving out assignments and homework online. We had to adapt to the situation and started learning from our homes. Virtual School is not really like regular school but we have to find a way to make it work.
The Coronavirus might not scare me a lot but I still am taking extra careful procedures like I wear a mask and bring hand sanitizer everywhere. Whenever I come back into my house I spray this alcohol thing. Even though it doesn’t alarm me that much I’m still very careful because on the off chance I get it my friends and family are in trouble. If I’m not careful there could be serious consequences.
How do you feel about the Coronavirus? At first, I was very scared of it but then after getting more information, I started to understand that we were all freaking out over something that wasn’t as horrifying as we all thought. I learned that many of the Coronavirus cases were actually mild, most of the symptoms are just like the common cold. I think the scariest part of the Coronavirus is that it’s very hard to tell apart from the flu. So knowing if you actually have it is difficult. There are actually a few cases that turn out to be bad or even critical. Every year we always prepare ourselves for the flu, we become extra careful. We make sure to wash our hands all the time and start cleaning everything we touch. Do you think this could help with the Coronavirus?
I believe that even washing your hands every day regardless of the flu or anything else is still very good. It’s always good to be prepared for anything that comes your way. There is no doubt that the virus can be dangerous, especially for critical cases. Of those patients, 49 percent died, according to the study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control. But for mild cases, the virus is likely “self-limiting,” Dr. Jin said, meaning that symptoms will go away on their own, as with the flu and common cold. I believe if you get the flu shot and have a healthy immune system you should be fine and able to attack it off. Being extra careful helps us be prepared.
@Morgan R
I agree, but when I first heard of it I was not very scared because I knew that we have gotten through past viruses and I'm sure our incredible medical field will figure out how to stop it or prevent symptoms. I do think the scariest part of the Coronavirus is that it is very hard to tell apart from the flu. And we should take care of our sanitary habits. Washing your hands is big. Make sure it is hot soapy water.
While the Coronavirus is a very serious matter and is quite scary, I also feel that it is exaggerated a bit. Out of 81,000 reported cases, there have only been 3,000 deaths. It seems to me that any sort of death, to some, means death for all. I’ve personally seen many people on the internet freaking out and saying “There’s no cure, we are all going to get Corona!” That’s not the case. There are many basic, kindergarten level things you and your family can do to reduce, and maybe even eliminate your chances of getting sick with any illness, including Coronavirus. First off wash your hands. Everyone learned how to properly wash their hands when they were in kindergarten. Wash for 20 seconds, scrubbing the tops and bottoms of your hands, as well as in-between your fingers. Along with washing your hands constantly, try to avoid touching your face. The virus can’t go through skin, so if you have the virus on your hands and you then touch your mouth, you are literally taking the virus exactly where it wants to go. I personally would suggest carrying around a small pocket-sized hand sanitizer and maybe even a pouch of wipes. Try to avoid anyone who may be coughing, sneezing, or showing any other signs of illness. People have died, yes, it is horrible and saddening, but that does not mean you or your loved ones will die. Stop wasting your time spreading mass hysteria and use that time to make sure you and your family stay safe and clean.
Honestly, where I live I feel very safe. Vietnam has quite a good health care system. The Vietnamese government has everything under control, from closing certain borders to litres of hand sanitizer. For the past 4 week students at my school have not been going to class and are working from home. It hasn’t been easy but there are some perks to homeschooling, also known as ‘virtual school’. For example, we can choose to do certain work at times when we feel more motivated than others. The corona virus can be very serious for anyone under 10 and above 65, which means I’m in the clear. I feel that the corona virus its self isn’t as bad as it is described. The only thing my family is concerned about is if Europe closes its borders and my sister can’t get in. She has a Cambodian passport meaning she needs a visa to be able to enter Germany. But otherwise, I have a feeling it will all be over by May, at least I hope so.
In the past month, I’ve been doing virtual school due to the Coronavirus. In Vietnam, there are currently sixteen confirmed cases. Every morning my parents turn on the news and most of the time there is a segment on Corona and how there have been more cases popping up around the world. I don’t have it bad, I don’t live in Wuhan, China. I don’t even think there’s one death in my country. The news makes the virus to be deadly and feared. And then there are the people who say it’s just like the flu or even better. Am I scared, no, I think the best way to defeat this virus is to stop the fake news. I also believe that governments aren’t telling the truth, step one is to always be honest. Scientist believes it will take maybe eight-teen months until they can get a vaccine out. I see and watch fake news being spread everywhere, I don’t even know if information from governments or officials is fully true. I don’t think that anyone can really know the extent of the virus or its growth. Only time and our planet’s growth and strength will tell.
I am not concerned about the coronavirus at all. As a Christian, I believe that God will protect me from all sickness. Secondly, I survived the Ebola outbreaks of the early 2010s and I’m feeling just fine. I do believe that I am prepared if the virus becomes local. I have hand sanitizer at arms-reach at all times. Also, the virus is not anything to worry about since the article proclaims that people have made many recoveries and are doing just fine. The virus will be able to teach and prepare kids in the future that if major outbreak or disaster breaks out we must always be prepared. Moreover, the virus should also be a reason why the medicine industry should be given more appreciation. Their hard work to fight against outbreaks proves their capability to conceal and eliminate yet another virus that comes to America. In conclusion, Americans have nothing to worry about, with our top-of-the-line medicine and education system, this outbreak is nothing more than a practice test.
I’m not that concerned about the corona-virus, but I think the atmosphere forces all of us to be concerned about it. We should be aware of the virus and be careful, but I don’t think we should make too much of a big deal out of it as we are doing right now.
At first, I hated virtual school because I wasn’t used to the system, and it felt like we were assigned more work than what we’d be assigned at school. Now, I’ve experienced over 20 days of virtual school, and I think I prefer the virtual school more than real school. I’ve gotten much better at keeping up with all my assignments, and I like it better at home where I can wake up whenever I want, grab some snacks when I’m hungry, work with my friends and collaborate with peers to get the work done.
I still face the challenges of having to deal with internet issues, having to move to cafes or inevitably handing in assignments late. I do miss school and some of the connections we could have in school with teachers, friends, and some resources, but now I’m starting to prefer virtual school over the real school.
The virus is definitely not a legitimate reason for Asians to be discriminated against and mistreated--it’s not like we asked for the virus. Although I like staying home, I hope the virus dies out soon and doesn’t do further harm to our world and the people.
In around February, I have heard of news sources claiming that this is the peak of the coronavirus and it will only die down from here. Less than a month later, the number of infected has nearly doubled. In a short period, South Korea, Iran, and Italy which two of them are nowhere near China haves seen thousands infected. This for me shows that the coronavirus is not going away anytime soon. With all of my daily feed news consist of coronavirus updates, it is difficult to differentiate real from fake news. Nonetheless, living in Vietnam which directly border China, the preparedness of my country to isolate anyone with the chance of having the virus had worked astonishingly. Vietnam policy to close down all schools from kindergarten to university in the use of virtual school has greatly benefited its battle with the coronavirus. Only 16 people contracted the virus and all have been cured with no new case for weeks. I hope the coronavirus will be a cure so we can resume back to our normal life.
@David D If a cure is to come anytime, I'm assuming the amount of Coronavirus cases will swiftly dissipate. A cure does seem very likely, and the exaggerated panic this disease has caused is certainly going to expatiate the process. Therefore, I am doubtful this disease is here to stay. Many draw the comparison between the Coronavirus and the flu, and I find that to be a good way to put the issue into perspective. It has launched as a slightly worse virus than the flu given the time it has been around, but has physically proven to be quite similar. Therefore, I do not find that treating this disease with such specialty is as helpful as it is harmful. Panic has risen; the stock market is crashing--but is this panic really worth an angry flu?
At the beginning, I wasn't too concerned about the coronavirus. It didn't really affect us, as it was only a temporary closure of our schools. Although the first few days weren't exactly fun, it was fine. Then our "work from home" was extended for 2 more weeks. As the first week finished, I was feeling good. Too good. I had my assignments turned in, my projects updated, and my high school courses filled out. So I began to relax. And continued to relax. This meant I started losing track of some of my assignments. I still had things under control, albeit I was getting lazier and lazier. I started waking up later, at 8.30-9.00. Although I got lazy, I still got my work done on time. This is how I justified it, showing how this "coronavirus" has ruined my good routine and schedule. With this, there is the recurring fear that we're gonna be quarantined in our building, without electricity or supplies. So it is probably a good idea to stock up, but not in a rampant frenzy like some people, as there isn't enough for others, but you have enough for yourself. I don't think that we should start getting too relaxed about this, as it is a virus, and I've never seen a virus outbreak end in a month.
I wouldn’t say that I’m afraid of the coronavirus, because I feel like Vietnam is at the moment pretty safe and our government is doing its best with stopping school and all that. In places like Italy and some parts of China people should be more concerned, since they do have a higher chance of getting the virus.
On one occasion I have experienced people making sure that things are safe, other than our school getting closed. When my friends and I were going to go get lunch at Tokyo deli they made us wait so they could take our temperature and asked us to use hand sanitizer.
Another experience I have had is not having to go to school. At first, it's all nice because you can sleep in and when you finish all your work then you're just done. You don’t have to work for 8 hours as you do at school. Then we got more and more weeks added, on to the 2 weeks we already had, and that's when it started going downhill. You start to miss your friends that you don’t normally hang out with and it starts getting harder to stay on track.
Overall I just want corona to crawl back into its cave where it came from and leave us all alone so we can get back to how our lives were before.
When word got out that the Coronavirus had reached my city, most people were really panicked, due to what they had heard through the media. It’s been roughly a month since this happened and now everybody’s calm about it. In my opinion, people overreacted towards the Coronavirus. People were acting like it was the start of an apocalypse, when it’s only as bad as the flu. People were locking themselves in their houses, and rarely leaving it. I understand why scientists were worried about it, because it’s a strain that they’ve never seen before, but If the average person were to get it, it would just feel like the flu. The only people who had to take extra precaution were the really old, really young, or people who have had lung problems. If you’re scared about getting the virus, wash your hand more often, don’t touch your face, maybe even wear a mask if it makes you feel better.
@Amelina Your response to the Coronavirus is really good because I feel like you have really good information and knew exactly what you were talking about.
I’m not really concerned about the virus right now because it’s not really affecting the area that I live in. I think the fears are overblown because the virus could spread quickly but it doesn’t kill that fast. Even though there’s no medicine, your body can handle and fight back the virus. Most parents say that the Coronavirus is dangerous and always wash your hand, I think that you should always wash your hands regularly to keep germs and viruses away. I think that everyone is overreacting, all you need to do is be aware of your surroundings and try to touch anything, then you should be alright. I’ve heard the virus is starting to appear in Europe and on other continents. Virtual school has been quite hard for the first few days but you’ll get used to it in a while. It’s a little bit harder to ask questions than normal school because you would have to email or set up a google meet with your teacher. I would prefer real school because I can learn while being with my friends but I don’t mind Virtual school. I hope that things get better in the near future so we can study normally again.
Personally, I’m not very concerned about the virus because I don’t know anyone who actually has the virus. Moreover, all 16 cases in Vietnam have been cured which means that even if I do catch the virus, I’d still have a high survival chance. The media is over-exaggerating the seriousness of the illness because despite the rising death toll in countries like South Korea or Italy, it’s only the old people who have died. To add more to that, the death rate is at about 3.4% so we really shouldn’t worry much. Our immune system itself is strong enough to defend our body against the virus. One thing that I absolutely can not wrap my head around is the reason why school and our sporting activities should be held off.
For example, soccer city champs. Considering the amount of schools and players on each team, city champs still should’ve been on because getting our temperatures checked before our matches would ensure that none of us have the virus. More to that, playing under the heat only decreases the chance of the virus getting spread. For MRISA being off, I can see why there’s a higher risk of us catching the virus because we’d be spending time and the host’s house and at airports but in my opinion, cancelling the soccer city champ is totally unnecessary.
We should be aware and cautious but not to the point where we don’t go out at all. Cleaning our hands regularly and disinfecting our surroundings with alcohol should do the job.
When the first few death cases of the coronavirus were reported, I was worried about corona becoming the next black plague outbreak but recently, it isn't as bad as the media overexaggerated. In my opinion, I believe that viruses including corona play a vital natural role in human evolution that just has to run it's natural course until an advance in the medicinal or vaccinal can prevent & combat it. Viruses such as corona, ebola, and zika are just a crucial piece to the development of human society, viruses have many times in the past have knocked humanity onto one knee, but we as a species have always emerged on the other side with our heads higher. Viruses make our society adapt and improve on our hygiene standards. Viruses throughout our history have pushed our advancement in so many different fields; For example, there are so many medicinal that could have only been possible due to viruses, such as colossal breakthroughs such as cures & vaccines but also small but crucial breakthroughs like the importance of washing our hands on regular intervals. I don't think corona is any different.
People kept believing the media for fake news about the virus and based on that to buy tons of masks and tools to protect themselves but in my opinion, I don’t think that corona is that dangerous due to where I live far from where the virus is spreading and it’s actually not necessary to buy that many masks because it can only shield you somewhat of the virus.
The media is over exaggerating the damage that the coronavirus can cause because the death rate is not very high so if you’re sick there’s a low percentage that you will die. The worst thing that happens to me because of coronavirus is that there is Virtual school, It’s really complicated because each individual teacher just post tons of stuff they want us to do but they don’t know that we have homeworks from other class too so sometimes I just felt lost and It’s not as convient as asking the teacher directly instead of emailing them and wait for them to reply. The second worst thing is that I can’t play basketball like I used to because I play basketball everyday in school but because of school temporary disclosure It’s hard to find a good court to play.
I am obviously quite concerned about the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus because the virus has already reached the country I live in, and it has tremendously affected my daily life. It has forced schools from my country, including mine, to temporarily close down and has forced us to do something called virtual school. I don’t really like virtual school because the work given is kinda annoying and it’s my first time doing something like this and I tend to get lazy when doing work at home. Though it is a horrible experience it does allow me to spend more time with my family and enables me to play my video games more frequently. At first, when I heard about the Coronavirus in China I thought it seemed very harmless and I thought it was just another virus that would soon disappear. But, the virus didn’t disappear and it spread all the way to the country I live in(Vietnam) and has created quite an inconvenience for myself and everyone else who lives in Vietnam. Learning has become very hard because virtual school is a new experience for me and of course my grades are slowly dropping. It’s even shut down all the sports facilities(except for the gym) in the area I live in, so I can’t even play basketball or badminton with my friends. I’m sure that once they find a cure, all of this nonsense will go away and I can go back to my normal happy life.
Experts say not to worry so why should I? The biggest reasons people are concerned with the outbreak is because it is new and unknown and the media generally only reveals the extremes on various situations (cough cough* yellow journalism but that’s another conversation). In all honesty if we’re gonna be worried about an illness, we should be worrying about the flu as it has killed about 5 times as many people as the coronavirus in the same amount of time. I’m not saying we shouldn’t take extra precautions to stay healthy, I’m just saying we can all calm down about it, it’s gonna be fine.
Although the Coronavirus is a serious virus, I have mixed feelings about it. It might sound untrue, but my parents have told me that the Coronavirus can only kill people with weak immune systems such as elder people, but can affect all ages. Since Vietnam has an ongoing outbreak, having the chances of getting the Coronavirus is high compared to other countries like the US.
Many people in Vietnam are concerned about the Coronavirus and are stocking up on food supplies, and I think people are exaggerating and it looks as if an apocalypse is about to occur. I’m not saying the Coronavirus is not dangerous. I strongly believe it is a dangerous virus and everyone should be more aware of it. But I just think social media makes it seem like it’s a lot more menacing than it looks, and because of this many people are taking their safety to the extreme.
I’ve also noticed throughout social media that Asians are getting a lot of hate specifically towards Chinese. Many people are becoming racist and are saying a lot of disrespectful things such as “You’re the cause of Corona’’, “We hate you”, “Get away we don’t want you here”, as if It’s like they assume if you look Chinese or if you look Asian, you might be a virus carrier. Not only did the Coronavirus outbreak happen and had killed so many people around the world, it has also caused chaos and racism and hatred between Asians.
In Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) it started with just a few cases. Then schools were shut down and working online began. I personally don’t really mind working online. I think it gives me more time to hangout with friends and a lot more time to focus and get my work done. Some days I have little work and some days I have a lot. I think that the key for virtual school to be good is to do all your work and get it done on time.
After a few weeks the cases in Vietnam started to increase. At first all my friends and my parents were freaking out but now people have gotten used to it and it is not so scary. When I go outside and ride my bike or go to the mall I don’t think about it. In Vietnam we hear more on the news about other countries but not much about ours. I truly think that the news really over exaggerates and makes people more scared than they should be.
I believe that even if I get the virus I could overcome it because I have a strong immune system and am at a good age. Overall I think that COVID-19 is overly talked about and working online is not as bad as some people think, that is if you get your work done.
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@Cade Oh nice!
The coronavirus spreading has frightened many people across the world, and now is starting to stress out americans. The virus should frighten people, because of how fast it is spreading. While other viruses have spread quickly the coronavirus so far has been spread even more quickly than other viruses such as the flu.Three thousand people have been killed due to this rapid moving virus. Medical professionals are telling people not to worry, but how are we not to worry when everyday the news tells us there are more people more places affected. Different places are closing schools just to make sure that nobody else gets in, especially kids. Schools are starting to send out information and what will happen if the coronovisse ends up in their school. In some places where the virus has gotten really bad Doctors are telling schools to do internet school rather than public school. Many schools have sent home letters telling parents to take extra care of making sure their kids wash their hands throughout the day. Another issue that is a concern is the shortage of doctors and nurses when the coronavirus does start spreading more and more in america.With the spread of the coronavirus so quickly and there as of right now not being a cure, it is only a matter of time before it spreads into all the states. Hopefully medical professionals are able to create a medication for this life taking illness before it takes more people.
@Jocelyn Shelby
I don't totally agree with what your saying here. Although you are right that the corona virus is dangerous and spreads very quickly, you should be as worried as you are saying. The virus has not spread to the extent to what you think. Although it infects quickly and has killed peoplle, it is not something that spreads infinitly and you just will die from. Most people do not die and recover. Your immune system and medical professionals that are working to help people who contract it allow lots and lots of people to survive. The media makes it sound much more dangerous than it is and there are lots of news stories that are published prematurely or with a misleading headline. For example, I recently read a news story that said that a man from a nearby town had been quarentined because of the corna virus. I only then found out later after reading the entire article that he had just thought he had the virus after returning from his vacation. He never had it in the first place. You spreading the news like this makes it sound far more dangerous than it is and inclines people to search it up online and results in the news companies getting more clicks on their news headlines. It is still important to give out your opinion on the topic, but make sure you dont fear monger with the information. My main point is, research the corona virus and find out how fast it really spreads. It is important to stay informed instead of pushing forward what the media tells you.
I am not too concerned about the coronavirus. It's something that's in the back of my mind. I think many people are overreacting, the coronavirus is no more deadly than the flu and nobody seems to be too concerned about that. I understand it is still a big threat and concern especially considering it is now in the United States. But, I think the majority of people's concerns are coming from the hype that the media is giving it. So while it is something to be aware and cautious of I don't think at the moment there is need to panic.
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@Bailey Hughes, She makes a good point but also the death rate of coronavirus is extremely high and there is no cure for the coronavirus at the moment making it more deadly but social media is hyping it up making everyone worry more than should but this also is a very big topic to talk about when it is affecting peoples health
@Bailey Hughes
I can see where you are coming from concerning how the flu has killed more than the Coronavirus has yet to. Have you considered that people aren’t scared of the flu, the much higher overall death toll aside, because there are known medications to help treat, and prevent the flu? Last I heard there were no known medications that help prevent or even slow down the Coronavirus, but of course, I could just not be up-to-date. While I do still agree with you that many people are overreacting, I still feel it’s not necessarily something to completely disregard because it is still serious in some aspects. I’ve seen many people, like yourself, expressing this very same concern. Of course, everyone is allowed to have their own opinions, I just couldn’t help but put mine out there as well. I don't mean to disrespect you or your opinion in any way, at all.
@Bailey Hughes I see exactly what you're saying. The internet is making it such a huge thing, which yes, it's a big deal, but the internet makes up rumors and assumes things about the virus that may scare people. I think we do need to be concerned and take precautions because although it isn't as bad as some people make it out to be, it is still not something we want to catch and even have to possibly be quarantined for.
At first I, like many others was pretty freaked out about the corona virus outbreak, fearing that it’d be like the next plage and kill us all. This extreme fear continued for a few days -accompanied by constant hand washing- until I was in the car with my mom one day and we heard about the corona virus on the news. The news caster said the role viruses play in human society is more of a mental threat than it is a physical threat. Viruses spread fear more than death, scattering humans and turning one against another. In reality the death rate of the corona virus is a slim 2% with most of them being old people with already declining health. In the end the virus is more of a mental test than a physical, so I’m doing my best to avoid the fear associated with the outbreak.
@Augie Zucchero Like Augie, I too was freaked out about the corona virus outbreak. More recently the virus has finally made it’s way to the United States. This news has definitely scared me and changed the way I carry myself throughout the day. I find myself drinking more and more water everyday and cleaning my hands/using hand sanitizer more often. They have been stressing hygiene more than ever at school, which is directly related to corona. Although the death rate of corona is very low, I still feel the need to isolate and protect myself at all costs.
I live in Philadelphia and I'm not too worried about the coronavirus where I live. No one has been affected yet, though that doesn't mean no one WILL be affected. I'm more worried about family like my brother who is living in New York. With the 6 confirmed cases of the virus there, I'm getting a bit worried. They also happen to be where my brother works too, in Manhattan. However, I'm even more worried about relatives in China, which is pretty much where all of my extended family lives. I haven't followed the situation in China but I do know that tens of thousands of people are getting infected there.
If you think I'm being overdramatic, you should see my mom. She won't let me close to her just because I have a cough. To me, this seems to be taking it a bit too far especially since there's no cases confirmed in Philly yet.
I live in Philadelphia and I'm not too worried about the coronavirus where I live. No one has been affected yet, though that doesn't mean no one WILL be affected. I'm more worried about family like my brother who is living in New York. With the 6 confirmed cases of the virus there, I'm getting a bit worried. They also happen to be where my brother works too, in Manhattan. However, I'm even more worried about relatives in China, which is pretty much where all of my extended family lives. I haven't followed the situation in China but I do know that tens of thousands of people are getting infected there.
If you think I'm being overdramatic, you should see my mom. She won't let me close to her just because I have a cough. To me, this seems to be taking it a bit too far especially since there's no cases confirmed in Philly yet.
As the new coronavirus has taken over China and spread throughout the rest of the world, the toll of the outbreak has instigated anxiety and countries are taking further precautions with the disease. Although there is a great amount of cases and deaths reported, health and government officials have given out warnings in the tone of reassurance. Medical experts assured the community in hopes to create an understanding of avoiding global panic and the major possibility of human-to-human transmission. This reassuring tone may cause people to view the virus as disconcerting. It may not be a concern within Arkansas, but it is a concern among other states that have been hit with the epidemic. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, we do know that the symptoms are similar to the flu and pneumonia; however, health officials do not know the origin of the virus or of a vaccine that could prevent it. With this understanding, people should be aware of the epidemic since it can cause misunderstandings from the little we know of it.
I live in Vietnam, where there have only been sixteen total cases of coronavirus, and none recently. Despite this, all schools have been closed for over a month now, but nothing significant has happened. Most students have off during this time, but some schools like mine decided to go virtual. There’s not much difference really other than the fact that you can wake up at 9, and no one will notice. However, I don’t understand why other countries are labeling Vietnam as a high risk. Vietnam has not had a single death from coronavirus, all 16 cases were cured. No one says the US is a high risk, yet the US has 52 deaths and almost 10 times as many cases. Aside from Korea and some of Japan, coronavirus seems to have moved on. Moving on to Europe and the US.
Part 2
As a minority, I am not necessarily worried about the coronavirus spreading among people in Arkansas as I am with the common flu, but I am concerned about the misconceptions that are spreading just as fast as the virus. One of the misconceptions being the Asian xenophobia. Asian xenophobia has become a normalized reaction towards Asians being the disease carriers ever since the first case of the virus originated in the Wuhan city of Hubei Province. In late January, in an attempt to comfort the student body, the student health center at UC Berkeley posted a list of the common reactions which included xenophobia but was defined as “fears about interacting with those who might be from Asia and guilt about those feelings.” Since the Asian xenophobia is spreading, racist acts towards Asians have frequently appeared such as people claiming the idea that Asians harbor diseases through their “bad eating habits of strange foods.” As a result, these acts of xenophobia not only created misconceptions of the disease but has further promoted racial profiling and insinuated a bad reputation on Asian culture.Therefore, people should be concerned over the virus due to how little we know of it or we will further cause global panic and misconceptions of the disease.
Final Draft (revised and improved)
The Corona virus has taken a toll on everyone's life, I personally am not freaking out over the whole situation, I believe if you just take precautions and don't do anything too out of the blue then your safe. My parents are quite freaked out over this, telling me and my brother new statistics from around the world everyday. But all I’m concerned about is when school is going to start again. Being at home is hard as you basically stare at your computer screen all day and once in a while get up to maybe write a writing prompt or do an art project, I prefer normal school and doing activities. I can see why my school is taking precautions but it can really affect some of the older kids since they have tests and have to learn all the concepts by themselves. It’s also really hard to focus when you're working by yourself, trying not to switch to a game or youtube.
A few days before coronavirus dominated the news I watched a documentary on the plague, and its effect in England. To sum it up rats, unsanitary conditions, strange concoctions, the time period, and failing quarantine tactics were the cause for its historic remembrance. I’m aware that coronavirus is not as serious or foul as the plague, but it is affecting the world and something I (hope) to be able to look back on.
From keeping up with the news, what mainly resonates with me today was how the documentary divided the cases of deaths throughout the seasons and months.This directly relates to the article as it lists the rising deaths in China and those infected with the disease worldwide. I feel as if I am watching a similar documentary.
The most frightening and perhaps medieval thing to come from the plague was how they quarantined the ill. If an individual showed signs of the disease, the individual and and their family would be locked into their house. Their door would be locked with a chain, slashed with a red X and a guard would stand watch, to prevent escapes. The infected and their families would remain in their house for a period of weeks, which led to the end of many lives. This relates to the article when it mentions that travelers returning from China should ”self-quarantine”. From this it is astonishing to see the change in hostility. In the plague you had no choice, while today you are relatively free.
As a student who attends school daily, I am concerned. However, I know that the flu is just as great of a risk and we aren’t fearing that like this virus. The flu has killed more people however the huge public reaction still makes me worried that me and everyone surrounding me is at risk.
@Caeley
In my opinion the media has over exaggerated the Corona Virus and that if anything people should be talking about the Flu. The Flu has killed more people in the U.S. than the Corona Virus has all over the world. The reason that the Corona Virus is considered to be as bad as it is, is because the media has scared everyone with all these scary ideas and facts.
The coronavirus is the latest global news story. It has spread from China to all around the world. I think the coronavirus is a concern as it is a threat to public health, yet I am not concerned with it as a threat to my own life. To me, the coronavirus is similar to the flu which is a seasonal concern. I have gotten news about the coronavirus through the news and the internet which is clear and accurate. In our school, the health office has taken extra precautions in reminding members to consistently and properly wash their hands. They will continue to watch for any cases near by or even in our building. As someone who is constantly washing their hands, I will continue to wash my hands and continue to be aware of the germs and potentially sickness that is constantly surrounding me, especially in a school environment.
The Coronavirus should not be taken lightly in this country or around the world. It is extremely contagious and while the chances of death are low, they are not none. The chances of surviving the virus on average is 98-97%, making people feel pretty good about their chances and not want to care about it. However, just because death rates are relatively low, does not make the virus not deadly. Once the amount of people infected reaches the thousands, hundred thousands, and millions, the death number will not look low. Based on the way it is spreading now, there is no telling just how many people could get infected around this country.
Now that we are beginning to see that this virus is very serious, we can begin to form strategies on how to protect the most people and how we will be able to do daily functions if it is in our town. The idea to start virtual schools to protect students and to try to improve medical facilities in certain cities is a step in the right direction. As more and more people get infected around the country, I believe that we will begin to think harder on ways to help the communities we live in. However, I think that planning ahead is the best way to deal with it.
This virus is not going away anytime soon, as the medicine to prevent it must still be invented and tested before finally being given to the public. A process which could take over a year. Until then we must think of creative ways to help our communities deal with what seems inevitable.
My school has never warned about what would happen if the Coronavirus erupted in North America. I would imagine they would hold off as long as they can to close the schools, but I can’t be sure because as I’ve said, they’ve never talked about it. This is getting worrisome considering there’s been a man in Wake County who tested positive. If the virus doesn’t die out when it gets hotter, then it would tamper with finals. There could be a chance that outbreaks happen in these closed off rooms since students are stuck for 4 hours in a confined space. That's also just the problem with school in general. Hundreds of people confined together for hours on end. I get now how the virus spreads so easily. We basically hand it easy breeding grounds to grow and don’t do anything to stop it.
Another big issue is the “mild symptoms” that some think won’t be a problem with our clean, effective hospitals. The reason I think this isn’t something to scoff about is whoever’s infected will live long enough to spread the disease to dozens if not hundreds of other people. At least if someone had an immediate reaction to the disease, it would be easier to contain because officials would know who has it. The Coronavirus can hide inside someone without showing any symptoms. This gives the infected all the time they need to pass it along to their friends, classmates, and family. That’s why I’m crossing my fingers that the warm weather gets here abnormally sooner than it usually does.
My concern regarding the coronavirus is not very high. I have faith in the scientists and doctors studying this virus and believe they will find a cure for it. There is only a very small number of deaths from this virus, and more people have died from the flu, which is much more common. Many people in the US have false ideas about this virus. These lies are a result of social media spreading false stories and facts about it and society is in an age where they believe anything they might read online. Instead of creating memes and jokes about the coronavirus, individuals could create true and factual social media posts about how to stay healthy and avoid getting sick. The spread of false ideas has been a major affect on how society views the coronavirus.
My concern regarding the coronavirus is not very high. I have faith in the scientists and doctors studying this virus and believe they will find a cure for it. There is only a very small number of deaths from this virus, and more people have died from the flu, which is much more common. Many people in the US have false ideas about this virus. These lies are a result of social media spreading false stories and facts about it and society is in an age where they believe anything they might read online. Instead of creating memes and jokes about the coronavirus, individuals could create true and factual social media posts about how to stay healthy and avoid getting sick. The spread of false ideas has been a major affect on how society views the coronavirus.
I am not very concerned with the coronavirus. It has only killed 11 people in the US. More people have survived the virus than have been killed. I just the recent flu season, around 20,000 people have died. People should be more concerned with the flu than the coronavirus, and people aren't concerned with the flu. It is just another thing that the media and news hyped up to get more attention.
I am personally not very concerned about the coronavirus at the moment. It has been spreading but there are not many cases in the US compared to other areas of the world and even less in Illinois. Additionally there are more recoveries from the coronavirus than deaths and I feel like people are only focusing on the deaths not the equally important amount of recoveries. I do feel bad for the areas that have large coronavirus outbreaks because everyone has to live with the fear of possibly catching it.
I think we shouldn’t be too concerned about the spread of the coronavirus. As long as people keep up with their hygiene, and even practicing extra hygiene such as washing your hands more often —especially before consuming food or after touching a dirty surface— and coughing/sneezing into your elbow or a tissue and immediately disposing of the tissue. Did you know that influenza (the flu) is more contagious that the coronavirus? Yes, this viral outbreak is concerning, but not to the point where we need to isolate ourselves from the world or cancel classes. If someone is sick or not feeling well, they should just stay home until they get better to decrease the risk of spreading their illness to other people. People could take precautions to decrease the likelihood of getting any sort of disease—and prevent the spread of germs in general— by even just using hand sanitizer more often. Like medical experts have said, “the virus can be deadly, but the vast majority of people infected have survived and made full recoveries.” If someone in a school is infected, it would be a good idea to shut down the school for a week or two and students could continue doing school work from home. This strategy would especially work for schools that have iPads or their work is online, so the teachers can assign the students things to do while they are at home.
As the disease increasingly spreads known as the Coronavirus many wonder if they are next or what our population will consist of at the end of this pandemic. With common symptoms including fever, cough or even shortness of breath it is frightening to think these frequently inherited symptoms can enrapture your body this negatively. In past experiences these symptoms have not been taken into a level of severity as it’s regarded today. This does not mean we should be complacent about the likely impact of the coronavirus but should take more appropriate measures to further prevent the increasingly high number of deaths from becoming more infectious. Treatments including vaccines for this virus appear nonexistent and crucially the immunity within our population has not obtained the strength to fight off this pandemic. Many are sanitizing their hands more and being far more alert about surfaces they touch and places they travel. Airlines are reducing service or outright canceling flights to mainland China until the virus is under control. This means that sanitation must be implemented regularly in order to try and stop this ineffectual spread that is killing off many.
Personally, I am not very concerned about the coronavirus in regard to my health. Evidence has shown that the virus has lower death rates for younger generations, putting me at less risk. This being said, I am concerned for my older family members living in other parts of the world such as London and Mumbai. Not only is this disease threatening to health, it also has taken a large toll on the world’s economy. The United States depends on its trade with China, and a virus like this has diminished the trade. This has caused the stock market to fall, and can continue to fall if the virus keeps spreading. I don’t think that schools in America should close down, unless the virus gets worse, because students in schools are at a lower risk than older people anyways. Hopefully as the weather gets warmer, this virus can die out and our world can revert back to normal.
As with any such outbreak of disease there is always that abstract sense of fear that grips a population, thoughts of what could, and what will happen is something that many people, myself included, have some amount of stress for. However, with that being said, I am not particularly afraid of the coronavirus. Whether my community will suffer from COVID-19 or not is something that I am probably not going to worry myself thinking about for some time. Why stress over something I can’t prevent? No, what really interests me about the coronavirus is the way that this highly infectious disease will force the governments of the world to tests the strength of their anti-pandemic efforts, as well as show how different countries all respond to the growing threat of the coronavirus. This is what most people should be focusing on, because this presents the people an opportunity to help fix and improve upon a countries emergency response by helping the pick who and what policies they should vote for.
Although I don’t think the coronavirus is a threat to my own life, I am still worried about how it is being handled and how it is affecting others. When it spreads throughout my area I will be concerned for my grandma and all the other vulnerable people’s safety. Many have downplayed the seriousness of the illness because they are young and healthy, but with a two percent mortality rate, the coronavirus could potentially kill many times more people than a common flu, which it has been compared to. On the other hand, it is also disturbing to see how many people are panicking over it and what measures are being considered to stop it. Personally, I see no benefit to a quarantine, as the virus will likely spread anyways, and the possible effects of an abrupt stop to our daily lives could have consequences even worse than those of the actual illness. It seems to me that the way the coronavirus has been covered by the media and the way our government and world governments have addressed the issue have thrown masses into a frenzied panic. On the other hand, there are many people, especially in the United States, who can’t or won’t take time off of work if infected. I believe we should all stay calm and avoid chaos, but still take basic precautions to avoid facilitating the disease’s spread, such as washing our hands and if sick, avoiding crowds. There are dangers to both minimizing the seriousness of the situation and overreacting to it in an anarchic manner.
The Coronavirus has taken the world by storm in recent weeks. It has been taking over social media and news outlets. I honestly don’t think kids like me should be worried about the virus. It’s victims have either been extremely young or old, eating the virus is most dangerous to people with weak immune systems that can’t exactly fight off the virus. I am more annoyed then worried about the virus. I look at it as another Ebola, even though Ebola was a lot more serious, the Coronavirus has similarities to Ebola in the respect that it is extremely feared by the public and it has extreme attention while it’s the hot topic, but I believe just like Ebola, when the Coronavirus is said and done it will be completely forgotten by society. And the main reason I see it as extremely annoying is because of the political involvement in the virus. Recent presidential candidates have blasted YouTube and other social media platforms with adds, most of them voicing their opinions on the Coronavirus and trying to use it as another link to getting more votes. I think the state we are at today with all this technology and great medical care, the Coronavirus is nothing to really worry about. I’m honestly just ready for it to be over with!
To be honest I’m not especially concerned about Coronavirus. My parents boarded a flight this week and I didn’t even think twice about them contracting the disease and my friends and I send each other news articles about it all the time because we’re interested. I think the only reason it is creating such a panic is because it is so new. Once scientists have the resources and information to help deal with it, in my opinion it won’t be anymore concerning than the flu. After all, the US made it through Ebola so another pandemic was bound to present itself eventually.
Personally- I’m not worried about the coronavirus in the slightest. While my mom has been stocking up on hand sanitizer, canned food, and face masks acting like we won’t be able to leave the house, I’m just living my life normally. While this strand coronavirus is worse than most in the past, being young and healthy if I did catch it I feel like I’d make a full recovery. This virus is scary if you have little kids or if you’re an elderly person, but aren’t all diseases dangerous for those groups of people? While thousands have dies from this virus, the vast majority- or possibly all- were not teenagers and not in the US, and the death rate is still only about 3%. While the virus is nothing to take lightly, and small precautions can still be made, I don’t think coronavirus is anything to freak out about, and I personally am not concerned.
The so-called new found epidemic Coronavirus is perceived to have a massive outbreak in the near future; however, the rate in which it is spreading world-wide, and the age group it targets, limits the chances of the virus becoming a pandemic which would then become severely alarming. Due to the low immune system of elderly people and newborns, the virus attacks their weak system, which makes them more susceptible to the virus and it becomes lethal. Furthermore, the concern of shutting down schools, especially in the United States, is unnecessary when growing teens and preteens are much less likely to be diagnosed. To be concerned about the matter and it impacting everyday conditions is understandable, except for when it hurts the education and economic status of the American people. For instance, the Black plague wiped out up to 200 million people, while corona has only been diagnosed to some 81,000. The ability for people around the world today to avoid the virus is much easier than hundreds of years ago. Many gaps are left open, currently, and the virus is not brand new, so therefore I would not be concerned until it touches the millions.
Despite the global outbreaks across China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and Sourth Korea, I am not very concerned about the Coronavirus. Throughout history, we have seen many pandemics such as The Black Death, HIV, Flu, and SARS. SARS was thought to originate in the Guangdong province of southern China in 2002 and was a pandemic that swept the globe and caused fear around the world. I am not fearful of the Coronavirus because I feel that with the CDC and WHO are very efficient in keeping the world and citizens notified of outbreaks, their causes, and how to avoid contracting these diseases and viruses. I feel that China did not control or take the appropriate precautions to stop the Coronavirus and I also believe that they did not inform the public in time for anything to be done. I believe that through this, they caused fear and panic rather than organization and prevention. I feel that the U.S. has done well in the past to inform the public in ways of avoiding and contracting various viruses. This Coronavirus is new and scientists continue to find changes and discrepancies in their original perception of the virus; however, I am confident in our health organizations and the abilities of those working to find a cure or prevention for this virus. We have stopped viruses much worse than this before; therefore, I am hopeful that as we continue to gain information and knowledge that the government continues to inform and prevent from fear and spread of the Coronavirus.
Every single day another update comes up on the coronavirus that it is widely spreading in the blink of an eye. Many people think the coronavirus is just a virus over the screen. People are not aware of this situation because it hasn’t happened right in front of their eyes. To be honest, I was not aware of this situation until the environment around me changed. People wearing masks, restaurants measuring temperatures, and masks and hand sanitizers running out of stock are just some examples of why I am more aware of this situation than before.
Probably the most obvious change that has happened because of this situation is that students are staying home and learning virtually. During the past weeks of virtual school, it was confusing at first because of the whole new system. However, I got used to the system and figured out how to manage my time. This virus and situation have brought us some sad news but I definitely don’t think this is an excuse to be judge other people and be racists.
If we’re being honest, I’m not really concerned about coronavirus at all. The modern technology and medical resources in the US means that the virus has a very low death rate and is mostly only deadly to the elderly. While it still is a problem and I believe that it will spread across the country, I have confidence that modern medicine will prevent the coronavirus from having a high death toll. My sister told me that she saw someone say that within the next few months, around 70% of us will have contracted the coronavirus. Maybe I’m just desensitized by the media but I don’t think it will be anything more than a flu outbreak.
I understand why people are concerned, but honestly I’m not that scared. I think that the fact that it is spreading so quickly is scary, but also it’s new. We are all focused on it because we don’t know what it really will do, yes people are dying but people are also dying from the flu. Another factor that people aren’t taking into consideration is that it really only kills little kids and elderly people, and as sad as that is it is easier to contain them and keep them from getting infected than keeping everyone from catching it. People who have had it say that bronchitis is worse than the corona virus. Also doctors are working very hard to figure out a solution, and I trust that they will. I honestly don’t think it’s that big of a deal and I trust that it will work itself out.
I’m very concerned that I feel that in the coming months everyone will have to quarantine themselves within their own homes for a about a month or so I’d say. This problem is 100 percent going to be a pandemic I believe and If don’t start focusing on this as our top priority then we might have another “Black Death”. Although I am scared, I am confident in our healthcare system and the technology we have to counteract COVID19. Currently, the only people dying from it are people with weak immune systems like older people. I will be safe if I happen to get it because my immune system is healthy and working well. I am doing my part in stopping the possible spread of the disease by washing my hands everywhere I go and sanitizing them so overall I feel better knowing that I’m safe in that way. Also in the area that I’m in there is only a few like five cases so it’s not too concerning right now but once, it gets to the 100s in my area I’m staying home. But if there are cases in the double digits then schools will be canceled. I’m not nervous about making up school days because I’m a senior and I don’t need to make up days.
I am honestly not that concerned about the coronavirus. I feel like many people just need to stay home and recover from the virus versus going about their day which is ho w its spreads so easily. With the modern medicine we have today and the very low death rate, Corona just isn't that intimidating to me. While I am not very concerned with the virus I would still definitely take it seriously. People who are diagnosed must follow proper procedures to getting healthy.
I’m concerned about the Coronavirus because it is the new kind of dangerous virus affecting people’s respiratory systems that haven’t had any vaccines or medicine to treat it yet. Now Coronavirus is spreading over the world and bringing a big fear to the globe.
Scientists have not yet found vaccines or medicine for this disease and all we know right now is that this is a type of flu. The way to not get infected is to wear a mask and to have a good immune system. My family owns a pharmacy company and we are extra careful about the virus. We packed food and supplies just in case. In HCMC, students are expected to stay home and study until the 8th of March. Because of this, our family minimizes the time being outside and interacting with people.
More than sixty countries have had people infected so far. Because the coronavirus is getting stronger, the government told all of the students in HCMC to stay home. Our academic learning moved to virtual school. It is confusing at first, but we get used to it since my family owns a pharmacy company, they minimized the time that I’m outside. So I needed to stay indoor and learn alone. It’s kind of boring and it feels like teachers are giving more work at home than at school. But at home, we sit in one spot and learn so it saves a lot of time, like the time needed to transfer between classes.
Corona hit Mainland China all of a sudden, with no one knowing, people start to get infected. One by one they start to get the common colds and even more severe diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Corona Virus can be transmitted from animals to humans, so that means it’s a zoonotic disease. People start to be more concerned about this problem, so they start to protect themselves by wearing a mask when they go outside or even try to not go outside a lot.
I live in Vietnam, and Vietnam is really close to Mainland China, so we’re one of the countries that are worrying more, but that doesn’t matter anymore, because Corona is now worldwide. I start to read the news more, so I could understand what’s going on in the world. Many schools worldwide are closed to help the students by letting them stay home. Last week, my family and I went to the beach and had fun, we swam and eat at restaurants without worrying because of some places such as the beach I went to, COVID-19 isn’t spreading a lot or there aren’t any people infected yet at that area. Last week, my family and I went to the beach and had fun, we swam and eat at restaurants without worrying because of some places such as the beach I went to, COVID-19 isn’t spreading a lot or there aren’t any cases people being infected yet. From now, you should clean your hand, reduce going outside, and try to not touch any animals outside your house and clean your pets wisely too.
The coronavirus, now doesn’t that sound intriguing? The coronavirus has affected so many of us as of today and I don’t think it’s stopping anytime soon. So many people are quickly heading out in need of masks or hand sanitizer to keep themselves safe from the virus, but is it really worth the freakout? From Wuhan, it had spread to so many countries like Korea, Italy, Vietnam, Japan, etc. Based on what I’ve heard so far, about 90 thousand people are infected by the coronavirus and the death rate is now 3.4%. To be honest, that actually does sound surprising, so after hearing that everyone would presumably try to wash their hands more and stay as healthy as possible.
The coronavirus has led me to one of my most hated thing to do on earth, virtual school. The virtual school has made me more tired, lazier, and procrastinate a lot more than usual. “Why don’t you try those hacks on procrastination that you learned in 7th grade?” Well, that doesn’t really work that well on me because I’m used to the consequences and I just want to stop caring about the things I just don’t like. Learning at home may sound fun and interesting, but trust me, it’s really tough if you’re used to working at school. At home, no one watches over me, and I lose track of time very very easily. It’s been 5 weeks and honestly, it’s just getting worst and worst every day. That’s why I’m saying no to virtual school.
For me, I am not really concerned with the coronavirus. This is because my family believes that the spread of the virus is under control. There haven’t been any new cases of the virus in Vietnam. Since I’m Chinese when I go outside to play with my friends. I do feel a bit judged by strangers. People would say that it was our fault as Chinese that the coronavirus has spread. People would also expect an apology from us. I feel like people are definitely getting false information about coronavirus, thus making them think the way they do as to the coronavirus.
During these weeks of virtual school, it has been a challenge for me to get into the mindset of working. This is because I play games for more than 8 hours a day. Then when I have to do homework for that day, I get a bit lazy and procrastinate. So its kinda hard for me to get into the mindset of working and doing my homework. This then becomes a distraction for me to finish my homework. I feel like I would prefer school than this because I can interact more with my friends and teachers. The school would also be so much more interesting than staying at home and being on the internet.
@Dan
I agree with you because our families have similar views on the virus. Although my family is taking precautions (airborne, washing hands, etc.), I do believe in our healthcare system. I will say I am a bit concerned by the lack of information we have on the virus and the way it is spreading, but our schools have not shut down yet and most citizens are going about their daily lives. I think that the communities in North Carolina will start taking more precautions due to the first case found yesterday in the state. I hope that this virus will not have substantial impacts and will be treated and eliminated quickly.
Personally, I think that the coronavirus outbreak is overexaggerated by the media and the general public. We should all still pay attention and be somewhat alert about the virus, but the panic that is happening is unnecessary. The streets of Ho Chi Minh City (or at least what I have seen) are almost empty and the few people that are outside are probably wearing face masks. My parents are also paranoid and are forcing me to wear face masks, but I don’t think this is necessary or truly helpful. There have been few reported cases here in Vietnam and it doesn’t seem likely that the numbers will rise massively, especially at this stage of the outbreak.
Vietnam has done a great job at preventing the spread of the disease here, as shown by the low case count based on the time our first case was reported. Healthcare in Vietnam isn’t optimal but we have done very well at containing the infection.
Schools here have been shut down for a bit over a month as well and most processes are running a lot slower than usual. I think the economic effects of the outbreak will be larger than anything else that the virus causes. The stock market in the US is plummeting and most social functions have slowed down considerably for a period in countries hit by the outbreak (mainly China). This will lead to many lost hours of productivity as well as a huge economic regression for a few months.
@Tin Tin people can get paranoid and overexaggerate things, but i think it's good to react rapidly. Here in mexico the people didn't care because they thought that nothing bad will occur with only 1 case and now we have more than 1, we have many. Mexico didn't have a good reaction with this but your country did, and now i don't now what is going to happen.
My father and my mother are doctors and i usually get scared when i start thinking that they are risking their lives at their jobs. They have already passed through an epidemic, but i was a little girl when that happened; my point is that you should be glad that your country managed the situation in the right way.
Because of the recent Coronavirus outbreak, most schools in Vietnam have closed and shifted to online school. To be honest, I actually really miss my school SSIS, I miss everything from the teachers to that normal life we are used to having. Online school also sucks, we have tons of confusing assignments handed to us everyday that take forever to finish. In my opinion the teachers should just take it easy on us, not make us do tons of assignments everyday and make us do things that are hard to complete. For example, many of the teachers give us assignments we have never learned before and expect us to complete them, other teachers make it rather hard to catch up by making things too complicated from having to do this and then do that which I don’t see why too because of how useless it is.
The virus is also kinda overrated, I know many people are dying world wide but most of the people who lose their lives are either really young, have already underlying diseases or they are very old. On social media everyday, I see racist jokes about asians or a asian person being beaten up because they apparently have the virus”. For example, in a San Francisco neighborhood, an elderly asian man was being verbally and physically abused by a group of people. If they have the virus, why are you touching them when you clearly know that it’s very easy to contract the virus.
@Billy
I can’t imagine having all online classes, I can barely keep up with one. Every week I find myself a few days behind with the module and by the day it’s due I am rushing to finish it.
I am also not that concerned about the virus, yet. In the U.S the only people that have died so far, have been elderly people that were already unwell. It also has not been reported in all the states, but my state declared one case yesterday. The article mentions the potential of schools closing in the U.S. if the virus grows. Two years ago my district was only off for a month from Hurricane Florence, and it messed up the whole curriculum and added school days to the year. I hope this won’t happen with the virus.
The coronavirus has led my school to transition to virtual school. For the past month, I have been capable of doing online/virtual school learning. However, the first 2 weeks were not the best because I was overwhelmed and confused about what we were supposed to do. We had to look at slideshows our teachers have made for us, look at the assignments that we needed to complete, and had to manage our time efficiently. It was difficult for me to manage my own time and make my own daily schedule because while we were at school, we had a specific routine, while at home, we do not, meaning we have to manage everything ourselves.
However, as we did more and more virtual school, I got used to the pattern and now I am proficient at doing my homework on time. I am capable of making my own schedule every day and managing my time effectively. This has allowed me to enjoy virtual school, even though I truly miss my friends and teachers. Even though I am enjoying virtual school, I do hope that we can go back to school, since if we go back to school, it means that the coronavirus has been settled and it is not a big of an issue.
There are very few serious things that I talk to my parents about but the one big topic of discussion that has been a recurrence in our conversations is the coronavirus. I wasn't ever too concerned about it until very recently when people who I knew, their work, just going up to DC or Florida, was canceled because they are afraid that traveling will expose them to the rapidly spreading disease. I personally didn't think that it would be a problem in the U.S because we have all of these high tech medical gadgets that can create a cure for everything, or so I thought. As of right now it doesn't seem like scientists are going to come up with a cure anytime soon.
Getting the coronavirus seems like something that is just eventually going to happen. More people are talking about it, mostly as a joke, but it keeps me thinking, am I actually going to get this disease? And what will happen to me if I do?
@Ellen Phillips I am not extremely concerned about the coronavirus right now, but I have started to feel a little more aware of the threat ever since it has spread to my state. Considering that there have been diagnosis of the virus just two hours away from where I live is very concerning. Knowing that the disease has been able to spread from China to the U.S, I can’t imagine how fast it is going to spread to where I live.
Like you, I didn’t expect the disease to continue to spread so much in the United States because of how technologically and medically advanced our country is. We’ve seen epidemics like this in our history and it has had a tremendous impact on society. My hope is that we are able to find a cure and are able to isolate this disease so that it doesn't become something that we aren’t able to control anymore.
Have you ever thought about the new coronavirus as a deadly, and fatal disease? In my opinion, I feel like the coronavirus is overblown. Comparing it to the common flu, which thousands of people die from it every year, the coronavirus has a relatively high cure rate. However, the reason why I believe that other people see the coronavirus as a highly dangerous disease is that the cure hasn't been found yet, and due to its contagiousness.
In many news articles, it was proven that the pandemic could spread just from staying 10 meters apart from a person. News can be biased - especially the ones trying to defend their country. What I mean by this is that there is a rumor that the coronavirus was leaked from a virology lab in Wuhan, but the Chinese government made up a different story of how it was spread to cover up the mistake.
To reduce the chances of us getting the virus, the Vietnamese government first restrained us from going to school, and our school has done its best to adapt to this situation by setting up a virtual school system where teachers and students could study and have classes while at home.
I think that the way the Vietnamese government responded to this sudden outbreak is a very smart one and that even though the virtual school system might be a hassle to some people, we should try our best to endure it to prevent further spreading of the pandemic.
As everyone knows, the Coronavirus outbreak started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. At first, it wasn’t known worldwide however in a short amount of time, it spread quickly due to many infected people traveling.
In order to keep everyone safe and prevent the virus from spreading, we stopped going to school and transferred to online school. Online school started a little bit rough for me because I wasn’t used to it and we were in the middle of a project and suddenly we had to do it at home.
I was kind of overwhelmed at first since we didn’t really have a schedule as we did at school, where we actually went around to our classes. I was easily distracted at home and I didn’t have the motivation to set up an actual schedule. I had easy access to my phone and social media so it caused me to procrastinate a lot. In the first few weeks, I needed to get used to checking the teacher’s announcement and assignment’s due date. I had a lot of things I didn’t understand, but I was not the only one so I started asking my friends about it. Somehow, I managed to get all my work done on time and I started to get better at online school. It’s been 5 weeks of online school and I could say that I do enjoy it. Online school has taught me to get better time management however, I do miss going back to school.
I am not really concerned about the Coronavirus Outbreak because I stay at home all day, I wear a mask when I’m outside and I clean myself as soon as I get home. I feel safe because I lived in a district where there are no infected cases. I think the virus is quite overblown by the media and a lot of people are overreacting. I have gotten news about the coronavirus mostly from my family or the internet. I choose a reliable website to read from which makes me feel safe about what I’m reading because I trust they are reporting the truth. I am happy with virtual school right now but I miss my friends. I prefer the virtual school because I can grab a snack when I need or I can do something else and then come back to work.
The coronavirus has been the talk of the year so far. I hear and see all sorts of rumors and theories about the coronavirus everywhere. It has been confusing because we don’t know which sources to trust, and which to not. We can’t trust everything we hear. However it is real and possibly dangerous, and we should be careful, and maintain good hygiene to try to prevent the spreading of the disease. A normal, healthy person shouldn’t be too worried, as it can be treated. Most people that have been affected and died, were either old or were already sick, and had a weak immune system.
As I live in Vietnam, it has been affecting our community. People around the country have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. But so far all diagnosed people have been treated. Because of this threat, we have been taking extra precautions and doing virtual school for the last almost 5 weeks. I personally think virtual school is easier than real school. The workload is less and you have more freedom. During this time period, I have spent more time with my family and friends that I don’t go to school with. I am constantly cooking with my mom, and talking to my dad and sister. When we have normal school I don’t have a lot of free time because of the busy schedule, with school and sports. I have also been in touch with all my friends, and I have seen some of them regularly.
The COVID-19 outbreak in China was and is a huge danger to the people of China and those who are exposed to it. However, the way that Vietnam has dealt with this outbreak, I believe, is a bit overkill. They have had all of the schools across Ho chi Minh shut down for now, over a month and it is causing a lot of unnecessary stress for the students, parents and teachers.
Although being carried out well in this situation, online school was working fine, but eventually, once more assignments and projects were having to be carried out, online school is now getting a lot harder to manage and its more difficult to be taught the necessary materials though online sources. I miss going to school because it is way easier to be taught and instructions are easier to understand, virtual school is so difficult to organize.
In my opinion, once COVID hits HCMC and begins to spread, what will we do? Closing schools down should have been a last resort in the case of a real outbreak. And for me, I am not too worried about catching COVID myself, I just fear for the older people with a history of lung illness or disease. All in all, I don't think I am too worried about it for myself as much as my family and others, and I am worried for what is going to really happen to Vietnam, once the virus begins to spread quickly and in numbers.
As a Korean, I am very concerned about the coronavirus. In other countries, people might be less alerted about this virus than people in China, Korea, and Italy. Right now in Korea, more than 5,000 people are infected and because I know so many things about it, I am more concerned. Almost every news that are ongoing in Korea are about coronavirus. They get updated very fast and are accurate. 1 week ago, I was in Korea and my mom told us that we had to go back even though we were supposed to go back after 1 more week. It was because the Vietnam government started blocking people from Korea. The day we were coming back, people at the airport were checking if we were fine. It was quiet and scary.
It’s been 4.5 weeks of the virtual school. Now, I am used to it and there is no problem. However, in the beginning, it was very confusing. I didn’t know where to communicate with my teachers and couldn’t understand the instructions on our online learning page. Sometimes, I even forgot to complete the assignments. But to communicate better with my classmates and teachers, I think it is better to go to school.
As far as I know, the Coronavirus outbreak is a topic that is stuck to everyone’s minds now. People all across the globe are now frightened of this one virus. Coronavirus has a very low mortality rate of around 2-3%. But we still need to have some precautions like remembering to wash your hand after doing something etc.
With the outbreak in mind, that means many schools are closed to prevent any further spread of the virus. In our school, we attend virtual school. Every day you go on a google meet with the teacher that you are learning with on that day. You talk with them, ask any question that you are concerned about or any homework that is given and that is basically it. Virtual school can sometimes be complicated because when you have any issue you have to either have a google meet with your teacher or email them if you don’t have a class with them today. The homework situation can sometimes be confusing with all of the homework but other than that it is quite enjoyable to use. In general Virtual school can be a good method for learning during a huge outbreak like this.
Although maybe I should be, I'm not so concerned about the coronavirus. I see the articles on the news about quarantines, death rates, and the thousands of people being affected, but it's difficult to imagine that occurring here in Wilmington. I know it's possible and in fact, the first case of coronavirus in our state was discovered today, but this isn't something that we have discussed in my family as anything more than a joke. Our school also has yet to officially address the coronavirus with any proposed plans should we experience an outbreak here. Although we do not have any plans in place, I find it very hard to believe that the online school many will attempt to create will be effective. There simply isn't a replacement for someone providing instruction to you in person where you can ask questions and hear them explain material. Students will fall behind, test scores will plummet, and it will become obvious that we need school to resume as quickly as possible. While the efforts to continue the education of our youth in the midst of disaster like a coronavirus outbreak are admirable, I think we will quickly come to see that electronic instruction isn't a viable replacement for real attendance at school, and there will be a push to return to business as usual as soon as possible.
1
@Sam McNamara I feel very similarly to you on this one. I’m not concerned very much for my own personal well-being. Besides, the relatively low odds that there is a serious outbreak in our city, and the even lower odds that we actually contract the virus(assuming we wash are hands and take moderate safety precautions), the death rate is astonishingly low for people under the age of 50. It’s a virus that attacks the lungs, so, as I am young and have never smoked anything a day in my life, I strongly believe I- and most of my classmates- would be part of that 98% that recovers from the virus.
With that being said, I do feel a degree of concern. I’m not concerned for my own personal well-being, but, seeing as I know people my own age with lung problems from vaping and smoking, I am concerned for the well-being of America’s citizens who are already at a great risk due to the influences of tobacco and nicotine products.
Part 1
I couldn't even tell you how much money I would have if I was given a nickel for everytime I heard someone at my school mention Coronavirus, just because it happened so often. What I don't think my peers understand is what Coronavirus really is, and how similar it is to common viruses like the flu.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the concern. Coronavirus is an RNA virus, which means it is about 100 times more likely to mutate than a DNA virus such as HPV. It's a bronchial disease, meaning it affects your lungs. It is also an airborne disease, meaning it can be transmitted through the air, unlike many other viruses, which are transmitted through physical contact. Though the things I just mentioned are scary, the general public doesn't know the difference between a DNA and an RNA virus, and most likely thinks that Coronavirus affects all of your body, not just your lungs. So, if it isn't the science that's scaring people, then what is it? After the Ebola outbreak, the idea of widespread diseases left many shaken up, scared, and paranoid. The spreading of Coronavirus has reminded many of the Ebola outbreak, and thus, created a society instilled with fear. I've heard my classmates compare this disease to the Bubonic Plague, when really, the reality is simple, and shouldn't be so dramaticized. This disease is not Ebola. It is not the plague. This disease is COVID-19, a strain of Coronavirus that is very different than the diseases previously mentioned.
3
The coronavirus has finally reached America, as of this afternoon there have been 118 confirmed cases (including one case in my own state) and 9 deaths. But until I read this article and decided to check on how many cases america had currently, I had no idea. While there’s been constant updates on its progress and it’s being talked pretty much
all the time lately, I’m not worried about the coronavirus at all.
Which should be weird right? This is a global pandemic that has caused over 3,000 deaths and has affected literally every continent except Antarctica. It has quarantined entire cities, caused schools to shut down and Iran to release inmates to avoid the virus spreading in prisons, and currently has the C.D.C scrambling to get an effective way to do widespread testing for it.
But with stuff on this large a scale, there is a disconnect that comes from having difficulty understanding how something so large in scope can impact one individual. I can look at numbers on a screen all day, and while I understand these are real people that are dying. It feels far removed from my daily life. I have never lived without the internet, so I may be very desensitized to horrible statistics on the news. But as of yet I am not afraid of the coronavirus.
I heard about the coronavirus for the first time when my mom mentioned it before we were heading to the airport for Tet break. My mom wants us to wear a mask so badly because she said there might be Chinese people there, which is a bit racist. I think the media is over-exaggerating about the virus, plus I personally do not think the coronavirus is as powerful as is. I heard from many people that this virus is not likely to spread in hot weather, so I don’t get why people are so scared in Vietnam.
Our school has been doing virtual school which is online lessons for the past few weeks. It is not necessary because I don’t think students are learning anything. Well, at least they have something to do other than playing games all day. Although we can stay at home and still learn, I find it unhealthy because I stayed in my room for the whole day and went out only to play basketball at night with my dad. During virtual school, the amount of work seemed to be doubled up, but maybe I just needed to manage my time a little more. It is not relaxing to stare at my computer the whole day just to finish my work, even though my room is quite comfortable. Other than doing my school work during day time, I’ve been watching videos and trying to entertain myself which is very not helpful to learning nor my routine.
To me the coronavirus is just like a cold or fever that you catch not a new deadly disease. And yet, people are acting like it is the new plague. It is not the plague, it has killed a small population. It mainly kills people over the age of 60. That is only a small part of the population. Still everyone is taking precautions.
I live in Vietnam and go to an international school. When we came back from the Tet Break the virus had just broken out. For the first three days of school we had to have our temperature taken to get into school. Lots of people are wearing masks. School was like usual, until they cancelled our international soccer tournament that made me angry because I had been looking forward to it. Then that weekend HCMC decided to close the schools down for one week. That led to two weeks then four weeks and now we are on week five. Luckily for me my school is still teaching us, just on the computer instead. We do virtual school which I do not like. Because Virtual school is harder for me than usual school. At least we are still getting an education. My school is trying so hard to help us, which is awesome. I just hope that HCMC decides to let us go back to school next week .I never thought that I would miss school but I do. The coronavirus is messing with everyone's lives.
Just today the first confirmed case of the coronavirus was identified within the state of NC. All of a sudden I see my mom becoming paranoid and starts looking to buy extra bottles of hand sanitizer or telling us to stay away from people. The worst thing about the coronavirus is that you can be infected and never show symptoms until 1-2 weeks later. Although the virus has mostly infected the elderly because of their weak immune system, I'm still worried about the outbreak.
The virus has put in perspective of what it could do physically and economically. An outbreak in the United States could cause drastic changes that could potentially lead to stock market dropping. I live in a city that is always filled with tourists and most businesses in the city depend on tourism.
Everyone should be cautious of their surroundings and practice good hygiene. That is the only way to keep the virus at bay until a definite treatment or vaccine is developed. I hope that the countries that have been ravaged by the virus are able to return to their normal state and I hope the world has learned that we need to be more prepared.
The Coronavirus outbreak, which began in China, is spreading quickly around the world. The numbers of infected people and deaths continue to increase every day. Because of Vietnam’s hot climate, the virus spreads much slower than it does in other countries. In addition, Vietnam announced there are about 16 cases that have been cured and discharged from the hospital. Thus, I am not too concerned about it at the moment. However, I am being very careful so that I don’t get it. I avoid going to crowded places, always washing my hands, eating at home instead of going outside, wearing a mask when I go out and more. Unfortunately, many people are panicking because of the information they read in the news. They get really scared learning about how fast it spreads in China and Korea, so they have been buying lots of masks and food. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government has decided to close all schools to stop the disease from spreading. My school wants us to continue with our studies, so we have been doing online lessons. The teachers are also available all day for us to email or call and ask any questions we have about the assignments. They have been very helpful to us throughout this past month. Although this is a lot more comfortable, I miss going to school and seeing my friends and teachers.
As a Korean living in Vietnam, I should be really grateful that I’m not living in Korea. The Coronavirus has infected over 5,000 people and about 120,000 people are suspected of being infected in Korea. It seems like the Coronavirus is a massive problem in Korea.
However, as a kid living in Vietnam, I’m not really alerted of this “pandemic.” When the school first announced that students won’t be allowed to attend school, I was kind of scared because I thought Corona was only a problem in China, but Vietnam also turned out to be vulnerable from the virus itself. However, other than school, everything was the same. Except for the fact that people were wearing masks, people were hanging out outside, I was playing basketball with my friends, and people, especially Koreans were still forced to go to lessons. People were stuck in fairly crowded places, studying math, English, or whatever they were forced to learn. If we’re still forced to go to lessons, and people are hanging out outside(some even without masks), how are we supposed to take Corona seriously?
Everyone knows that the virus right now is a big thing but I really am not worried about the corona virus right now in our city. In Ho Chi Minh 3 people had the virus and then they recovered and became healthy again and it looks like these days that we don’t see that many cases in the city. I just live my normal life going around the neighborhood not really caring about getting affected because what are the chances that I get affected by the disease? Right now our school is shutting down because of the virus and I really don’t like it because first of all virtual school is really not my thing because I really procrastinate a lot and that's not really good for me. I really miss school a lot because I don’t really get to see my friends and teachers. I get information about the virus in the news, family and friends such as Korea having more than 3000 people affected and about 18 people dead because of the virus and I hope my in Korea is safe and did not get affected. I think that this virus would still go for about 3 months before summer break starts but we would go to school before that. I really want this virus to end and go back to school and properly learn and have fun before high school starts.
It might sound biased coming from me, but one thing I am more concerned about other than the virus itself is China’s ego. The virus has been contracted by people earlier in December but because Xi Jinping obviously has to make sure that their country can’t be seen as a problematic country and has to always be the best at everything. He didn't let the news get out, and now it's a huge issue.
As a result of the Coronavirus spreading around the world, online school has become a thing. Personally I am struggling with it, it's very difficult to find the motivation to do anything or turn anything in on time because there is no one to supervise me. I think staying on task and focusing is a thing I can try to improve on as I have the chance to right now. One thing I love about virtue school is that I can wake up whenever I want. Probably not a good thing that half of my morning is gone, but for now I’m just going to enjoy the privilege of not having to wake up at 6 am every day. One thing I do dislike about online school is the fact that I can’t play badminton with my team. The season has already started and because of Corona, the season is getting delayed and if anything, it might not even happen. I miss competing with people. I guess for now I just have to get used to this.
I do think that the Corona Virus does affect quite a few countries, but I also think that it is not as harmful as the media shows. I live in Vietnam which is directly below China, and so far, we are one of the countries that are in the green which means all recovered. Meanwhile, in China, the problem is just getting worse. In South Korea, it is spreading really fast. I think it’s because they haven’t shut down their businesses yet. Overall, the problem hasn’t got out of hand. China has one of the biggest economies globally so I think money-wise, it will become a big problem. Considering that the flu has killed around 60 thousand people each year, I don’t think the Coronavirus will be much better. I am not concerned about the Coronavirus as of now, but I might change my mind if it gets really bad.
I am very concerned about the outbreak because it’s affecting a lot of people. The virus is getting worse and spreading really quickly around the world. The first time I found out about the virus was a video on youtube explaining about the virus in America. At first, I didn’t care because it wasn’t too bad but then it spread to different countries. I have a friend in Florida and she told me about the cases in Florida. I feel like I have a good understanding on how to protect myself from the virus by washing you hands, wear mask and etc. Since the virus is out there we have to stick at home and I feel like we have more work at home than at school but at least we have some free time to do whatever. I feel like since we are at home it’s harder to ask questions to teachers cause we can’t really talk to them physically. The one thing I hate most about the virus is that it canceled the volleyball season and I was really looking forward to it but I couldn’t. The only time I need to worry that much but the only time I do is when I go outside, airport and etc.
The situation all over the world about this virus is obviously terrible and absolutely terrifying.And I'm so sorry for all those people who are suffering from this disease and for all those people who lost their loved ones. I personally think that this problem is really bad but not as bad as the other strong illnesses which killed more than 100 millions of people. Also, i can say that right now we have lots of fake news which information we can't verify so i don't even know who I should i trust anymore. I hope and I know that we will get through it because we live in the 21 century- a century of medicine and technology so that all of the problems that we are having right now will be easier for us to fix than for the people who lived 50 years ago.
I personally feel like I have not gathered enough information to identify how concerned I should be about the Coronavirus. Sadly, I have to admit that the majority of the information I knew first came from other people and not the news. Only one of my teachers has directly addressed the virus briefly, but plenty of my fellow classmates have extensively discussed it. We’ve debated the implications of a potential outbreak in our area, whether the sudden outbreak is being “overdramatized” for various purposes, the effects on the global economy, and various facts about the nature of the virus. I have heard a wide range of supposed “facts” about the Coronavirus that sometimes completely contradict each other coming from my peers. I know that due to the outbreak being so new various studies are being done and updates are being made regularly that sometimes debunk what was previously believed. However, I think many people are taking the information they hear from their fellow people as hard facts when in some cases they are merely presumptions. I think the discussions we have had with each other have been very helpful because not everyone can read every source, but I think it is important that we study the information released on our own as well. I agree that this is a very “teachable moment” for the prevention of all kinds of sicknesses, not just the Coronavirus specifically.
When I first heard the news about the coronavirus, I honestly didn’t really care, I just thought that the media was exaggerating and the death rate is also very low. But after hearing about the cases in my city and how easily this virus spreads, I’ve definitely become more aware. Even though there’s fake news on social media because people are trying to make money off the situation, I know for a fact that the statistics are inaccurate here. The Vietnamese government is probably hiding the real numbers because they don’t want the economy to go down, but I think that what they’re doing right now might make matters worse.
All schools have closed down where I live (HCMC), international schools students have virtual school and public schools students don’t have online school work, but they’ll have a shorter summer. I personally don’t mind virtual school, because I get to wake up late and “start school” anytime I want, but I’d much rather go to school. I think that everyone should be aware of the situation since the virus can spread really easily, so community spread is a possibility. Always wash your hands and avoid touching your facial mucous membranes (like the eyes, nose, and mouth)!
When I first heard about the Coronavirus I didn’t think much of it and thought it would blow over within a week or two and people who start talking about something else. I was wrong, the Coronavirus has killed over 3,000 people that we know of and there have been over 93,000 cases all throughout Asia, the MiddleEast, and now the U.S. Despite this I am still not worried, the one reason is that this virus has only killed people because those people did not retrieve the proper medical treatment that they needed. Another reason I am not worried is that the Flu has killed more people in the U.S. this year than the CoronaVirus has across the Globe and this has been going on for years and nobody is really talking about other than telling people to go get their Flu shot. The real problem involving the CoronaVirus is the media, the media has made this virus appear so horrific that it has all these people scared to get on an airplane or travel at all. As long as we can spread awareness of this virus, maintain proper hygiene, and get those who are sick the proper treatment we will survive this virus.
Part 2
The truth is, the Coronavirus outbreak is very similar to the H1N1 pandemic of 2009. If you look at a model of both Coronavirus and H1N1, they look almost identical. The mortality rate of COVID-19 is around 2%, similar to that of H1N1 in 2009, most of which are toddlers or seniors. There have been about 90,000 cases worldwide, 98% of which make a full recovery. That doesn’t sound so bad, does it? In all actuality, it’s not. Seasonal flu kills an average of 250,000 to 500,000 people per year worldwide. In 2018, the flu killed 80,000 people in the United States alone. Feeling better about Coronavirus yet? Scientists are also predicting that COVID-19 will suppress as we reach warmer months, much like seasonal flu does. COVID-19 is a serious outbreak, and should be taken seriously, but it doesn't need to be blown out of proportion.
So, what can you do to help yourself, your family, and your town from contracting COVID-19? The answer is simple. Do what you would do around flu season. Wash your hands frequently. Avoid putting your hands in your mouth, on your face, or near your eyes. Don’t go near anyone that is sick, and stay isolated if you are sick. Sanitize surfaces commonly touched by people. Most importantly though, take a deep breath. It was inevitable that Coronavirus would reach the United States at some point. All you can do is follow the same sanitary protocols you would with flu season, and you will most likely be fine. Statistics, and science are on your side.
@Uma Volety
A source that could be contributing to the overestimation of the Corona
Virus, could be related to the constant flow of memes created about the CoronaVirus. Some of which are comparing the CoronaVirus to other epidemics like the Black Plague or Ebola, are causing people to be overly frightened by the thought of the CoronaVirus and what it is capable of. But I do not feel there should be much to worry about it, given that people regularly wash their hands and sanitize surfaces. Personally I’m not concerned for my own health as I do not find a need to worry about a virus that has a lower mortality rate than the common cold.
The coronavirus has been a huge topic at my school for students this past month. I can’t say how many times I have heard people at my school saying they are scared of dying from the virus. People are not well educated on the virus and are scared because of it. All over social media I see charts of how many people have died in different countries, it’s accurate information but it is not the whole story. The majority of the people who are dying are elderly or people who have preexisting health problems, most of the students at my school are at extremely low risk of dying from the virus, if it spreads to us. I think we definitely need to be talking about this at school, if we were given the right information I think everyone would be a lot less freaked out by the coronavirus. Although, given all of this, the coronavirus is still a serious issue. If schools do shut down for a long time it will be very hard for students to catch up on everything. This could be really bad for our education system and I really hope there are some plans going into place.
1
@Emma McLaughlin In reality, the coronavirus is a bad flu not the plague. The way it is spoken about at school, you would think it has a 100 percent mortality rate and caused a slow painful death, but this just isn't true. Coronavirus is a problem if you're old or live in a country that cannot provide basic medical care and every single person in our school does not fall into either one of those categories.
That being said, when a case was reported in Wake County, North Carolina, I was a little bit concerned. I was not concerned for myself, but rather for the people I know that may be more at risk for getting or dying from the virus. I was also scared that they were going to cancel school and disrupt our lives until the outbreak ended, but I don't foresee that happening.
I think the media narrative for coronavirus is not really helping the situation. The selective coverage of the major news networks is causing fear and panic, all so that they can get more views and shares. It's amoral and I think that if the public was informed, there would be less panic.
I'm somewhat nervous about the outbreak, because I know anything can happen. I'm not extremely worried but I am scared of the possibilities. My parents have been preparing for the coronavirus to come to our town, they've bought extra food, and up to fifteen gallons of water.
Although I hear about the corona virus on the news, it makes the experience feel even more real when I hear people at school talk about it. I don't completely know what to think of the situation besides a time where everyone should all do their part in trying to prevent the virus from spreading.
I've heard that my school is going to try to have everything be at sanitary expectations for the coronavirus, and I hope that effort will be enough to help not spread it.
All I know though is that everyone should be cautious and try their best to clean their hands, and be prepared for the worst.
I’m definitely not as concerned as others. I feel like the media has portrayed the corona as the deadliest thing on Earth right now when stats are stating that it has a low death rate. I know the effects of this virus and I’m aware that this virus can spread incredibly fast.
I know the corona can be bad but I’ve been seeing people on the news wiping out grocery stores buying canned goods and rice. I know people are just preparing, but this seems extreme because of how empty the store is afterward.
On the other hand, the coronavirus has caused many schools to close stopping some students from learning and causing others to go online in order to learn. Having to attend virtual school myself, somethings can be frustrating and confusing otherwise everything else is very manageable and still as fun. I do sometimes wish that we could go to school, but I really enjoy virtual school and I don’t really mind it.
At first, I wasn’t at all worried that the Coronavirus would be something that I would have to seriously prepare for. But more recently as it’s spread to over 40 countries worldwide, the scary thought of the virus affecting my life has seemed to engulf my mind. Just today, I received a news alert that the first case of the virus in my state, (North Carolina), was diagnosed. I’m trying my best to stay as calm as possible, and to also be level-headed and rational about the potential harms of the Coronavirus.
I’m relieved by the thought of knowing that the virus resembles the flu in a lot of ways, however, it’s slightly more severe in nature. I am focused on staying healthy, washing my hands as much and as often as possible, eating well, and sleeping plenty at the moment. These are the best ways to ensure that if the coronavirus does become a serious threat to my area, I will be prepared.
Mostly, I’m faced with sadness because I know that the people affected by the virus the most are those who are elderly and those who are very young in age. I really do hope that as a world and as a country, we can recover from this soon and stay strong and positive throughout this time.
Pt. 1
If I'm being completely honest, I'm not that worried. I think that we are making a big deal out of something that doesn't need all this attention. Reading about the virus in articles like How Does the Coronavirus Compare With the Flu, just makes me less worried about the virus.
The projected death rate of the coronavirus is around 1.4%-2%, the same rate as the flu in 1918. It was really contagious that particular year. With this being the very beginning of the virus, the death rate is expected to be higher than later on down the road when the virus is well known and more controlled. It’s a lot like the flu. It’s definitely going to spread, and there’s no way to stop that. The article asks if we should do anything to prepare for the possible outbreak in the US. How could we prepare for something like that? There’s not really anything special to do. We can only do small things like not drinking after people and washing your hands all the time. I think people are scared about the virus because they don't know a lot about it. It seems like a big deal because it's the headline of every news channel, talk show, even social media. Those who are educated on the matter tend to be less stressed about it because they’ve done their research.
This article says that schools have their ways of preparing/dealing with things like school shootings, hurricanes, tornadoes, the flu, and head lice but is there truly a way for schools to prepare for the coronavirus? This disease has affected many people but so far none in my area. Im not too worried about it and most likely won't stress about it until someone in my state gets it. People are always talking about it in school and around me in general and its always on the news. I think it is very important to know what's going on with his disease but its also important not to stress about it until stressing is needed.
@Emma Dunne Since I have posted that comment, Corona virus has been found in state. I am a competitive dancer and have a competition this weekend in the place where the virus was found. I am now not necessarily stressing about it but I am concerned about the virus.
Well honestly at first I didn't really care about the coronavirus because at the time I didn't affect my life but now that I have learned more about I am starting to take precautions. At first it wasn't even in the United States so I thought that I never needed to worry about it but I have recently learned that it has in fact entered the US and is spreading quite quickly. Even then I still didn't think that it would affect me in any way but I am planning on going to Florida for spring break and originally I was just gonna fly but my mom has read a lot of the coronavirus and now she doesn't even want me getting on any planes. So now we are driving. But it's not just that, I again just learned that there is a case confirmed in Wake County which is very close to here and now I feel a little more concerned but not just for me but for my friends too. I have friends that live up near Wake County and I'm just really hoping nothing happens to them. How should we prepare if this is closer to us? Honestly I don't know, maybe wash our hands more, stay home if you are feeling the slightest sick and see a doctor, and just don't share anything with anyone like food or drinks.
Whenever i hear people talking about the coronavirus i can always hear the fear in their voice. Honestly though, i'm not all that scared. I believe it will eventually spread into more areas and people will get some form/strand of it. I think of it more like the flu, some people have died from it because they didn't have the proper care. In this case people were freaked out because they didn't know how to handle it. As long as it's contained and we have the right medical treatment I believe we should be fine. The news is making people terrified about it which they always try to do. We do need to be aware of the virus though and it needs to be discussed more so people can have a good idea of what it is and how it should be dealt with, instead of leaving people clueless as to what is happening.
“ The whole US is 10% poorer today” I heard my dad grumble multiple times Monday morning while I was eating my breakfast. Don't complain I said the markets will be back up. He then said “Oh I'm not complaining. I'm just astonished that the virus has the power to affect the economy so much.” The coronavirus has brought the stock market down and it hasn’t been this low since the 2008 stock crisis. The economic state of the US is one of my major concerns when it comes to the Coronavirus. While I am less concerned about the virus at my school. I understand the importance of things that will prevent the spread of germs such as hand sanitizer and frequently washing my hands. I find it unlikely that the disease will spread to my school but if it does I think it's important that we have a plan for what we will do to ensure that we can still learn things even if we can't physically attend school as many other countries are currently dealing with. I think we should do everything in our power to stop the spread of the disease and to ensure that we can keep schools open.
School has always become cautious as the flu season begins to come around. Now that the Corona Virus has spread to the nearby states it only makes sense that teachers are now putting more emphasis in washing our hands and using sanitizer. A few of my teachers have already run out of their hand sanitizer supply. And I, who never uses hand sanitizer on a regular basis, now carry around a bottle that I still barely use. My Graphic design class was probably the most concerned with the sanitation rules, since so many people touch the computers on a daily basis, so I sometimes use hand sanitizer when I’m there.
My parents are more worried about me than usual because near the beginning of February I started going into fits of coughing. I wasn’t sick or anything but it’s lasted for a long while and I still take pills just in case
The other day my friends went to Korea-fest, and one of them came back sick. Her father instantly began saying she had the Corona Virus because of all the Koreans around, even though most of them are from our state.
I still don’t even know anything about the Corona Virus honestly, I don't see it as much of it on the internet as other people seem to. So I'm not exactly worried even though I know it can be dangerous.
The coronavirus currently poses no real threat to me, and most likely it will not in the future. The average American should feel the same way, and people should not be dramatically changing their lifestyles, nor stocking up on food and water in their home as if we are about to enter an apocalypse. The United States has some of the best medical facilities and state-of-the-art technology, with some of the world’s best doctors at a moment's notice. All of this should be so reassuring, right?
Even though this information has been lectured continuously by doctors across the world, I can’t help but fear the potential dangers of the virus. I recently traveled to Hawaii, and when I got back I became sick. My first thought was, “I have coronavirus and I really don’t want to die.” All rationality was thrown out the window, and I legitimately feared I had contracted the virus. I can't help but feel this way when I see everyone at the airport wearing face-masks and the media constantly reporting that more and more people are contracting the disease, and it’s spreading at unprecedented rates.
Closing schools should not be considered unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Missing school for a virus that currently poses no threat to the United States is ridiculous, and it will end up only hurting the students more than it is helping. Sure, getting those days off are nice, but everyone knows you have to make them up, and I would rather just not have to miss school.
COVID-19 is a mysterious disease. But a disease that should not be causing panic. But that is not to say that there should be any concern whatsoever from it.
The government has said that you should take certain health precautions and my family has taken steps to keep in line with those guidelines. And I personally would recommend that these guidelines be headed by other families.
The 2% mortality rate of COVID-19 really should be taken into context, especially for students. The vast majority of those deaths cause by the virus are from people who are elderly or have certain conditions. And most students do not have the conditions that would hinder your ability to fight COVID-19.
One of the best ways to prevent COVID-19 is to just use common sense. Wash your hands, and don't touch your face. And these are the same precautions that are given for the flu.
This is really why it will not affect many students. And that is why I believe that most students panicked about this disease are overreacting. The demographic that should be the most concerned are the elderly and those with a weak immune system.
Pt. 2
The best thing to do before the possible outbreak in the US is to do your research, understand symptoms, how it spreads, and anything else that can help prevent getting it. When you are educated about something like this virus, it becomes less and less worrisome because you know how it works. It’s not foreign. So read the article, have a conversation with a doctor or adult, and ask questions you have. Get educated, become less concerned.
@Bella Steiner
I agree. At the moment, the mortality rate of COVID-19 is 2%. If you dig even deeper, you’ll find that these people are mostly elderly and have a weaker immune system. Most of the people affected are not very young, so there is no need to panic. Treat it like flu season, and take some precautions. Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, clean your day to day dirty objects (cell phones), and avoid places where contact is easy (planes and boats). It’s nothing to freak out about, yet we see schools closing and events being cancelled. All of that is causing the public to worry, but they don’t even know all that much about it. You’re absolutely right! People are not educated. They see headlines, but don’t read the article. My advice would be to just research, and life will become a lot easier.
In all honesty, I'm not really concerned with it, people talk about it all the time at my home, school, and even out in public places(usually family that brings it up). I think this needs to be addressed. I was talking to some people about it, and a few didn't even know what it was. I think we should have a plan for it, just in case it hits us. So far for my household, we have no plan, we didn't even talk about a plan. All we ever talk about is how many died and where outbreaks are occurring. I think we never think about what will happen if it comes near us. I believe we just like to think we're in a happy little world where nothing bad happens to us. But, once something bad does happen we would've wished we were prepared.
@Adam Larson
My family is the same way. All I hear about is all the things that bring people fear but nothing about what we need to do to be prepared for it. If we are prepared for it, it should cause less damage.
I'm not all that concerned, but I believe it's something that needs to be addressed. Because it's so mainstream and because it's all over the news, it's constantly on the mind. As a teenager, I don't get much of an opportunity to watch the news or read about current events, so some of what is happening is lost on me. The Corona Virus isn't something that is addressed at school, it's not something that we talk about at home, but I think we need to be educated. People need to be aware of the fact that something may be coming, and what the plan is when it does, rather than flying blind.
@Brennan Cairns I agree with you, I don't think its addressed enough for some of us younger kids and I think it should be. We need to have a plan if it comes to that.
As the article stated, many schools have plans implemented in case of shootings, earthquakes, and many other disasters. But there isn’t an easy way to prevent spreading germs and sickness with such a congregated, large student body.
A bathroom at my school has been out of hand soap for the past week, and classrooms are in desperate need of hand sanitizer donations and tissues (like always). I believe this situation should correspond to many other schools in the country. The situation is like this before the virus has even hit, then how easy of a breeding ground will it be when the virus spreads to these schools?
Although my family is not worried right now, we are still taking precautions to prepare. Our friends and family in different countries that have been affected told us about the severity of the issue and the importance of hygiene and protection.
I get that schools don’t want to close and that it seems that the younger generation are not as susceptible to the virus, but that does not mean they won’t get it. Countries like China have implemented systems of online schooling through a livestream program with their teachers and students, and their students are not guaranteed to have a stable internet connection or computer either.
Health comes before anything else. In this difficult time, let’s all look out for each other and be sure to wash your hands and be hygienic.
5
@Francine Wei, I agree if people don't want to stop work or schools from closing they have to keep the place clean. How do they expect us not to get sick when we don't even have the means of washing our own hands? If they don’t have the place sanitized it’s almost as if they want us to get sick.
@Francine Wei I definitely agree with schools needing to upgrade sanitation in order to prevent the possibility of the virus getting a chance to spread through them, which as we know how fast things like the flu can spread through a school, could be devastating. What are some ways your family has prepared for an outbreak in our area?
@Francine Wei Of course I think that schools always try to make things as clean as possibly. It would greatly stop the spread of regular sickness that having been going around the school. In the case of coronavirus, sanitizing can't really stop the spread of the disease because of how long it lasts on surfaces but keeping clean won't hurt. Like your family, my family is at least talking about what's going on. It is not like we have to suddenly become large scale preppers or something. I've been staying heavily up to date with the news and I will proceed from there. Overreacting is bad but preparing is good for everyone.
The world is in "uncharted territory" on the coronavirus outbreak, a quote that is from world health organization. For me I do not really think about it and It does not scare me. For my school they have not talked about it at this moment. I have not looked into the virus and do not know much only from what social media has posted. I feel we in Minnesota are not prepared and even my family is not prepared. I totally agree with Dr. Acton about giving information to all families so we know what this virus is and how we can overcome it. Dr. Nancy the director of the national center of immunization and respiratory disease said “ suggested that a temporary system of “internet-based teleschooling” could replace traditional schools. How will Schools know when to do online schooling? Is it a good and realistic alternative for all schools? What would schools do about students that don't have the materials? I feel as if the right time will come and we should not make the situation worse. On the other hand the government officials quote” Though the virus can be deadly, the vast majority of those infected so far have only mild symptoms and make full recoveries. As much as this sounds calming is this 100 percent real to believe. As even the president does not know what to say about this virus outbreak. “This is a teachable moment.” Dr Acton I totally agree that it's teachable and It should be taught correctly.
As of now, I am not very concerned about the immediate threat of coronavirus affecting my life. Although it can spread quickly without leaving much evidence, I believe that it will not reach the part f the country where I live in time for it to do massive amounts of damage. I live in the very northeast part of America and I believe that if it were to spread closer to where I live, it will already have been eliminated in the time it would've taken to reach me. I don't know a whole lot about worldwide viruses/sicknesses, but I do know
I am not at all afraid of the coronavirus. Yes, I understand that many will perish which is absolutely dreadful, however death is a natural part of our lives. The current virus will come and go eventually, and the world will regain it's footing. My fear is of future pandemics. The corona virus has already shown that it can spread quickly and undetected, but fortunately is not likely deadly for a healthy individual. However, if another virus comes along that spreads just as quickly but is more deadly, then the world is at a massive risk. Worldwide transportation has only improved over the years, and many places are unprepared for such a pandemic to occur. My hope is that the world will learn from the current virus, and better prepare for what lies ahead. Ideally, notable figures like Bill Gates — who by the way has already warned against pandemics back in 2017 and 2015 — will be able to pave the way towards a safer future.
As of right now, I am not very concerned with the coronavirus. Knowing that viruses from years ago like SARS were caused by coronaviruses, it seems that this is just another unfortunate outbreak. Although it is alarming to note that this virus is spreading like a wildfire around the globe, it seems to be taken seriously by everyone; Nobody is trying to purposely spread the virus. The additional fact that the coronavirus also has a small mortality rate also makes the entire situation seem less harmful. As long as everyone takes precautions and stays home when feeling ill, I believe that nothing will go horribly wrong.
The corona virus. That’s all I’ve been hearing for the last few weeks and it’s a majority of what has been popping up on social media and on the news. While I’m not extremely fearful of contracting this disease, though there is still a fear there, I’m worried for the consequences that come with such a rapid speeding disease. At the end of this month I’m supposed to be traveling to Las Vegas, but all that’s been going though my mind is what if airports close or what if it becomes too dangerous. I’m also supposed to be traveling to Indiana for a swim meet in about two weeks and I’m a bit concerned the meet will end up being canceled due to the corona virus. I’m also worried about schools closing down and for a quarantine to come into affect because making up all that work would just be brutal. Finally, I’m fearful for all my relatives who don’t live near me and I’m worried about their own health and safety. While some people have told me the media is exaggerating and overreacting, I think in situations like these it’s better to overreact than not react enough, as the old saying goes “ it’s better safe than sorry”.
@Izzy Williams
I think it is fine to exaggerate when the appropriate information is given, but when people hear extremely exaggerated news it tends to create an unnecessary amount of fear. I think that the amount of exaggerated news in the media right now is really unhealthy for everyone. People need to understand what kind of risk they are in, of course this virus is bad for everyone but people do not need to be scared of dying if the odds are so unlikely.
I personally am not super worried about the coronavirus. I understand that it is rapidly spreading and there is space limited within hospitals to treat it, but if we can find a way to treat the flu, we have a way to treat this in the near future. The virus at this point is not super deadly and only really kills people with compromised immune systems. Although it would be ideal to have a zero percent lethal rate, that’s just not the case, so it is reassuring that the percentage is low. At my moms work facility they travel a lot and currently they are considering closing the office by my house and having my mom work from home since there is so much travel around the world.
I am not concerned about the coronavirus for myself, but rather for those who live in developing nations. The United States has enough medical facilities and resources to deal with a crisis like this, but a country in Sub-Saharan Africa, where there have been cases reported, could be dealt a death blow if a large infection begins. Just like in Wuhan, where they were woefully unprepared for an outbreak of such a scale, many third world countries could face serious peril if the disease gets a foothold.
Because coronavirus is so similar to the flu, I have heard that it will most likely die down again in the summer, giving us time to develop a vaccine and distribute it to those who need it. I think for right now, we need to focus on keeping the media narrative under control so that people do not panic and make things worse for themselves. As of now, rampant media coverage is only causing more of a problem, causing stocks to fall, increasing panic even further.
Politically, I do not believe that the United States is in the best hands to deal with the virus. Vice President Mike Pence has absolutely no medical expertise or experience with successfully controlling outbreaks. Furthermore, the AIDS outbreak in Indiana only intensified while he was the governor. I believe that a doctor should be put in charge of the containment effort. This isn't about political loyalty to the President, it's about saving lives.
@Cooper Hyldahl There has been cases of major political figures blaming each other and other countries for the virus or playing it off as a hoax from an opposing political party. I agree that this is not time to assert dominance over political parties and trying to rally the public.
You make a good point about how the United States is dealing with the virus. This virus hits hard for developing countries, but with the way things are now, it seems like it won’t be any different for us even with our resources.
The Coronavirus is affecting many countries around the world, but where I live a big outbreak hasn’t happened yet. I think that the virus is bad but I am not thinking about it that much because I know that I just need to wash my hands often and avoid touching my face.
I receive all of my news from my parents and I think most of my information is accurate. School in my country has all closed due to the virus and at the beginning I didn’t understand but now since I have heard all of the news about the Coronavirus I understand more about why I have to stay home and do virtual school, so far virtual has been good. Having virtual can sometimes be difficult because when you don’t understand something you need to email your teacher and wait for them to answer but if you were at school you could just go up to your teacher and ask the teacher right then and there. The Coronavirus has not hit where I am living yet so I am not that worried about the virus.
While I’m not afraid of getting the corona virus, I am afraid of the precautions that will come with it. I’m at the age where it’s not likely I will get it or die from it, but there will be changes around the world because of the coronavirus. There are talks about being quarantined in our homes here in the us, and that kinda scares me. A family friend of ours works at a health corporation and was told to keep stocked up to 2 weeks of food, because a quarantine is possible. I also am expected to travel at the end of this month, and while it’s only to Florida, I fear for having to go through extra security or mandatorily wear masks. I also fear with that if we are in quarantine if my travel plans would be cancelled, causing us to lose money. Most of my fears come from fear of the unknown, and I’m really not sure what will come.
@Melissa Dudley While I myself am not super concerned I definitely see how worrisome the outcome of the virus is. It's scary to think that this may turn into something scarier than it already is. People are treating it with the utmost caution but is that going to be enough? My parents keep telling me to constantly wash my hands to stay healthy. The fact that they are nervous worries me. It's probably just paranoia. Or at least I hope.
I, myself, am not that worried about coronavirus because the mortality rate is very low—especially for younger people. The only thing I am worried about is that some people in my family are a lot older than me, so their immune systems may not be able to fight off the virus. There have been reported cases near where I live and I will not be surprised if it reaches here. I just hope that my family can stay healthy, and if they do get infected, I hope they will be able to fight it off successfully. Where I first heard about the coronavirus was surprisingly from reddit through memes, and from there I started to research it further. It seems that the virus is very similar to the flu, so I think that the high amount of fear that some people is a little unnecessary.
@Muhammad Siddiqui, I feel a similar way to the Corona Virus as you do. I am not as concerned about myself getting it but rather for my family. The majority of my family members are much older and more susceptible to being negatively affected by the disease.
My brother and I however have a much lower chance to be harmed by the CoronaVirus. Our immune systems are far younger and stronger than those of my grandparents and their siblings.
I have heard all over the news that the best way to prevent the spread of the virus is by washing your hands constantly. I wonder how effective this method is against the virus. I assume there is an even way to not spread it and I am very curious to figure it out. So far, there are no reported cases of the Coronavirus in my state of North Carolina and I sure hope it stays that way. This is highly unlikely though because of the ease at which it spreads.
@Muhammad Siddiqui, I feel a similar way to the Coronavirus as you do. I am not as concerned about myself getting it but rather for my family. The majority of my family members are much older and more susceptible to being negatively affected by the disease.
My brother and I however have a much lower chance of being harmed by the Coronavirus. Our immune systems are far younger and stronger than those of my grandparents and their siblings.
I have heard all over the news that the best way to prevent the spread of the virus is by washing your hands constantly. I wonder how effective this method is against the virus. I assume there is an even way to not spread it and I am very curious to figure it out. So far, there are no reported cases of the Coronavirus in my state of North Carolina and I sure hope it stays that way. This is highly unlikely though because of the ease at which it spreads.
To all those who believe the world is being overdramatic, are clearly thinking about strictly the infection and death side of it for themselves and the US. The stock market, trade, and international travel, are seriously struggling to keep up and survive due to this virus. So many countries rely on China— the stem of this virus— and with time stopped in China, the economy will eventually fail. Regarding my own safety, and the status of my family, I am not worried, but i'm rather worried for the restrictions and failures that could come with the rapid infection of this virus. I don’t believe it is an overreaction, not even close.
The coronavirus is harming people’s mental health more than it is harming their physical health in the United States. Everyone is freaking out thinking this will be the next plague. But it is not. As long as we take precautions we can prevent the coronavirus from worsening. The mentality of U.S. citizens is way ti negative and it is destroying our hope.
Honestly, I’m not all that concerned about the Corina virus. It’s a bad cold. Everyone is freaking out because about 300 people have died, but what people are not acknowledging is that thousands of people have died just from the flu. There is only one source to blame for the Coronavirus scare, and it’s the press. This disease is only potentially deadly to those of old age or with health problems, so basically how it is with every other sickness. If I were to get the Coronavirus, it would just be a bad cold, maybe the flu, but I would not die. People are overreacting, and there is word of a possible national ban on air travel this month. I believe that this would be extreme and unnecessary because blocking people from flying to and from places such as Mexico and around Jamaica would not do anything to prevent this virus. These countries are just as far away from China as we are, if not farther. I think that everyone needs to relax about the Coronavirus, because clearly it is finding its way around despite the careful measures the government has made.
@Sarah Hess I agree that people are overreacting a little, but I also think it is understandable to be scared and a little freaked out about a new disease. My parents have started stressing out about our summer plans in July to leave the country and travel to Mexico, worried that our flights will be cancelled or that we’ll be quarantined and unable to return home. We were also at the mall the other day and my dad was questioning why all these people were out congregating when they should be worried about getting and spreading this disease.
While I understand that people don’t want to get sick, they also shouldn’t be changing their day to day lives just to avoid this. This is a new virus so people don’t have all the same immunities and information as they do about the flu. However, to prevent getting infected, you just basically take all the same preventative measures you would take for other diseases. The Coronavirus is a new disease that shouldn’t be ignored, but it also shouldn’t be treated this severely either.
With the recent outbreak of the newly discovered Corona Virus, life hasn’t been the same. Along with many other international schools in Vietnam, SSIS has transformed itself into a “virtual school” utilizing technology to educate its students from home. Personally, I have mixed feelings towards this new educational system. On the plus side, I get to sleep in daily and manage my work at my own pace. And that’s about where that list ends. As I’m sure many students can agree, in addition to the various large projects happening, the workload assigned in virtual school is more significant than actual school itself. I understand that since we stay home we should have more time to work but staying home doesn’t exactly equate to studying all day. Many of us still have activities to attend such as extracurricular classes, sports, and more.
Overall, I believe virtual school is a great method of teaching but it does require us, students, to put in more effort. Despite all this complaining, I think the increased work will be helpful to us as we are soon transitioning to highschool. Many people, including myself, find the suffering of highschool extremely intimidating. Virtual school is acting as a teaser of what’s soon to come.
I speak on behalf of the whole grade when I say we really miss SSIS and the normal life we used to have. We miss the teachers, the campus, a regular schedule, and just about everything that separates school from its virtual counterpart.
With the recent outbreak of the newly discovered Corona Virus, life hasn’t been the same. Along with many other international schools in Vietnam, SSIS has transformed itself into a “virtual school” utilizing technology to educate its students from home. Personally, I have mixed feelings towards this new educational system. On the plus side, I get to sleep in daily and manage my work at my own pace. And that’s about where that list ends. As I’m sure many students can agree, in addition to the various large projects happening, the workload assigned in virtual school is more significant than actual school itself. I understand that since we stay home we should have more time to work but staying home doesn’t exactly equate to studying all day. Many of us still have activities to attend such as extracurricular classes, sports, and more.
Overall, I believe virtual school is a great method of teaching but it does require us, students, to put in more effort. Despite all this complaining, I think the increased work will be helpful to us as we are soon transitioning to highschool. Many people, including myself, find the suffering of highschool extremely intimidating. Virtual school is acting as a teaser of what’s soon to come.
I speak on behalf of the whole grade when I say we really miss SSIS and the normal life we used to have. We miss the teachers, the campus, a regular schedule, and just about everything that separates school from its virtual counterpart.
I think that the United States is overreacting towards the coronavirus. I understand since we know so little about it, it is a little scary, but considering it has a relatively low casualty count for something they claim to be so dangerous, I think we shouldn't worry. Also, considering other similar virus outbreaks, such as SARS disappeared so quickly, I think the coronavirus does not pose a risk to humanity, although the amount of casualties could drastically increase at any given time.
@Shelby Comets
Is there really such thing as overreacting about an upcoming epidemic? The coronavirus is spreading rapidly, and 3000 people around the world have lost their lives due to this virus. No matter the kind of disease or virus it is not something anyone can take lightly.
I am not very concerned about the outbreak of the virus because the flu virus has infected and killed more people than the coronavirus. All the information I have gotten about the coronavirus is from the CDC website because all the media blows things out of proportion. We have for brief moments spoken about the coronavirus and we mainly talked about how it happened and where it is now. So far my school hasn't done much for the coronavirus that I know of or that they have told anyone about. My school would probably cancel school if there was a case near them until it was safe. I think that her advice is very good because it could slow down the spread of the virus.
@Conner Kelley I agree with your statement that the media blows things out of proportion, in other words over exaggerates information. Although I don't agree with you on your concern of the coronavirus. You mention influenza has killed more people than the coronavirus has, but it is still a possibility this virus could get worse.
I feel like the outbreak is very dangerous and that people should be careful about what they eat, touch, and drink and be more aware of you surroundings
Personally, I believe the CoronaVirus “epidemic” is blown out of proportion. While there are certain scary statistics mentioned in the article above, like it is on six of seven continents or there are 81,000 reported cases, people have to remember that the majority of infected make a full recovery. On the unlikely chance that the Corona virus infects suburbs around my school, I believe that we are well prepared to combat it. However, I am unsure if the district would be willing to make the call to cancel school for the time needed to control the spread of the virus. All in all, I think that while the Corona Virus is spreading quickly in some parts of the world, there is no need to be panicking. As we see more and more infected people successfully recover, it becomes less and less of a worry to me. Maybe I’m being naive and overly optimistic when saying this, but I believe that the most heavily impacted areas will be able to contain the virus in the coming months.
I’m not that concerned about the coronavirus and I feel some of the hysteria is overblown and has been pushed by the media. The flu is far more widespread and far more deadly each year yet that is getting no coverage and the coronavirus has only affected over 100 people in the U.S. Although though I understand there is a small outbreak spreading quickly in Washington state and 8 people have died, the hysteria-inducing headlines are misleading as most who have died already had underlying health conditions. So although they died from the coronavirus, they really could have died from any flu or viral infection. Just like for any flu season as long as we continue to wash our hands and sick people stay home from school or work we will he just fine. And making sure to read full articles, not just headlines and reading our news from multiple sources we can all get through it together.
The Coronavirus has become a recent concern amongst the world at this time, and it is safe to say that it has technically become a pandemic. Though I feel that the recent panic and fear that the virus has brought up a bit exaggerated because of how little damage it can do as of now.
The most the virus can do is give you a mild fever, which is nothing compared to influenza, which already kills more than 10,000 people a year. As for me personally, I live in a country not too far from where the virus originated, and my school has had a temporary campus closure because of the outbreak since February, which sucks because I’m an athlete and typically go to school to play Basketball, as there aren’t many good public courts nearby for me to utilize, so I have to play on courts without a net which doesn’t feel “authentic”.
Virtual/Online school isn’t as nice as actually going to your classes, as it is less convenient for me to ask a teacher for help if I have a question about something. One thing I do like about virtual school is that I get to sleep in more because you can technically start school at any time and there is significantly a lot less work than you would find in a normal 7 hour day of school. Other than that, virtual school isn’t something I look forward to as of now.
My school has yet to do anything but send out an email about the coronavirus. I don’t think they are very worried yet, and neither are the people in the school. I think that once the coronavirus reaches the state that I live in, my school might become more serious and do more to prevent it from coming into the school environment. I also think that the reaction plans discussed in the article were very good, and my school should try to do a similar thing.
1) I am not very concerned about the coronavirus. I think the fears are not overblown, because somehow in places like China, Korea, and Japan, they are having a lot of people that got infected and they are trying their best to deal with it. I would say that I am not well prepared for the virus, but my family seems most likely ready. As for our community and school, I think they will be ready if the virus shows up on island and they will take great measure to try to stop the spreading of it.
2) I am not very aware of what the school may do, but I think my school will be doing things like stopping class to prevent the spreading of the virus and bring a lot to things online if the virus shows up on the island. For some of the plans like bringing classes online, I think that it is a very good idea but not great for our island, because some of the people would have limited internet access and equipment. I think the realistic plan for our school is to prevent it from the beginning, providing a lot of cleaning supplies and tell students to avoid close distance.
@Jackie I agree with your statement because I am also not that concerned about the corona virus there hasn't been a lot of deaths in the U.S only about 6 and that is not even close to a large amount of people having it compared to China. My school would also probably not be prepared for this virus if it just all of a sudden bursts out in the United States. But if it comes to the U.S. than I think my school will do a lot of prevention of the virus and they would probably do like an online teaching course on it. If more people die from the corona virus in the United States than I think schools should take action by cleaning and disinfecting everything.
Waking up to the news of coronavirus spreading was dreadful. Never have I ever thought I’d have to go through all of these, never ever. At first, I thought the governments around the world knew what this was and how to deal with this, so did my friends. We never expected it to spread that far. Now, coronavirus has reached Europe, which is very far from China. Compared to coronavirus’ sibling, SARS, it wasn’t even as deadly and infectious. It also affects our everyday routines. I usually wake up at 6:30 AM to go to school. Due to coronavirus, the school has been postponed for quite a while already which means that we have to stay at home to learn virtually. It becomes fairly difficult to manage all of the assignments, but reaching out to a friend is what I usually do. To be honest, not a lot of people enjoy online learning. It’s really hard to get into the right learning environment, so it feels like the work doubles.
I'm not fearful of the health aspects. As we have seen the corona virus is completely curable so we have nothing to fear unless someone is too late to recognize the symptoms of the virus which we now know as long as we get help in time. And, as long as you wash your hands as much as possible to prevent the disease and take normal sanitary procedures as you would with any other disease then we should all be fine. I'm more worried about the social aspect of this disease. The racial “funny” jokes being made towards anyone Asian is actually ridiculous. There are memes and tik toks about how everyone should stay away from Asians at all because they automatically have the virus. Especially towards the American born Asians who are being completely discriminated against. This whole disease is just an excuse for Americans to once again use Asians as their racial joking punching bag. The whole situation reminds me of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Just because Japanese soldiers from Japan dropped bombs on the Harbor now ALL Asians in the country even the American born ones that had nothing to do with the situation in the first place were considered terrorists. Then those American Asians and immigrant Asians were sent to camps to suffer and be isolated from society. So even though that would never happen today and the pain that Asians are facing today are not to the extent that the Asians were facing in 1941 we still have to remember that history is repeating itself in some way.
I wasn't concerned about the coronavirus when there were only confirmed cases in east Asia but now that many cases that have been confirmed in many different countries including the United States I'm more worried. I haven't prepared for anything because my parents aren't too worried about it. If my parents found out that the coronavirus has reached Philadelphia they would probably make one last run for groceries and then we would stay at home until it is safe to leave. I heard about the coronavirus by people in my class and from a current event I had to do.
I am pretty concerned about the Coronavirus Outbreak happening in the world right now, especially since it mostly occurs in Asia, which is a place where I live right now. In Vietnam, we have a medium level danger, compared to other countries. The number of sick people once increased up to to 16, but later stopped, and it hasn’t done so for 2 weeks already. I am still wearing a mask every day and do a lot to protect myself, because there is sill a very small chance of the virus being near. So, the situation is pretty calm right now, but the government is really worried about it. One big thing is that all schools in Vietnam have been closed for the past 4 weeks. They were once cancelled for a week right after the Tet new year, but later it was extended over and over again. Studying programs of all schools have experienced a collapse, but our school created Online learning program to keep students on track. The way it works is that we have all assignments and other work sent us through email and other platforms, and everyone continues learning at a normal pace, so we get al the curriculum delivered to us. This way the school doesn’t need to cancel breaks or cut a period from the summer holiday, which other schools may have to do. Anyway, I’m still very concerned about the outbreak of Coronavirus, I believe that it is real and we need to be aware. I also really want it to end, so we can get back to school.
@Maxim I agree that the Coronavirus outbreak is scary. There have been cases in my country, and even in my state's capitol, which I live close to. I can only imagine how scary it must be to be so impacted by the outbreak. I still go to school normally everyday and don't need to wear a mask, but everyone is stressing being sanitary by washing our hands, and using hand sanitizer more often. Likewise, many stores are sold out of water, non-perishable foods, and health products because of people stocking their houses in case of a medical emergency close to them.
The company, Moderna, who is manufacturing the vaccines that are being tested, is located in my town. The vaccines are currently being experimented with, and it will take time to have them approved, but I think it's a step in the right direction.
I also think that in some areas, the government has blown the ordeal out of proportion. There are about 3,000 deaths, but the number of recoveries is over 48,000. (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/). The media often looks at the pessimistic numbers for the shock factor, but fails to mention that many of the infected recover.
What I know about the corona virus is that it is a flu. I'm not too concerned about the virus because it's affect varies on the age of everyone. Those who are older, their immune system gets weaker which means the virus has a stronger affect on them due to weaker immune system . However, those who are younger hold a much more stronger immune system. Therefore, they can fight the virus back more powerfully than those of older age. According to an article by Aria Bendix from business insider " Coronavirus patients over age 80 have a 15% chance of dying. Here's the mortality rate for every age bracket", it showed the rates of infection and the risk of dying is higher for those in older ages, while at a younger age a lower risk. In addition, I'm not too worried about the virus spreading to where I live. Our government has closed flights to ensure control over this situation. Although our economy has been going down due to the decrease of Chinese tourists in the CNMI . Tourism is the drive of our economy so because of this virus the only negative factor it brought to where I live is our economy being driven down. Furthermore, my school hasn't done much to prepare for this virus. There's just been some heads up on the situation and jokes. In addition, because of how isolated we are people are not so concerned about it.
@Sebby I think that the media has blown this out of proportion because that's just what they do for clicks. also they are working on a vaccine which should be done relatively soon so I am not very worried either.
I’m not really that concerned about the coronavirus because in where I live, there are about 16 (confirmed) cases and those 16 cases have already recovered. I think that the media is causing too much panic and spreading fake news. Everybody outside of mainland China is acting like it’s an apocalypse, but there is data that clearly points out that the death rate is low. Yes, it is pretty dangerous, but not as dangerous as everyone and the media says it is. I do still wash my hands often, avoid touching my face, wear masks outside, however I'm not panicked, I’m just staying alert. My parents weren’t worried before, but now they are worried and they won’t allow me to go out as much anymore because they read some rumors saying that there were people infected near my neighborhood. It could be true, but I don’t think it is because there have been many similar rumors like this and they weren’t true.
My school has been closed for about 4-5 weeks now and we have been doing school online, but I don’t really like it, it keeps me at home all the time, I procrastinate more than usual, it increases my screen time, and it doesn’t feel like school. I miss physically being in school, I miss everything about it and I hope that we are able to go back next week.
Last night at the dinner table, my parents made my brother and I review how to wash our hands properly and they started adding Vitamin C pills to our routine. They’ve also taken some precaution to stock up on a few supplies. This has made the coronavirus feel more real in our house.
At first, the coronavirus seemed distant, and I was not worried about its effect on me and the people around me. However, as the virus spreads across the world and into America, people around me have started to show more concern. I learned how schools were being shut down in Japan, how people are being quarantined when they come into the US; how people were dying in China and Iran; and how the stock market crashed. It feels like a crazy science fiction film.
I live on the North Carolina coast, and we are used to dealing with disasters. Public schools were closed for almost a month my Freshman year after Hurricane Florence, because my high school was a shelter and the town was a disaster zone. Missing school sounds fun but making up the work wasn’t.
Unlike a hurricane, there are a lot more unknowns with a pandemic. How is it spread? Where did it come from? How can we stop it? The symptoms are so hard to detect and people with the virus are often hard to spot until they have had it for weeks which allows it to spread. The thing that is so scary about the virus is how little we know about it.
I am concerned about the matter on a large scale. Our government runs on tourism and I fear the day when the headlines read, "The first case of Corona Virus in the CNMI". Businesses are cutting hours and flights are canceled due to the outbreak. It has affected the CNMI emotionally and now financially. We should be worried. We should be prepared. I do not own a face mask, so can you say that I am not prepared? I do, however, wash my hands thoroughly, carry hand sanitizer everywhere, and hold my breath every time a person coughs or sneezes. My parents are prepared by being updated on Facebook and the internet. But is it enough?
I have not heard any plans from our school if there was an outbreak in the CNMI. I did overhear my mom say something about attending school 4 days a week. Our school does educate us about the virus, but there is no certain plan. If the virus hits the CNMI, homeschooling or online classes are the best options. Even if students don't have the best wifi at home, we shouldn't wait for the virus to spread, because there are many kids with weak immune systems.
It is truly heartbreaking to hear about the deaths, but I have faith in the government officials and medical experts to cure the infected and prevent the virus from spreading.
I am not much concerned about the coronavirus because I have received a lot of information on how to prevent yourself from getting infected by the virus and I know that it isn’t harmful and dangerous so I am pretty much very relaxed and calm about this whole situation. Thanks to the virus, I have established some sanitary habits such as cleaning my hands with soap everytime I come back home and wearing a mask whenever I go outside. I believe that I just gotta keep myself clean and sanitary in order to prevent the virus from infecting me.
Even though I am not scared of the virus, I really hate it. I despise it a lot mostly because I can’t play volleyball frequently. Since we’re on break and we are not allowed to go to the campus during the break, I haven’t played nor touched a volleyball in a month. This is absolutely excruciating. Also, there is a chance of the volleyball season getting cancelled because of the outbreak. I’m pretty optimistic that it already has been cancelled but we’re just not informed about it yet. I’ve trained hardcore volleyball since last year’s summer and have tried very hard on my hop serves for the season but now there isn’t even a chance to perform it. I am so disappointed by the fact that the virus had to break out this year. This year could have been the best season of my life but no, the virus had to kick in this year.
I am extremely concerned about the outbreak of coronavirus as it is rapidly spreading all over many countries such as China, Japan, Korea, United States, and even the Philippines. In addition, I am disturbed by the thought of what would happen if there was a case of the virus here. Our island doesn’t have the necessary facilities and equipment needed in order to treat it if in case. Moreover, I am also bothered about how the outbreak of coronavirus would further affect our economy. Recently, flights from China and many other countries infected by the corona virus were banned. Since our island’s main income comes from tourism, our government is currently under austerity. As of now, my family and I have been taking some precautions such as using face masks and sanitizers, ensuring to wash hands regularly, staying away from crowded places where people may be sick, and also covering our mouths when we cough.
As of now, my school hasn't really done anything yet, since it seems very unlikely for the virus to spread here. In school, I see some students wearing masks and using hand sanitizers and I think that’s great. Though, if the virus manages to spread here, I don’t think that online classes would be the best option, since there are many people who don't have technology and internet access. If worse comes to worst, I think that taking classes online would probably be our only option to continue our education.
Coronavirus outbreak has been the hottest issue around the whole world recently. Clearly, people should be concerned about this coronavirus outbreak and be careful about it, because it’s always good to prevent getting sick. Coronavirus is very contagious and people can very easily get infected.
However, some people are not afraid of it because the death rate of coronavirus is very low. I strongly believe that this is not a good reason to not be careful of it. Even though the death rate of coronavirus is very low, it can lead to other major diseases that can threaten our health.
In my city, schools were closed for more than a month and most people wear masks. Many people here think that fear is overblown because nobody in my city died from it and the number of infected people is very small compared to other countries.
However, I believe that our school and government did a great job of keeping the virus not spread; the medical support of my country is not good as other countries. Therefore, preventing it would be the best thing that our government can do.
Personally, my lungs are weak and I have lung-related diseases like asthma. Therefore, I try to be careful from getting infected by coronavirus as best as I can. I always wear masks when I go outside, I always bring hand sanitizer with me, and I sometimes even wear silicone masks when I go somewhere potentially dangerous like a hospital.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak caused fear in everyone. It’s only the first few months of the new year, yet we already had many bad events like Kobe Bryant’s death. There’s no cure to COVID-19 to this day, and many people had bought many face masks. Lots of people have also been aware of traveling and are choosing if buying food from outside is good or bad. Many schools have been closed for days or weeks, and they don’t know when it’s safe to go back to school.
I see that many people are very anxious about the virus, and I believe people shouldn’t be extremely worried about it. Yes, this virus has killed many people like in Wuhan, China, but it shouldn't be too much of a concern to us. We should focus on helping people and finding cures/vaccines. The reason why not to overreact is that the virus has been fought off and some people recovered from it. A great example is that all of Vietnam’s 16 infected patients have recovered. If you’re infected, as long as you have a strong immune system, you should be fine.
I would suggest trying to fight this virus the same way as any virus and diseases. It’s best to eat healthily, exercise frequently, get enough rest, and you’ll slowly improve your immune system which will help fight the virus.
Here's a Haiku:
Silent Infection...
I am covering my face
Too afraid to breathe
I have seen this virus being tracked since December when the outbreak occurred in Wuhan. At first, my anxiousness go the best of me and I was worried about this non-stop, thinking it would be some catastrophe like the black plague. However, after reading articles that told me about more factual aspects of the virus instead of believing every fear-mongering article title that I've seen on Twitter, my anxiety has definitely ceased about it.
But even though I've managed to think more logically about this situation more doesn't mean I'm completely indifferent to it. I have tried to stay alert as I can by taking suggestions from the CDC on how I can prevent from contracting this virus as much as possible. Even though it can be deadly, the article says there can only be mild symptoms and a chance of full recovery is possible so I've been trying to take precautions. I am washing my hands more frequently, I no longer share my water or food with my friends, I've been more conscious to not touch my eyes/nose/mouth without washing my hands, and I've been trying to sleep longer so my immune system doesn't become weaker and I'm not more susceptible. This virus has truly been devastating to the whole world and I'm trying to stay as emotionally and physically prepared as possible.
I am not that worried about the coronavirus at all. I think people are overreacting and causing unnecessary panic. I’ve heard that only people with compromised immune systems are at risk and if you are healthy you should survive so I don’t see what there is to worry about. At my school we have gotten letters and emails sent to us and we have talked about it a little bit in a few classes and I have found theses discussions helpful because I have learned a lot. Such as how it started and what we can do to stop it from spreading.
@Emi G.
I heard that coronavirus is a disease similar to the flu and is spread the same way. There isn’t a vaccine for coronavirus yet, and though people are trying to stop it from spreading, the symptoms only appear about 2 weeks after contracting it, so it could travel incognito easily. It’s already in the US, and with the transportation we have today, it could travel across the country in a matter of hours. Even if you aren’t worried about it, coronavirus wouldn’t be fun to have, and even if you wouldn’t die from it, some people would. If your health were to suddenly deteriorate drastically and you contracted the disease, you could die.
I am really not that concerned about the coronavirus. I think people are just overreacting, and it can get quite annoying. There is constant talk about the virus, for example, “OMG, he has coronavirus!”, or “She coughed. She must have coronavirus!”. This false information is heard everywhere I go, and now, every time I hear the word, coronavirus, I visibly groan. At school, we often talk about the coronavirus. We explore things about it and we compare it to other diseases, making me realize that it isn’t actually that bad. The flu kills thousands of people every year, so why don’t we hear more about that and we get a mass panic over the coronavirus?
@Ian P I definitely agree that people are overreacting about the coronavirus, this could be caused because either its new or the media making it look worse than it is or both. But people saying "she coughed she has coronavirus" most of the time I have heard it, it was a joke.
@Ian P Sure, thousands of people die each year from the flu, but the difference is both the time frame and the measures that have been put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus. Governments are shutting down different public services, especially in China, and making sure that any sick person cannot board a flight without being tested. These measures are then doubled by the country receiving people quarantining any person visibly sick. Every place that coronavirus has spread to without measures to stop the infection of others, it has spread like a wildfire. The issue isn’t that “only 3,000 people have died,” because frankly that is one of the most useless statistics to go off of. The most important part of coronavirus is the extremely high infectivity that the virus has shown, especially in China where people where population density is relatively high and the people are not as wealthy.
Coronavirus is definitely an issue that requires attention, especially because if you are relying on herd immunity, or the thought process of “if people around me will not get sick, then I can’t get sick,” you are endangering your peers, your family, and everyone you come in contact with. Coronavirus should not be taken lightly.
I've been hearing news about the Coronavirus since just after Christmas, and I hadn't been overly concerned about the global pandemic. That all changed when I heard about the first death in the United States, just outside of Seattle, Washington. Now I'm starting to worry a little bit. I keep thinking back to when I had a one day, common cold over Christmas break and how awful I felt, and that is when I start to freak out even more. People are dying from this illness, over 3,000 deaths at this point, and the numbers are growing exponentially.
I have been a lot more careful lately when it comes to staying healthy. I've been getting a lot of sleep and drinking a lot of water, I don't share any food or drink with any of my friends - even if they haven't been sick in a year - and if anyone even thinks that they are sick, I'm over a mile away. Not actually, but it's the idea that counts. My parents have told me that the people who are at the most risk of dying from the Coronavirus are really young and really old people, and people who already have a health condition. Knowing that helped me to not freak out AS much as I was before, but just seeing what the Coronavirus has done to China and all the other infected countries, it keeps me on my guard and prepared if the Coronavirus does end up spreading to my town or school.
1
The coronavirus is a phenomenon of diseases in the world. It has continued to spread and quite frankly, it worries me. I am concerned on the rise of the virus spreading. Saipan's main source of economic ties are with big nations such as China, Japan, U.S., and many other countries. If we temporarily cut ties with China, we we lose many of our imported trades and goods. Living in the island would be harsh due to the scarcity of many items. Our island has cancelled flights and might temporarily stop shipment due to the outbreak. It doesn't worry me that the virus will infect the place I am living in, but it worries me on how life would be like. People have been taking precautions and are trying to limit the potential danger that it can cause. My family has been well prepared, as we have been stocking up recently. The community is on the track of being prepared, as they cancelled flights and could temporarily cancel shipments. Our school has been alerting us of the outbreak and has given us general knowledge of it. The community has been encouraged to properly sanitize themselves and take all the precautions there are when a disease is possible. The outbreak is a big deal. There are many cases in the past where an outbreak has tremendously affected the general population. Such outbreaks are the plague, ebola, and zika.
When I first heard about the Coronavirus a little over a month ago, I completely panicked. Two weeks prior, I had watched a movie in my biomedical technology class about a fatal disease that spread from China to the US and turned into an apocalyptic- like pandemic just weeks later. Of course, this was all I was thinking of when I read the words virus and China, and I was pretty concerned for a few days. However, the worry began to fade and like many of my peers, the whole situation has become somewhat of a joke.
For a few examples, if someone coughs in class, it's likely that a "coronavirus" comment will be made. If we're having a serious discussion about it in one of my classes, you know that 16 year old kids can come up with a witty joke about it. Maybe the joking is our way of distracting our worries with something more lighthearted, but maybe some really have no fear of it.
Personally, I'm no longer filled with fear about the virus and anxious every time I go out into public. However, there's definitely still an element of worry in my mind, especially when I see the news or even read an article like this. Until reading the article, I had no idea that so many school systems in other countries were shut down. This definitely makes everything feel a little more serious. Although we can read and see things like this that can make us freak out, I think that as long as we stay cautious and prepared that the Coronavirus will not end up like the movie that started my concern.
@Hayden Carroll Just like you mentioned the most students had played the virus off as a joke. On the other hand, my family has become a super high alert for the coronavirus. My mom continually tells us to wash our hands when we walk in. I enjoyed reading your insight that some teens use the “coronavirus” as a coping mechanism to deal with the threat.
I haven’t watched any documentaries like you, but I have researched a little bit about the virus. Very few people die from it, and most who do are usually old and sickly. I still am on alert, especially since there have been cases found in the U.S. I didn’t know that other school systems were worried. If there were outbreaks in certain cities, I understand their worry. I haven’t feared the virus, but staying vigilant and alert will serve us well as we try to figure out this mysterious virus.
I feel like everyone in the world right now is concerned about this issue. I feel like it has been talked about way too much that worries people. Another aspect of this is that the right information doesn't come of from China’s side since their government controls the information, which concerned people because they don't know the amount of people that are affected or dead by now.
Although I live in Canada and there are very few cases here, I am still very concerned towards the Coronavirus. As the risk is very low so far in North America, six people have died in the U.S. and the death toll is rising. My school is taking precautions, and we are encouraged not to go to school if we show any symptoms of a common cold. Since you can be infected by the virus 2 weeks before you start showing symptoms, my mom recommends me to breathe in for 10 seconds and if I have any difficulties doing that, there is a high chance I have this disease. Even though I am very concerned of catching this illness, in the whole GTA there are around 5 million people and only around 12 are infected, so the risks so far are slight.
I am not especially concerned about the coronavirus, but I do think that we should be a little prepared for it. When I first heard about it I didn’t really know that much about the virus, I just knew that it was spreading. A lot of people have been talking about how they think this disease is getting out of control but if you think about it, the flu claims more lives a year than this virus in the past few months worldwide. I don’t feel like from where I live that I am at risk for getting sick. However, I will be taking a trip to Guatemala this summer and there have already been talks of changing flights and the length of the trip as a precaution. Coronavirus has affected people of all ages and all over the world, making it very dangerous to the general public, which is why the media is scared. The media has the biggest influence on how much we fear this virus based on the information it gives us but, I think we should all choose to not let it scare us.
The Coronavirus has been the talk for the past couple months ever really since Christmas. The media people these days make the coronavirus seen so much more than it really is. People exaggerate and take this really seriously to a point where even there is a shortage in masks. I know my friend now puts hand sanitizer on like every hour and wears gloves outside of school. I don’t know why people are so scared of the Coronavirus when the flu is going around and that can be much more deadly in some cases. Coronavirus is just a fancy world for common colds or sicknesses you can get any year at any time. I'm extremely scared if the virus keeps spreading and there is no cure. People are saying to try and not touch your face, scratch your ears, or itch your noes. This is really hard when you're someone that has allergies and does that 24/7. My grandparents live just in Santa Clara and now three cases are said to be there. My grandparents are old and can not handle such strong respiratory disease, therefore making their chance of getting it and dying much more than me on the east coast.
I think that the United States is overreacting towards the coronavirus. I understand since we know so little about it, it is a little scary, but considering it has a relatively low casualty count for something they claim to be so dangerous, I think we shouldn't worry. Also, considering other similar virus outbreaks, such as SARS disappeared so quickly, I think the coronavirus does not pose a risk to humanity, although the amount of casualties could drastically increase at any given time.
Personally, I am not that concerned over the crisis of the coronavirus as there is a low concern to it actually affecting the general public. Along with my low concern, I do feel that the overall situation is greatly overblown by the media. Sure the crisis poses an imminent threat, but this is to various countries that didn’t take straight precautions when it was still premature. Along with this, the virus is dangerous to a healthy adult. Mainly, the threat is to elderlies and young children. Additionally, the media seems to neglect the huge population that has fully recovered and is immune (like to any other virus) after their experience. Ultimately as of my situation, I am not concerned about my safety in the Coronavirus Outbreak.
@Aiden Rubin Sanxhaku I think you're right to think that this is not a big threat to anybody as someone who's not elderly, young, or has a weak immune system, but being cavalier about this whole situation shouldn't be the way to go about it. The media is definitely using fearmongering tactics to make it seem more detrimental than it is, but it never hurts to stay alert about it. This virus could go in any direction, and even if it ends up not being that much of a threat, there's no way to know that it will not, so the only thing we can do is be heedful of an changes it makes.
I am very concerned about the coronavirus, and even though there have been no confirmed cases of it where I live, I know that it spreads very quickly, and it’s already in America, so it could potentially spread to the state and city where I live. To be honest, though, my family and I aren’t really prepared for it because I personally don’t have enough information to know how to prepare for it, and also, I don’t really have time for it. A lot of my time is spent on schoolwork, and not how to prepare for a virus. It does cross my mind sometimes, but not how I should prepare for it, although I definitely think I should. I learned about the coronavirus while I was doing a current event for Social Studies class, and I found an article online about the coronavirus. I think in my school, it has been talked about among students, but not really discussed much between students and teachers. My school isn’t really preparing for the virus, but I know that a letter was sent out as a warning, but to be honest, I don’t really think that’s preparing us for it.
To be honest I’m not that concerned with the Coronavirus. Of course I am a little concerned but not as much as I think I should be. I think I’m not that worried about it because it’s not a big issue in the United States yet but when or if it does I’m sure I’ll be much more worried and go into panic mode. I’m the kind of person who gets sick really easily so I have to be extra careful when the virus makes it to where I live. In my school we have talked a little about the Coronavirus because of how major it is and because it’s a current event but other than that my school hasn’t really done much to prepare or anything like that. I really think that schools and even the government should be doing more to prepare for the virus because I do think it’s just a matter of time before it hits the United States and I think we should use this time to start getting ready for it.
While the coronavirus does seem to be spreading quickly and new cases are being introduced everyday, I don’t feel like all of the commotion about this virus is necessary. To me, I just see the coronavirus as an overrated version of the flu, or pneumonia. Although these diseases can be deadly just like the coronavirus, no one seems to be talking about them 24/7. I wonder if the reaction that the coronavirus has received could just be because it is completely new, and came to life very quickly. The coronavirus to me kind of seems like a trend, in that if we fast forward to March, 2021, it will just be a past memory. Something that I do however think about quite often though is whether I will feel this same way about the coronavirus once it hits the US full force. Will I regret ever saying this in the next few years?
I am very concerned about the coronavirus. People keep saying that we need to prepare and get ready, so that just scares me. It’s a respiratory disease, which means if someone coughs and they have it, it starts to travel. It’s not like you have to shake hands with the person to get corona, you can be in the same room as them and have a high risk of catching it. And they say wearing a mask helps, but then it goes into who needs to wear it, if it really helps, and what kind of mask you need. So far, 2020 is looking to be an interesting year.
I live in Philly, and to be honest, I could care less about the corona. Even in my school, some kids decide to wear masks all day long, come on guys, the virus is across the country. I can see the practical use for washing your hands often and keeping masks in your house, but besides that, there is no point in freaking out and staying as far away from society as possible. Do you guys freak out this much about flu, common colds, measles, Ebola, asthma?? If the corona comes along, I think I'm gonna be perfectly fine, it's not like this is World War Z or something.
I am pretty nervous about the outbreak because it’s traveling so fast and it just pops up on people. I think that people’s worries are just fine because they also think that it’s traveling fast. Me and my parents aren’t preparing at all, the only thing we’re doing is washing our hands a lot more often.
I am very concerned about the coronavirus because it is very scary and you could get it if it spreads to you by someone. I think I am thinking and worrying about it a lot because I keep thinking about it and it makes me nervous to do things I want to do. News Forecasters say that my city is prepared for the spread of the coronavirus and some even said it may never hit us, but you never know. I have gotten news about the coronavirus by going to reliable news sources such as CNN and The Washington Post. The sources usually tally the fatality rates and the number of people infected with the virus. I’m wondering when they’re going to have a cure for it. Hopefully, it’s soon. We have discussed a little bit about the coronavirus. It was helpful because they taught us ways to stay clean and avoid getting the virus, so therefore I find this as a teachable moment. Gina’s advice is very helpful and I will definitely do the things she listed. My behavior has changed in light of the virus. I’m scared of going on my trip to Las Vegas by plane because I don’t know if there are people in Vegas who have it or not. I even stopped holding on to public transportation poles. It’s very scary!
I am worried about the coronavirus because I hate the flu and the common cold. I really don't want to get it. I have already been preparing for the virus like washing my hands more and trying not to touch my face, but it is very hard. I realized that I am constantly scratching my face, rubbing my eyes, and touching my ears. It is hard to not do those things. People are saying that America will be hit with the virus and I am especially worried for my grandpa. The coronavirus is proven to affect older and sicker people more than younger and healthier people. My grandpa is not in the best shape and I worried that if he gets the virus he may die. But I also realize that he could die from the flu too, so what am I worrying about? My parents say that the corona virus is similar to the flu, and that it won't be a big deal, but I am still worried. My school has not prepared for the virus besides sending a simple letter out on “how not to get the coronavirus.” I hope that school won’t close because I don’t like homeschooling, and I don’t want school to expand into the summer.
I think fear of the coronavirus is blown greatly out of proportion. You aren’t likely to die if you are somewhat healthy. I worry about it, but not how it will affect me but more of my family. All my grandparents live in New York and there has been a confirmed case there so that spooks me. My school has done nothing to prepare for the potential outbreak except for sending out a letter with the symptoms, which isn’t helpful because they are essentially the same as the flu. I wash my hands regularly but not touching my eyes will be a struggle because my eyes get very dry, and for some reason I want to touch them to see if they are OK.
To be honest I am very very very concerned about the outbreak of the coronavirus especially in the United States. This past weekend I was actually very scared about having the coronavirus because I was in pain in my throat and I had a very bad headache. I think it is sometimes too much of a big rumor because now everywhere I go I see people with masks on trying to protect themselves from getting the virus when you can get in various ways that don't require hand to mouth contact. So I am just a little scared but not all that scared because it is spreading but not near me.
I honestly think everybody needs to calm down about the coronavirus, of course it is a virus and people are dying, and that's not anything to poke fun at. But it really is just another disease. The media is just so hyped about it that we just assume every fever or cough us the corona. If it was just any other disease, we wouldn't assume every time they were feeling sick it would automatically be cancer or something. Everyone is just going along with the trend. That’s all it is. A popular disease.
Personally, I am not that worried about the coronavirus (COVID-19). I am not worried about the virus because the Influenza virus (the flu), kills 10s of thousands of people in the US every year and only 70 people have been infected with this new coronavirus. But I am still like the average person who is worried about the disease but I feel that some people are blowing it out of proportion. I am not saying that nothing should be done but I think that people have gone a little too far with preparations for no reason. This weekend on the news I heard that warehouse stores such as Costco were mobbed with people who were buying necessities like they were never going to leave their house again because of one virus. There have been hundreds of epidemics and deadly viruses around the world so why are people going so crazy over this one?
I also think that everyone just calling it the “coronavirus” is misleading because a lot of viruses such as the flu and the common cold are different strains of coronavirus. Just calling this strain of coronavirus the coronavirus isn’t right because like I said before most diseases are a type of coronavirus.
If we are going to be honest about this, I don’t think that the corona virus is going to be a big problem in the United states. I think we just need to keep it under control. For example, only let a certain amount of people in the big cities. That is where the big problems happen, in huge cities. This happens because there are so many people in these cities that a little virus like this could have a huge outbreak and infect lots of tourists and residents. Mainly tourists. These are more important because they will not know that they have the virus for a long time and they will bring it back to the county that they originally came from and now there could be a huge outbreak in that town or city. That is why it is so important to keep this virus under control.
The coronavirus has been an outbreak in our bodies and our mentality. People have been exaggerating the virus. Personally, I don't believe that this is a big deal as the coronavirus isn't fatal. In my school, if someone gets sick, everybody says it is the coronavirus. This outbreak has reached a point in our lives that we say these things. Someone coughs, QUARANTINE. Someone complains of a sore throat, CORONAVIRUS. I just do not get it. People think the coronavirus is something that happens in our daily lives, unless the kids in my class are using the virus for comedic purposes. I am prepared because my parents have been telling me how big of a situation this is and what I should do to protect myself. But, it is like everyone is obsessed with this. Everywhere you would see some correlation to this coronavirus and some people have had enough. Even when my teacher was reading the title, a student did not want to see the word because he had seen it so many times. Some people have been fed up with this but it is always useful to take necessary precautions.
I am not especially concerned about the coronavirus, but I do think that we should at least be a little prepared for it. When I first heard about it I didn’t really know the details, I just knew that there was a virus spreading. But one day when I was just watching the news, the topic came up and that was when I was informed about all the details and stuff. The only thing that my school really did was send out a letter that told us to stay home if we were sick, and some precautions you can take to not get sick, (like washing your hands and not touching your mouth, nose, and eyes.)
I think that the Coronavirus is not as bad as it is hyped up to be. It is basically the flu but with a wapping 2% death rate. This is because of people who have compromised immune systems like old people and babies. A perfectly healthy person will probably think that they have the flu because the symptoms are that you cough you have a fever and trouble but other than the slight respiratory problems the flu and the Coronavirus. The fears are way over blown for example people die from the flu but no one is this scared of it but this new virus is going to infect us all and it is deadly. People especially the media have blown this out of proportion which have gotten people scared. These are my thoughts on the Coronavirus.
I live in the Chicago area, and from my perspective, the media is the soul influencer of what people think about coronavirus. Personally, I’m not very scared for the coronavirus, but the media seems to be freaking out about this new virus. Some people are arguing the coronavirus is being exaggerated by the media, and the media is overreacting as usual. Some people also look at the flu and wonder why the media is not scared about the number of deaths cause by the flu. To answer both of these claims in my opinion, the media has a reason to be scared of coronavirus more than the flu. People who die of the flu typically have weak immune systems, or have insufficient access to health care. On the other hand, coronavirus has affected people of all ages, making it more dangerous to the general public, which is why the media is scared. Despite this, the coronavirus can be treated, and I live in an area with access to health support, which is why I am not frightened by the new possible pandemic.
I should be more careful of what im touching or doing, because if I get any contact with the virus. We should all wash our hands before and after we do things like eating. I think we can stop the coronavirus from spreading if we wash our hands and be careful of what we eat and touch. I been washing my hands and overall staying clean because I hate getting sick.
I am not very scared about the virus because it is very similar to the flu. It Statistically kills more people than the flu which is only 2%. It is a very small amount of people who are at risk mainly older people and young children. The only part about the virus’s that is annoying is that travel has become harder because governments to not want infected people in there countries. Many people are wearing face masks but the virus is not even airborne. As long as we find a vaccine for the virus I am not concerned at all.
The new coronavirus has been going around lately, and a lot of countries are infected. I’m not that concerned mainly because all cases have recovered from the infection here where I live (Vietnam). It’s harder for viruses to spread in hot temperatures, and that’s why it’s spreading a lot slower in Vietnam than in other countries. A lot of news has been going around on the internet, but most of them are untruthful. We can’t believe everything we see on the internet. Because of fake news, panic is spreading faster than the virus itself, and things get worse when people panic. Of course, we still have to be alert about it. I wash my hands more often, avoid touching my face, be more aware when going outside in public. My school is temporarily closed down to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, so they assign homework through virtual school. Everything we usually do in school is now being done at home on a computer. Its a lot harder than you think it is. At home, there are no teachers to supervise so I tend to procrastinate more and spend more time on an assignment than it actually needs. People shouldn’t worry too much about this considering the mortality rate is only 3%, and stop spreading fake news to create unnecessary panic.
yes im scared alot
I am very concerned about the corona virus because people are spreading it by not letting health professionals put them in quarantine . Its already in the U.S. and I am not sure how bad it can end up being. Good thing is is that it hasn't spread to North Carolina only to California. But because someone didn't want to be quarantined he has spread it in California. People are getting it from crew ships and traveling if they'd stay put for a while hopefully it won't spread that bad.
@Christopher Malidore I believe everyone is concerned about the, practically pandemic disease. I find that it's crazy that people are not letting health professionals put them into quarantine. Quarantine is basically the only hope we have left to make sure that it doesn't spread vicious symptoms of the coronavirus. I don't think it's completely going to stop spreading, obviously, but I do hope quarantine will slow down the spreading.
I am very concerned about the corona virus because I have heard this is a disease that can kill you and it spreads very quickly. It has been said that the corona virus is now in the city in which I live. The best thing we can do to stay protected from the life threatening disease is washing our hands/ keeping our hands sanitized. I hope that this does not have an outbreak in Florida because many people can lost their lives from this disease.
I am concerned about the corona virus, but at the same time i believe that the internet is making a HUGE deal out of this. This is actually scaring people. My little sisters are talking about it and are scared and i try to reassure them, but the internet is making it very hard. I tell them to just do all they can, like wash their hands and cover their mouths when they cough so they can protect themselves and others.
Am I scared of the Coronavirus yes, but I am more scared of what I don’t know. I feel as though no one can be fully prepared for something like the Coronavirus. One can be physically prepared yes, but mentally prepared is a whole new ballpark. The concept of a disease taking over our generation is something that many people can’t quite grasp. Teenagers turn to making jokes about it to help them cope because we all of terrified of what could be coming. The worst is the unknown, will this kill us completely or will it just fade away. Will be every discover a cure? Its questions like these, the unanswered questions that scare society the most.
VERY DANGEROUS, due to spreading around the world people are buying mask and very need things to endure in the virus. we need to be very cautious as the country of america and not take this virus lightly, It can affect and kill a very large amount of people.
I am very concerned about the coronavirus. However, even though I am concerned, I am not worrying about it as much as others. Like the article says, children aren't at risk as much as adults are. That doesn't mean I'm not scared. I don't really see any preparations happening in my family or in my school. That concerns me because, as a tourist based economy, my island is at higher risk of having an outbreak. My family work around tourists regularly so the chances of my family being infected are high.
In my school, we have not taken any precautions. My school has not even started to educate students. Instead, we learn what we know from the media. Some families are so uninformed and scared that parents are sending their kids to school with face masks even though not one case been reported. I think the schools in the article are doing good educating the public about the virus, however, the mass home-schooling plan is stretch. For my school , a realistic response would be to educate students and the community about the virus and how to stay safe.
I am not really concerned about the corona virus. My dad being a doctor has told me everything there is to know about it and most people don't get serious cases. I received the news from my dad. I have discussed the virus in school.I don.t know what my school is doing to prepare.
In north carolina, people are freaking out about the Coronavirus outbreak. For example, within a matter of hours after the news announced the coronavirus was in North carolina, hand sanitizers and face masks were completely sold out. Those that remain were in the hands of opportunists who sell them for absurdly high prices
I am definitely worried about the outbreak of the coronavirus. News recently broke of a third case in Illinois, in a town just around 30 minutes from where I live. I think people definitely need to have concerns for the disease, but I also think people need to educate themselves on how it spreads and the effects after contracting the disease. I am traveling next week, and seeing that the corona has such a rapid spread —especially in places such as airports— I have already comprehended the precautions I need to be taking in order to stay healthy. I think that because of social media more people are hearing about the virus, and people are taking what they hear and spreading false accusations, without really learning about what it can do to a person. I am at fault, I know that I need to educate myself more, and try to make sense of what is going on around the world.
I am really concerned about the coronavirus because its leading to more deaths and people are saying it is in North Carolina. I am worrying about it a lot because i could get the virus because it is in North Carolina. I am prepared a lot because my parents know how to keep me not sick. I don't know because i have not heard anything.
well there are already cases in north Carolina alone and i know a lot of people who are getting sick myself included and especially since it is sport season there is so much traveling around are state, the CDC said be prepared for WHEN it comes not IF it comes, that makes it even more scary but honestly its going get us out of school eventually and being locked up in my room by myself for a reason thats a yes for me.
I am concersernd about the conorvirus ,and dont want to get sick , and i feel there is not much i canactually make sure i dont get sick
very dangerous , and it can kill you .You can died some corona-virus it really really dangerous . If you feel you sick go to the doctor and check to make sure if you have it or not. Make sure to wash your hand before and after do something. At this time you should stay home for safe.
im scared i dont want to die the World Health Organization should do more to prevent this deadly disease am i right or am i right
I am not really concerned about the corona virus. My dad being a doctor has told me everything there is to know about it and most people don't get serious cases. I received the news from my dad. I have discussed the virus in school.I don.t know what my school is doing to prepare.
Not that much scientists are already working on the cure hopefully it gets made sooner then later
Very, because it is spreading so fast! And it has already reached the US!
As i see a lot of publicity being brought towards the virus on social media as well as through my peers at school, i feel though the virus is getting more attention than it deserves. As i research the disease, it shows that most cases are of infants or elders which would be people with weak immune systems. Yes, i do think it is important and precautions should be taken in order to stay safe from the virus but i think that social media has played a huge role in blowing it out of proportion and making it bigger then it really is.
@Yazmine Simmons
I think that social media has blown it out of proportion in the United States. However, in other countries, social media is the way to get out information about how to protect yourself from it, especially in higher-level countries that have the virus. I do agree that much of the attention it has on social media are memes and jokes. It should be informational and accurate because if it is not then it only causes more hysteria. There needs to be accurate information being put out, so that everyone can be educated and well-prepared with the necessary precautions. Your reasoning does line up with the generation of technology today and how fast information can be blown out of proportion. As this virus becomes larger, there needs to be a separation of what are overreactions and the truth. We also need each country to be reporting the accurate numbers of death and the state of the virus within their own country with accurate information being presented through the news and health websites. Without this, there will continue to be utter chaos and misinformation.
In regions where an outbreak has occurred, such as in Wuhan, China, or the Lombardy region of Italy, government officials have initiated quarantines and closed schools as a way to prevent transmission. Do you think those measures will take place where you live if a local outbreak occurs? Is that something you have been thinking about? Just wash your hands and don't touch no sick person
I am very concerned about the corona virus. The main reason is because everyone body is different so people really do not know how the virus will affect them. I have revived a lot of news about the virus on social media and the news. Most of the new is scary and deadly and some says that most cases are mild. I have not disused the virus in school a lot a lot of people say not to worry about it. I do not know if the school systems are doing anything major but I believe they are working on something
As I live in Vietnam, my school has been closed due to the government agreeing to shut down schools during the Coronavirus Outbreak. In order to keep teaching us, my school employed an online learning course on almost a day’s notice, though I think the already online infrastructure they already had helped. I do believe that I can see where the government is coming from but I think that all the information that the government sees about the virus is overblown. The media is a big contributing factor to why many people are panicking because that’s what the media does in order for people to read and watch their stories. Despite this, we still have to do school online which I believe is much easier to do assignments that are assigned but actually learning things from a teacher upfront is easier than the system that works now, I do miss the active learning and being able to question right then and there, but it is a lot easier for me to do things online as many certain processes are sped up, such as typing, drawing, research, planning, etc. and of course, being able to wear whatever I want while I work on school. Overall, there are things I miss about physical school but the online school has its plus sides.
I am not concerned about the coronavirus, because most of the extreme cases are elderly, infants, and people with weakened immune systems. My family have not really prepared for the coronavirus at all. My school has prepared by creating a video on how to prevent the spread of disease. My community has prepared for a local outbreak but is reminding people not to panic. I learned about the coronavirus from school. We have talked about it in school.
Question 4:
Although very few classes on the school campus have spoken to the students about the Coronavirus outbreak, the school has not prepared the students for any particular drill. Some teachers have informed their students that schools may close, but they did not teach us about any specific procedure that we may have to follow. School shutdowns are nothing new here on island. No, I do not think my school’s response has been sufficient, however, I’m hoping that we’ll be taught to prepare soon. I feel that some of the protocols discussed in the schools in the U.S. might not work for the students on island because not a lot of us are able to do work online. Some of the students require the supervision and assistance of the teachers.
Prompt 4:
Social media has always been a great tool for learning about the news. I always come across posts about the coronavirus, but I never actually read articles about the virus. Until today, when my teacher gave the effort to assign us this reading. Giving me a great deal of information I wasn’t aware of before. I think that the school plans mentioned in the article are achievable. Many students have already taken online classes and nearly every class is exposed to some type of technology, so it would be a lot easier for students to adjust to the change. I think that this solution would work best for my school. Since it seems very convenient and also reduces the chance of spreading the virus. However, creating an app would be more compatible with phones for the students who don’t always have access to computers or tablets.
Question 1:
In regards to the infamous Coronavirus, I am not majorly concerned about it, however, as rumors of the infectious disease continue to spread throughout the islands, I gradually gain a sense of cautiousness and worry for the safety of my family and fellow islanders. I, personally, would like to think that the fears associated with this disease are overblown and the possibility that the population would fall under said disease is low. My family and I have been through hospital appointments and have even stocked up on supplies that we think we may need if or when necessary. Majority of the citizens in my community and on the school campus are aware of the virus and its fairly rapid dispersion, however, there is very little being done to prepare for it. In addition to that, our island’s healthcare system lacks equipment and finances.
I am not especially concerned about the coronavirus, but I do think that we should be more aware of it mainly because the CNMI is an island with tourists coming and going every day. As the article mentioned, the fact that most of the cases are mild means that the virus spreads faster and easier. Because the tourists that visit our island are mostly people that come from Asia where there are many infected people, I am pretty sure that the virus is already on island. My parents are very cautious and aware; they bought a lot of masks on the internet and even got some sent from Japan by my grandparents. However, in school, only some students wear a mask. I saw some students wearing them at first, but they stopped wearing them after a few days. I think that the school should educate students more on this subject, and even close down schools when necessary.
I am concerned about the impact of the coronavirus in the CNMI. While in the mainland US there is less risk of contraction, the CNMI's economy is dependent on tourists mainly from China and South Korea, meaning there are more chances of exposure. Besides, many residents of the CNMI have diabetes or other conditions that affect their chances of surviving the coronavirus, meaning if the coronavirus came to the islands we would have a large fatality. The CNMI is not prepared medically and financially to deal with a mass outbreak; our government is currently taking austerity measures and our hospital, CHCC, has a staffing problem. Our schools are currently struggling to conserve money and our teachers and administrators face more salary cuts. If the school and the government cannot even pay the current staff, the schools and the government are not financially ready for the coronavirus. Yes, the coronavirus only severely affects a small number of people; but if the island you live in has a large number of people at risk of contracting the virus, has no means to take care of the infected, and is in frequent contact with those who have the virus, I do not think the concerns are overblown.
Prompt 1:
As of now, I am not extremely concerned of the corona virus; however, I am still worried about its ability to transmit from people to people easily. Although there has not been any outbreak in the place I live currently, I am truly concerned if the virus once reaches this area as it is a small island where medical treatment and resources are not advanced and sufficient. As the virus is currently spreading rapidly throughout the world, my family is being more cautious than before by washing our hands more often and reducing the number we go out to any public places. Despite the number of infected people escalating day by day, our school has done nothing as of now to prepare for the unexpected transmission that may happen. But the island has already blocked the airport and people from other countries entering the island, significantly affecting the economy that heavily relies on tourism.
Prompt 4:
Currently, I think my school is not doing anything to prepare for a corona virus outbreak. However, I have realized that more students are wearing masks and using hand sanitizers more often than before. In my opinion, shutting down schools and sending sick students back home are effective ways to prevent further outbreaks happening. Since the place I live is a small island, it would be deadly if there is an outbreak as it would transmit from one to the other rapidly.
I would say am somewhat concerned. I am constantly on the news following up on the latest information as soon as they are made available. Yet I am not overly worried since my parents are more than aware of what is going on. My family is pretty resilient and I doubt this virus would change that, I am worried about my older family members, but not over-the-top worried, since many of the facts about the virus do not really line up with the environment here to make it easily transmittable. As a community I believe the government will be able to implement the necessary measures if the virus does manage to show up at our islands. And as a school we will definitely take measures to hinder, if not stop, the transgression of the disease.
I am currently unaware of what the schools (on-island) would do if the virus manages to show up, but I do believe schools would go to great lengths to protect the children as well as stop the disease from further spreading. There has been discussion around the students saying if the economy drops further we may lose school days, but this info is neither confirmed nor denied. Others say that the school may follow what many of the Chinese schools have temporarily converted to: Online Education. Personally, I don't think online education is recommended since many people either don't have the proper equipment, or don't have stable access to the internet. The most realist ideal is just the simple hygiene practices.
The sudden outbreak of coronavirus has been undeniably alarming to everyone in each part of the world. It has affected stocks, businesses, economies, and tourism. I am more concerned about the effects that this virus has been giving out to several places including our island Saipan. In most companies that revolve and rely on tourism on island, the workers’ hours’ have been cut-off and reduced since several airlines have cancelled flights and declined passengers from our major tourist distributors: China, Korea, and Japan. Furthermore, stocks and goods exported from those countries have been put into halt until further notice. My family and I haven’t really done much preparation about it but think of the possible outcome of this outbreak. Our local government has issued an executive order regarding an emergency quarantine and preventive containment measures concerning coronavirus disease. In school, it is not usually brought up in a normal conversation but it is still part of table discussions (mostly about our parents’ working hours). For all we know, COVID-19 is zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people and is almost just common in cold places. One of the realistic school plans and protocols that schools can follow is adding hygienic and sanitary products all over the campus. By adding sanitizers on hallway walls and wipes, it could help us have easier access and would reduce the chances of transmitting any possible virus.
Part 2 Response
As of right now, my school hasn’t done much regarding taking precaution for the outbreak of the coronavirus. I have seen a couple of flyers plastered on walls and some students wearing face masks to school, but other than that I have not seen anything else. If the virus were to hit, my school would close. Due to the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu, our government is experiencing austerity and we have half days which are very beneficial in terms of saving money. Even though the virus isn’t here, schools should still take precaution and enforce the use of hand sanitizers and washing hands frequently.
The coronavirus is definitely worrisome, and people should also be as cautious about other diseases. The coronavirus has definitely allowed everyone to reflect back on their daily hygiene practices and hopefully start good habits like wearing masks, avoid touching your face, washing your hands frequently, etc.. When the coronavirus outbreak occur, my fellow classmates and I have begun to perform good hygiene practices to prevent the virus. These practices not only prevent the coronavirus but also other illnesses. People should not panic and begin basic protective measures if they haven’t. Everybody should maintain good hygiene practices even if the coronavirus outbreak ends to prevent any diseases.
Question 1
I'm not really concerned about the Coronavirus outbreak as of right now, since there hasn't been any cases of anyone having the virus on island. Although i'm not that concerned, since I feel like I would be later on, we should still be cautious and be prepared since that the government declared a state of significant emergency. The President also suspended entry into the U.S., including the CNMI of all aliens that had come in contact within the People's Republic of China. A lot of people in my community and in school then started to wear face masks, and there were announcements from government officials/representatives about the virus, but that's about it. My family also heard about the outbreak but haven't prepared anything drastic, but told me to wash my hands, eat healthier and to avoid overcrowded areas.
Question 2
My school is not doing much to prepare us for the Coronavirus disease. There has been verbal warning on washing our hands, to cover our mouths when we cough and such. If ever the event of the virus were to come to our island, I wouldn't be surprised if schools were to shut down again. Shutting down our school is realistic, since where I'm from, a lot of typhoons come and ago, some minor and some damaging typhoons that would shut down our school for at least 3 months. I think that doing online classes would work, but there are students who don't have access to the internet or electronic devices for online classes.
Question #1 Response
Regarding the whole outbreak of the coronavirus, as of right now, I am moderately concerned about it. Although my family runs to me in sheer panic with every update regarding the virus, I decided to think positively and distract myself with other things. If I were to overthink about this, it'll cloud my judgement and I will have a negative outlook towards the future. Of course, I still worry about it, especially when it comes to the well-being of my family in the U.S or in the Philippines. As of right now, our school is not taking any precautionary measures, unless you count flyers that teaches you how to wash your hands as a sign of them caring about this whole pandemic. Our community is not prepared to handle the spread of the coronavirus, given the fact that our healthcare system is not equipped to handle a lot of things. Furthermore, our hospitals rely on patients to fly overseas to get treatment on things that a hospital in the United States can easily treat.
The epidemic "Corona Virus" news that was on Twitter did not affect me at first during early January of 2020, but with the sudden action of my family panic buying products and goods at store these past few days it made look at this issue more seriously. My parents lectured me to be more careful whenever I'm not at our house, constantly reminding me to take precautionary measures when in public places; such as, washing more hands/ sanitizing frequently, and wearing a face mask to avoid the risk of getting a flu which leads to weakening of the immune system that may affect our body without protection from the active virus. Although there weren't confirmed cases yet here at the CNMI, it's better to be prepared than sorry. Just like how the aphorism, "prevention is better than cure". With the restriction of traveling, my family made sure to stock up goodies because of the shortage of shipments from Korea and other countries, which is the major exporter of food like rice. Shutting down of schools here at the CNMI is unlikely because there's no virus yet that is present here and some students may not have an internet access to replace traditional classes with virtual classes. However, I believe it would be great if the government provided free internet access and the required technology for students who can't afford. The best option for the people is to be hygienic and avoid crowded places.
• How concerned are you about the coronavirus? Do you think the fears are overblown or are you thinking and worrying about it a lot? How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?
In my opinion, I'm not as concerned about the coronavirus as I believe I should be. Recently, with the spread of the coronavirus, it should be a matter looked closely into as well as be raised awareness to; however, not to the extent that people have to blow it out of proportions and not attend school for fear of attaining the disease. The fears of people have been overblown way more than necessary and it should obviously be of concern to people, but again, not so much that the entire country is put under peril because of the arising panic within the citizens. In terms of preparedness, my family and I have not been so much concerned about the virus. I don't think much precautionary measures are necessary unless we're put under dire circumstances. My school and community both have not so much as prepared for the spread of the virus— if it were ever so— as my family has either. I do think precautionary measures need to be done to prevent any spread of the virus, even if it has not arrived to our island yet; it is much better to be safe than sorry. It has caused a bit of an unnecessary uproar in terms of contamination, especially since it has not arrived to our community and people are overly-worried over nothing.
The coronavirus is quite scary actually. Hearing news about it spreading around so quickly and that hundred are effected are concerning. I, myself, are concerned about the virus. I keep thinking about what would happen if the coronavirus came to our small CNMI. We don't know what would happen and if so what would we do? My family is known for the idea of preparing but hasn't done anything which I don't like. My family did stock up on some foods and cleaned our houses but with personal care not really. I am also concerned about what would happen to our school if the virus actually comes and spreads here. Many of the students are sick but with a cold or flu yet I'm still paranoid. I notice some action within my community and also the economy as they are slowly adding implements that would stop or prevent the spread or cause. The best option right now is to always wash your hands and stay safe.
My school has posted up fliers about how to lessen your chance of catching the virus but that is about it. They provide soap in the bathrooms and tell us to stay home if we are sick. I feel like they could do more about it, like really give us a talk about what the virus is and why we need to protect ourselves against it. There were fliers posted up but there was only a small amount and it was barely noticed. Most students just walk in the hallways without stopping to read the fliers. I have conflicted feelings about the precautions taken by some schools. While I do think online classes are the best idea, it is also one of the worst because there are many kids without access to the internet or an electronic. I also support the decision to send out letters to parents, which is something my school has not done.
Question #4
My school has taken no safety measures in response to the coronavirus outbreak. At the bare minimum, they have informed the students of any recent news surrounding the disease, but that is all. This lack of caution is definitely not a sufficient response to the blooming threat of coronavirus. My school should do more to educate its students about the epidemic. Providing the students with an adequate supply of hand sanitizer and hand soap would also help tremendously. If a coronavirus outbreak were to occur on the island, I would suggest that my highschool would follow the steps of the schools mentioned in the article and shut down school. This solution would be the most realistic and practical because it would decrease the risk of students coming into contact with those infected.
Regarding the coronavirus outbreak, I am not as concerned as others seem to be. I'm not that scared that our island would be affected because of the decrease in tourists on island. My family and I rarely talk about it, and they don't seem to be that concerned about it either. Our community is taking precautions and are limiting the flights coming in. Our school doesn't seem to be overly concerned and haven't established any protocols for the students to follow. I believe that our school should provide more soap, so students are able to wash their hands to prevent any diseases. I think the plans and protocols discussed in the article are realistic for their school, not for our school. The protocols seem to extravagant to prevent coronavirus.
Honestly, at this point, I am not too concerned about the coronavirus. I believe that in other countries, worrying about it is rational, but not for where I live. I live in a small island in the Pacific, so it does not seem likely that the virus will spread here, as flights from outside countries have either been completely suspended or reduced. Furthermore, visitors are required to be screened upon arrival. Because of these protective measures, I feel safe enough to not be worried about the virus. It also seems that most people in my community feel safe as well, as we have not made much of an effort to protect ourselves in the case of an outbreak on island. Some have taken to wearing masks daily, but that is as far as it gets. In the case of an actual outbreak, we are definitely unprepared, but for the current conditions on island (which is showing no signs of an outbreak occurring), we are completely prepared.
My school has not done anything in preparation for a potential coronavirus outbreak, which I believe is appropriate. We have gotten some reminders to keep up with our personal hygiene, and to be mindful if we are ill, but that is about it. The protocols and plans discussed in the article seem realistic, even for my school. Closing down schools would be the wisest decision, and continuing work at home through online classes is the next best thing, but, as mentioned, many complications can arise from that. For my school, closing down is something we are accustomed to.
My school is not, to the best of my knowledge, prepared for a coronavirus outbreak, though I do have confidence that our instructional time will be substituted with online classes because I’m currently taking online classes anyways. Though our educators may need to be trained, the process seems intuitive enough. I think that it’s a good idea for schools in infected areas to shut down and transfer instruction online, but my concern is about the lack of accessibility of online instruction for some. A significant number of people I know do not have access to laptops or internet, so instruction online can be less accountable for some and prove more difficult. I think our schools should try to work with local internet service providers to get up a system that lets everyone have internet and a working laptop (since all the classroom electronics will no longer be in use if school is shut down).
Question 4 (Part 2)
I believe that our school isn’t doing much to prepare in case of a corona virus outbreak. I have only heard about the virus from teachers. Some of my teachers talked to us about it and how we should be prepared and cautious. Overall, I expect our school to do more about the situation even though there aren’t any cases of corona virus on the island. I think it's a great thing that a lot of the schools discussed in the article are planning in case of an outbreak. Although the plans don’t seem like they’ll be effective, the discussion of what to do would help to come to a solution. I think that the use of online classes and cancelling on ground classes could be more realistic for our school because a lot of the students at my school already take or have taken online classes.
I will say that I am not really concerned about the coronavirus since I live on a small island that a majority of people don't know about. I feel that that the idea is too overblown while during this time we should be calm and not panicking. But I feel that it is also a good thing to be concerned about it. So we can have preventive measures against it from spreading. Our island had already started to cancel flights from the infected countries. My family is also very concerned about it. My parents have started to ask me and my sister to start wearing masks to schools and to wash our hands more. But I don't think that our school has said anything about it yet. I think that if they do say something it would probably be delaying school days then having make up days. I think that it is probably the best way to not get infected and to not get others infected. Since we still don’t have any solution. One of the solutions in the article was doing online work or homeschooling. I agree with the article that both ways would probably not work out since not everyone has access to technology and our parents probably don’t have any experience in teaching. The most realistic one would probably be to shut down the school until further notice.
Personally, I'm not that concerned about the coronavirus, but I'm a little concerned because in our place the CNMI we are not that prepared if the coronavirus does strike on our islands. Our economy has dropped significantly because of this virus. Flights from major exporters have been canceled. We also have a travel ban which is the major cause of our economy dropping. As of now, our schools have not made any changes but they are regularly informing us, students, about the updates of the coronavirus. As of now, we should all be prepared so we can all be safe.
I am not as concerned about the coronavirus as I should be. I don’t really think anything of it because where I am, we currently don’t have any cases but I think we should all be concerned. I think we should be more prepared than we are now even though there has been no signs of the virus. We should be more cautious, just in case something ever does happen. Where I am at, I don’t think we are actually doing much to prepare for possible spread. I know that at work, we make sure we always clean our hands after and before a customer. We also provide hand sanitizer for the customer and employee. At home, we just make sure to wash our hand every time we do something or go somewhere. For school, I don’t see much of anyone doing anything to prepare us for the coronavirus. If we do get exposed, I think the best thing to do as a student is to stay home, away from the rest, and continue to school work online. I do agree with the plans for schools as discussed in the article. I think it is a good way for people to take precaution when it comes this situation.
Surrounding the topic of coronavirus, I am not too concerned about its outbreaks and contagion. I live on a small island in the pacific, meaning the coronavirus can mean two things. Being isolated from the rest of the world, it is hardly likely for the illness to come here (there have been no cases on the island so far), however, if it were to spread here, it would become like wildfire; it would spread everywhere and quickly because of the island's small space. I think as community we are not fully prepared for it to come here because of our inadequate health care and our underestimation of the impact it might have on our economy. If the coronavirus were to come here, it would not only affect the community, but our economy as well. Our economy is heavily reliant upon tourism, thus an outbreak would be bad for business. Also, our island is still recovering from massive typhoons and government austerity, so an outbreak would be devastating. Regarding our public school system, we have not taken any measures or precautions in preparation of this illness. The reference I've heard about it around the school are jokes and class discussion. I am not opposed to this either because so far there have been no cases of corona here. Meanwhile mainland schools (America) have taken the proper precautions in my opinion. Their situation is more severe as there have been outbreaks in parts of the country and still spreading. If corona did come here, we would also take similar the same measures.
I am very concerned about the spread of the coronavirus. Serious cases of the coronavirus may not affect young people like me, but many of the adults and those who have fragile immune systems are at risk of contracting the worst case scenario of this virus. If it somehow managed to travel here, then it wouldn't take long for most of the island to be infected because this is a small place. My family prepared by buying masks and hand sanitizers. There are no cases of coronavirus on the island yet so my school hasn't prepared for it.
My school has not made any preparations for the coronavirus outbreak. Having students continue their education online is a good solution for most people, but there is a minority that don't have access to the technology. There are also people who may have a device that they can use but no stable wifi connection. So doing this may not be the best solution to benefit all students. I think to prevent the further spread of the virus and so that we can prepare for it with our families, schools would be closed until the situation is under control.
Because of the news that I consistently hears, how a large number of people have been affected by this virus in many different continents, I am deeply concerned. Although, I have also seen different articles that say that treatments or ways of avoiding this are pretty simple. However, the fact that it spreads so quickly within a short period of time is what scares me the most. Particularly here on our island, if one person is infected, the next day, one whole town is infected. As a person that has a cold and cough, my parents have been extra careful. They keep telling me to not socialize that much in school, and to lessen physical contacts such as holding hands, hugging, and sharing foods and things with others. They often tell me to wash hands and use sanitizer. In case of a coronavirus outbreak, I think our community has been giving this virus a much deeper insight and is ready for situations like this. But like what I’ve mentioned, since this island is only small, transmitting this could happen in a swift. Our school doesn’t give much spotlight to this virus, but they do tell us how to prevent it by keeping good hygiene. Like what other countries did, like in Japan, shutting down schools is a great idea on preventing the spread of coronavirus. If any circumstances happen such as this on our island, putting down schools would also be a great option as well as limiting human transportation from other countries.
I’d say I’m concerned to an extent; while we’re reassured that the virus itself has yet to make an appearance in the CNMI, to be frank our government has never been known for being up to par in terms of health awareness and security. We can never be too safe, after all. Seemingly despite how deadly it can be, it supposedly exhibits mild symptoms and those affected can make full recoveries. Considering how there hasn’t been any confirmed treatment for this novel virus however, other than quarantine, isolation and containment, it leaves me very skeptical. To what extent should we feel complacent about not acquiring such foreign virus? I think it’s essentially relevant to be aware of its impact in other parts of the world, whether or not we have it. Awareness leads to better preparation. We are no better than any other country so there certainly aren’t any blockades prohibiting the virus from entering our islands until we impose travel bans.
I wouldn’t say our school’s response towards the outbreak is very sufficient, but it is understandable as there aren’t any cases yet. The protocols I’d say are beneficial as they serve as reminders of maintaining proper hygiene.
I am currently not that worried about the Corona virus for a few reasons. Firstly, the U.S. is not being affected nearly s much as more eastern countries, especially in Asia. Secondly, most deaths from the Corona virus are much older people then me, o if I get infected I should be fine. I'm not sure if my school is preparing in any way for the virus, but I would assume not since it has only recently hit the U.S.. I haven't talked to my family about the virus for the same reason, and there would not be much to talk about but the viruses effects in Asia.
(Part One) The coronavirus severely affects our economy considering that the Marianas has a primarily tourism-based economy. In 2018, Super Typhoon Yutu struck the Marianas resulting in a $1.32 billion drop in Gross Domestic Product. If the coronavirus even parallels the events of Super Typhoon Yutu, the number of tourists and overall economy will decline once more. Another concerning factor is that airlines did not keep strict tabs of those flying in and out before the outbreak, in turn, making it more difficult to identify those who may carry the virus. The concern and fear that the coronavirus brings is by no means overblown. Friends and family alike contemplate whether they should trust certain foods or go to specific areas. If the virus makes its away to the Marianas, if it has not already, best believe that I’m already stocked up on canned food and rations.
In regards to the coronavirus, I am not all that concerned. I personally think the fears of coronavirus are not overblown. It is understandable for some places to fear this illness because the virus could be near or spreading around their country. My family and I are aware of the virus, however, we are not doing anything about it. Like my family, our school has not done anything to prepare the students for the possibility of the coronavirus spreading here on our island. Our community has done some things to prevent the virus like closing off airlines coming from China, putting up posters around the hospitals, and parents have been very strict about hygiene but that's it. I think the plans and protocols that were discussed in the article are necessary for big places with a large population. For our school, it isn’t as realistic for the school system to be shutting down schools or preventing certain students from going to school because our population isn’t as big and is clear of coronavirus.
I'm not too concerned about the coronavirus because I'm sure we are fairly safe here in the CNMI, which I could very well be wrong about because of the number of tourists from the countries where the sickness is prevalent travelling to the island. In the case of my grandparents, I think fears are way overblown, but the world in general are taking normal and necessary precautions, like washing their hands and wearing masks, but I'm not thinking about it that much. My family and I have purchased masks online and have several cases of soap and hand sanitizers, so I'd say we're prepared if there were to be a case on the islands. However, my school seems to be not doing at all to keep students safe from the virus. With no confirmed cases on the island, I think that's perfectly okay. My community is prepared because it is not letting people from China travel to the islands as of two days ago, so that's a step to ensure our safety. My school is not doing anything to prevent the outbreak because there simply hasn't been on as of now. Some suggestions that could be viable for my school would be shutting down the school in the case of an outbreak and moving all classes to be accessible via internet. This way, class can continue at home where everyone's safe.
I am not extremely worried about the prevalent coronavirus, though I may possess a bit of concern if it becomes a bigger problem. We are not fully aware of the myriad of possibilities that may occur in due time. Considering this, I believe we should be prepared for the worse. Our government has already taken steps to prevent the spread of the virus. Flights to the island were ceased, this ensued to the significant drop in the economy because tourism is our main source of income. Bearing this in mind, I think we are not prepared for the virus. Our market plummeted, our hospitals are inadequate, and our people are not fully aware on how to act in this time of crisis. As of now, our schools have made no changes to treat the situation. As I stated before, we should always be prepared for the worse. So, taking the utmost precautions is recommended.
Prompt 1:
- At first I was completely frantic about the corona virus, however, lately I barely even thought about it. I think that the fears may be a little overblown, but it is necessary to be worried in these type of situations. Truth is, my family and friends are not that worried and well prepared for the corona virus outbreak. My family has been pushing each other to take vitamins, but that's it. It's quite overwhelming thinking about "What if the corona virus spreads here?" this is because I live in a very small island, it's where lots of people know each other and news spread around easily, but then that would mean that the virus would spread around quicker.
Prompt 4:
- Unfortunately, my school hasn't done anything to prepare for the corona virus outbreak, but only a few of the students started to wear face masks. Although the corona virus isn't affecting us at the moment, I think that my school should really try to prepare a "just-in-case" plan. I think that online classes would be a great way to reduce the risks of the virus spreading, because students would still be acquiring knowledge. However, this can be possible for my island, but money is a problem, as well as some students not having access to the internet nor a device.
Pandemics are certainly not to be taken lightly, but in terms of my concern, I mean sure, yeah I'm concerned. It's natural to be afraid of the unknown but what exactly does worrying do? My main concern is by far is the fact that my mom works for a casino that is constantly bombarded by new unknown passers that could potentially affect her with the COVID-19. Although I know that a mask might not fully protect oneself from the virus it is a reassuring factor. To prepare for the virus, my family has been consuming vitamins, wearing masks, and keeping ourselves within the house as much as possible. As for schools in my community, I'd say they're doing their best with what they can. I think or economic welfare is more worrisome than the virus getting here. And from what I can see at least a minimal amount have students have been wearing masks here, which just assures me that they're at least aware.
Question #1
Living in the CNMI where the coronavirus is not seen as a major threat, I am not very concerned about the novel disease. Currently, there have not been any confirmed cases on island as well as any nearby outbreaks. Although I am not deeply concerned about the disease, I have taken several cautions to prevent any chance of me contracting the disease such as frequently washing my hands and avoiding touching my eyes, nose, and mouth. The threat of the disease has far more affect my family than it has me. My mother’s anxiety about the disease has caused her to regularly advise my sister and I to be cautious about our hygiene and wear protective face masks. In regards to the cautionary steps my community has taken, there has not been much besides public announcements about how to prevent the spreading of the disease and the abundance of face masks that are being sold at almost every store.
1) Regarding the coronavirus, I personally am not all too concerned about it. Statistics show that it is mostly elders or people with compromised immune systems that catch the coronavirus and have trouble fighting it. I do worry about the economy and the flow of money and flights being stopped and my parents and grandparents, especially my relatives in China and Japan. If I were to be honest, I do not think our community is prepared for the spread of the virus. The government has only issued warnings about taking preventative measures but has not taken initiative in preparing our community and people against the spread of the virus. My family has taken to using hand sanitizers daily and wearing masks to their workplace. I have also taken cautions to prevent any possible contact with the virus. Our school, however, is not prepared at all against the coronavirus. They have taken no actions to prepare the students and staff against the coronavirus or to educate us about it.
2) Our school has taken no precautionary measures to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak on island. The only response that our school might have is to shut down. They could put all the students in online classes, but that may pose a problem to many. Like the article stated, not everyone has access to internet or laptops at home. They would not be able to keep up or participate at all in online classes. Educating the students about the virus and why it's important to get the flu vaccine are all good protocols.
• What, if anything, is your school doing to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak? Do you think your school’s response has been sufficient? What is your reaction to some of the school plans and protocols discussed in the article? Which do you think are realistic for your school?
My school has not done much to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak. I believe that my school's response to this matter has been sufficient enough. However, it would be best to take precautionary measures such as temporarily shutting down schools when they feel the virus has been predominating our island. Although it may cause a bit of a delay with students graduating on time or maintaining the necessary education they need to better prepare themselves for their futures, I do think it would be a very efficient method of handling the coronavirus issue if it were to be brought to our island. It isn't the best protocol for this subject of matter, but I think it's necessary to provide a safer community and environment for students and their families. For my school, I believe following the same protocol would very much be useful and is the most practical because many students may need this "break" to better prepare themselves for the virus that is about to develop among the community. They may need this time to spend with their families and to "self-quarantine" themselves in their homes to prevent from attaining the virus.
I am kinda concerned about the coronavirus. My family is kinda prepared about the virus. I've gotten my news about the coronavirus by my family telling me about it. I have discussed the virus in school. Most of us ask if coronavirus is dangerous or not, and how can we prevent it.
Coronavirus is a very concerning topic. Especially, for an island that depends on tourism and imports. If flights were to stop, the economy would fall even more than it already has. If ports were to close, a majority of our goods would disappear. A majority of our food like rice and meat are imported from elsewhere. People's fears over coronavirus are usually either overblown or too little. It is overblown in a way that when people see asians cough, even if it's just once, they automatically cringe away and sometimes they even avoid asians in general. Some people are also not concerned enough because they do not take extra precautions to keep themselves clean and stock of goods that might run out. My family has already started stocking on goods and taking a few extra precautions in case there is an outbreak here. As for schools, I do not see much of a change so I would say they are not that prepared. I see my community as a mix of people who are prepared and people who do not care enough to prepare.
Part 1: I’m concerned about the coronavirus. I’m alert, but not panicking about the outbreak as of yet. The fears in my community are not overblown and I think our local government is doing what’s right in helping prevent the spread of the COVID-19. We’re not really too worried, alert but not anxious. My family is not really prepared, but we’ve purchased some face masks and we have hand sanitizer from red-cross. My school doesn’t seem to be as prepared, as we have a lot of classes and spaces where there’s a bunch of people cramped in a small space, though I don’t think there’s the need for very strict preparation as of yet because the local government is prohibiting tourists from infected areas coming into our community.
I’m not as concerned about the Corona virus now as I was when I first heard about it. It doesn’t seem like the virus is going to spread around the world, although I am still washing my hands more often and being aware of the things I am touching just to be safe, and even prevent myself from getting any type of sickness. I have discussed the virus with my family when we first saw it on the news, but none of us are really too concerned. The death rate from the virus is very low, so I don’t think that it will evolve into something that the entire planet has to worry about.
I'm only concerned about the virus because I'm not confident that I have a strong enough immune system. I'm also scared for if it reaches the people that are close to me. At home I have disinfectant sprays, hand sanitizer, soap, and running water. I have also prepared masks for my family. At school there's hand sanitizer, soap, and running water. Just the regulars.
My highschool is indifferent about the outbreak. There hasn't been any improvement or warning about our hygiene. But so far, the Governor has issued an Executive Order for quarantine, increase monitoring, and closed off incoming travelers from Asia. I guess the schools are assured by that. The idea of closing down schools and continuing work at home shocked me. All I could think about was the loads of money these schools had that made them confident to think of such thing. When times get drastic, cancelling classes seem the most realistic. The less interaction the better. The part about online classes, I'm sure that not everyone has a stable connection and/or a capable computer. So that's that.
I am mildly concerned with the corona virus because it is a worldwide disease, but is had also not caused any casualties in the US.
Question #1 Response
Even though many people say that they aren’t concerned about the coronavirus, I am. I’ve come across many reassuring statements that the virus may not reach the C.N.M.I, but I still worry because not only is this virus dangerous, but it is also harming our economy. Many families working in the tourism industry are facing paycheck cuts due to less hours. This heavily affects our government because without money flowing through the economy, which comes from tourism, there are no taxes being paid to provide. My sister works in the tourism industry and when the coronavirus outbreak began, my family was afraid that something bad were to happen to her. I worry about my brother, who is non verbal and autistic, he can’t speak for himself and take care of himself as well. I am not able to help him when he’s at school. If the virus were to hit, does the C.N.M.I health care have the equipment needed to quarantine the infected people? There are many questions that we have to ask but as of now, regardless of whether the virus is here or not, people should still take precaution and maintain proper hygiene.
Although I feel like the Coronavirus isn't a threat to Saipan just yet, I am very concerned about it. The virus can spread very easily and we still don't know if it can be in you're body and you won't get any symptoms until days later. I do believe that the fears are a little overblown, the media focuses on the amount of cases of the Coronavirus, but they fail to highlight the amount of cases that have been cured. Although an executive order was released, I still am not that worried about it, since the airlines are not bringing in any tourists, I guess I could say we are safe for now, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be completely blind to the fact that this virus is going around and spreading very quickly. As far as I know, my school isn't doing anything to prepare for the virus, if anything we will probably shut down for a while and make up the days we've missed. Personally, I've been sanitizing and washing my hands more frequently, it's just me being very anxious about getting the virus. I would get masks, but unless they are N95 masks, I won't really be protecting myself from the virus that way.
Honestly, I am concerned about the coronavirus due to its prevalence throughout the world and its death toll in China. Thus, I do not believe that fears are overblown or people are exaggerating the risk. It is better to be safe than sorry. Being aware of your surroundings and cautious of the disease can prevent you from catching it or unconsciously spreading it. It is even more important to prevent the disease from entering our islands because we have a smaller population. Just to be safe, my family and I have been preparing for it through simple prevention measures, like washing our hands and getting flu vaccinations. To keep our small community safe from the disease, the government suspended flights from China and reduced flights from infected places. However, schools have not been active in preventing the possible spread. Personally, I believe the responses of our schools are reasonable because as of now, there is no major outbreak of the coronavirus where I live. The virus, though, is still an urgent matter and must be taught to the students. By gaining information on its effect in the world and how to prevent its spread, students will be better able to care for themselves. People’s reactions to the coronavirus greatly varies depending on the location, so the school plans and protocols may be more helpful to that specific place. For the CNMI, however, the plan to utilize online resources and technologies is realistic because the social gaps are less apparent here.
It's hard to not get concerned over such a serious pandemic that has quarantined whole cities. I live on small island that is currently in desperate need of money, so I am also concerned about how we will function with out our main source of income, tourism. Due to the current state my island is in, I believe that we are not prepared for an outbreak. Just because a virus has a lower infection rate for children, that doesn't mean that the threat is gone. The only preparations that my school has done to prepare is simply putting up posters advising students to wash hands. It's sufficient enough but could be better, since not many people would even read the posters to begin with. Other school's solutions to the problem are pretty understandable considering how many people the virus had infected.
As of right now, I am not as worried about the coronavirus as I should be. My parents would just tell me to not go to crowded places, always wash my hands, and to not get too close to other people. As far as I am concerned, my school isn’t doing anything nor has done anything for the possible spread of the virus. As for the community, our government suspended flights from China but unlike other countries, the government nor community promotes the wearing of masks in public. For a matter of fact, stores are using this as an opportunity to earn more money by selling masks individually instead of in packs like they did before. As of right now, according to the government, we are still clear of the coronavirus. Regarding the school plans and protocols discussed in the article, I think temporarily shutting down schools if the virus were there is good. I also think that leaving sick students home or vaccinating them is also a good idea. Even though flu vaccinations may not help if the person actually has the coronavirus but the vaccination could make it easier for people to know if they are infected or not. The island I live in is still clear of the coronavirus and the virus isn’t close but if the virus was, I think vaccinations and temporarily closing school are necessary. However, if schools aren’t temporarily closed, leaving sick students home should be a good idea so they do infect other students even though it is not the virus.
(Question 1)
I am greatly concerned about the spread of coronavirus. I am constantly thinking and worried about the many possibilities that this disease could spread to the CNMI. My family and I are always reading articles and watching news of what is happening at Korea, making sure that our family members are safe. My mom works with a lot of people (mostly tourists from Korea) and because this makes her more likely to get infected she wears a mask at work and brings a bottle of hand sanitizer wherever she goes. She does this because there are rumors that there is someone who caught the coronavirus where I live. This scares me because my community is not ready or prepared for the possible spread of the virus. We don't have the medical kit to check if we have the virus and our local government is not ready to alert or take immediate action to prevent the spread of this virus.
For the case of Coronavirus, I am both not concerned and concerned about the virus. I am not really concerned because I believe that the virus will wear out and probably die out and be contained. Im also concerned as the virus could spread even more, or vaccine could take longer. The fears are a bit overblown about the virus, because based on research, it killed more people who were already elderly. How me and my family are prepared is that we always wash our hands, and avoid physical contact with people. As of the community the Island of Saipan, we closed the tourism in Saipan from China, Korea, and Japan, to prevent the virus from spreading.
(Question #2)
Some schools mentioned in the article are temporarily shutting down their schools as a response to the coronavirus. Students who attend schools that are currently shut down continue classes online. I personally thought that this was a great way to continue education despite the fact that there are some students who don't have access to internet or devices. Given the circumstance, this was a great response from schools to stop the spread of coronavirus. This is a realistic solution for our school. Students are already learning online and obtaining school credits from online classes. Unfortunately, this is not what my school is doing. Our school isn't preparing for the outbreak of the coronavirus. In fact, we don't even talk about this virus nor are we told to wash our hands or wear a mask. My school's response is not sufficient. Given that we have many tourists from Asia coming, our government and school should have issued more warnings and precaution weeks ago.
In the past few months, Coronavirus was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), infected approximately 84,000 people, and killed nearly 3,000 people. Moreover, Coronavirus spread throughout the world at an alarming pace and is now worldwide. Though this disease is not in the place that I am living in, after hearing the statistics of the people who were infected and killed by this disease, which still has no cure, I am very worried. To decrease the chances of getting the Coronavirus, my family bought hand-sanitizers and make sure that we carry it with us wherever we go. We also make sure to dust off our clothes and wash our hands after coming home. Recently, our island has closed off all flights from China as an effort to prevent the disease from coming into our island. However, our schools haven't done much or shown much concern about this. Though I did have a few teachers talk about it and tell us to make sure to wash our hands, those were the only signs of concern towards this "near pandemic".
I am not truly concerned with the whereabouts of the Corona virus. It is possible to survive if you're healthy. If or when it hits, staying home from school doesn't sound that bad. I haven't really changed my behavior, or wash my hands more. Currently, for me, it is like it doesn't exist.
I am not concerned about the coronavirus. After looking at statistics and reading other articles including this one I’ve come to the conclusion that the flu is more deadly and a more common disease to worry about. No one in my are has had the corona so I’m not concerned especially since it's an airborne illness. Regarding my school, nothing from the administration has been said about the cornea but students have been spreading rumors about school closings. I am not concerned about the coronavirus. After looking at statistics and reading other articles including this one I’ve concluded that the flu is more deadly and a more common disease to worry about. No one in my are has had the corona so I’m not concerned especially since it's an airborne illness. Regarding my school, nothing from the administration has been said about the cornea but students have been spreading rumors about school closings.
I don't feel the need to overthink about a virus that isn't in my area of living. I do think that the coronavirus is a very scary thing, having a virus in your body gives you a higher chance of dying and getting sick. If it was to be here in the cnmi, I would definitely be more aware and on edge. Im see myself as a public person, I go out alot and I am exposed to alot of stuff. If it was to ever come here, I would wear a face mask because you can never be too safe, even though I'm young and I have a lower chance of receiving the virus, there is always a chance. My school right now isn't planning or helping the students prepare for anything involving the corona virus but my parents are bringing in habits like washing our hands more.
Question 1:
I am actually very concerned about the Corona Virus that has been spreading wildly in a short amount of time. I have family members and friends in Korea that are in danger and it is making me worried like a lot. Thinking about the possibilities my family an friends might get corona really scares me. I wish everyday that they are safe and not get the virus. I also have a friend in China, which is the most dangerous to be in right now. I think about him mostly everyday being worried an hoping that he does not get the virus. It may seem like I am over-exaggerating but this virus is a big deal. You never know when this virus might spread to Saipan and honestly Saipan is not prepared to deal with this virus.
Question 2:
I honestly don't think our school is doing anything to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak because they're not announcing anything saying "Stay safe kids and wear masks!". I do see some flyers showing how to avoid getting the virus but I don't think our school is taking it seriously. If a coronavirus outbreak happens in Saipan, I think our school would just last minute cancel school, or tell us to stay safe from the virus. I do understand that they are not really preparing for an outbreak because the virus is not in Saipan but you never know what might happen. Someone with the coronavirus might come to Saipan and spread it. So I think our school should take this problem seriously and think about ways to prevent students from getting the virus.
Personally, I haven't worried about the Coronavirus at all since it became such a prominent issue in the news. I usually feel like the news wont affect me, and that it's not realistic but this article has brought to my attention that the virus is very real and not as far as I thought. There is probably nothing I can do other than to wash my hands frequently, so I do feel slightly helpless. I hope that this will end before it has the potential to grow even more.
Regarding the concerning case of the 'coronavirus', I am very concerned and worried as of this virus infecting the people of Saipan, therefore our loved ones being contained and killed by the virus itself in due time. In addition, I believe that the fears of the people aren't exactly overblown because we should all be cautious about this situation considering the fact that so many people in Wuhan already died. So it's generally alright if we're thinking and worrying about it a lot because we can look out for each other, like families. In contrast, I believe that my family and I are really prepared for the possible spread of the virus since we always have things to sanitize ourselves with. As for my school and community however, I don't really think that they're prepared for the virus because I generally feel like some people won't take the rules or steps of prevention seriously.
Although the coronavirus is spreading, my school isn't doing anything to prepare for the virus' outbreak. Therefore their response has been sufficient but to an extent due to the government reminding us to be aware of the virus itself. My reaction to some of the school plans or protocols discussed in the article is interesting, making me become more aware of what is happening worldwide. Although, I am not so sure of what is realistic for my school as to what's going to happen.
I am concerned about the Coronavirus but I'm not freaking out about it. We have discussed the Coronavirus in class and we talked about how it has spread throughout the United States. We also talked about how quick China reacted to the virus and how they slowed the spread of it. Even though they slowed the spread, it is just a mater of time until it spreads all throughout the U.S. I don't think our community is prepared for the Coronavirus and I feel like we haven't taken many precautions toward it.
The COVID-19 is not as bad as it seems. Yes, it is a virus that is killing people but that's only because we haven't faced this specific Corona Virus before. Some people don't know that there are hundreds of Corona Viruses that are seasonal and affect human and animal respiratory systems. As far as comparing it to other viruses, it's definitely up there for being the most infectious virus and we don't know how it is spread besides contact. A few days ago a man in California was tested positive for the virus and scientists don't know how he got is. More cases like this are popping up in the U.S. and other countries as well. The thing that I worry about the most is how Trump is going to react to the Virus. So far he has ignored it and even cut some of the funding's of the CDC before this outbreak happened and has not "reimbursed" the CDC with it's money. We also don't know what the government is going to do with the stocks since they have been dropping by a lot and everyone is selling there stocks which could cause us to go into a recession or the government might freeze the stock exchange. either way it's a no no.
Prompt 1:
Though I am concerned about the corona virus, it is only to a certain extent. The news and media have been reporting on it non stop and everywhere you go you can see an article or a program talking about the corona virus. Though the virus is something to worry about, the media has certainly blown it out of proportion and often makes its audience be in fear while not often acknowledging the efforts made to treat it and the low fatality rates. I definitely am cautious though as I am more aware of my personal hygiene and I try to encourage others to wash their hands more and to be careful when they go out. My family and friends from what I know have taken a similar approach as I have where though they are concerned and do make efforts to prevent any signs of the corona virus, we have not gone in full panic buying all the masks we can and storing up on can food. The local government has issued a ban on travelers and tourists from countries such as China where the virus had come from to prevent any spread to the community.
Prompt 4:
From what I know, our school has not taken any specific precautions to stop the corona virus. Though our school hasn't one anything, anyone who has access to the internet which is virtually everyone these days, have become more wary and cautious with their approach to the corona virus. The most I've seen from the school has been posters telling us about the corona virus but otherwise, there are no clear efforts to prevent anything.
In Vietnam, people are freaking out about the Coronavirus outbreak. For example, within a matter of hours after the news announced the coronavirus was in Vietnam, hand sanitizers and face masks were completely sold out. Those that remain were in the hands of opportunists who sell them for absurdly high prices. Another example is that schools were closed by the government to prevent the spreading of the virus. My school provided students with a virtual school within a day of the announcement. Virtual school is our school’s way of minimizing the learning gaps, and it is going great so far. Other schools that did not provide virtual schools opted for another solution like making students go to school during the summer break as compensation for the classes students missed. Matters got so terrible that my parents even stated that even if the government allows students to go back to school again, they wouldn’t allow me to go to school because of the virus. These are all because we are not correctly informed about the virus. We received a mix between the truth and lies from exaggerated sources. For example, one source stated that the virus can kill someone within 2 weeks. This is true however this only really applies to old and infants who have inadequate immune systems. Hopefully, Vietnamese people would receive the information that there is nothing to worry and things should get back to normal.
Question #2
"What, if anything, is your school doing to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak? Do you think your school’s response has been sufficient? What is your reaction to some of the school plans and protocols discussed in the article? Which do you think are realistic for your school?"
In my school, there has been no talk about how to prepare a potential coronavirus outbreak as a whole school. Teachers have talked about basic preventative care: wash your hands with alcohol or soap and water, cover your mouth when you cough, and staying home if you feel sick. But I don't think my school's response to the virus has been sufficient as there is no known plan on how to deal with a mass outbreak. Although my guess is that they will shut down the school and assign work online, similar to what our school dealt with before in the last super-typhoons that have devastated our islands, I don't think our school has the resources to undergo mass homeschooling. If I were to be realistic about the situation in my school, if there was a major outbreak I think the only option that would be considered is shutting down the school as we don't have the means to use the suggested protocols.
I would say I'm concerned about this presumed deadly virus spreading around the world and killing some of the country's population. I acknowledge the virus as a dangerous threat to our society and is causing a global epidemic panic to the whole world. The fears about the coronavirus affecting the place I'm living in really concerns me as it's a matter of time before the virus gets to my home place and I worry a lot about that happening. I don't consider myself prepared for the virus to spread here, but my mom has actually started planning the layout on what to do before it hits here, such as stocking up on food and necessities. And is terms of how my school prepares itself against it, they are basically aren't doing anything.
I've heard a lot about the virus through the media and through new media as well. So you could say I'm somewhat informed about the problems concerning the virus. I feel most of the news presented in America news media such as Fox News, BBC News, and etc., they overexaggerate the casualties of people infected with the virus and make their audience who watch these media sites fear and be scared of the virus, well, in reality, it isn't that as bad as the black plague. The questions I still have about the coronavirus is there any progress of making the cure for the virus so far??
(Part Two) As of the time of this response, schools have yet to address the possibility of the coronavirus infecting our island. It feels as if preparation is optional and unncessary. It seems as if the Public School System is neglecting the virus’ existence. If and when the coronavirus arrives, students will be unprepared with little to no clue as to how they must take action. Residents of the Marianas are solely relying on reports from the U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The point is that these trusted reports may not be as pervasive as the virus itself. Schools, rather than remaining passive about the situation, must notify those under their wing. While the Public School System may be conducting plans as we speak, the presence of the coronavirus still lingers and its Marianas debut may come as sooner as we think.
Question 1 (Part 1)
Corona virus is a disease that has sparked a lot of controversy and worry in not only the media but in society. Due to the worry of others, it has led me to great concern on whether me and my family’s safety were in danger. I would like to think that most of my fears are overblown and that the possibility of being severely infected are very low. The article helped me to understand the likelihood of getting infected and that people are shown to be more likely to bounce back. However, I still wash my hands and use hand sanitizer a lot more often than I used to. My family and I are not as prepared as I hoped to be. Although we know the possible threats the virus may have to our economy or food supply, we haven’t done much to assure we will be prepared. As for my school, I haven’t noticed much preparation in the case of the disease reaching our islands like other schools in the United States have. Hopefully we do get to a point where we realize the need for preparation. However, our community is, in a sense, prepared. We have blocked off a lot of flights from places like China or Korea where the virus is prominent.
The coronavirus generally isn't overblown, the amount of people getting infected and dying from it is increasing regularly. However, I know being in such a small island that barely anyone knows about, I'm not very concerned about it. Not to mention, the coronavirus is more prone to dying in heat, and the CNMI is hot no matter the season. As a child as well, I know that I am safer than usual because the virus mainly kills elders, and if it does kill a young adult, they usually had past health conditions, and I am generally a healthy person with no health conditions. Although the CNMI isn't really known, once the coronavirus does ever reach us, we would all be infected. The government isn't the best dealing with really serious problems. Maybe they'll have a shut down that doesn't allow tourist, but that's already not ideal because of how much our economy relies on tourists. As for my school, I also don't think anything major will happen. This school can't even build a rooftop for hallways to save kids when it's raining, what more a disease as serious as the coronavirus? Ultimately, I believe that if it ever comes to it, the CNMI won't handle the disease well.
In the present, I am not overly concerned about the coronavirus. But I am concerned with how fast it is spreading around the world. I don't think the fears are overblown because it's a really serious situation that should be dealt with in a very serious way. This virus, joked about how it won't last long because it's made in China, won't be seen as a joke anymore once I hits your state or country. No matter what people are saying, we all should take this matter seriously because it can cause death as well. My school isn't doing much to assess this sitch, but to remind everyone to constantly wash our hands, cover a cough, and stay home when we get sick. In my family, the only thing that we did to prepare was to again, wash our hands, and hand sanitize after using the restroom.
In all honesty, I am not so concerned about the coronavirus, for myself at least. In addition, I still do have my worries, especially for those who are affected by this virus. However, I guess because it isn't happening where I'm from, and because they've closed off flights from contaminated areas, it makes me feel safe from the virus. People taking precaution towards this virus is overblown, but to an extent. What I mean is that due to this, people have become more racist towards Asians. I understand that people are scared, but it isn't right to point fingers and be racist towards a certain race. However, with people stocking up on food, being cautious of their surroundings, and using masks, I find those reasonable. Furthermore, I am not prepared for this virus at all. It's scary having this island contaminated by the coronavirus. We don't have the right doctors to treat us, and our island is small enough to get everyone infected. Some ways my family prepares us for this virus is by making us take vitamins, using face masks whenever we go out, constantly wash our hands, and not go out as much. My school hasn't done anything to take precaution of this outbreak. Although our school hasn't done anything, our governor temporarily stopped flights from places that could possibly contaminate us.
The coronavirus could the prophesized plague in the book of revelation. I'm very concerned that we may not be able to prevent it because god has sent it upon us. Also in the book of revelation it says there will be wars and rumors of war. Just recently world war 3 was becoming a rumor. Coronavirus is a ot topic and always comes up on the news and radio. I've done my own research about the coronavirus because our school has seldom informed us about. Coronavirus is a threat to the people with weaker immune systems. To prevent outbreak we are told things we already know like catch your cough and wash your hands and not to touch your mouth eyes or nose. In preperation for the virus people should try and stay healthy to increase their chances of survival which is already high.
How concerned are you about the coronavirus? Do you think the fears are overblown or are you thinking and worrying about it a lot? How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?
- Before reading this article, the coronavirus has been portayed by the media as an next epidemic disease. It has shown th effects of the virus to the public and how to protect yourself against it. The level of popularity is similar to ebola but the overall concern in my region would about simialar to a brand new virus like how SARS came out. Overall, I wasn't as worried about the virus because of all of the memes and I'm pretty far from Asia... maybe? Ok, I'm pretty close but still not worried as much. Although, I still see people wearing masks for protection against the virus ,but all my family did was to properly wash my hands and maintain good hygiene. Besides that the government, in my region is worried about the virus too so they some warnings about the virus and to protect yourself against it but thats really it.
What, if anything, is your school doing to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak? Do you think your school’s response has been sufficient? What is your reaction to some of the school plans and protocols discussed in the article? Which do you think are realistic for your school?
- Personally, I think my school would treat this virus as if like what they did for head lice. That would make sense.
Question #2 Response:
So far, the only thing that my school has done is post flyers around of how to wash your hands properly. Besides that, they have done nothing significant to prepare for this outbreak. Regarding some schools in the United States suggesting to shut down schools and have kids temporarily undergo through "internet-based teleschooling", I believe that it's a reasonable response for the education system to make. However, regarding my school, there is not that much that we can do. Shutting down schools would be a major problem, considering that not all students have access to internet or a device that will allow them to do homework. The only thing we can do as of right now is to keep school up until the decision comes and we are forced to go through internet-based teleschooling.
I am very concerned about the corona-virus, I try my best not to talk about it so much but when a ton of people are talking about it, it worries me. My phone is buzzing from all of the news stories of people dying in the U.S and it freaks me out. In my house hold my mom Lysol's the entire house to prevent germs from coming into our house, when my brother got the flu her anxiety spiked. I have been getting news about the corona-virus and it hasn't really informed me all the info i want to know. I want to really know how this differs from all the other types of viruses that have occurred like the flu and SARS.
Yes, the coronavirus is spreading. Yes, it started in China, but is that really a reason to look at Chinese or even asian people differently? I’m asian and honestly, it kind of hurts to think that people might avoid us thinking that we might have the virus. The top 2 countries with the most people confirmed positive with coronavirus are China and South Korea. Shouldn’t we at least sympathize? Why can’t some people see that parts of our world are struggling? I know sympathizing won’t solve the outbreaks, but it’s a lot better than blaming asians for something they can’t control.
My school has been closed for 4 full weeks now, and we are starting our 5th week in virtual school. I have to say, it’s not that bad. Sure, it was a bit rough at first because it seemed like we had a lot of homework. But in actual fact, it’s the same amount of work we get in school. I could really get used to virtual school, but a lot of students think virtual school sucks (though I’m not sure why). The only difference between virtual school and actually going to school is that you don’t get to socialize much with teachers or friends. Plus, you get to wake up as late as you want but that’s beside the point. The point is, we should really be thankful that we’re at least learning while all this crazy coronavirus news is going on.
On the topic of this coronavirus, I am not majorly concerned about it. Considering most of the statistics, the majority of the people in severe or critical conditions are the elderly, infants, or the people with compromised immune systems. I am still concerned for my parents well being and other much older relatives. Other than that I think people are panicking too much and should re-assess the situation we are in. In my opinion I think our community is not well prepared for the spread of this virus because our healthcare system here is not well equipped and prepared for an event like this one. As of now, our school is not doing anything about the situation. Most of the information we are given are reassurance and how to keep good hygiene because we are a secluded island. So, the best protocol right now is to limit travelers and potential transport of people with the virus.
@Haley I totally agree with your thoughts on this crisis. Of course this new virus has shocked the whole world with its impacts and the fact that it has been spreading rapidly and easily. Living in the United States, I’m not as concerned as the citizens of other countries like China but however it does have a serious impact on all of us. While there are many arguments regarding the eruption of this virus and the purpose behind it, I think what matters is how we as humans can deal with it. In the end, we all care for each other.
(Part 2)
If the coronavirus were to hit my school, I also do not believe there is much they can do besides temporarily shut down. I mean, we don’t even have a roof above our hallway so I don't really expect anything more. As far as I know the only thing my school has done about the outbreak is just talk about it. I see more kids wearing masks though, which is somewhat reassuring that they’re being cautious (even though the masks are basically ineffective, since according to the CDC the only type of mask might protect you is the N95 respirator which is hard to obtain over the counter.) I think that having online classes would work but like the article mentioned it would be quite unfair to students who don’t have access to internet or electronic devices. Plus, my school is no stranger to being shut down for months at a time. I live in an area with lots of typhoons and most of them are pretty bad. (the reason we dont have a roof over our hallways) Usually when we return to classes we don’t have power or water. If we were to shut down the school the only thing we could really do is just extend the school year to make up for the missed days.
Question #1 Response:
As of right now, I am not overly concerned about the coronavirus. Although the office of the Governor here in the CNMI had already released an Executive Order declaring that we are now in a state of emergency, I found it difficult to care about it too much. Maybe it is because we have never really experienced a pandemic yet. Maybe it is because most of the warnings here in the CNMI usually never happened. Maybe it is because everyone is just joking about it, and no real measures, except for a travel ban, had been taken to prevent coronavirus. However, there are some people on the island who I believe are overly concerned about the coronavirus. A person I know told me that some people are beginning to stock their houses with food. Iny my opinion these fears are overblown. However, it is the lack of fear for me and everyone else on the island that is probably more concerning than the coronavirus. We never know what’s gonna happen, and with the state that our island is in, if any pandemic does occur on the island, many people will probably suffer and die due to a lack of preparation. As I had mentioned earlier, no serious measures of preparation, except for a travel band had been taken. As for my family, my mom is pushing us to eat healthier food and get enough sleep to ensure that our family will have a strong immune system to fight off the coronavirus...if it were to ever happen.
(P.1)
I am not as concerned about the coronavirus as I should be. I don't really know why, but I really don't think much of it. The fears that surround the coronavirus differ from place to place. Some areas take action, such as telling the public to wear masks, wash their hands, and isolate the sick, while other areas give small warnings. My family has prepared for the effects of the virus (no shipment of rice, butane, and canned goods), but not for the virus itself. Based on my understandings, my school has not mentioned anything about how to prepare ourselves for the virus. As for the community, there were articles in the newspapers that suggested we should wash our hands more and be mindful of your surroundings and various posts from the government and hospitals about the precautions we should take in order to prevent the coronavirus.
I would say I am concerned and worried about the coronavirus. I feel like not a lot of people are worrying about it or aren't doing much about it. I know there isn't really anything for us to worry about because there's no cases where I'm at, however I think that we should prepare for the worst because anything can happen and we don't want to start worrying about it when it's too late. At home, we aren't 'preparing' for the coronavirus but my family and I have been more cautious by making sure we clean our hands when we get home from somewhere. Also, I know that stores are stocking up on hand sanitizers, face masks, and rubbing alcohol for the public to prepare for diseases that may spread. I don't think that my school is really doing anything to prepare us for the coronavirus. I haven't heard the teachers or the principal discussing with us what we would if anything happened, but I think that the best thing for us to do (if we are exposed to the coronavirus) is stay home and continue doing school work online. However, the problem with that is not everyone has access to the internet or computers. I agree with the plans the schools in the article discussed, I think it's a good way to take precaution. And to help students and families better prepare for the worst.
Based on my opinion, I believe that the Coronavirus is definitely something we should be concerned about. My parents often watch a ton of news about the disease spreading and its dangerous affects towards the whole world and how we should take precautionary measures in order to prevent ourselves from in taking this harmful disease. I honestly feel scared and nervous due to the fact that Saipan is such a small island and our number industry is tourism which contains a lot of people coming in and out of the island. My parents gave us masks to just keep in our bags just in case an emergency occurs. My family actually had a previous discussion about what might happen but we never really spoke about what action we would take in order to avoid this disaster from happening. From what I know now, I haven't been seeing any news from my school. No warnings, no signs, no rules, no plans, basically, no school discussions at all.
At this point, I would say I'm not very concerned about the coronavirus outbreak. My only worry about it is the slight chance of the virus evolving. Other than that, I don't think that the coronavirus is an issue to be concerned about in my area. The fatality rate, depending on your location, is between 1.5-3%. While this statistic is fairly intimidating, us younger people don't have as much to worry about because, for the most part, our organs and lungs are fully functional and healthy. I would say I'm prepared for any possibility of the virus spreading to y local area. I have food stocked up and a way to get off island by boat. The main thing I see affecting our community is the lack of chinese imports, Being close to asia, chinese imports supply a large percent of stores. However, I'm more relieved than concerned about this because it's better to be safe.
My school has not done anything at all to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus. I think that it's already past the time to act on this issue due to our close proximity to Asia. Even simple things like putting hand sanitizer dispensers around campus or giving out facemasks to the students and staff would greatly decrease the risk of a local outbreak.
I am concerned about the coronavirus, but not as concerned as I would be if the virus was on island. I live on a small island in the Pacific that has taken many precautions to keep the virus out. There haven't been cases of anyone on island having the virus, which I'm grateful for. On a global scale, it is a problem that I worry about at times, because it's made its way into so many countries around the world. I wouldn't say my family and I are prepared, but that's because the virus isn't on island. If it was, we would stock up on food, hand sanitizer, and masks. As of now, though, we're being very lax. At school, there hasn't been action against the coronavirus. Procedures are generally the same now as it was before the virus outbreak.
Prompt #2:
My school hasn't done much to prepare for the coronavirus outbreak. I have seen some students wear masks and posters around school bringing awareness about the coronavirus - but that pretty much sums it up. There has not been much of a response or set protocol as to what would happen if the coronavirus were to come to the C.N.M.I. I believe that shutting down schools is a realistic solution, especially considering that our commonwealth is currently under austerity and it would help financially. Another thing that would help is to have soap available at all times in the restrooms, and to have hand sanitizers available in the classrooms as well.
Personally, I am worried about the coronavirus mostly because our island does not have the facilities and resources needed in order to treat it if in case, though I pray not, it spreads here. However, I am not constantly thinking about it. Yes, I am aware of it and I present more caution with cleanliness but I do not constantly think about it. My family has bought face masks in advance and my parents often remind me to wash my hands. Our island has banned all flights from China and from other countries in the effort of preventing its spread here. My school, however, has not made any action to taking precaution against the disease. In one of my classes, my teacher has briefly talked about the coronavirus because we were discussing current global events. However, there has never been an official statement given to students about the possible pandemic. I do not think that what has been done is enough to prevent the spread but, at the same time, I do not know what else our tiny island can do. I see both the pros and cons of implementing the school plans in the article. It is important to protect children because even if they aren't the main group affected, the disease might evolve even more and start affecting them. For my school, I think it is more realistic for students to become homeschooled and use the internet to continue learning. The gap of internet accessibility here is not as broad as the States', so it may be easier to implement it here.
I am very concerned about the corona virus because it is very contagious and it is extremely harmful to those who have a weak immune system. The coronavirus hasn't affected the area I live in but I worry that an outbreak might occur because the population is very small and the coronavirus can do a lot of harm to a small population. My family takes safety precautions such as washing our hands thoroughly as well as washing dishes thoroughly and making sure the food we buy is not spoiled or bad. Since the coronavirus hasn't impacted our community yet schools haven't really emphasized any preparations for a possible outbreak. All were really doing right now is just making sure we wash our hands properly and to stay home when you feel any flu symptoms. Even if it is just small safety rules, I feel like it could prevent the spread of any sickness which is effective and useful. I also know schools would cancel classes so that everyone can stay safe in their homes.
I am concerned about the coronavirus, however, only to a certain extent. Even if it is a huge deal at the moment, I for one, am not as terrified as others are. My mom on the other hand, is very worried about it and is very frightened. As of now, the Commonwealth Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) does not have any news about someone possessing the coronavirus (and I hope it stays that way). Recently, we were able to cut off any incoming flights from outside until April (I believe), which makes us safe as of now. Other than that, I don't believe that we are doing very much to prevent the virus. Unlike other places, the schools here in the CNMI don't take major safety measures, and instead they just remind us to be more careful. It's not much, but it is understandable due to the fact that, again, we haven't had anyone infected with the virus. However, unlike Japan, they have the students stay home. These news made me very surprised because of how much precautions they take (then again, there have been cases in Japan). I can understand why our school does not do such things, but I think that it's the best that we can do for now.
@Jodie L.
My parents are just like your mom. They worry about it coming to where we live and not being able to get help if it does. I think it is good to be informed about this disease spreading but I also understand that places like our schools may not have a say or the resources to protect us.
@Jodie L.
My parents are just like your mom. Thye worrie about it coming to where we live and not being able to get help if it does. I think it is good to be informed about this disease spreading but I also understand that places like our schools may not have a say or the resources to protect us.
I am very concerned about the coronavirus. However, even though I am concerned, I am not worrying about it as much as others. Like the article says, children aren't at risk as much as adults are. That doesn't mean I'm not scared. I don't really see any preparations happening in my family or in my school. That concerns me because, as a tourist based economy, my island is at higher risk of having an outbreak. My family work around tourists regularly so the chances of my family being infected are high.
In my school, we have not taken any precautions. My school has not even started to educate students. Instead, we learn what we know from the media. Some families are so uninformed and scared that parents are sending their kids to school with face masks even though not one case been reported. I think the schools in the article are doing good educating the public about the virus, however, the mass home-schooling plan is stretch. For my school , a realistic response would be to educate students and the community about the virus and how to stay safe.
Question 1 Response:
Despite living in an area where tourism is the main source of income, I am not too concerned about the coronavirus. While there have been deaths reported, the sense of panic just increases the risk of the community to contract the virus. Yes, there are times when I ask myself, "What do I do if the first case of coronavirus in my community was reported?" That's when I start to get the chilling feeling in my nerves as I myself can't answer my own question. As for my community, there have been protocols places on how to react if there is a possible spread of the coronavirus. Although, if it were a mass spread of the virus, I would say that my community is not prepared at all for the number of people that would be admitted to the hospitals due to the virus.
Question 2 Response:
So far in my community, we have relied on the CDC's information on the updates of the coronavirus while looking at trusted news sources for the current status of the virus. While we can never be sure that we get an accurate number of cases around the world, the news I have been reading so far seems accurate and really informative for me. The only question that continues to linger on my mind is, "When will a vaccine or a cure be available to treat the coronavirus?"
Living in an island with the economy revolving around tourism, I would like to say that I am pretty concerned about the coronavirus, but only to a certain extent. We are being affected because the tourists that come here to visit are mostly Chinese. Many people here are losing their jobs or having their hours cut which means lower pay. I know some friends that had their parents sent back to their homes in another country or stopped working because there are no tourists coming in and out. I'm not super worried about the coronavirus, because researches say that there is only a 1% -2% chance of dying from the coronavirus. My question which many people would also ask is when will it be under control?
My school has never discussed things about the coronavirus and what to do if there is. So I feel that if it were to come here, I don't think students are prepared. I agree that this could be a teachable moment so that not only students but also adults will be able to know more about viruses. I feel that the school protocols are a bit overboard but necessary in order to make the flu or whatever it is to not spread over other students.
(P.2)
As stated in the previous paragraph, my school hasn't really done much about the coronavirus and how the students should prepare themselves if it ever comes to the CNMI. I definitely do not think my school's response is sufficient because some students do not have reliable internet access to see the warnings posted online. Some students don't read the newspapers, either. Since most students attend school everyday, the teachers and staff should remind us to take caution in case the virus reaches us. In the article, it mentions several schools that have taken action in order to prepare their students/staff. The school districts who have sent out letters about the coronavirus have done the right thing because some families do not understand what is going on and how severe the virus could be. However, closing down the schools and making online classes is a bit too much for the students and families because they have to be cautious about the virus, worry about their child(ren)’s school work, and go to work. My school should definitely inform the students and staff about the coronavirus and how we should prepare for it if it ever comes to the CNMI in the form of letters or emails. If something happens, we can look back on the letters or emails that were given or sent to us.
Prompt 1:
Since I live on a small island, the coronavirus doesn't concern me as much. However, if the virus were to reach us, I don't think our community would be able to handle it due to our lack of medical advancements. Although, they've already informed the public to practice a good hygiene, in order to avoid the virus as much as possible. My family, on the other hand, encourages me to use a mask whenever I'm at work to prevent us from getting sick.
Honestly, I'm not really worried about the coronavirus hitting the CNMI. Like in the article, although there are cases worldwide, many that were infected have recovered. I haven't actually made any preparations for this upcoming epidemic, but my family has begun changing daily routines and becoming more germaphobic. So far in my school, only one teacher has informed me of its coming and has prompted me to take action. So really, although I'm not concerned, there have been some preparations if the virus ever emerges.
My school, or my teachers, have informed us to become complete germaphobes, in order to lessen the spread if it ever hits this place. I don't really know if this will truly be effective, only because the students aren't willing to cooperate with their ideas. Although there aren't many, one idea is as good as many. I personally tried to go with the school's "protocols" of how to deal with this epidemic, but I just don't see it fitting me. My daily routine has been affected because of it, things like sharing food and drinks, making physical contact, or even just being near a person, has been prompted to change. I tried, but I don't think it's super important as of right now. I think a realistic way of how a school should react to this is to purchase face masks for the students and make them a priority to wear so that it will possibly limit the spread of the virus, when it hits.
Question #4 Response:
As of right now, my school is not really preparing for the coronavirus outbreak (at least not that I know of). I don’t think that this is a good thing, though. Although I do believe that the worldwide panic for this pandemic is probably too much, I feel like my school hasn’t done its part of educating us about this virus instead of having us learn about it from the news, which are most likely to be exaggerated. Honestly, reading about the school plans and protocols that were discussed in the article makes me wish that maybe my school could do something more to prepare us for it. Don’t get me wrong though. Some of the plans and protocols in the article seemed a little bit unnecessary, but it’s still better to be more prepared than to not be prepared at all. I just feel like the people in my island, including me, are just not taking this too seriously, and it’s probably because we’re not sure what to do about it. If ever my school does plan to do something about this, then it would probably be best if kids who are showing signs of symptoms would remain at home or be taken directly to the hospital, depending on how bad it was. Closing down the school will probably be unnecessary because schools on the island are already affected by school shut-downs during a series of typhoons that had occurred during the first semester. However, this depends on how great the threat of the coronavirus is.
Question #1:
I am not as concerned as I should about the coronavirus. It can come or be transmitted at any time but I think it's like being scared of getting the annual or monthly cold. The news has a big impact on the way we see things and being aware is great but to over-exaggerate it is quite unnecessary. If we keep panicking about every single thing in the news then we will only live in fear. I do get nervous at times but then it wears down to where if I get the virus then I get the virus. To be completely honest, my family and I are not as concerned because we are pretty prepared to where we know to wash our hands properly or to cough on a cloth instead of out in the open. If the coronavirus does come then we should learn to not panic but instead prevent it from spreading.
Question #4:
My school really isn’t doing much to prepare for the coronavirus outbreak. If anything, all I see are flyers on our walls on how to not get the virus but that is about it. Majority of the information I receive about the coronavirus is either from my parents or the internet.Truthfully, my school’s response to the outbreak is quite sufficient to me. We don't need a constant reminder that there may be a possible outbreak because what we really need to do is to be prepared. Aside from not coughing out in the open or washing your hands, there really isn’t much to prepare. From where I live, we have far bigger problems to face as of now. It is best to stay aware and prepare for anything.
Yes, I am very concerned about the outbreak of the corona virus because it spread like the same as a cold and it is deadly. I am thinking about it and worrying a lot about it because if it comes here to the CNMI, then people will be dying, there will be a lot of cases of corona virus, and we don't have good medical help in Saipan. My family and I are not prepared for it because we think that if it's not on our island, then we don't have to worry about it, but I am the one most worry about it.
From what I know off No, our school is not doing anything about he corona virus outbreak. What I think about other schools protocol about the corona virus is really good considering alerting kids to stay in their house and stay safe. What realistic could happen to our school when the corona virus comes to Saipan is that School administrations will close down all the schools, also the schools from Rota, Tinian, and the whole island wide will close down. Some will get infected and there will be cases on the corona virus.
1. Although many of the patients don't have severe or critical condition and their death rate is low, I am worried about coronavirus a lot. I am worried because of its uncertainty of the seriousness of the condition and its mutation. Also because it is highly contagious, my family and I are trying to stay healthy and we always wash our hands when we come back from outdoor. However, I think my school isn't doing enough to keep the virus from spreading.
2. I think my school is being cleaned everyday, but I don't think it is enough, since it doesn't encourage students to do something that will keep the students free from the virus. My reaction to the one of the plan to avoid coronavirus, which is sending home letters asking parents to keep sick children away from school and encouraging them to practice basic methods for prevention, is reasonable. I think this is the most fundamental thing that every school should do to keep their students healthy, including my school, since it doesn't cost money and most easiest way of not getting the virus, which is doing basic health method that helps prevent the virus.
First prompt. In regards to the issue of the coronavirus, I am, of course, worried by the fact that the virus and its ability to spread across countries can and has caused thousands of patients to death. Here in the CNMI, where I am currently staying and studying, I cannot say I know what it is like to ecounter others infected by the virus, however, knowing that others do and are infected can only tell us that every second people are suffering; people with families and friends that care about them. In my family, we always encourage each other to wash our hands. Either after eating or before, going out then coming in, etc. Just as simple as that can help prevent risks an deaths.
Fourth prompt. In my school, I do not think we are doing anything to perpare ourselves from the attack of the coronavirus. I mean, I guess a sign that says to never forget to wash our hands can be, somewhat, of a way to prepare each other. But other than that, I cannot say we are being set and organize for the virus and its spread.
1. How concerned are you about the coronavirus?
- I think that everyone has a right to fear the disease because of the number of deaths and how fast it is spreading. Personally, I kind of fear it because it comes to you in such an unexpected way. Recently, a 50-year old man died in Seattle, Washington due to the coronavirus. He never knew he had it. Again, I am more concerned with how fast it is spreading worldwide and how contagious it is. In addition, resources like sanitation materials, masks, and more are limited in most places, which is another thing to be concerned about because everyone must have a good amount to be safe.
2. How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?
- Just yesterday, when my mom heard about the news in Seattle, she bought small sanitary products just to stay clean from any bacteria because again, we'd never know what may come up. In the CNMI, people are pretty aware of the virus and how fast it spreads. At first, when the the news was heard, people were pretty scared because they thought the virus was coming our way. Although there hasn't been any news or case on it, some families are pretty aware of what may happen and what to buy and use.
Response to Question 1 and 4:
The coronavirus is especially concerning to me because I have families in Korea, which is now one of the countries with the biggest outbreaks. The number seems to be increasing rapidly day by day and the area where my grandparents live already has a few infected. In Saipan (the place I live), it doesn't seem like anyone is seriously preparing for the possible spread of the virus, like, people are aware of it and encouraged to wash their hands more often, but students and teachers with colds still come to school and cough everywhere! No cases of the virus have been reported, but the thing is there is no test being done so obviously no one knows if what you have is a cold or the virus.
Nothing special, besides cutting down teachers' paycheck due to government austerity from low tourism, has happened in our school as a result of the global outbreak.
I am concerned about the coronavirus spreading but not too excessively because this island is small and not familiar to many people. It is also not shown to be in my area. However, I still care because as the famous quote states "expect the unexpected". Anything can happen and putting my guard down will not help me and others around me in any way. This outbreak causes many people to worry and it is reasonable for us to go insane. Humans are dying and there is no cure for this disease, only prevention. My parents have bought face mask for our family, and we also soap and wash our hands. My parents also warned me about the symptoms and to be careful. As for my school and community, I am not too sure of. Since there is no news of the coronavirus being on this island, there haven't been many signs of people showing prevention with face mask and such. However, flights from China have been currently forbid to come here. If there is a coronavirus outbreak, I believe that our school's plan is to have no class. And as for adults, they may stop working or reduce their work hours. However, this was not stated by our school system or the federal government. In my opinion, this would be highly necessary because if many people go outside, it can spread. Furthermore, we are unsure of those who are positively affected, which may lead to a bigger problem. If the coronavirus do appear to be in this island, I cannot imagine the devastation that will come upon our home.
Personally I would say I am concerned about COVID 19 as it is a virus that is capable of causing death and can be easily spread. There was even a case of a asymptomatic carrier who showed no symptoms and probably managed to infect a lot of people. Due to how easily it is spread from one another everyone would be concerned about it. I do not think the fear of COVID 19 is overblown and think that we should have that fear. It is with that fear that it makes people more aware and would take more counter measures into trying to not get infected and which would most likely help in the containment of the virus. My family is well prepared because we have masks and practice washing our hands regularly in case of possible infection. My community do seem pretty lax in terms of the readiness to protect themselves against the virus and our school really isn't doing anything at all to try and keep the students safe from the virus. The possibility of the virus spreading to us is quite high as there are still some tourists that come and go where I live and not doing anything such as wearing masks out or making washing our hands a common practice may aid further spread of the virus if there were to be someone who is infected to come in contact with locals.
(Prompt 1)
My concerns on the coronavirus are split upon worrying about it and staying calm. I do acknowledge the effects and the severity of the coronavirus from time to time, but overall I show no concern towards it. I do understand that it is spreading rapidly, however I do think we are able to overcome the virus if it does come into contact with the CNMI. Am I prepared to deal with such a threat? Frankly, to an extent, but I do take basic measures of overall personal hygiene (i.e hand washing, cough covering, vaccinations) which are mentioned in the article as well. However, regarding the schools and their readiness against this, I believe they are underprepared. Marianas Highschool for example, lacks a medical ward to care for injuries or sickness, often times students are sent to the main office to get picked up by their legal guardians. If the event of an outbreak occurs, this school will not be able to handle the amount of sick students due to how fast the virus spreads in the first place. The community on the other hand might perform better, as the CNMI can get assistance from the United States. The CNMI has faced multiple typhoons and have been given aid by the U.S., therefore we can assume that we are able to rely on the United States for aid when needed.
I am concerned about the outbreak of the coronavirus because I live in a place where tourism is necessary for our economy. After the outbreak of the virus in many countries, our economy has been affected since many of the flights has been cancelled. But having tourist visits can lead to an outbreak in our community. I believe that we must take precautionary measures in order to make sure that there is no risks of infection. Some ways that my community prepares is by informing the public if there is any cases of the virus and procedures to take in order to avoid getting infected. I believe that the virus is overblown because there are many false information on the internet about the virus and according to the article, it states that many people needs to understand the likelihood of the virus transmission in order to avoid a global panic. Some was to prevent infection is to get a flu vaccine, cover your mouth when coughing and wash your hands regularly. Currently, my school has not bring about the virus in a deep discussion of precautions we must take and what the public school system plans to do if the virus spreads to our community and the protocols students would have to follow if the virus spreads. However, I'm aware of the spread of the virus but we should not create a panic instead share helpful information to be aware of this epidemic.
Though the outbreak is concerning, I'm not at all very paranoid of the virus coming over to the CNMI. The common flu kills thousands of people every year, and not a lot of people are concerned. If anything, I'm more afraid of cancer than coronavirus. I feel like the fear will eventually die down and have a status like the flu. But that doesn't mean it's fear should go unchecked. Since the CNMI relies heavily on the tourism industry (and with multiple employees feeling the effects of having no job), I feel like the coronavirus will cause a decline in our economy. In general, a lot of our island's inhabitants are prepared to prevent the virus since most of our stocks for masks and hand sanitizer are running low and selling out. But if the virus actually came here on island, our hospitals would be severely unprepared, under trained, and uneducated for the actual virus. I feel like our school would not be as prepared since we mostly joke about the virus reaching our island.
Prompt #1:
I am not too concerned about the coronavirus. I do not worry about it a lot, and thanks to the article by Vivian Wang my worries have lessened even more. I do understand why the general public is concerned - there is a new virus and we have yet to find a probable cure for it - and thousands of people have died because of it. However, if you thoroughly read the article, it is not as bad as it may seem. In the C.N.M.I., our main source of income is the tourism industry, the majority of our tourists traveling from China. Our community has taken preventative measures by stopping the flights from China and most of the flights from Korea as well. My family is well prepared for the virus as we have purchased masks, hand sanitizers, and other "necessary" items as well. Concerning our schools, there have not been any preventative measures taken that I am aware of.
I can say that I'm concerned. Although as of now, it is near pandemic and has infected many people. Yet, the survival rate of the virus is pretty for us youngsters. I'm concerned for our elderly and already sick from other diseases but as a nation, I believe that we can endure and not be so deeply affected by the virus.
I got my news about the coronavirus as soon as it became a threat through the news app I have on my phone. I read about it before it ever became so bad and I never expected it to cause so much problem. The articles and videos I've read and seen seem pretty accurate, I have a mild understanding of what the virus is. Although my only question about the outbreak is that if ever the coronavirus becomes a global pandemic, what is the government gonna do? And are they prepared for such a threat? Are they willing to take drastic measures? I pray that it does not come to that, but it would be nice to be prepared if ever.
I am concerned with the coronavirus outbreak, especially if it comes to the CNMI. Many people have lost jobs and had cut down hours. The CNMI's income comes from tourists. Without tourists, our Island could be in a crisis. I am mostly thinking and worrying about it because Vivian Wang says, "Nearly 3,000 deaths. More than 81,000 cases. Six continents infected." Although their are no reports of the virus being in the CNMI, many workers in hotels, dfs, and the airport are wearing face masks to prevent it from getting and also spreading it. In the article, some schools are closing down and are gonna do school work at home, such as online learning. Not many actions are being taken for my school, since we aren't affected by it. However, my family have been stocking up with canned goods. In the community of Tinian, Many people have been stocking up their homes with bags of rice, causing Tinian stores to be out of rice.
How concerned are you about the coronavirus?
-Personally, I'm not as concerned at the moment. I think that the since the spread of the virus, many have over exaggerated the situation.
Do you think the fears are overblown or are you thinking and worrying about it a lot?
-I do think the fears are overblown. I feel as though that it isn't such a big deal now. If it were that terrible, more cautionary measures would have been taken.
How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?
-I'd think that my family and I are pretty prepared. On the other hand, I do believe that my school and community aren't as prepared as they should be.
What, if anything, is your school doing to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak?
-My school hasn't really done anything to prepare for the outbreak.
Do you think your school’s response has been sufficient?
-No, it has not.
What is your reaction to some of the school plans and protocols discussed in the article?
-In a way, they could be effective.
Which do you think are realistic for your school?
-Closing the school might be the best option since some can easily spread the virus.
Prompt 1:
Although people seem to be concerned by the virus, I, apparently, am not. After reading the article, I have come to the conclusion that coronavirus is just an over-glorified form of the common cold. Though, the only thing I am worrying about is the reduced shipments from other countries to the Mariana Islands. How will we be able to sustain ourselves if the shipping of goods has been reduced? Anyways, my family is not concerned as much as the other families. However, I believe that some families in my area have started to buy masks and other paraphernalia used to disinfect bacteria.
Prompt 4:
I do not think that my school is doing anything in preparation for the coronavirus. However, although it is not the school itself, the governor has issued an executive order that allows for the quarantine of tourists coming from China, Hong Kong, etc. for fourteen days. According to what I have just read, I believe that it is sufficient. Though, I would like to see the school propose more ideas concerning the virus since our school's motto is "Students First." After reading the article, I believe that our school's most realistic protocol to prepare for the virus is the temporary closure of the school. Not only would this keep the students safe, but it could also help our school save a bit of money since we are cash-strapped.
How concerned are you about the coronavirus? Do you think the fears are overblown or are you thinking and worrying about it a lot?
With the outbreak of the coronavirus and how fast it's spreading across the world, I am very much concerned about the virus. Reading many articles on social media and the news about the negative effects of the virus and how quick it's spreading worldwide frightens me. The reason as to why I am very much concerned about the outbreak of the coronavirus is because it's possible for the virus to affect the CNMI. However, our government is taking actions to prevent the CNMI from being affected by the virus, which is stopping flights from different countries who are greatly affected by the virus. Personally, I think that I'm worrying about it a lot because of how bad the virus is and how fast it's spreading across the world. Hopefully, we can find a cure for the coronavirus outbreak and take precautions in our actions to be more aware of our surroundings and to live a healthier and clan lifestyle from now on.
(Part 1 of 2)
In response to the first prompt: At first, I wasn't too worried about the coronavirus outbreak. Of course, I was concerned for the well-being of the countries involved, but I had never thought about the possibility of it affecting my area. I have been seeing a lot of posts on the internet about people in China "exposing the truth about the virus". It's really hard, especially as a foreigner, to tell whether or not the things people saying online are true. It makes everything harder to believe. I think that there is a certain level of severity that we should be approaching this epidemic with. Here in the CNMI, there have been no reported cases of the virus reaching our islands, and there has been little public development for the protection from the coronavirus. However, because of the spread of information through the internet, people are now taking personal action. I see more people wearing masks in public, rubbing alcohol and hand-sanitizer being cleared from shelves in stores, and less tourists on island. It is only recently that I'm seeing government officials in our island take action towards preventing the virus from reaching us. Flights from affected countries are being cancelled, and overseas trade is being halted until further notice. Our island's economy relies heavily on tourism and oversea shipments. The outbreak of the virus is slowing our economy, making a lot of resources scarce, and reducing work-hours for a lot of residents on island.
To be honest, I'm not too concerned about coronavirus. I think that the media is making the entire situation more catastrophic than it seems, and worrying about it will only make the masses more scared. But in general, our community is more worried about closing down airports than the actual virus itself, since we heavily rely on tourism. My school makes sure to remind all students to wash their hands and to not share food, but that's about it. No special procedures have been taken (that I know of), and nothing much has changed in terms of rules. I don't think that schools should be shutting down for long periods of time, because that hinders the learning of many children. Sending sick students home does seem like a better idea because they shouldn't even be at school in the first place, considering that they can get other students sick too.
Prompt 1
As the coronavirus hits other places and spreads throughout the globe, infecting thousands of people in the world, I would be lying if I said that was not concerned about my safety. We can say that we are lucky here in the CNMI that there hasn't been any recorded cases of the coronavirus, although we can never be too sure of anything. While most cases are only mild and the virus disappears after a couple of days, it is still better to be cautious and be safe than sorry. My family began stocking up on food and other essential things just to be prepared if things ever go wrong. As a community, there many that have started to wear masks and our government recently stopped having tourists from entering our island to avoid the risk of coming in contact with the virus. This is a big move for the government to make for the economy relies on the island's tourism industry.
Prompt 2
In class, we constantly discuss about the possibilities of the coronavirus coming in to our island and teachers have discussed ways that we can do in order to keep ourselves protected from the virus, like maintaining good hygiene and always washing our hands. In some classes, the teachers talk about the things that are happening around the world regarding this epidemic and what our government has been doing to keep its citizens safe and the island running smooth, despite of what's been going on recently. As a school, not much has been different for there hasn't been a recorded case on island.
How concerned are you about the coronavirus? Do you think the fears are overblown or are you thinking and worrying about it a lot? How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?
I am really concerned of the coronavirus, especially since the government issued a state of emergency. I am worrying about it a lot. To be honest, me and my family are not prepared. We haven't really done much since the breakout. Once the virus gets closer to where I live, then we are gonna have to be ready. The school and the community seems to be ready since they read the news and see what they can do to prevent from coming any closer.
"What, if anything, is your school doing to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak? Do you think your school’s response has been sufficient? What is your reaction to some of the school plans and protocols discussed in the article? Which do you think are realistic for your school?"
The coronavirus did not hit here yet so they are warning the students about what is happening. The school probably needs to do more to help us prepare when it actually gets here.
"How concerned are you about the coronavirus? Do you think the fears are overblown or are you thinking and worrying about it a lot? How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?"
- I personally am very concerned about the Corona virus especially if it reaches the small island where I live. Things get around quickly and virus is no exception. The virus may be a little overblown but the fact that the virus can spread so quickly and silently has worried me and the people around me. In terms of preparation, the only things we have ready are face masks and prayers that it won't reach here. I'm not sure how the school or the community will be able to handle such an outbreak in a small contained area. Quarantine is an option, but it's a horrific one at that.
"What, if anything, is your school doing to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak? Do you think your school’s response has been sufficient? What is your reaction to some of the school plans and protocols discussed in the article? Which do you think are realistic for your school?"
- Online classes is a very smart but limited solution. Unfortunately I don't think there is much the school can do. Budget cuts and austerity hasn't exactly been doing us well around here lately. With so little funding, the best course of action for the school is to temporary shutdown schools. Online classes may be a solution but most likely only for those who already signed up.
As of right now I'am very afraid of the corona virus, I've been thinking about it but never gave it any serious thought. My family isn't at all prepared if the virus came to the CNMI, but our government is preparing, not long ago the Governor signed an Executive Order declaring a state of emergency for the CNMI because of the corona virus. Which makes me feel a little better about this situation.
My school hasn't made any preparations for the corona virus , some of my peers have started using face mask and I started washing my hands frequently, but the school hasn't done anything. I think some of the protocols dicussed in the article will be used here too like schoolwork at home I see thata very realalitic.
I am highly concerned of this prominent epidemic, as though my fears are certainly in check, I still worry and acknowledge it frequently as it affects me and many others indirectly. The preparatory conditions in the community I live are the worrisome factors that will affect everyone. I believe that an outbreak is to an extent probable in happening in the island of which I live. The local airport are currently restricting an extent of Chinese passengers due to the virus itself. Unfortunately, the trafficking of these tourists are the catalyst and the backbone of our economy. Businesses, government funding, and the island's GDP are severely affected. Evidently, the Public School System (PSS) are having budget cuts that affect the schools around the island (Saipan, CNMI). The school isn't professionally prepared for an outbreak as realistically that they will rely on the government for protection from any biological threat. The news today is sufficient enough to inform everyone in the community regarding the understanding of the virus and simple safety measures you can take as a citizen.
How concerned are you about the coronavirus? Do you think the fears are overblown or are you thinking and worrying about it a lot? How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?
The corona virus has caused people to panic. In tinian my family says there is no more rice because people are stocking up. It is already impacting us because without tourism, the CNMI’s economy is failing. Our school might have to resort to four day weeks and combining schools because we don’t have enough money for power and water. Since big hotels aren’t getting enough tourists, they’re losing money and they aren’t paying CUC. Soon we might not have power or water. My family and I aren’t as prepared as other families. I think if worst to worst comes, we are going to have to leave the CNMI. So yes, I am very concerned about the corona virus and if ever it comes here, I am not leaving my house.
How concerned are you about the coronavirus? Do you think the fears are overblown or are you thinking and worrying about it a lot? How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?
Well, I could say I'm concern about coronavirus in a certain way. Like, listen to news about coronavirus, keeping tracks of how many people die from coronavirus, and wear a mask when working. For me, I think I'm thinking too much about it because I live in a place that many Chinese tourists came to travel. My family and I or my community are not ready for the virus because not too many people are preparing for the virus or do care about the virus.
What, if anything, is your school doing to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak? Do you think your school’s response has been sufficient? What is your reaction to some of the school plans and protocols discussed in the article? Which do you think is realistic for your school?
For my school nothing, they do prepare for the virus except for a verbal warning. The response from my school I think is not sufficient because of what I know the school didn't give too much response to coronavirus. I think sending letters to parents about the coronavirus and close the school is a good way to prevent from the virus.
(Part 1)
I do believe that the coronavirus is somewhat blown out of proportion, and am not too worried about it myself. I'm somewhat worried about my dad getting it, as he's not at young as me and his immune system isn't at its best. My mother is somewhat younger and she is considerably healthier. I only think about the virus when it is mentioned (and boy is it mentioned a lot) but even then it doesn't make me as nervous as say, the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
People did not take ebola as seriously as they're taking coronavirus, people made parody songs about the horrific disease and were pretty outwardly racist towards many Africans. I do not believe that the place that I currently live in is prepared at all for the coronavirus. Our entire healthcare is terrible in general but that's an entire different story. If the coronavirus where to hit my household however, my parents usually would take the protective measures they take with any sickness like the common flu. No touching anything with your bare hands, stay in your room, so basically just quarantine yourself. It's worked everytime and although it is not the most pleasant experience as I do get cabin fever quite easily, I have never had to be hospitalized for a common flu.
How concerned are you about the coronavirus? Do you think the fears are overblown or are you thinking and worrying about it a lot? How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?
Based on how far the coronavirus has spread, I am concerned only slightly. I barely think about this anywhere I go, but it's always there in the back of my mind reminding me that the virus will come to our island one day. We know that there is a cure, however, we still need to be cautious due to the fact that is an airborne disease. We're doing the normal routine in order to be safe from the virus. We're not totally prepared so, eventually they will explain what is going to happen to our island. That is all.
What, if anything, is your school doing to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak? Do you think your school’s response has been sufficient? What is your reaction to some of the school plans and protocols discussed in the article? Which do you think are realistic for your school?
Most of the students I see who are sick have a face mask to block other people from getting sick. I don't think it'll be enough to block from this virus. The school plans and protocols discussed in this article are safely made. I can definitely see how it'll work in the future when this virus ends us all. One I think that's realistic is to send students home and shut down the school until the end of the coronavirus.
(Part 2 of 2)
In response to the fourth prompt: Because there have been no reported cases of the coronavirus in the CNMI, there have been almost no preparations made to prevent the virus spreading. There are some people who talk about the virus and advise us to take precautions. But, our school has yet to properly establish a plan for preventing the virus from spreading on campus. However, there are still a few measures taken by teachers here on island. In many of the classrooms, teachers have tissues and hand-sanitizer for the students to use. Students are encouraged to stay home and refrain from coming to school if they are sick. This has been the case long before the coronavirus outbreak. It's hard to say whether or not our school has been doing a good job in educating us on the virus because we haven't seen any infected people on island. Most of the information we receive about the virus comes from online, which is a risky source of information, especially for our current situation. Our local news networks are updating us on the current situation of other countries concerning the virus, so people on island are definitely aware of what's going on. Now, its a matter of doing what we can to prevent the virus from spreading to our island.
(Part 1)
You could say I’m concerned about the coronavirus, but not in a significant way. For me, it’s like being nervous about a new strain of the flu. Thousands of people die from the flu every year, usually the elderly, but we don’t ever seem too anxious about it. We know the coronavirus has a cure and is more times than not successfully treated in patients. The bigger concern is how contagious this virus is. The contagion can survive for 14 days by itself, so even if there was no one in your area with covid-19, it could possibly be spread just by imports from places of an outbreak, or from one person who doesn’t realize they have the coronavirus openly coughing.
So I’m not too worried about the coronavirus in the sense that I’m scared it’s the new Plague. I do think America should get ready and brace for major impact, though. We already have a few cases in our country and I can't help but think it will inevitably continue to spread. Our elderly especially need to be ready. In the article, it mentioned that children and young people are more resistant to the virus, but older people are not. Your immune system tends to weaken as you age, anyway. If we have a major epidemic here, the elderly will probably be the most affected.
(Part 2)
As for schools closing, I do not think we are yet close to a point where that needs to be a national concern. If we, like Italy, had a major epidemic on our hands then, of course, closing schools would be a wise choice to make in the protection of our nation and children’s health. Effectively schooling that many students remotely from home would be very difficult if not impossible, but in a situation where it is truly necessary to cancel school, I do not think learning calculus will be our main concern. If anything, we should be more concerned about how parents in this very hypothetical and unlikely situation would take care of, say, their 6-year-old child while also maintaining their income. We’d either have to expect many people to quit their jobs and/or drop their hours or for there to be an increased need for childcare, which is almost just as likely a place for a virus to be spread as a school. This would create more strain on our country than I think we would be ready for. I believe the better option is to have our medical teams and all citizens prepared to fight this virus in whatever capacity (calmly, not in a panic).
I know that people who are health are not in serious danger when it comes to having the carona virus. However I am still curious about how dangerous this could be to your average person.
I don't really know how to feel. I mean, I'm kind of nervous that cases will come near my city, but nothing has been bad around my area. I get that it has caused many deaths around the world and that is scary, but I can't help but wonder if people are overreacting. My school is not doing anything. Some kids in my class wore masks for, like, a day, but then that got old. And the nurse sent a letter home but she does that every flu season, so nothing special there. But I think that maybe we should take one or two periods and just discuss the statistics and precautions we should be taking, as well as making sure to use hand sanitizer or wash hands frequently and before meals. There is not much else for us regular people to do, except hope that a solution comes soon.
I am not very concerned about the coronavirus outbreak because I don't feel frightened by it. My school is taking some precautions by making its standards for health higher, even though they are trying I still think they can do better by having a place to evacuate or telling all students what the school would do. The media always overexaggerates illnesses, especially when it starts to spread. There also is not a lot of people who have died from it so far.
@Curtis over 3000 people have died
The coronavirus is a big deal, because of the fact that it has spread to many countries and has killed thousands. In my opinion, the coronavirus is most definitely getting blown out of proportions, due to the fact that way before our lifetimes there has been many cases that have been just as bad or way worse than the coronavirus. Just a few examples include, the holocaust, the trench foot cases during world war 1, and the outbreak of malaria. These events in history were tragic and caused a lot of deaths, but yet our world still pushed through and carried on. If we can make it through difficulties and tragedies just as bad as the holocaust then we can come together and make it through the coronavirus.
I am not concerned about the Coronavirus or the implications it may cause globally. The media always overhypes illnesses, especially when it starts to spread from country to country. I am aware the CDC released a statement “it’s not a matter of if, but when”, but it over exaggerates the extent of the spread. Only 80,000 people have contracted the virus internationally (approximately) and 3,000 have died. The CDC estimates that, in America alone, there have been 45 million cases of influenza and 18,000 to 46,000 deaths. Many Americans let media corrupt their perception on their own safety by overlooking a very common illness that they have likely contracted before: the flu.
Currently, my school has not mentioned the idea of the coronavirus as it has not been spreading like it has been in California. If the virus begins to officially spread out of the government’s control, schools and business environments should consider wearing protective gear or temporarily closing. If students or adults get the disease, it will likely be very mild and similar to a cold. If senior citizens begin to contract the illness, it may be more severe, as respiratory complications are associated with the progression of the virus.
@Scott E.
I agree with you that the Coronavirus should not be concerning, and that the media has eavily influenced the fear of the virus around the world. I believe that the media has over-exaggerated some things about the virus, and that it is also very difficult to find out what is true or not.
Although I believe that the Coronavirus is over-exaggerated, and there is no reason to spread panic, I do think that it is smart to stay wary of the subject and understand what is taking place.
According to BBC News, most people that have been infected or died from the virus don't live in the best environment. Most people that have died are elderly, and are above the age of 70; they also have health issues that were standing before the virus.
Overall, I agree that there is no reason to panic over the disease, but it is good to be aware.
@Scott E. I completely agree with your statement about media and the virus. Social media and news websites tend to blow things out of proportion to make people more nervous and scared about the illness. I think about the virus as a version of the flu, (as of right now). As long as people wash their hands and stay hygienic and clean, this virus is easily avoidable to contract.
@Scott E.
I do agree that the media response is frenzied and overexaggerated. However I think you go a bit too far by comparing it to the flu. The CDC numbers you quote put the mortality rate of Flu at 0.1%. the official WHO mortality rate for coronavirus is 34 times this rate. Factoring in that only a proportion of the actual infections have been identified. It's probably nearer 1% for covid-19. However this is still 10 times the mortality rate of Flu.
The main concern is that the infectiousness and increased mortality rate compared to Flu could make those 46000 flu deaths look like small fry, if it gets out of hand. Also the one factor that comes into play is that if you have a big peak of infections it puts a lot of strain on healthcare resources that mean patient outcomes from non-covid/flu actually get worse increasing the number of avoidable deaths.
Lastly, another concern is that Covid will spread enough that it will then become a seasonal disease that kills 1% of those getting it every year. So therefore you could have every year, 1% of people dying of covid of those who get it, and 0.1% of those who get flu...
That's not to mention it's related coronaviruses "SARS" and "MERS", which had a far greater mortality rate and show what could be possible if covid were to mutate each year.
The above sounds like all doom and gloom but there isn't anything we can do about it really. Apart from be sensible and don't give in to fearmongering.
While many people are preparing themselves for a Coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., I am not worried about it. In the past we have had virus outbreaks, such as Ebola, that caused global scares, similar to the Coronavirus. The Ebola disease caused a widespread panic all over the globe, but the cases in the U.S. was only eleven cases with two deaths. I would only be scared of the Coronavirus if I went to places where the virus is highly concentrated, such as China and South Korea. In both of these countries, the governments have taken precautionary methods, to ensure the health and safety of the public, such as advising people to stay off the streets as much as possible, staying indoors, and even holding classes online. We can also see organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, take action for the safety of the public. Scientists are also racing against each other to find the cure to the Coronavirus, and many people who already have the COVID19 (Coronavirus) volunteer to take part in their test for the cure. Even though there are many dangerous and widespread outbreaks of the COVID19, I am not scared because I know that there are many good organizations and people actively looking for a cure.
@Louise Hobby I am in the same boat as you. I really haven’t worried about the Corona virus because it really seems so foreign and not in the United States, however recently with the first few cases coming to the United States I am becoming more aware and concerned. While I am not worried about myself, I am beginning to get concerned about the changes to my life that could happen if the virus spreads to the United States. When it comes to the disease prevention I think that the advice in the article is how I would handle any news of a common virus like influenza. I always wash my hands, even sometimes too often. And unless the corona virus becomes something very close I don’t think I will be changing my behavior to accommodate my fears.
As a generally new outbreak, the coronavirus is understandably frightening many people, including me. I do not know much about it and the main information I have gotten were from the people around me or the internet, which is where it has become a meme. I believe that because it is so unknown, it has become very popular as more new information comes up. I have been told that the virus does not spread well in hot weather and I live in central Florida, so I haven't been worried about getting it, but I started becoming more aware of the people around me and whether or not they're sick. My school has also been more aware, as well. They are asking students to inform the school whether or not they are planning to visit another country over the upcoming spring break, which I think is sufficient as there is not that much they can do to prevent students from getting sick.
I am very concerned about the coronavirus, because we know that its spread into the USA is pretty much inevitable. I don't think our school or community has properly addressed this problem. The coronavirus will basically shutdown all forms of "normal" lifestyle. Schools and workplaces will have to be closed because the facilitate the spread of the virus. Employees can work from home; however, students are not as apt to learning via online means. All in all, I do not think people are taking this as serious as it is. If the mortality rate is 2% and a school has 1000 people, then about 20 people will die due to the coronavirus. Over the broad spectrum, if 2% of everyone on Earth dies (world population of 8 billion), then 160,000,000 (160 million) people will die.
It is possible to have an outbreak of coronavirus in Canada, the 15th case of this virus was just confirmed yesterday, and this person has been to an immigrant education center located at Eglinton and Yonge, downtown Toronto. There is a strong chance of people in the center contracting the virus.
When this virus was first discovered, people criticized the Chinese government's way of handling the disease. But now, do people still feel the same way? China locked down several millions of people, as a result, they controlled the disease. Could the Western countries be as successful? I don't think so, for example, the Canadian government doesn't have the authority to enforce mass lockdowns and quarantines, because unlike China, it is a democracy. even though people don't agree with the Chinese way of forcing its population, in cases like this, perhaps its the most efficient of containing the virus.
Another issue concerns education if schools are forced to close. Except for the minority who attend private schools, who are well equipped with the latest technologies, and whose teachers use online facilities in the classroom, the rest of the school boards will face huge problems trying to deliver online schooling during the outbreak.
I am not really that concerned with the corona virus because there has not been any outbreak near where I live and I think the corona virus is really over-blown by the media. The media talk about the corona virus like it’s the next apocalypse but the data clearly said that it has a low death rate. I’m not saying that it’s not dangerous, it is dangerous but not as dangerous as the media said it is. A lot of distrustful media have also spread fake news saying that there has been a suspected outbreak where I live and it just adds the panic when in reality, there’s no outbreak near me. These kind of fake news creates a lot of misinformation and undesirable panic and I’ve seen a lot of concerned neighbors stocking up food supplies and a lot of youtube videos showing a lot of misinformation about corona treatments. My family said we should be alert not anxious, wash our hands throughout the day and avoid touching our face is a good measure, but the use of mask to not get infected is something we seldom do because the medical professionals need it more. My school hasn’t done anything because there is nothing to be panic for. Also, being xenophobic to Asians is also not a cool thing to do.
Greetings from China. As everybody obviously might think, we are having lessons on the computer here. Personally, I don't have a problem studying online (No wonder I can get to speak with you) and neither do my classmates, I think. Actually, I’m not very worried, not as the stock markets. Yes, there were panic among everybody weeks ago, but people have got used to it. We have got to the peak anyway. There are few cases in my city but it doesn’t seem likely to spread again.
Of course, we know almost nothing about the virus, so it really upsets doctors and scientist.
People are also starting to go outside, and restrictions are much less than a few weeks before, but I think it is still not a good time to relax. However, when we go outside, we always wear face masks. Everything brought from outside is firmly disinfected by alcohol. We are lucky to have N95 masks left. We usually get statistics from the National Health Commission and the local Health Commissions, because it is the only possible source. I cannot tell the accuracy of the numbers, but it is better than nothing. News of outbreaks outside China seems to be more ‘welcomed’ by the medias.
The Coronavirus is wildly spreading throughout the world. My family is under high alert, they are very wary about this situation. We started to use face masks every day when we go to public places, we started using alcohol wipes to clean surfaces, trying to keep a sanitary environment to work around with. However, my school is surprisingly silent and inactive about this disease. In our classrooms, the teachers purposely avoid any discussion regarding this hot topic. This school board has decided to ban face masks in order to prevent panic and anxiety. In my opinion, this strategy is unwise and it does not give the students confidence that the school board is capable of controlling a major health crisis. I think they are treating students like 5-year-olds instead of giving the highschool student the sensitive information of which they are entitled.
Coronavirus scares me, mainly due to how little is known about it. All that has truly been confirmed is that it exists, and it probably originated from Wuhan. Everything else about this virus is up in the air: the number of infected can’t be trusted, as China from the start were not forthcoming with how severe the outbreak was, to the point where people had to get information about the virus from Weibo (China’s version of Instagram), meaning that the only reliable source about the virus initially came from terrified people who aren’t very trustworthy.
Furthermore, there are conflicting reports about whether or not the cases of the virus being counted by countries are being inflated by tallying diseases with similar symptoms as Coronavirus. So, a person with a simple sore throat gets counted as a Corona carrier. But, at the same time, the CDC are going berserk and declaring several countries to be potentially dangerous, and stating that an outbreak is likely to occur in the US. This conflicting information related to the disease is the thing I truly fear about Coronavirus, as I cannot tell what it is, how it works, or even how many people actually have it. That uncertainty is what makes Coronavirus dangerous, and makes it good that so many are paying attention to it.
Guys, I've been for 10 days in Phoenix and Las Vegas, there no one heard anything about the New CoronaVirus. In the Tik Tok all of us laugh of the memes of the CoronaVirus but dipper we are worried about that.
In Europe the county's Reached the CoronaVirus is : Italy/French/Germany/Spain/UK/Belgium/Finland/Russia/Sweden. All the rest of the Country's in Europe didn't yet teaches the new CoronaVirus.
I can understand how so many people are actually very terrified about the coronavirus, but I am not very scared of it. so far, the flu has still taken more lives this year than corona, and I do not expect that to change.
Since almost everyone in this comment section is American, I would like to talk about the coronavirus from a Canadian perspective. Here in Toronto, the media is concerned about the virus and has given many warnings, but every time I go on the bus, I seldom see people with masks. I think this shows that Canada is not as worried as America. Regarding my school, there have been no meetings or announcements discussing an action plan. However, during recesses, I often hear students talking about the disease and even making jokes about it. My family already has a preparation plan in case the virus is uncontrollable. We have masks, rubbing alcohol, and hand sanitizers. Because of this, I have not been too concerned about getting sick, but we should all be aware of the possibility that it can happen.
The Coronavirus is a very serious illness and affects many people, though not necessarily in the U.S. While the infection rate is high, the mortality rate is lower at only 2%. While there have been very limited cases in the U.S. I think it is important not to take this for granted and to turn a blind eye on the epidemic. I believe it is important to prepare for the coronavirus and protect our selves. People all over the world, not just in the u.s. should be on the lookout for the "fake news" that sounds this virus. Being fully informed on correct information can even lower the spread of disease. Through this, we should not turn a blind eye to other serious sicknesses such as influenza that also kill many people each year.
While many are preparing for an epidemic, I am not worried about the coronavirus. Many people may get sick, but as of right now, the mortality rate is 2% according to The Guardian. The same frenzy occurred just years ago with the Ebola outbreak in Africa and the Zika virus. Diseases come and go; and while they may seem threatening at the moment, they usually eventually die out. One value that L. Robert Kohls believes Americans live by is action/work orientation. This is why organizations like the CDC believe they must do something to prevent the spread of the disease. It's great that they are trying to keep everyone healthy, but when people see that these big-name health organizations are trying to prevent a disease from spreading, people are instantly put into a panic. This is why people are becoming worried about the disease; because these organizations are getting involved. I wouldn't consider myself to be someone who gets worried because of America's own desire to get involved in global happenings, so I'm not worried about the coronavirus.
I am concerned about the coronavirus. I believe that everyone should start preparing for the potential outbreak of the coronavirus. I think that because when we brought the people in from Japan over here it was a very huge risk to take and is also taking a risk of it spreading. My family has not started preparing yet but after the articles I have read on it I am going to tell my parents to go get some things to start preparing.
I am concerned but at the same time I am also not too concerned about the coronavirus. I think the fear of the coronavirus has started to get out of hand. Yes, this is a big deal but we are working on a cure, right now. I don't think my school is preparing for the coronavirus. If we got that virus here, I don't know what we would do. We have not discussed this viuus very much at school. I don't know what we are doing to prepare for the coronavirus, I don't think we are going too much. I think that this advice could be very helpful for many.
I am not scared of the virus, it is scary but not threatening. I saw around the web that the statistics are that the corona virus has less deaths and infections so far that the flu does yearly. And we don't freak out and put people in quarantine when they have the flu but now everyone is freaking out and killing people. I hope this all blows over soon sense it is such a big deal. But it does make for good jokes and laughs.
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I am concerned about the Coronavirus. I am concerned about it spreading and not being able to be controlled, but at the same time I know it is under control right now because they are quarantining so many people. I am also a little concerned because the US is telling us to basically prepare for the Coronavirus because it has a chance of spreading. I would worry about how prepared my school is and what would happen if they closed. I would be concerned because not all students would have internet access.
My opinion on the coronavirus is both concerned and suttle. I am concerned because I am not very fond of an outbreak that is making people really sick and most notably die. The outbreak is spreading faster than the patient our recovering and that is concerning to me because I would hate to be infected and I would hate for anyone I know to be contaminated and in quarantine. I am also suttle with the virus because i think it's under control and I believe that the cure is on the horizon.
The coronavirus is very frightening to many, including myself. There have been many articles and reported cases on the coronavirus, but no cases have been reported near me. Therefore, my school and family has not taken serious action yet. But, I have been washing my hands more than I already do, and I've gained basic knowledge about the coronavirus through discussions with my teachers and family to be prepared.
I'm not too concerned about the coronavirus because it isn't in the United States and I feel like there will be a cure by the time it spreads closer. As far as I know, my school has not taken any precautions, or had any meetings to talk about the coronavirus, or what we will do if it does get near our school.
I'm not too worried about the coronavirus because many people are taking the the virus very serious and not just letting it go. Many schools are trying to make sure that students and teachers are ready for it, if it would happen to fully develop in the United States. Even though the virus is not completely in the United States it is still very important to take extra precautions in staying healthy.
I personally am not worried about the coronavirus in Pa. Here in our part of the state we do not have many people. If the coronavirus got to our area it would spread very slowly. Everyone around here tends to keep to there self. If news about it got out anywhere most people around here would most likely not leave their houses. Due to people not leaving houses it would be a slow spread. That would go for every rural town in Pa and other states. My school has no preps ready, I think that they are not worried until news comes out about it being in the state or our area. I think that is how most schools in our area will do it.
In my opinion this whole coronavirus is not something to be worried about. I’m not all worried about it like everyone else is because it’s just like the War between the U.S. and Iran it was a big deal and everyone was worried about it and what was going to happen to everyone but it was blown out of proportion. In another two weeks or so nobody is going to be posting on tik tok about it and we will be moved on and worried about the next big thing. All the schools saying that they are already preparing for it are just over exaggerating and wasting their time. So at this point i'm done worrying about the coronavirus and just thinking about what the next big thing that everyone will be throwing a fit about. I think the virus should stay in china.
I am not concerned about the COVID-19 also commonly known as the Coronavirus. I am not concerned about the virus because scientist are currently trying to make a vaccine for the virus. Also, those that are affected are in quarantine for 14 days.
The coronavirus is a very bad disease and everyone should be prepared just in case it is ever in their area. the coronavirus is not that bad in America but it could always come to America. I have heard about it on the news and where it came from. I have heard about it all over social media too. I am not very worried about it because it is not harming America that bad. Schools in America should always be prepared just in case the coronavirus ever affects a huge part of America.
Overall, I don't see the need for the United States to go straight into panic mode over the epidemic. Yes, it is a major and concerning issue, but as long as we take the recommended sanitary precautions, it won't be as much as a concern. Just washing your hands and covering your mouth while you cough won't completely eliminate the threat. As far as scientists know, the disease is spread by respiratory droplets produced when someone coughs or sneezes. The disease has shown to be more deadly/infectious towards the elderly, with children having a lesser chance of being infected. Only 24% of the United States' population are children under the age of 18, which proves that most of the country's population are adult/elderly, with would lead to the assumption that the disease will spread fairly quickly throughout the country. All together will this knowledge, I am not all to worried about the epidemic, at least until it spreads widely across the United States.
I'm not very concerned about the coronavirus because I am sure that scientists are working very hard to find a cure for this unforgiving disease. Anyone who was in China or the other infected places and come to the United States have to self-quarantine for 14-days.
In my opinion the coronavirus is not as serious as many people believe it to be. Though it has affected many people I believe that soon enough we will have a cure/vaccine to eliminate this virus considering it is fairly new to us now. If we keep the rate of people traveling in and out of the country to a minimum that will help keep the virus from spreading. I also think that schools do not need to be taking as many precautions as they are because this virus seems to be affecting the older generation more than the younger generation because of their weakened immune system. People have a tendency to be overdramatic when it comes to new diseases and make them seem worse than they truly are, personally I believe that the Coronavirus is simply just a harsher case of the flu, which is a curable disease. I have no doubt that within a short period of time scientists will have a cure for the virus.
I usually wash my hands regularly, but I have started to wash them more. I'm a little concerned because I have relatives everywhere in the U.S. so it is scary, but it hasn't reached Pennsylvania so there's not a lot to worry about it yet. The background information doesn't make me anxious; it actually makes me feel better about the situation and safer. I find it extremely reassuring. I think this is a teachable moment because people should get vaccines so they don't get the disease as bad if you don't get the vaccination.
"How concerned should we be? Should we be doing anything to prepare? What do you think?" I think we should be really concerned about this its not that we should lock down or anything like that. But we should be prepared for this virus. Also people should start washing their hands more often, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and blow your nose use some hand sanitizer. yes I am concerned about this virus it could kill many people.
I am not very concerned about the coronavirus at the moment. I will be more concerned about it as it spreads through the United States more. When that happens I will start worrying about it more. I am still concerned about the virus, just not as much as some other people are. I am not prepared for the coronavirus because it has not affected that many people in the United States yet. When it spreads throughout the United States more people will start preparing and worrying about it.
I am moderately worried about the threats of the coronavirus. I'm not scared and i'm scared at the same time. I'm scared because of the fact that it is a new virus and nobody really had a cure for it. I'm also not scared because of the fact that I'm young and healthy so if I did get the virus it wouldn't be as harmful and deadly to me as an elderly person. Also if any country would have a cure for it, it would be America because of our research programs and dedication to the disease.
I believe people should be at least semi-concerned about the coronavirus. Even if your country hasn't had any reported cases of the coronavirus, that doesn't mean the virus won't invade the country you're in. This could become the next major disease created. So people should take the virus more seriously.
I'm not so worry about coronavirus right now because no one in the state has it. But I'm worry about my relatives and friend that are in China right now. There no cure for it, some people are cured but it's not easy, cases and deaths are rising. Countries are trying to get their citizen out that might have coronavirus on them. My school is not doing anything about it since no one has it. And maybe the cure will be here before it here.
Some of my teachers have touched on the Coronavirus but nobody (including me) is really worried about it. I would say more people are concerned with getting the flu or any other virus going around the school. Because there have been a lot of people getting sick at school I am washing my hands more often and trying to not get sick. I don’t think schools will have to be super responsive or involved if the Coronavirus happens to be in the community unless somebody in the building had it.
I'm not worried because I'm sure scientists are working to try to find a way to eliminate the Coronavirus. As far as I know my school isn't taking any precautions, and we never talked about it in school until today.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has recently responded to the recent outbreak of the coronavirus. The coronavirus has similar symptoms to the flu and is known to be transmitted between animals and people. People are very concerned about this outbreak and are taking extreme precautions. Many are extremely worried about this epidemic spreading through the U.S. I believe that this virus is not as serious as it seems. Even though this virus is dangerous and many people are being diagnosed with it, it isn’t very lethal. The chance of dying from this is very low and shouldn’t be a huge concern.
@Evan I completely agree with you that people should not be so worried about the Coronavirus. As far as I know, the virus can spread very easily from one person to another, but it has a very low chance of actually resulting in someone's death. I have also heard that those who have died from the Coronavirus were mostly older people or those that already had their immune system compromised by a different disease or some other factor. Taking these factors into account, the Coronavirus should not be the primary disease the American people should focus on. In fact, I believe a far more deadly disease more worthy of out attention is the current strain of influenza. According to the CDC, the flu has infected between 32 and 45 million Americans and has killed 18 to 46 thousand people. Compare this to the Coronavirus' measly 84 thousand infections and there is no competition: the flu should be much more of a concern than the Coronavirus. In conclusion, I think the Coronavirus has been over-hyped and should not be the primary focus of the American people.
In my opinion the people should not be too concerned about the coronavirus yet, but if it were to get worse, then you should get concerned. But people are getting scared and worried because there is a lot more buzz on the news and at schools. More people are talking about it since more cases are being reported. But I think that we don't have anything to worry about right now, because who knows the virus could go down before we know it. And how I know about the coronavirus is in history, when we watch CNN 10 for our weekly current event, the coronavirus will be on it… A LOT. But I'm not worried about it because we know about the symptoms and more information about the virus every day so we can get treated if it were to come to PA. So in the end I don't think people should be too worried about the coronavirus.
I am not worried about the coronavirus. I previously found out about it on the news when it began in China. I've seen a greater number of individuals poking fun at the infection than individuals really being worried about it. I feel like the news has exaggerated it a little since it is a fascinating and eye catching story.
I'm very concerned about the coronavirus. But I don’t think my school or family is very prepared for the coronavirus and I don’t really think the coronavirus would spread too where i'm at it is a very terrifying thing but I don't think it would spread.
I have gotten news about the coronavirus and I do think it is very accurate information.
We haven't really discussed the virus in school. And yes i do agree with Dr. Acton this is a teachable moment. It could teach kids and adults how to wash up better and be more clean. My school isn't really doing anything to prepare for this and they haven’t really said anything to us about the coronavirus and I think they should start doing something about it because this is a very dangerous virus and we should know whats going on and what to be cautious of.
I am greatly concerned about the coronavirus because there is no cure to the virus. Another worrying factor is that the virus is spreading fast. The next troubling thought is that it takes a few weeks for the symptoms to show up, so in the timeframe that you are coming into contact with lots of people, you could be spreading it to many other people and not even know it. Also with all the people traveling, the people who have the coronavirus are spreading it to other parts of the world.
Me personally i'm pretty concerned about it because i wanna keep myself and my family safe and healthy. I've been thinking about it and preparing myself for an outbreak in the U.S. Me and my family are pretty prepared I think, but my school isn't doing anything to prepare, my community also isn't doing anything either. I've been getting my news from watching TV and from my grandparents. I think the news doesn't go into much detail about it. Because i'm still asking questions like what states in the united states are infected with the coronavirus. I also agree with Dr. Acton that this is a teachable moment. But we haven't talked about it in our school. My school hasn't done anything to prepare for an outbreak. i agree with what other schools are doing i think it is completely necessary. What i think my school should do to prepare is maybe have a group come in and deep clean of our school because our school is pretty gross. I think that could prevent a spread of the coronavirus. I have changed my behaviours such as washing my hands more and being more clean in general. I have also gotten my flu shot which i never really do.
I'm pretty concerned, me and my family are not prepared at all if it outbreaks around us. Our school has not prepared for this virus. I'm a bit concerned that our school has not talked to us about this. I do agree with Dr. acton that this is a teachable moment. I do feel like I have received clear and accurate information.
In my opinion, I believe we should be worried about the coronavirus. People don’t seem to be worried about this outbreak, probably because it just hasn't affected them yet. Our school isn’t taking any precautions to protect the school from the virus. However, my history class has been watching CNN 10 to keep us updated. It doesn’t make sense why the United States is letting people into, or out of the country. More and more people are coming into, and leaving the United States. The virus doesn't seem to be worrying people so they continue to travel. Many people are taking precautions to protect themselves and their families from this outbreak, but there are still people who aren’t worrying about it. Not enough people are reacting to this outbreak.
We won't know the real death rate of this virus until we get real data. The infection rate is likely much much higher then is currently being reported. For most infected people it's probably such a mild cold that it doesn't even raise any red flags. My biggest fear about this virus is that the panic and reaction to it are being WAY overblown. What if we find it's less deadly then the seasonal flu? What if we find that it's no more dangerous then any other respiratory virus that circulates every season? It sure seems to be heading in that direction - and here we are impacting the Global economy, talking about closing schools, altering travel plans, dealing with quarantines and for what?? Something that turns out to be no more deadly then the common cold? We really need to calm down, take a breath and look at this realistically.
How concerned are you about the coronavirus?-I am not very concerned about the corona virus because we have the prescriptions to control it. And we also have the doctors and hospitals to deal with it.
How prepared are you, your family, your school and your community for the possible spread of the virus to where you live?-We haven’t even thought about it in my family. We have nothing for it in our school and community.
In my opinion, there are some things be worried about. My school hasn't mentioned much about the coronavirus and what we would do. This has been bothering me ever since the coronavirus reached the United States. I have started washing my hands more than normal. Im not freaking, I'm just worried. I don't usally pay attention to the outer world, but when it comes to eduacation and death, it's kind of a big deal. These are my thoughts on the coronavirus.
The article´s background makes me more anxious because it makes me feel that the Coronavirus will spread and I will get the disease. My school has not given the students proper precautions to the Coronavirus. This article is helpful to me because it tells me about the Coronavirus and the dangers of the Coronavirus.
As of now, the coronavirus is not as dangerous in the US as China and other locations. For myself, I'm not so fearful of the virus but it does bring mild concern to me. As in what will happen if more become infected or what if it comes to my state. These constant thoughts how I can help prevent it or avoid myself from receiving the virus concern me. For now all I can say is that a cure will be fond and others will be saved and this danger will be ended from spreading.
In my opinion, we should be worried but we shouldn't lose sleep over it. I think this because while it is spreading, it's also being dealt with as we speak. People should wash their hands and if they are sick, try to keep away from others if you are contagious.
In my view, I am now not too concerned about the coronavirus. It’s all I’ve heard about for the previous few weeks. I first heard about it on the news when it started in China. Now that it’s spread more, I hear about it every day on the information and social media. I’ve viewed greater humans making jokes about the virus than humans definitely being concerned about it. I feel like the news has overblown it a little due to the fact it is a fascinating and interesting story. Although I doubt it will spread at some point in the US I experience like I am tremendously prepared. I wash my palms and I’m healthy, so I’m now not concerned about catching the virus. I haven’t heard about any precautions that my school is taking, however I’m positive that there will be some if the virus continues to spread.
As a student from United, the school has not done anything to protect the students from the virus. The school seems to not be worried about the virus. In my opinion the school should take precautions. The district itself should have a backup plan if the virus spreads to Pennsylvania.
The coronavirus is a huge problem throughout the world. However, there are not many cases of the virus near me so I'm not that worried about getting the disease. My family and I have not talked about the coronavirus or done anything to prepare for it. Even though we don’t talk about the virus in school, there are many things I see on the news about how fast it spreads and how to prevent it. I am also not worried about getting this disease because many people survive this disease and it is not as deadly as the flu.
The coronavirus is a terrifying outbreak of a virus. Many people have been affected by this virus, and I do worry about my community getting the coronavirus. My school hasn’t taken any precautions that I know of. I have gotten my news from news channels, especially CNN. I do feel that I have gotten accurate information about the virus, therefore I am taking precautions to prevent myself from contracting the virus. We’ve discussed the virus in History because of learning about the events from all around the world. None of these protocols would really be realistic for my school because we are such a small school, in the middle of nowhere. I am deeply saddened by the fact that this virus is killing people, and that there is no cure.
In my opinion, there isn't much to be worried about. If the disease was to spread to the U.S we have the technological advances to eventually come up with an vaccine for the disease which will benefit the overall world population. Another thing that I realized about the virus is that the death rate to the disease is very low. Therefore, if it was as bad as past diseases such as Ebola or the Zika Virus the world would be in a complete panic like it was back in 2014. So overall, I feel like there is nothing to worry about.
I am somewhat concerned about the coronavirus outbreak. The world has seen many pandemics go around the world like the Zika virus and the Ebola outbreak not too long ago. I think that people just hear the word virus and get scared because of the bad connotation surrounding it. I saw the news about the coronavirus all over social media platforms. I think that the information that I’ve heard is somewhat accurate but I would double-check it before I believed anything was true. I would like to know the symptoms, what countries have had cases, and how you can treat and prevent it. Some of my teachers had told us that in order to prevent the disease you have to wash your hands more frequently and you have to be careful when you are around anyone who is sick. In school, it has not really been discussed what the coronavirus is or what it can do so all the information I’ve gotten was from the news or social media. Some of my teachers have gotten emails from the principal telling them to ask students if they are traveling out of the country for spring break. I think that they should give us some more information about the virus and what to do if you are experiencing symptoms. In the article, it said that other schools may resort to online schooling to keep the kids safe and healthy. I think that maybe if some posters were hung around school telling kids how to stay virus-free it would help.
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I’m concerned about the coronavirus in the same way I am concerned about any other deadly disease in the United States. I appreciate that people are trying to stop the outbreaks, but they’re only doing it because it’s a new, little-known disease. The flu kills many more people per year, and the backlash against Chinese people as a whole is just ridiculous. A country that mlm-schemed it’s way into a measles outbreak but panics over an arguably less dangerous disease is just wrong, in my opinion.
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I'm honestly not that concerned about the coronavirus as its just another sickness that is happening across the world. My grandmother, on the other hand, is more worried about it and is constantly telling me about it when she sees it on the news. I feel like the fears are a bit overblown as not as many people died as they are getting sick from the virus.
I don't know if people in my community are prepared for the possible spread of the virus to where I live as no one is really talking about it as much.
I got the news about the coronavirus from the TV. I feel like there are few reliable new stations/websites out there at are giving clear and accurate information. I don't have any questions about the virus or the outbreak because its just another sickness that is going across the world like Ebola a couple of years ago.
My school is not doing much to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak as there have not been any reports around my area yet. There have been a few people that have the virus in my state but they're not close. I feel like if people did get the coronavirus in my school that they would probably close it and send those people to the hospital to get quarantined correctly.
Despite the massive news coverage of the coronavirus, I am not concerned about contracting the virus nor going to school during the outbreak. The main reason for my apathy towards the virus is the fact that I live in Arkansas, which is an area that will likely not have incoming flights from Wuhan or any other regions of China that have been affected. Despite my apathy, I understand the concerns over the virus. The coronavirus has been spreading very rapidly and has entered many countries across the world, including the United States. Even if the mortality rate of the virus is below four percent, the virus cause still lead to a large number of deaths if it infects over a million people.
Most of the news I have received concerning the coronavirus has been through mainstream media that I see on the TV in the morning. The reporting over the virus has just covered the numbers and what the CDC and WHO are saying, so I believe the reporting is accurate. I would still like to know what the virus is similar to; I have heard it similar to the flu, but I would like to know why it is so lethal.
The only talk of the coronavirus I have heard at school is the occasional joke. I do not think my school has a plan for the virus because it is unlikely my school will be affected. If a student did get the virus, school would likely just be closed.
I believe that as long as everyone follows the advice given by medical professionals, the coronavirus can be contained without causing a pandemic.
Although I do not believe that the Coronavirus is the "big talk" on the playground for most children, it most definitely is the "big talk" in the work place and even in many high schools. Automatically, the geographical location of my high school puts me out of the direct threat of the virus since my school is located in the southeastern region of the United States. However, this factor does not hinder the conversations going on at my school and in my family. Just recently when the CDC recommended that each household should have enough food for multiple weeks on end of isolation, my family had a long conversation on the availability of resources to our family in the case of an emergency and if we needed to take precautionary measures in order to ensure our safety. We ultimately decided to order extra food and water from our local grocery store. My friends and I have also had conversations on the frightening reality of a world wide pandemic. We especially focused on the possibility of the almost instantaneous impact this virus could have not only on my life, but also on the country as a whole. These conversations most likely could not occur in an elementary school setting; therefore, it is unlikely that it is the "big talk" on the playground.
I personally am not too concered about the coronavirus. It’s all I’ve heard about for the past few weeks. I first heard about it on the news when it started in China. Now that it’s spread more, I hear about it every day on the news and social media. I’ve seen more people making jokes about the virus than people actually being concerned about it. I feel like the news has overblown it a little because it is an interesting and attention grabbing story. Although I doubt it will spread throughout the US, I feel like I am pretty prepared. I wash my hands and I’m healthy, so I’m not worried about catching the virus. I haven’t heard about any precautions that my school is taking, but I’m sure that there will be some if the virus continues to spread.
When I hear about the Coronavirus outbreak, I feel a bit worried. Many people take it as a joke. For example, Peers at my school joke around yelling “he or she’s got the Coronavirus!” to those who cough at any time. My family doesn’t seem to notice the outbreak, my community doesn’t seem to care, and my school seems to think of it as a joke. In the age of Millennialism, society tends to cope with world issues through social media. Although many people are vaccinated and that the risk of being infected by the Coronavirus is low, I feel that no matter how big or small the risk that society shouldn’t underestimate the Coronavirus.
@Johnny Chicas
Although people are joking around with their friends with the virus, the racism towards Asian people is terrible. We haven't been vaccinated for the virus yet so we can get it at any given point. However, it is purely contact and is effecting only those with weak immune systems. But it's really not that deep. Anyway, thats all :)
The situation all over the world about this virus is obviously terrible and absolutely terrifying.And I'm so sorry for all those people who are suffering from this disease and for all those people who lost their loved ones. I personally think that this problem is really bad but not as bad as the other strong illnesses which killed more than 100 millions of people. Also, i can say that right now we have lots of fake news which information we can't verify so i don't even know who I should i trust anymore. I hope and I know that we will get through it because we live in the 21 century- a century of medicine and technology so that all of the problems that we are having right now will be easier for us to fix than for the people who lived 50 years ago.