SCARS Editorial: Common Sense About Avoiding Contagion
This is not a normal topic for us here at SCARS, however we have been through many other epidemics similar to COVID-19.
We wanted to share with you our own experience and personal advice with you.
We do not offer this as expert medical advice, this is just our personal advice for how to deal with the situation right now and what may come. We hope that you find this of some value.
The following is from the founder of SCARS Dr. McGuinness:
I wanted to share this important information with our readers.
If these numbers we are seeing talked about are accurate, 95,000 infected and 55,000 recovered with over 3,000 fatalities – there are several important conclusions we can draw from this:
1) Rate of growth seems to be slowing?? But this may be the calm before the storm. Pay attention to OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT SOURCES – not opposition politicians, not pundits in the news, not social media.
That means these THREE sources!
- https://www.who.int/
- In the U.S. https://www.cdc.gov/
- In the U.K. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
2) 50,000 out of the 95,000 infected have recovered (per the linked report). Since almost 60,000 cases happened in the last month, that is a good sign.
South China Morning Post has a real-time case monitor on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=567469704198928&ref=watch_permalink
3) However, the COVID19 is showing a 3.1% mortality rate. Even though 34.200 people died from flu last year in the U.S., there were 40 million cases with a mortality rate of 0.9% (just under 1%)
Now you can see why COVID19 is SO DANGEROUS. 3% fatality.
Of course, a truly deadly flu – such as happened in 1917-1918 that killed tens of millions is far more dangerous and far more contagious. Look up “Spanish Influenza” to see what that outbreak did worldwide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu
However, the Coronavirus or COVID19 is not as easily transmitted as influenza, but still easy.
Make sure what you read is as factual as possible, and is backed up by science. If you know an anti-Vaxer stay away from them!
If you are really concerned about risk then here are the basic survival precautions that you can take RIGHT now:
1) Buy at least 6 gallons of bleach – this is the best anti-viral disinfectant YOU can buy and it is cheap! 6 gallons lasts a couple of months if used properly for this.
2) In a real major outbreak, we will still have water and electricity. Food will be scarce. Buy RAMAN noodles – 100 packs each (such as “cup of noodles”) per person in your home. These are also very inexpensive. You may want to double that amount. But that is still not a lot of money, and this food lasts years! When it is over, you can donate it if you want, or eat it for the next 5 years! ;)
Get a couple (meaning two or three) good rubber kitchen gloves. You can wear these when out and re-use them by cleaning them in a solution of bleach and water when you return home. You can do the same with a durable face mask.
Facemasks – most of what you can buy will NOT protect you face to face or over extended periods of time. They are not designed to stop viruses, they stop larger scale contaminants. But that is fine if you are not right up close and someone sneezes on you. A towel or scarf will do just as good. The key is not wearing them long and cleaning in water and bleach when you get home.
Shoes are also bad news. Take them off at the entrance of your home – ever wonder why the Japanese learned to do this? It wasn’t just dirt. You can have a small tray with a light bleach solution in it to dip them in – just enough to cover the soles – not the whole shoe – unless your feet really stink, in which case – well …
Pets – keep your pets at home. AND KEEP THEM AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE in public. Your dogs are a health risk. In 1918 – massive numbers of dogs were shot on sight even in the owner’s care. Cats are not as much of a concern but keep them indoors if at all possible – outside cats should be kept outside. Avoid contact with other animals if possible just because of the unknown facts at this stage. There is currently NO PROOF that animals are carriers, but animal fur can carry the virus just like a doorknob. Hands off unless they are indoor pets.
Physical contact. Hygiene is now more important than ever, plus it helps with the flu too! But stop shaking hands. Elbow bumps and foot bumps are now the thing or Asian style bows! Remember, everyone when they come home should immediately wash their hands and face thoroughly – the front door to the kitchen sink is usually a straight line.
Phone and facetime, skype, zoom everyone. Work from home is possible. Avoid trips outside. We all become hermits for a while. Wipe your phone down with water/bleach solution frequently too!
My personal opinion is that we avoid restaurants. We cook for ourselves. Sorry, but just too many hands involved.
AMAZON! Every box that arrives should be treated as though it is a contagion because it potentially is. Handle with care (gloves), and lightly wash, rinse, or spray light bleach on whatever it is. Those things probably were made in China anyway.
Ladies! NO MAKEUP. Makeup represents a repository for contaminants right on your face. You need to be washing your hands and face frequently anyway, so why bother! The return of the Farm Girl look will be in vogue this season!
COVID19 is not as bad as the flu but it kills more. Take it seriously now and you will be less likely to worry later.
Heat – kills viruses. Cooking is essential – NO MORE raw foods for the duration – sorry, no sushi – no salads – no fresh veggies – you will now become your grandmother – boil everything. The summer is important because it makes it very difficult for viruses to survive on surfaces in high temperatures. But what you cannot bleach – iron and blowdry till it is too hot to touch!
Here is more about temperature and killing bad things: https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/Boiling_water_01_15.pdf
Washing clothes – BOIL them. High heat washing. Maybe add a little bleach – see their care instruction. DRY on HIGH Heat. But outside drying in the sun can be good too if allowed to have a full day dry cycle – but heat is best.
Children & Schools – My personal recommendation is to talk to your school now about homeschooling! Like right now – today! Throughout the U.S. and Canada (and other places), there are amazing home school programs you can tap into and they are already provided by the government – check your schools for more information.
My daughter and I were quarantined during the SARS outbreak of 2003. Being there for her and homeschooling her for the remainder of that school years was great and vastly improved her grades. I worked at home so it was no hardship for anyone. She stayed connected with friends by phone and online.
Some simple things will keep it out of your home, and with simple precautions, you can better keep it out. Most of this is common sense and some things we should have been doing for a long time.
If you have a serious health condition try to stay away from people – isolation is your best defense for a while.
Remember, DON’T PANIC!
Do not listen to idiots on the NEWS. But stay informed!
I wish you all the best!
Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth
Stay safe our there friends!
Thank you for the great information on the Corona Virus! I had never thought about make-up and why we need to avoid it now in this critical time. Not to leave out the pets and shows. I lived in Hawaii once and our neighbors were from Japan and always left their shoes by the door. Unless you are informed, you won’t be safe and thanks so much for the info! Be safe everyoe!
You are very welcome. Our whole reason for existence is to provide information for everyone’s safety. Whether online or in the real world, we all live in a place of existential threats every day – but in truth, this has never been any different. Our lives have always been shaped by dangers around us, but in our prosperity, we forgot all that. There are still monsters all around us.