For many people, this novel Coronavirus will turn out to be comparable to the regular common cold or flu. The majority of cases are mild in young, otherwise healthy people. However, please think of people like my family when you make your decisions in the coming days. Just because you are not the one at risk or your risk is low, doesn’t mean that your decisions can’t have potentially major consequences for those around you. You likely know more higher risk people and immunocompromised people than you think. We are the vulnerable and we need your help to protect ourselves. This is not over-dramatic for us. This is life and death.
Think of my mom who is a heart patient with kidney disease, autoimmune disease, and other health conditions. Our specific heart condition (Long QT Syndrome) doesn’t make us higher risk of contracting the virus but it will make any potential treatments for COVID-19 higher risk and potentially life-threatening, requiring hospitalization (assuming there are hospital beds available).
Think of my grandma, who is in long-term care (attached to the hospital). She has terminal cancer and at over 80 years old, this virus has a high risk of severe and/or fatal consequences for her. We can’t imagine losing her now to a virus that could’ve been preventable rather than the cancer or dementia that are killing her day by day.
Think of me. I may look young and healthy but I’m also a heart patient with autoimmune diseases. I’m immunocompromised and medically complex. I have tons of scar tissue on my lungs (to the point that during one of my heart surgeries, some of the scar tissue had to be surgically removed to even collapse my lung to be able to perform the operation), and a history of pneumonia and bronchitis (many, many times). I pick up everything that passes through and get sick essentially every time I go out in public. I also have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that affects nearly every part of my body, among other health issues.
Do your part to help through social distancing. That means even though schools (where I live, in Alberta, Canada) are closed, this is not the time to take your family out to theatres or shopping malls. Please stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to do otherwise. I am scared but not because of “fear-mongering” or media. I’m scared that this will be underestimated and people will continue to nonchalantly go about their day-to-day lives, needlessly exposing people like my family to a virus that could be incredibly severe for us.
Avoid non-essential travel. This is coming from a traveller. I understand the love for exploring and the want to travel, however this is not the time for any non-essential trips.
If you are directed to self-isolate or quarantine, please do so, immediately.
If you are showing symptoms, do not go out in public. Do not go to work.
Follow the advice of your health authorities.
This is why the borders are closed. This is why schools are closed. This is why the city-owned facilities are closed (like pools). This is why so many events have been cancelled, to protect the vulnerable like me.
The Rare Wanderer 