The Coronavirus, Its Background, and Its Effect on Us

Coronavirus, also referred to as SARS-CoV-2, is a virus which attacks the respiratory systems in our bodies and causes the disease known as COVID-19. This virus has spread rapidly over the past few months, and reported cases have exponentially grown since our relative awareness of its presence in the U.S. in early March. Since our introduction to this virus, we as humans have become even more aware of just how connected we really are- outside activities, social interaction, and even jobs have been put to a halt indefinitely. Even as more information has been gathered over the past weeks on how the virus acts in the body as well as the amount of people infected when exposed to just one person (reproduction number), our knowledge on this virus is still growing and necessary to everyone.

The virus has affected all aspects of society, especially our daily regimen, including our daily jobs, our school life, and even the time we spend with one another outside of school. On a personal level, the virus has caused myself and my family to partake in a tremendous amount of change. Specifically, my family has had to adjust to more social distancing and self-isolation, including less outside activities, such as going to the grocery store and trips to the park.

Pictured to the right is a photo of a recent trip to Kroger, where all of the meat shelves have been emptied. This shows how chaotic certain aspects of this time have been, and also how obsessive the public can be when it comes to a time like this. Another aspect of my outside activities that has been affected are my daily trips to the gym, which has been put to a halt since it’s simply not safe for that many people to gather in such a small space. Before the current coronavirus

situation, frequent trips to the park were also a part of my schedule, but those too have been less frequent for the health of the public.

Driving is always the safest and most effective way to get out of the house without fear of hurting those around you, and while it’s not the best option for the environment, it’s effective when considering the best ways to stay isolated from the public. Pictured to the left is a photo taken by me on a drive through the park, because while society may be in quarantine at the

moment, it’s still a safe option to get out of the house while still considering the health of those around you. As mentioned before, social interaction is also limited at a time like this, and this most importantly includes school.

Numerous school districts in the state of Kentucky as well as across the nation have closed schools and switched to online learning, as a way of keeping in touch with students even in this difficult time. The switch to online school hasn’t exactly been an easy one for a lot of students,

including myself, as it’s a completely different learning environment than what students are used to, but it must be difficult for teachers to adjust to as well. Pictured to the right is one of my first assignments in online learning, which was to make a political cartoon about any current subject, so my cartoon focused on the current coronavirus situation and how it has affected the Earth.

Considering all of these personal effects on my life as well as the rest of society, treatments for the coronavirus are a hot topic right now and very important to those affected by COVID-19 in the past few weeks. Currently, the most effective treatments for COVID-19 are similar to treatments for the common flu, including pain medication

such as tylenol (acetaminophen) and cough syrup, as well as plenty of sleep to help one’s body recover. As of early April 2020, there is no official vaccine for the coronavirus, and it’s very likely that one won’t be developed for at least a year, even with the efforts of numerous doctors and geneticists across the country. Vaccines are developed mostly by private corporations who have to undergo government regulation in order to make sure that a vaccine is not only truly effective but safe for the general public to use. This is a roadblock for the efficiency of creating and spreading a vaccine, however, it is a necessary step to ensure that the public isn’t being given a rushed and untested drug.

In summary, the coronavirus has had a monumental impact on our nation in the past month, one that has affected not only the social aspect of our lives and our connectedness with one another, but the financial stability of our economy as well. The number of deaths has exceeded 33,000 in the U.S. as of early April 2020, and it’s likely that these numbers will continue to climb until effective vaccination is developed and we continue to investigate the properties of this disease completely. While the U.S.A. and every country around the world has had to adjust to a new normal, one with self-isolation and limited interaction with one another, life as we know it will still continue. Despite the difficulties with this virus, it makes us realize our connection with one another and how intertwined our society is to one another.