"Pandemic" of COVID-19

A quick overview: 

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic. Common symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Muscle pain, sputum production and sore throat are less common.^[ While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to severe pneumonia and multi-organ failure. The rate of deaths per number of diagnosed cases is on average 3.4%, ranging from 0.2% in those less than 20 to approximately 15% in those over 80 years old. 

The infection is typically spread from one person to another via respiratory droplets produced during coughing and sneezing. Time from exposure to onset of symptoms is generally between two and 14 days, with an average of five days.  

Recommended measures to prevent infection include frequent hand washing, maintaining distance from others, and not touching one's face. The use of masks is recommended for those who suspect they have the virus and their caregivers but not the general public. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Management involves treatment of symptoms, supportive care, isolation, and experimental measures.^[26]

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Evidence of local transmission of the disease has been found in many countries across all six WHO regions.

Thankfully Sara Lassila (Mickelson) - graduate from Cherry HS - working with a team @ the Mayo has developed a test that can detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in clinical samples. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19.

^{So THAT being said - people all over the US are FREAKING out.  There is a shortage of toilet paper - NONE of the grocery stores in Bemidji have a square to spare.  If you look on Amazon.com for TP - it'll bring you to paper towels.  They are out.  I am the type of person who has a few extra of everything anyway - just because I hate to run out; extra shampoo, bars of soap, ibuprofen, etc.  We'll be fine.  However the hoarders are being selfish and taking everything off the shelf, sadly including medications, which prevents others from having some and it will likely expire before they can use it all.  The food shelves are hurting.    My elderly neighbor called US to see if we were ok, bless her heart.}  

Schools all over MN are closed staring today until at least the end of March.  My heart goes out to those kids.  Mostly you'll have two different type of environments.  One environment will be like what my teacher friends have to deal with on the reservation - the child will be at home, have about 10 hrs of screen time a day, fill themselves with junk food (or have no food at all), not complete their assigned homework because they don't have anyone who care for them besides their teacher, and witness drug abuse and domestic violence.  The second environment is two working parents or divorced parents.  The kids are either unsupervised and at home alone with the garbage that is on TV or they're in daycare for 9 hrs a day - and probably too old for it.  Who will be their teacher?  I have to work Thursday, so David is staying home, but after that I cancelled all my shifts.

All the Bemidji restaurants have gone to take-out or delivery only.  Gov. Walz has closed all MN movie theaters, fitness clubs, gyms, cafes, bowling alleys, bingo halls, hookah bars, arcades, and country clubs. FL beaches are staying open and all these spring-breakers are on the beach, spreading this junk then flying it back to their home states, while the rest of us are staying home and slathering ourselves in hand sanitizer and rationing our children to 3 squares of Charmin.  

God bless America.