Researchers call it a potential "game-changer"
With headlines inundated across every inhabited continent, it’s hard not to panic about the new coronavirus making its way around the world. While we’re still learning about the infectious Covid-19, how it’s spread, what the symptoms are, and how to best fight it, people have started taking some drastic, and some misguided, steps.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended simple hygienic measures to reduce the spreading of this virus, but the hyper-reactive responses have forced them to also warn against global overreaction, perhaps spreading even faster than the thing it fears.
From panic-buying, travel concerns, and day-to-day habits, click through to see whether you’re overreacting or just being safe as recommended.
You think every colleague that coughs in the office has coronavirus and should stay home.
You're avoiding touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
You refuse handshakes now.
You wash your hands regularly throughout the day for a minimum of 20 seconds.
You ask your colleague to cover his mouth with the inside of his elbow when he coughs and/or sneezes.
You are wearing gloves or protective medical gear all the time.
You are healthy and wearing a face mask. It’s been repeatedly reported that masks are ineffective regarding coronavirus, and yet people keep buying (and stealing) them, so much that there’s a worldwide shortage—affecting those who actually need them.
You avoid coming in close contact with people who have a fever or flu-like symptoms. Not all fevers mean coronavirus, but coronavirus is signaled with a fever.
You don't eat at Chinese restaurants or go to Chinese stores anymore. This virus is no excuse to punish Chinese expats.
You're avoiding traveling to highly infected areas.
You are stocking food and supplies in your house. Reports of emptied grocery stores are fueling panic with panic, but most people won't be confined to their homes, and they'll now have to eat a lot of canned beans for a while.
You wash your hands after touching banknotes.The UN agency recommends it as Covid-19 may cling to the surface for a few days.
You are buying healthy foods and maintaining a strong immune system, as that's one of the only things that can actually protect you from and fight off coronavirus.
You stopped eating meat. It couldn't hurt to watch your animal intake, of course, as these viruses tend to come from animals.
You're avoiding "unprotected" contact with infected animals, and thoroughly cooking your meat and eggs, as recommended by WHO.
You call an ambulance or go to the hospital with mild respiratory symptoms and no recent travel history. They're busy people and they're being flooded with calls!
You go to the doctor because you have a fever that won't break, or difficulty breathing, and you've recently traveled to an infected area.
You keep your body healthy and stay away from things that can negatively affect your respiratory health. Those who are healthy tend to recover from coronavirus completely!
You think being infected with coronavirus inevitably means death. WHO stresses that the mortality rate remains relatively low.
You're buying garbage cans with closed lids. The WHO recommends it, as well as ensuring all used tissues are thrown away immediately.
You stopped drinking Corona beer. This was an internet hoax that many Western news outlets began running, suggesting that people were so dumb that they were shunning the beer brand because they thought it's connected to the coronavirus.
You're buying gallons of alcohol-based antibacterial gels. WHO does recommend a sanitizer that contains 60% to 95% alcohol, but they also say soap and water works just fine!
You're following quarantine instructions and reporting symptoms where necessary. This helps protect the more vulnerable around you (i.e. elderly) and can help rein in the outbreak.
You protect yourself from the flu, and stay home when you feel unwell. Health officials have urged those experiencing mild symptoms to self-manage from home with over-the-counter flu aids, rather than crowding hospitals.
You're more scared of coronavirus than the flu. To be fair, it has no vaccine and the flu has a lower mortality rate because many more are infected by it and survive, but coronavirus has killed around 3,200 people globally, while since October the seasonal flu has killed as many as 46,000 people in the US alone, the CDC estimates.
You think coronavirus was deliberately created or released by people as biological warfare.
Curious about this hypothesis? Find out more about the creepy book predictions that came true.
You think you have to gargle with bleach, take steroids, or use any other harmful substance to clear out germs from your throat.
You're regularly disinfecting commonly used surfaces like your phone and keyboard. You should also be doing this without the threat of coronavirus!
Take the coronavirus quiz: Are you overreacting or being safe?
From wearing face masks to stocking up on non-perishables, what is actually necessary?
HEALTH Covid-19
With headlines inundated across every inhabited continent, it’s hard not to panic about the new coronavirus making its way around the world. While we’re still learning about the infectious Covid-19, how it’s spread, what the symptoms are, and how to best fight it, people have started taking some drastic, and some misguided, steps.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended simple hygienic measures to reduce the spreading of this virus, but the hyper-reactive responses have forced them to also warn against global overreaction, perhaps spreading even faster than the thing it fears.
From panic-buying, travel concerns, and day-to-day habits, click through to see whether you’re overreacting or just being safe as recommended.