Is anyone else scared poopless over this thing?
I wouldn't say "scared poopless", but I am watching what develops.
I am concerned. I have close relatives far away from where I live, in more populous areas whose risk of exposure is significantly greater than mine might be, but at the same time, I work in an industry which has people rotate in and out, who often come from far away to work here. SO that lack of large numbers of people here is only one vector removed from not existing.
While I am reasonably sure that the numbers coming out of China do not reflect the severity of the outbreak, the question is one of how great is that disparity. Estimates range from simple under counting for clinical reasons to the more apocalyptic scenarios, but the bottom line is that the casualty figures we see are the minimum, and likely not accurate.
From other nations where confirmed cases have been noted, we have yet to have a statistically significant sample to estimate the impact. Public Health agencies worldwide are working to contain the virus, and that at least means that the threat (such as it is) is recognized, that active measures are being taken to limit its spread, that people are hunting for some sort of countermeasures beyond quarantine and care. That quarantines exist at least indicates this disease is being taken seriously at the levels of government where something might be able to be done about it.
Personally, I'd much rather find that extreme measures were taken to contain a virus that was no more deadly than, say, the seasonal influenza, than have something much more deadly that wasn't recognized as a threat.
For now, we wait, follow good hygiene (washing hands frequently, especially before eating, and which remains a good first line of defense against infection from virii left on surfaces which may still be viable.) If you can pull it off, wear gloves (It's winter) when you are out, that might help, too.
We live in a day and age when much business and a lot of human interactions are not conducted face to face, but electronically, and that may well help retard the spread of disease..
Above all, I trust in Our Creator to keep us safe, that all these lights from afar that appear on my screen daily stay lit, and that the people behind them stay healthy.
