Can you give us the cliffs notes?
I'm listening to it now and will do my best.
Some highlights:
80% of people infected may show absolutely minor symptoms or no symptoms at all. 2-3% will get really sick with the lower respiratory infection.
Incubation time: 2-14 days. Never seen anyone develop symptoms more than 14 days after exposure (average 5.4 days).
Symptoms:
1) 98% of those who develop symptoms will have a fever. Check temp a few times a day.
2) Dry cough in 76% of those who develop symptoms.
3) Shortness of breath in 55% of those who develop symptoms.
4) Sore throat - trivial.
Why do people die (the 2-3 %)? From the overexuberant immune response. Body pours in white cells; flood alveoli. Can't get oxygen in. Depends on your ability to fight infection.
Among
folks who have underlying conditions (immunocompromised by, e.g., heart disease, cancer, diabetes), in the following age groups:
60-70 4% chance of death
70-80 8%
80+ 15%
What to do? Limit exposure, don't put yourself in compromising situations (cruise, travel to Italy, Asia, etc.) or where you're shoulder to shoulder with others, like at a ball game. It's droplet transmitted - keep 6' away from others. If a loved one is sick, still try to stay 6' away even while you're caring for them.
Only if you absolutely have to be closer to a sick person than 6', then you wear one of the masks with a splash guard (not the respirator variety), mostly to prevent you from touching your face, and maybe goggles. You don't need a Tyvek suit or anything like that. Most folks need nothing more than distance.
Disinfection: 0.1% solution of bleach will kill the virus. Peroxide, too (dilute to .3%); Lysol spray; isopropyl alcohol. Wipe down countertops, computers, phones, door handles, TV remote, other surfaces with peroxide or alcohol solution. Virus may be able to live as long as 9 days, but possibly just 4-20 hours. Clean hands with
soap and water for 20 seconds. Don't have to get hand sanitizer.
Bolster your own immune system:
1) a good night's sleep will do more good than anything else.
2) exercise
3) proper food - fruits and vegs, or at least take multivitamin daily
4) drink water
OTC medicines to have:
zinc lozenges
may help with symptoms (Zicam) - but don't use nasal spray
500-1000 mg per day of Vit. C also
may help (or eat citrus fruit)
This guy is optimistic without discounting legitimate concerns. The sky is not falling. This is not the zombie apocolypse.
"We are more prepared than any other nation in the world - by far!"This is a slow-moving crisis, which buys us time to develop vaccines and anti-virals to attack it.
