I don’t have any.

Nope. I’m not concerned.

Not with the Coronavirus.

Viruses happen, routinely even. Influenza is a virus that kills many more people than Covid-19 has this flu season alone. Yes, “flu shots” or vaccines are offered based on what epidemiologists guesstimate the probable strain to be in any given year, but it is not an exact science. The flu shot lessens the symptoms IF you are infected by creating antibodies to the strain of the year, but it does not prevent the flu.

Coronavirus has been around for years . . . read that again. YEARS!! SARS is a coronavirus. MERS is a coronavirus. COVID-19 is simply a new strain of coronavirus. Human coronaviruses were first identified in the mid 1960’s (CDC). Let’s do the math — we’ll take 1965 as the middle of the 60’s for arguments sake, and subtract that from 2019 (yes, I know it’s 2020, but this virus first reared it’s head in 2019 — work with me here.) So 2019 – 1965 = 54. That’s 54 YEARS that we have known about coronaviruses, but now suddenly we are going to panic and buy out toilet paper and baby wipes and hand sanitizers. Really?

First of all, this is a RESPIRATORY virus – put the toilet paper back on the shelf unless you’re actually running low at home, but even then you don’t need 144 rolls! Look for the 3-pack of tissues. Stock up on OTC (over the counter) medications such as Tylenol and ibuprofen to treat the fever you MAY get if you are infected. Mucinex, Sudafed, saline nasal spray, a humidifier, cough drops – a dang Neti pot if you want . . .but back away from the toilet paper. As my 14 year-old daughter said (and she appears to have more wisdom than the general public) this is a respiratory issue not an ass-atory issue.

Hand sanitizer is great IF YOU DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO SOAP AND WATER. Hand sanitizer is a quick, temporary fix until you can wash your hands with soap and water. You do not need to purchase 5-10 1-gallon jugs of hand sanitizer for your personal consumption. If a picture is worth a thousand words, just look below and I’ll hush up for a minute.

There are some things that people apparently haven’t been taught as basic etiquette and hygiene.

1. If you cough or sneeze, use a tissue and throw it away. If a tissue is unavailable, cover the cough or sneeze with your hand. If soap and water is not readily available, use a squirt of hand sanitizer until you can wash your hands.
2. Do not pick your nose, rub your eyes, rub your nose, or lick your fingers and then touch something else without washing your hands first.
3. Wash your hands after using the restroom and before you eat.
4. If you are feeling under the weather: body aches (that are not a result of a hard workout), sore throat (that is not from screaming at a concert the night before, or yelling at your childs sporting event), cough (unrelated to smoking or allergies), shortness of breath (that is not because you chased another shopper down the aisle trying to reach the toilet paper first), or fever (greater than 100.5) — STAY HOME.

Treat your symptoms at home. Rest. Drink plenty (as in 64 ounces daily or more) of water. Remember that Tylenol and ibuprofen you picked up when you put the toilet paper down? Alternate them every 3 hours to reduce the fever and alleviate body aches. Chicken noodle soup actually does help you feel better. Wash your hands.

Go to the doctor if your fever is not controlled with the OTC medications or the shortness of breath becomes severe.

Consider this . . .

many people get the flu, some people will die from the flu. Now replace the word “flu” with “coronavirus.”

many people will get coronavirus, some people will die from the coronavirus.

Did you see that? many and some. Many and SOME. Not many and all.

This excellent article from Johns Hopkins here, compares COVID-19 with influenza. The concern with COVID-19 is that it is a new strain for which people have not built up an immunity. Statistically, unless you are extremely young with little immunity, or older with existing health issues that decrease immunity, the risk of dying is low.

So, please, stop racing around like Chicken Little. Put the toilet paper down, grab some tissues and chicken noddle soup and go home.