PANDEMIC
We will attempt to answer some questions about what a pandemic is for the novice or uninformed, and what to do when confronted by one.
The current pandemic initially called Novel (New) Coronavirus and then labelled Covid-19, or even SARS CoV-2 is a highly transmissible virus that appeared very suddenly, and quickly, to engulf the whole planet in late 2019 and 2020.
1.Where to get information:
There are several places one usually gets information about situations such as this: the news media, government health agencies, the World Health Organisation and even government leaders or religious leaders etc. I have placed reference links and information at the bottom of this article.
2.How do I know if what my government is telling me is accurate?
Government leaders’ responses to the current pandemic ranged from trying to supress the news about the outbreak to not believing it, to advocating social distancing, all the way to ordering mandatory confinement etc. In the case of Covid-19, it is important to remember that this is a “Novel” virus. In other words, a NEW virus, the behaviour of which is unknown. It must also be understood that the virus at the center of any pandemic has no Political. Financial. Geographical, Racial or Religious affiliation. It only knows that the target is a human being from our planet, and that it transmits from one human being to another. When a world wide pandemic is declared, then common sense says that you should pay attention to the planetary response to the pandemic (what all the countries are doing). If your source of information is not taking a declared pandemic seriously, then chances are that it might not be right. In this case please use common sense and follow the WHO or your local health unit’s guidelines.
3.Religious leaders:
Religious leaders know very well that gathering in a place of worship puts people in very close contact to one another, and it is gratifying to see that the vast majority of religious leaders of all faiths took action and followed the WHO guidelines as well as those existing in their various geographical locations. Some have cancelled their services, closed their doors and recommended that their congregation follow their faith in their homes. Others have arranged their places of worship in such a way as to follow the principles of social distancing within their buildings.
4.the News Media
The news media is instrumental during a pandemic. Especially local news, since it informs you about the specific dangers related to the pandemic in your local area such as infection rates etc. Unfortunately, some news outlets specialize in sensationalism instead of accuracy. In pandemic times how does one know which news outlet is accurate and which one is not. The answer is the same as above: look at what the planetary response to the pandemic is, and if your news outlet reports something different, then they may be motivated by things other than reporting the news accurately.
References
WHO or World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Definition of a Pandemic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic
Covid-19 map: https://www.google.com/covid19-map/
Coronavirus definition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus
The following is a publication that a Canadian acquaintance of mine sent me. These are the simple instructions from the Canadian government.