Coronavirus spreads local concern
With the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly spreading throughout the world, Wingspan’s Ana Toro encourages people to take the virus seriously.
Wreaking havoc on the nation as well as the world, a deadly strand of coronavirus first took its course in China in late January and since then has killed over 600 people across the planet.
In response to this, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has suspended entry of foreign nationals who have visited China in the last 14 days as of Feb. 2.
Frisco ISD has also stayed on the side of caution in light of this information and released a precautionary PDF.
“The information regarding the coronavirus on our district website is out for a matter of interest that we are certainly keeping abreast of issues within our area,” campus nurse Emily Mikeska said. “Currently there are not any concerns, but all health county services and offices are certainly keeping abreast of that information. If anything does come about, they will certainly notify us, and they are certainly a communication center for us that we use in regards to communicable diseases in things of that nature.”
With concerns about Baylor and Texas A&M students contracting the virus, the public questioned if it was similar to past outbreaks.
“I wondered if it was a situation like the Ebola outbreak or if it might just be a mass hysteria situation,” food science teacher Jessica Fisher said. “I was grateful to see some tests coming back negative for people and that it was still developing as a situation.”
Although junior Stephanie Qui may not be physically affected, the virus has taken a toll on her family abroad.
“My family in China is being affected by the epidemic because all my relatives and friends are being quarantined,” Qui said. “They can’t go outside, getting supplies and food is extremely risky, they’re all really afraid of catching the virus. They’re really bored, they can’t go outside, they are minimizing it as much as possible, basically trapped in their own house.”
However, Qui has limited information about her family’s health.
“Everyone is so worried, they are all really scared, it’s so infectious, you can never know who can get it next,” Qui said. “A main reason why the virus has such a high mortality rate in China is because most people there are elderly because of the one-child policy, they have bad immune systems, they get impacted a lot. A lot of my relatives are old, or their middle aged, a lot of them could contract the virus which I’m really worried about. I can’t go over there and visit, I can’t do anything. There is so little that we know about it, it’s really just constricting and limiting. The government is also really shady, I won’t be able to know the full story of how bad it is, just being kept in the dark really sucks.”
Even though the virus became well known in the past month, FISD alumni Vincent Trezza became familiar with it in 2015.
“I caught a strand of the coronavirus most likely airborne,” Trezza said. “It was hard to tell exactly because the symptoms were that of a common cold. When I heard about the outbreak, I was surprised by how serious it was, especially since the strand I contracted was so harmless.”
Despite the tools and progressive technology out there, Trezza believes we should not take it for granted.
“Because of the major difference in severity between the strand I had and the one present now, I have a different outlook on the world so to speak,” Trezza said. “Our technology and medicine does help us but it also causes viruses like these to mutate into things so powerful, we have no defense. This outbreak makes me feel somewhat scared of the world around me, especially because of the presence of bacteria all around us and our oblivion to what it is.”
Fisher not only fears the physical harm it brings to infected people, but also the backlash of the media.
“I’m afraid the media attention and hysteria will cause unnecessary fear and xenophobia towards people of Chinese descent,” Fisher said. “Asian populations already face enough prejudice in the U.S. and this is just more ammunition.”
Fisher believes simple precautions can make a difference.
“Just like with the flu, RSV and other respiratory viruses- wash your hands often, cough/sneeze into a tissue or your elbow (not your hands),” Fisher said. “Be aware of surfaces that are often covered in germs…hand dryers in bathrooms, school bus seats, desks, airplanes and cell phones.”
Qui hopes China can put their hesitations aside and find adequate solutions.
“Some actions I hope to see in China is for the government to be more honest,” Qui said. “If the government was more upfront and honest we could get help. I know internationally we have people offering help. Our government is so messed up that we refuse help. I’m really hopeful that we could actually get some help, some treatment, and detain the virus, control it, and hopefully find a cure or at least a vaccine.”
Yael Even is looking forward to her third year of Wingspan. She loves to workout, write, and spend a lot of time with friends and family. She also likes...
