In the Grip of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Navigating the beginning of a new week in our current era poses its challenges. Each week feels like a return to the familiar scary landscape of pandemic living. Questions arise: Have I been careful in staying home? Am I consistently washing my hands for the recommended duration? Have I maintained proper social distancing practices? These inquiries reflect just a fraction of the profound disruption COVID-19 has wrought upon our lives.

 

How did we find ourselves in this situation?

Remarkably, the COVID-19 pandemic marks the second occurrence of such a global health crisis in the 21st century. On two separate occasions, coronaviruses breached the species barrier, precipitating outbreaks of deadly pneumonia in humans. 

The initial event, SARS-CoV, emerged in China's Guangdong province in 2002, casting its shadow over 26 nations. From November 2002 to July 2003, the virus afflicted 8,098 individuals worldwide, manifesting as severe acute respiratory syndrome characterized by pneumonia or respiratory distress syndrome.

Subsequently, MERS-CoV was raised in the Arabian Peninsula in 2012, sparking concern as it unfolded until late 2019. Over this period, 2,494 confirmed cases of the virus were reported, accompanied by 858 fatalities.

The consequences of these outbreaks prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to take proactive measures. In April 2018, WHO outlined a priority list of pathogens, prominently featuring Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and an enigmatic entity labeled Disease X - a potential pandemic stemming from an unidentified pathogen.

The emergence of Disease X, later identified as SARS-CoV-2 and its associated illness COVID-19, is believed to have occurred in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, although ongoing debates persist regarding its initial time and location of appearance. On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially classified the virus as SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes as COVID-19. By April 6, 2020, SARS-CoV-2 had infected over 1.3 million people worldwide, resulting in 70,000 fatalities. Presently, with more than 330,000 confirmed cases, the United States surpasses all other nations in total infections, including China, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, and other heavily impacted countries.

The response to the pandemic has varied significantly among countries, influenced by local political and cultural norms. However, individuals and societies worldwide have exhibited similar reactions, which can be distilled into five distinct phases.

Phases of Pandemic Reaction: From Ignorance to Panic

In the first phase, called "incubation," people don't realize the danger and carry on as usual. Even when China declared a state of emergency, many didn't take it seriously.

Then comes the second phase, known as "panic." People start to understand the seriousness of the situation, and some begin to act. One common reaction is panic buying, where people rush to stock up on essentials like food, disinfectants, and strangely, toilet paper. This frenzy leads to chaos, with authorities having to step in to regulate supplies, including monitoring the delivery of masks. At the same time, industries like entertainment, travel, and dining suffer as people stay home. Media consumption skyrockets as folks seek updates or turn to online activities like gaming and watching videos to distract themselves.

Phase Three: "Isolation and Reflection" During this phase, the government tells nonessential workers and vulnerable people to stay home. Schools, bars, and other public places close. People work and learn from home. Being isolated starts to affect how people feel.

Phase Four: "Thinking and Changing" Life slows down, giving people time to think. They start looking for new ideas and chances.

Phase Five: "Back to Normal" Eventually, things start going back to how they were before, even if it's hard to believe. Hopefully, we learn from this and get ready for the next pandemic.

Our Personal Journey Through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Navigating Challenges and Changes

As of April 11, my husband and I find ourselves navigating through the phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. We've already passed through the initial two phases and are currently in the midst of phase three, adhering to the "shelter-in-place" guidelines.

Our journey through phase one likely began in early January when the global spread of COVID-19 started making headlines, and Wuhan was placed under lockdown. Initially, we didn't pay much heed to the situation. In fact, we were eagerly planning a trip to Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California to celebrate my husband’s retirement. However, just before our departure, we made the tough decision to cancel the trip abruptly. Our primary concern was to minimize the risk of coronavirus exposure, particularly in crowded airports and during flights. Undeterred by the setback, we opted for a road trip instead and embarked on an adventure to Yellowstone National Park.

Phase 2 of our pandemic experience began while we were driving back to Minnesota. However, the reality of the situation truly sank in once we arrived home on March 9th. It was evident that things had escalated significantly; hand sanitizer and even toilet paper were nowhere to be found. Despite this, we were fortunate enough to find most other essential items available and stocked up reasonably. As for the hand sanitizer dilemma, we managed to solve it with a bottle of "Pure Proof," boasting a high alcohol content of 75.5% by volume.

As Phase 3 began on March 27 with the statewide "shelter in place" order, our retired lifestyle felt the impact. While we miss our usual daily routines, grocery shopping has become more challenging. We now shop only every two weeks instead of every other day. Personally, I miss the joy of grabbing a cappuccino and a fresh croissant after shopping.

There have been noticeable changes in our habits. Before heading out, we make sure to wear gloves, masks, and use hand sanitizer. Simple tasks like touching vegetables or being close to others now make us more cautious.

In our sparsely populated region, the "shelter in place" order doesn't mean we can't enjoy outdoor spaces like parks and streets. We've been making the most of the sunny spring weather by exploring nearby parks. Fortunately, our metro area boasts a fantastic selection of regional parks, like those found in the Twin Cities Regional Parks System.

Recently, we've noticed signs in these parks written in six different languages - English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Hindi, and Lao - reminding visitors to maintain social distancing. It's a thoughtful measure to ensure everyone's safety as we enjoy our outdoor excursions.

There are certainly less enjoyable aspects of our new daily routines, such as the struggle to get video conferencing apps to work smoothly. Despite trying various platforms like Skype, Zoom, and Adobe Connect, the experience often feels repetitive. Questions like "Can you hear me?" and "Can you see me?" become all too familiar, along with confusion about the mute button and camera settings. It typically takes at least 10 minutes before a meeting can start without technical glitches, like missing voices or frozen video screens.

It's clear that with millions of people working and learning from home during the pandemic, the internet is under immense strain, making smooth video conferencing a challenge.

As we look ahead to phases 4 and 5, we're faced with uncertainty, as we can't predict the future. However, there are some predictions we can consider. It's expected that as more people contract the virus and recover, approximately 60% of the population will eventually develop immunity. This pattern mirrors what has occurred with previous epidemics, where viruses have become less harmful over time as immunity spreads throughout the population. While we can't peer into a crystal ball, understanding this trend offers hope for the eventual mitigation of the virus's impact.

Lessons from Pandemics: Understanding Viral Threats and Safeguarding Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a simple reminder of the omnipresence of viruses in our world. Humans have been engaged in an ongoing battle against viruses since long before our species evolved into its current form. History allows us witness to the devastating toll of viral outbreaks, with the deadliest flu pandemic, often referred to as the Spanish flu, sweeping across the globe in 1918. This pandemic infected up to 40% of the world's population and claimed the lives of an estimated 50 million people.

Moreover, the emergence of new strains of influenza, originating from livestock farming and affecting animals such as swine, cattle, and poultry, underscores the interconnectedness between humans and the animal kingdom. Additionally, diseases like Ebola, SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 have all been traced back to wildlife, highlighting the risks posed by zoonotic diseases - those transmitted from animals to humans.

In essence, the lesson we can collect from the emergence of COVID-19 and other viral outbreaks is the imperative of understanding and respecting the delicate balance of our ecosystem. Heightened awareness, robust surveillance, and proactive measures are essential in mitigating the risks posed by emerging infectious diseases and safeguarding public health on a global scale.

The global strategy for handling pandemics remains insufficient. From politicians to the general public, we often approach pandemics as plain disasters to respond to after they've occurred. There's a reliance on the development of vaccines or drugs post-outbreak, leading to a reactive approach. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, vaccines for past viruses like SARS in 2002-2003, as well as for diseases like HIV/AIDS and Zika, remain elusive. This highlights the inadequacy of our current approach to pandemic preparedness.

To break free from the era of pandemics, we must reframe our approach and prioritize prevention by treating them as public health issues. This requires a fundamental shift towards developing vaccines and drugs that target entire groups of pathogens, rather than solely focusing on known individual pathogens.

Recognizing the need for this shift, the World Health Organization (WHO) added "Disease X" to its priority list two years ago. This designation acknowledges the likelihood of encountering currently unknown pathogens in the future. By anticipating and preparing for the emergence of such pathogens, we can better protect global health and mitigate the impact of future pandemics.

Easter During the Pandemic: Navigating Tradition in Uncertain Times

This year, Easter arrives amidst the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. With shelter-in-place orders and social distancing guidelines in effect, families and friends are unable to gather in person to celebrate. Many cherished traditions, like dyeing eggs, may be postponed due to limited egg supplies. In both the United States and Germany, public events, and services, including traditional Easter fires in my hometown of Wernigerode, have been canceled.

Despite these disruptions, we are grateful for our health and the ability to connect with loved ones in some capacity. As we navigate this pandemic together, we're reminded of the importance of staying creative and finding new ways to stay connected during times of separation. Happy Easter!