Since we left China on February 10, the dynamics of the Coronavirus now known as COVID-19 have changed rapidly. When we departed from the Shanghai Pudong Airport, almost all known cases of the virus were located inside China. Since then, the number of cases outside China has grown rapidly, whereas the extreme measures taken by the the government and citizens of China appear to have slowed down the virus remarkably in that country. Now the Chinese are more worried about people bringing the virus into China from outside the country, and the whole dynamic of the virus has shifted. It is on the way to becoming a global pandemic. 

To catch up readers of my blog (of which there seem to be far more than usual of late), after spending two weeks in self-quarantine in the Bay Area, we spent a few days with my aunt and uncle in the Berkeley Hills. At that time, there didn’t appear to be any serious concern among people in Berkeley, who were going about their lives as if nothing had changed. I attended a piano recital at U Cal Berkeley with my Uncle Pierre, and accompanied my Aunt Connie to the Farmers Market in Berkeley. We did have many conversations about the virus as news continued to pour in of its spread across the globe.

On February 27, my two daughters and I took a flight across America to Boston. Since then we’ve been staying with my parents in my hometown of Acton Mass. News has continued to unfold about the virus, and it appears to be spreading with great rapidity to other countries, including Italy, South Korea, Japan, Iran, and many others. The United States is reporting more and more cases every day now. Still, I do not see any signs here in Acton of people taking special measures to avoid the virus. 

Recently, I found out that a conference I was planning to attend in Vancouver called APAIE has been canceled. On the other hand, the annual AAS Conference which takes place this year in Boston has not yet announced a cancelation. I am actually very concerned about that. I was thinking of attending that conference, though I haven’t registered yet. Today, I decided that I definitely will not attend, as it doesn’t seem appropriate to do so under the current situation.

Based on all of my observations and from what I’ve read in news reports on the internet, here are some thoughts and suggestions for my compatriots here in the USA, and for folks elsewhere around the world:

1. Do take this virus seriously. All indicators suggest it is far deadlier than a regular flu, and there are currently no vaccines to fight it, unlike the normal flu. There is still much to learn about this virus. It is not to be taken lightly or joked about.

2. There are good reasons why the entire country of China took extreme measures to fight it. Perhaps those measures seem unreasonable or unfeasible to other countries. And they probably are. On the other hand, China was where the breakout first occurred and where it has been the most devastating. So it was reasonable for China to take severe measures to save countless lives. How many more people would be infected now, and how many more lives lost, if China hadn’t reacted the way it did?

3. Don’t blame China for this virus. It could have broken out anywhere. People eat wild animals in countries all over the planet. Yes, the government of China could have acted more swiftly, and there is certainly cause to criticize their initial reactions. But right now, the world should unite to fight the virus, and we should support the people of China and not point fingers (that will come later I am sure).

4. Don’t panic. There are some very reasonable precautions you can take to mitigate the spread of the virus. There is no reason to hoard things or to run around as if the sky were falling. In terms of its deadliness—yes, it is deadlier than a regular flu. On the other hand, it appears to be affecting young people far less than older folks (I am in the middle, having reached the age of 50 last month). Older people who have pre-existing health conditions are in more danger than others, and men are in greater danger than women. Even so, we should all consider the health of others and try our best to prevent catching and spreading this virus. I am certainly not a doctor or a health specialist, but these are some tips that I would like to offer based on what I’ve read and learned from reliable sources:

5. Do take precautions, including:

   1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently, especially after going outside your home;

   2. Try to avoid crowded areas and places, and try to avoid public transportation if you can;

   3. Work from home if you can (for some of us this has become a necessity already);

   4. Limit your excursions and go out only when necessary; this might be a good time to spend more time in or around your home and catch up on your hobbies, chores, reading lists, and TV series;

   5. Get plenty of exercise, which can and should be accomplished in a relatively uncrowded place. Walking, running, cycling outdoors are all good ways to do so, or rev up that exercise machine that’s been gathering dust in your basement;

   6. Get plenty of sleep to boost your immune system;

   7. Eat plenty of healthy foods and avoid excessive alcohol consumption;

   8. Limit your social interactions as much as possible. Best stick to trusted relatives and friends who don’t show signs of illness that accord with the virus (fever, coughing) and avoid large social gatherings when possible.

I hope these tips are helpful. I know they are not easy for many people to follow, but neither are they impossible, and they may well save lives. Personally, I don’t think it necessary to hoard things or wear masks, unless you have an illness and wish to prevent others from catching it. Just stay safe and sane and do reasonable things to keep yourself that way.