Page 4 - The Edge Issue 7
P. 4

COVID-19
Coronavirus- what you need to to know Story by Phoenix Boggs
Brandon Engel 11 had been excited for for the Edgewood Spring Break trip to Italy for for months “It’s been my dream dream to to go there ever ever since I I I was maybe 7 years old ” said Engel Engel Now however Engel’s dreams of of exploring the the Italian streets will have to to wait The Edgewood Spring Break trip trip was canceled February 29 with more than 3 089 cases of of coronavirus in in in in Italy rendering the trip trip a a a a a a a a health hazard It’s not only Edgewood that’s been canceling trips- in in in February Florida Florida International University University canceled canceled all all university trips trips to to Italy Italy and and on on on March 2nd the University University of Florida Florida canceled canceled all all study abroad and and service programs involving travel to to China Iran Japan Italy Italy or or or or South Korea Two months ago practically no one in in in in the United States had ever ever heard of of coronavirus The disease which is is characterized by fever cough and and shortness of of of breath first appeared in in in in the Wuhan province of of China and and has since spread at at at a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a rapid rate Coronavirus which which is is also known as as COVID-19
is is believed to to be be be transmitted
through respiratory droplets which which can be be be transferred when an an an an infected person
coughs or or or or or or sneezes The virus’s origins are relatively clear- according to to to to the the the head of of the the the the Galveston National Laboratory Jim DeLuc the the the the genetic sequence of of of COVID-19
shares 96 percent of of o its DNA with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a virus commonly found in in in bats Just how how the the the disease spread to to humans however remains murky Chinese officials have reported that several o of the the the the primary cases were were close to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a live animal market market where seafood and other wildlife were were sold This market market may have allowed the the the the virus to to to bridge the the the the gap between bats and humans giving it it it it free rein to to to spread like wildfire- with its reach growing from a a a a a a a a a a a a a a single city to to to the entirety of of China in in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a span of of only 30 30 days days After those first 30 30 days days coronavirus continued to to to run rampant and still remains a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dangerous crisis According to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Harvard epidemiologist a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a global COVID-19
pandemic is is is is likely Projections estimate that 40 to to to 70 percent of of the the the the world’s population could be infected by the the the the the end of of of the the the the the year even if they never show symptoms There were at at at least 118 COVID-19
cases in in in the the the the US as as as as as of of March 3rd and and The The Center for for Disease Control and and Prevention or or or or or CDC has stated that it it is is preparing for for coronavirus to have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a great impact in in the the the United States As reported by USA Today the the the head of the the the World Health Organization’s emergencies program Michael Ryan said “I would urge all our member states to to be be be ready for very serious sustained community transmission ” In response to to this health crisis Brevard Public Schools has has been emphasizing hand washing washing and and and and proper hygiene with district leaders sending out an an an an an an an email on on on on on March 3rd including
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a sheet and and and and video containing an an an an an an an explanation of hand-washing technique This response seems to to be in in in in in in line with with advice given by the CDC which encouraged schools to to emphasize hand- hand- washing and communicate with with local health departments As of March 23 there have been only seven reported coronavirus cases in in in Brevard So Edgewood is is a a a a a a a a a a long way way away from closing its doors “At this point in in in in in time preparations are being taken but there is is is no action ” said Ms Jacqueline Ingratta Schools that have had COVID-19
cases occur close close to to to home however are taking more drastic measures On March 1st several school school school districts in in in in Washington closed due to to to concern over the the the virus virus along with some isolated schools schools schools in in in in in northern Idaho Whether Brevard schools schools schools will will take similar
measures will will be be be determined by the the the virus’s reach- if cases begin to to appear locally schools schools schools may be be forced to shut down No one can predict with total accuracy whether this new virus virus will will morph into a a a a a a a a a a a a global pandemic One thing that that is is is is certain however is is is is that that coronavirus will will continue to to to halt
travel plans and and and and disrupt communities in in in in in in the the the near near future So in in in in in in the the the meantime make sure to to read the the the news and and and and stay informed about cases near near you- and and and and always
remember to to wash your hands 3 





















































































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