People all over the globe are freaking out over the current outbreak of the Coronavirus. While it isn’t something to take lightly, people should educate themselves on the logistics before drawing conclusions that can drastically affect their lives and the lives of others in their community.
According to CNN, the global death toll from the Coronavirus has surpassed 1,300. Though this statistic is alarming, one has to consider the age and immune system of the victims; unfortunately, people who are at high risk for health complications, such as elderly people and those with autoimmune disorders, will inevitably fare worse than someone of average health. Unless you are one of these people who are at a higher risk or you regularly interact with someone who is, the Coronavirus is likely not life-threatening for you.
Eighty-two percent of reported cases of the Coronavirus have been mild and required little-to-no medical treatment, according to the Washington Post. This includes all 13 known cases in the U.S., yet Americans are still extremely worried about the virus harming our country. Clearly, the Coronavirus doesn’t pose nearly as much of a threat as people are suggesting.
In midst of many Americans’ neurotic behaviors caused by fear of the virus, many Asians in the U.S. have experienced xenophobia. Since the Coronavirus has been reported to derive from China, many people have been treating their Asian neighbors poorly by avoiding interactions with them or even verbally assaulting them. The notion that Asians are more likely to carry the virus is racist and unreasonable. They are members of our society and should be treated with respect, not avoided because of baseless assumptions.
In the midst of the panic, it is essential that we remember to be mindful of how we treat others and pay attention to what real scientists are saying instead of blindly allowing prejudice to cloud our judgment.