Globalized disease outbreaks create feelings of fear and distress in our communities. Canceling large events and gatherings, as well as staying at home when possible, is frightening as it disrupts our daily lives and routines, but understanding the rationale behind these actions brings more clarity to the situation.
The goal of self-quarantine and mass gathering cancelation is to flatten out the curve of the disease’s spread and slow the inundation of patients on medical facilities and employees. Although 80 percent of cases are mild, and the fatality rate is estimated to be only one percent, reducing the pressure on medical treatment facilities is critical for protecting and providing care for vulnerable factions of the population.
Places like Singapore and South Korea, as well as smaller areas like Seattle and Santa Clara, have successfully implemented these systems and are slowing the rate of new infections.
Even in this uncertain time, there are already innovative solutions emerging. Last week, we shared how the blood plasma from coronavirus survivors could be used to save lives. Hong Kong is also rolling out robots to clean their public transportation systems.
