It's a very rapidly mutating virus. Something that we have no treatments for and very little experience in treating.
According to the googles, there are 19,300 hospital beds in Houston. Houston has a population of 2.3 million. So lets say only the old or unhealthy get sick. Let's say only that's only 1% of the population. That is 23,000 hospital beds needed. And that doesn't even take into account anyone else needing a hospitalization. It could be managed. Now if 2 out of every 100 people get sick... anarchy.
And we're not even talking about the resulting panic that would set in. Food and gas hoarding.
With the flu people can be treated at home. With the Coronavirus people require isolated hospitalization.
I was talking with a friend who is a nurse in Texas at a very large hospital. A little update on the information I posted above.
Right now, in the USA, per the CDC, the screening process for the coronavirus is as follows: If a person shows up with flu like symptoms and has recently been to China or around someone who has been to China that person is put in isolation. An isolation suite is air contained. Most hospitals have only a few of such rooms and a limited ability to convert other areas in the hospital into similar rooms.
This is working with no problems for now.
But... if the coronavirus enters the general population, meaning exposure from people who have no direct connection to China, that is when serious problems begin.
It means the screening process is unworkable. We have no way to isolate all people presenting flu like symptoms and to wait until tests come back to see if they have the flu or coronavirus.
There is a very good chance this won't happen. That the virus in this country won't cross from people who have recently visited from China into the general population but there are things that everyone can do to help.
1. Get a flu shot. Reduce the possibility of you and your family of getting the flu.
2. Wash your hands. Often. Use hand sanitizer. Often.
3. Eat well, gets lots of rest, be healthy.
