Staying Alive Part 3 — Preventing SARS Infection

ARS-CoV-1 (COVID19) is indisputably a deadly disease that affects every nation on earth. This series of postings is intended to give you hope, to allay global fear disproportionate to the actual threat, to build confidence that God created you and me with innate defenses, that is to say, you are born with complex defenses.

The Series

• Staying Alive Part 1 — SARS Infection
• Staying Alive Part 2 — The Immune System
• Staying Alive Part 3 — Preventing SARS Infection

A pastor tells of a convention of preachers he attended featured a speaker who spoke at length on all the problems facing Americans, one after another. At the conclusion of his presentation, he asked, “Are there any questions?” In response, one older pastor in the back of the room retorted, “Yeah, brother, what’s the cure?”

Fear Factor

First and foremost, fear-driven lockdowns and social disruptions must be addressed.

The hard truth is this: WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE. Here are the facts:

• 2017 deaths: 2,813,503 | Population: 325,100,000
• 2018 deaths: 2,839,205 | Population: 327,200,000
• 2019 deaths: 2,855,000 | Population: 328,200,000
• 2020 deaths: 2,226,473 (as of 16 Oct 2020) | Population: 331,585,864

Common Sense

According to the CDC, the people most at risk to COVID-19 are, in order of vulnerability:

• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m² or higher but < 40 kg/m²)
• Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²)
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

COVID-19 is a new disease. Currently there are limited data and information about the impact of underlying medical conditions and whether they increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Based on what we know at this time, adults of any age with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:

• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
• Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
• Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
• Liver disease
• Overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m², but < 30 kg/m²)
• Pregnancy
• Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
• Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus

There are those who mistrust the CDC. I don’t. The people of the CDC, including Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci, are dedicated professionals doing the best job they can. Why do they change their advice? They change their minds for the same reason you do – new information.

How effective are those commercial masks?

Pro: CDC says yes, if you follow these guidelines. Note this disclaimer: The masks recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.

In summary, the masks worn by doctors, nurses, and other medical employees work to protect them. The recommended masks are only marginally effective to protect you.

President Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19 Friday, hospitalized, and back at work on Monday.

Learn the lesson of Job who lost everything. Job quickly came to realize, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.“

Choose to have faith for a good outcome. Don’t put a curse on yourself.

John White
Rockwall, Texas