Coronavirus: Prevention, symptoms, and treatment

By Lucy Landry

Above: Colorized illustration of COVID-19.

Information and updates on COVID-19, commonly known as the Coronavirus, have appeared unflaggingly on every news source since the very first headlines of the rapid spread within China hit the stands. With frightening new data showing the spread of the disease, people around the globe have begun to panic. However, there are effective ways in which to slow the spread of the disease and to stay healthy and free from COVID-19.

Prevention

Coronavirus is spread from contact with a diseased person. Coughing or sneezing from someone affected by COVID-19 can cause droplets containing the disease to fall on the “mouths or noses” of others nearby and can “possibly be inhaled into the lungs” (“Transmission”). The virus can also be contracted by coming into contact with objects which have been infected. The disease is spread “easily and sustainably,” and thus precautions must be taken to prevent getting it (“Transmission”). 

Although vaccines to protect against the contraction of COVID-19 are not yet available, there are lots of other ways in which one can prevent themselves from getting the disease. One should “avoid close contact” with infected people and refrain from touching one’s “eyes, nose, and mouth” (“Prevention, Treatment”). One should also wash their hands “for at least twenty seconds” (fun tip: sing “Happy Birthday” twice) after using the restroom, prior to eating, and “after sneezing, coughing,” or using a tissue to blow one’s nose (“Prevention, Treatment”). Staying home when one is feeling sick and regularly disinfecting often-touched objects are also great ways to prevent the disease’s spread (“Prevention, Treatment”).

Symptoms

Coronavirus symptoms are similar to those of a cold or a case of the flu (“Symptoms”). Reported COVID-19 cases claim “mild to severe respiratory illness” in infected people (“Symptoms”). Symptoms that signal that one might have the Coronavirus are: “fever,” “cough,” and “shortness of breath” (“Symptoms”). Other symptoms might include vomiting, diarrhea, chills, itchy and red eyes, feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches, and nasal congestion. People only show these symptoms within two to fourteen days of contracting it (“Symptoms”). COVID-19 is a fast-spreading illness, so it is important to catch it early and seek medical attention.

Above: Areas where COVID-19 cases have been reported and confirmed as of March 3rd, 2020 (“Situation Reports”). 

One should contact a medical professional right away if one shows any of the above symptoms and has traveled to any of the following countries in the last two weeks: China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Japan (“Information for Travelers”).

Treatments

There is not much of a treatment for the Coronavirus. Those who test positive for it are placed in an area where they cannot spread the disease to others. In acute cases of COVID-19, “support” to “vital organ functions” are provided in order to help the body overcome the disease (“Prevention, Treatment”). It is imperative that infected people or people who suspect they have been infected seek immediate medical attention in order to beat COVID-19. 

Reported Cases and Death Rate

Although the disease is highly contagious and its spread quite scary and quite real, the current (reported) death rate for COVID-19 is low. 

Most vulnerable to suffering a more severe case of COVID-19 are elderly people and those with “pre-existing medical conditions” like “asthma, diabetes,” and “heart disease” (“COVID-19 Myth Busters”). Most COVID-19 related deaths come from these demographics, but, even so, as of the publishing of this article, data from WHO shows a death rate of little over two percent (“Situation Reports”). Deaths resulting from COVID-19 are actually dropping in China, where the disease originated (Aizenman).

Above: Graph from NPR showing the drop in COVID-19 related deaths in China (Aizenman).

COVID-19 has not been shown to be a disease where a majority of the infected are perishing because of it.

Actions at EAB

EAB has asked families to keep their children at home if they are sick or show any symptoms of COVID-19. Those families which have recently traveled to China (including Hong Kong), Japan, South Korea, Iran, and Italy are asked to contact the school to discuss whether or not the student should stay at home for the recommended fourteen-day waiting period. EAB’s leadership team has also asked that students and faculty sneeze and cough into their elbows, blow their nose in a tissue, promptly throw out used tissues in a waste bin, and remain at home if they are feeling sick. EAB has increased the number of tissues and alcohol-based hand sanitizers around the school and in classrooms.

Works Cited

Aizenman, Nurith. “Why The Death Rate From Coronavirus Is Plunging In China.” NPR, NPR, 3 Mar. 2020, http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/03/03/809904660/why-the-death-rate-from-coronavirus-is-plunging-in-china.

“COVID-19 Information for Travelers.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Feb. 2020, http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.

“COVID-19 Myth Busters.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters.

“Novel Coronavirus (2019-NCoV) Situation Reports.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports.

“Prevention, Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Feb. 2020, http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html.

“Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Feb. 2020, http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html.

“Transmission of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Feb. 2020, http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html.

Social Media’s breakthrough challenge (#Trashtag Challenge)

By Chathumina Kalatuwage

Over the past couple years, there have been dozens of trendy challenges for the internet. The Ice Bucket challenge was the first challenge that raised awareness of an important issue (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

It’s 2019 now, and there is a new challenge that is helping restore the beauty of littered places. #TrashtagChallenge is a simple concept of people capturing before and after pictures of places that they’ve helped clean up.

It exploded Reddit and Facebook roughly 2 weeks ago after user Byron Román posted on Facebook a picture of him in what looks to be a forest with lots of plastic/polythene bags and an after photo of him with the whole place cleaned up and striking a pretty cool pose. That place alone had 9 bags of plastic!

Román’s motivation was apparently ‘teenage boredom’ and he encourages anyone feeling bored to look for a place to help out. (If you’re a teenager, that might be your room first). Trashtag is trending worldwide as people from India to Honduras gather rakes and bags to benefit the planet.

There are loads more photos like this online and it wouldn’t hurt (unless you cut yourself on a piece of glass) to put more out there. Picking up trash isn’t anything hard and it feels good to give back to the community. #Trashtag is another example of social media being used for good. Imagine it as the Chubby Bunny challenge but every Bunny is a plastic bottle going into your bag. Lake Parana (away from the Country Clubs because they’re clean) could actually use some cleaning.

Photo Credits 1, Photo Credits 2

 

3 Strategies on how to stick to your New Year’s Resolutions

By Fatima Kane 

Here are our strategies on how to actually keep your 2019 New Year’s Resolutions – and not just until January 2nd!

Plan it out 

It’s great to aim high with your goals, but you want have an idea how to get there. To make your resolution seem less daunting, plan it out on paper in smaller, more specific steps that will allow you to accomplish your goal. Giving yourself deadlines and time limits to complete certain steps can help you stay on track and keep moving forward. You can easily set up your plans on a calendar, agenda, journal and with reminders to make sure that 2019 is the year for you!

Remind yourself. Constantly. 

All the hopes for your resolutions go out the window, unless you constantly remind yourself of your goals and make them a daily important priority. Setting up to-do lists, notes, or reminders for yourself, allows you to keep your resolutions at the forefront of your mind. Positive reminders of your plans will go a long way in helping to keep you motivated. 

Keep track of your progress!

Recording significant (or even seemingly insignificant steps) you’ll take during the year is the perfect way to keep to being motivated, committed, and striving for your target! Studies have shown that “monitoring” your steps leads to higher success in sticking with your resolutions. Keeping track of your progress allows you to remind yourself of how far you have gone and how close you are to the finish line! And don’t stress about having a couple “cheat-days.” Perfection can’t be expected, and any progress is a reason to be proud! Just don’t let these days distract you from your goals. 

Good luck with your 2019 New Year’s Resolutions! 

 

Image Source: “Bullet Journal Monthly Habit Tracker, Flower Drawing. | @Littleolivebujo | Bullet Journal Ideas | Pinterest | Bullet Journal, Journal and Bullet.” Pinterest, http://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/408912841160773537/.

Managing the PSAT Stress

By Caroline Morvan

Every October in classrooms of schools around the world, high school juniors and sophomores gather to take the PSAT.

Short for “preliminary SAT,” the PSAT helps students, parents, and guidance counselors get a sense of the kind of work students need to do to prepare for the SAT or ACT, and can also help with initial expectations for a student’s college prospects. Particularly strong scores can lead to recognition by the National Merit Scholarship program, which in turn can lead to more money or other positive interest for colleges.

Therefore, it’s not surprising that this test usually generates a sense of anxiety among students who are going to take it. This October 24th, the day of the test, was no different: EAB sophomores and juniors who were about to enter the testing room were a bit anxious. “Considering the fact that I’m American I was kinda nervous scholarship-wise,” said sophomore student Isabelle Bautista.

At the end of the day, the PSAT is not something students should be stressing out about. This practice test can even help reduce the juniors’ and sophomores’ stress, since it gives a sense of what it’s going to be like in the final run. “When I got too nervous I reminded myself not to be too stressed about it, for it’s not the official SAT but a practice one and it would give me a good sense for what the real [one] would be like,” said Isabelle.

In terms of what we have discussed about success this past week, it seems that the 2018 PSAT was successful, for students walked out of the test a lot more confident about taking the SATs in their senior year. Junior Valentina Foresti said that although she did not study for the test she felt it was quite easy, especially the math section.

And in the words of the sophomore Fatima Kane:

Students shouldn’t worry too much about it because they will have plenty of time to improve their SAT score before colleges see. 

 

Image Source: 

Vives, Ruben. “Taking the SAT Is Hard Enough. Then Students Learned the Test’s Answers May Have Been Leaked Online.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2018, http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sat-exam-leaked-20180827-story.html.

5 Reasons to Attend Halloween Movie Night

By Sophie Kane 

You’re going to want to come to the STUCO movie night on October 26th. Here’s why.

 

1. Michael Myers

Sure, we get our yearly influx of scary movie box office hits and busts, but only a handful of knife-wielding villains rise to the level of pop culture icons: you’ve got Norman Bates, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Pennywise the Clown, Jack Torrance, and then there’s Michael Myers. He traumatized a generation and now he’s making a resurgence in a remake of the classic movie this fall. Don’t worry though, we’ll be screening the original movie in all its John Carpenter glory.

     2. It just might be the best scary movie of all time

“Halloween” was a horror movie game changer and its inspired countless films since. It’s low on graphic violence, but its suspenseful, psychological scares makes it all the more terrifying. It’s still hailed as the best horror movie of all time.

    3. The soundtrack

It’s one thing to make an iconic movie, and another to also have an iconic soundtrack. Just like those semitones in “Jaws” and the twinkling notes of the Exorcist theme, the music is enough to keep you awake at night.

    4. Come for the food

Watching “Halloween” in a theater in the dark, with your friends, listening to that music is pretty much the ultimate Halloween experience.

   5. Admission is free!

There’s no charge at the door so all you need is a few reais for pizza and popcorn snacking.

This event is not to be missed so don’t forget to pick up a permission form in the iCommons to submit by October 23rd to the Upper School Office in order to attend.

See you there!

 

Image Source: Murrian, Samuel R. “7 Reasons Why John Carpenter’s Halloween Is One of the Most Beloved Horror Films of All Time.” Parade, 2 Nov. 2017, parade.com/606101/samuelmurrian/7-reasons-why-john-carpenters-halloween-is-one-of-the-most-beloved-horror-films-of-all-time/.

High School classes are tough. We can help.

By Sherlynn Chew and Joan Nchimbi

Don’t miss the opportunity to get free math and science private tutoring on campus. Come to EAB’s Math and Science tutoring service after school!

 

Math and Science Tutoring Club (MAST) is a free initiative with the goal of helping students at EAB be successful in their math and science classes. The club consists of a small group of talented mathematicians and scientists in grade 9 through 12– many of whom are involved in advanced math and science courses across a range of subjects. These students are determined to support EAB students in need help in any math, biology, chemistry, or physics course.

If you need help in any of these subjects or you just need advice on how to solve a tough homework question come talk to us! If you would feel more comfortable asking for help from a fellow student rather than a teacher MAST is perfect for you! If you are unable to comprehend the methods your teachers uses to solve a question, we have students who can break down each problem and help you understand how to get to every solution. And if you are practicing for a test or exam, come find us as we provide free revision sessions too! You can work one-on-one with our student tutors or bring along a friend from class and make it a group study session. 

We are available every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Upper School chemistry room (US29) from 3.15 pm to 4.00 pm! See you there!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Three movies hitting theaters this fall.

By Fatima Kane

Here are the top three most anticipated movies of the fall! Mark your calendars!

1. A Star Is Born

Release Date : October 11th

Trailer : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517451/videoplayer/vi94288665?ref_=tt_ov_vi

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga star in a romantic musical saga in which the paths of a troubled superstar and an young aspiring singer-songwriter collide – a modern-day remake of the 1976 A Star Is Born, featuring Barbra Streisand. The incredible voice of Lady Gaga combined with original lyrics have created “spectacular” musical hits, and the movie is predicted to be nominated for several Oscars. Definite a must-watch!

 

2. Crazy Rich Asians

Release Date : November 1st 

Trailer : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988/videoplayer/vi1884338201?ref_=tt_ov_vi

Crazy Rich Asians is the first Hollywood blockbuster with an all-Asian cast and is the highest-earning romantic comedy since 2009 – and it’s no surprise why ! This “Cinderella”, culture-clash remake will make you laugh, cry, and leave you wonderstruck as we follow the story of Rachel Wu, a native New Yorker who is very much in the middle class, who visits her boyfriend’s family in Singapore, and is shocked to find out they are not only wealthy, but crazy rich. Don’t miss this highly-acclaimed romantic comedy/drama! It might just be a new favorite. 

 

3. Fantastic Beasts : The Crimes of Grindelwald

Release Date : November 15th 

Trailer : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4123430/videoplayer/vi2545334809?ref_=tt_ov_vi

 

While I know any Harry Potter fan is just counting down the days until this film comes out and surely knows every single detail about it, I’ll help the unknowing few catch up about this highly-anticipated sequel in the epic world of Harry Potter. The Crimes of Grindelwald will feature the adventures of self-proclaimed magizoologist Newt Scamander as he battles the threat of Dark Magic and the infamous wizard Grindelwald (played by Johnny Depp). November 15th cannot come soon enough!

Image Sources:

Foo, Stephanie. “‘Crazy Rich Asians Isn’t about Money, It’s about Entitlement-and That’s a Good Thing.’” Vox, Vox, 16 Aug. 2018, http://www.vox.com/first-person/2018/8/8/17662164/crazy-rich-asians-movie-premiere.

Marsh, Calum. “Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper Pulled Off a Near-Impossible Feat During ‘A Star Is Born’.” Variety, Variety, 3 Oct. 2018, variety.com/2018/artisans/production/bradley-cooper-lady-gaga-a-star-is-born-2-1202966079/.

Travis, Ben. “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – Exclusive Image of Newt Scamander’s Return.” Empire, Empire, 10 July 2018, http://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/fantastic-beasts-crimes-grindelwald-exclusive-image-newt-scamander-return/.

 

The MOTH Flutters Back to EAB

By Joel Kreighbaum

October is quickly approaching which means that soon The Moth will be returning for the second year at EAB.

The Moth is a fantastic experience both for the people presenting and for the people listening. Last year the listeners got to learn how Mr. Bair met his wonderful wife Ms. Bree, and I spoke about my very personal experience of getting outed before I was ready. It takes a lot of courage to get up and tell personal stories so it’s important to support the presenters and encourage those who want to present.

The Moth stories can cover a large variety of subject, from ones that will make laugh hysterically to those so touching that crying can’t be helped. Each story for the Moth is unique and it is a once in a lifetime experience to see each one live, so make sure to be there for this years’ group of presentations. The Moth this year is happening October 10th at 3:30 in the US iCommons Mini-Amp so don’t be late!

 

Image Source: “Tiger Moth Silhouette | Free Vector Silhouettes.” How to Draw a Double-Decker Bus | Super Coloring, 26 May 2015, http://www.supercoloring.com/silhouettes/tiger-moth.

Our global data crisis

By Yasmin Abbas

When asked to write a formal essay, it is very likely that you, whether you are an adult or still a student, have required research to formulate ideas or to gather data. Regardless of which, you’ve been asked to extract this information from a reliable source, to prevent misinformation. The safest bet, for most of you (me included) has for long been scholarly essays. I’m not here to discredit the work that many scholars put into formulating research papers or academic articles, but there are a few key points of information that need to be brought to light.

Firstly, there is the almost god-like hailing of academics. Undoubtedly these people have dedicated a considerable amount of their time towards learning about a certain issue, but they do not hold the absolute truth on the matter. These people are also susceptible to biases, have limitations in their studies and most of the time, aren’t focused in attaining the purest level of truth, in fact, most of the times, they’re trying to prove their point. Not all scholarly articles are peer reviewed, meaning that some articles can be published without anyone looking over it and making sure that this academic didn’t just write whatever they wanted to get published. While it is very tempting to simply cite a source that backs up your claim, I believe it is far more respectable to be willing to change a belief or claim to attend to reality, rather than to knowingly perpetuate a bias.

Secondly, data does not equate facts. The inclusion of numbers, surveys and graphs in an article does not ensure that you are reading a factual analysis of reality. In fact, many times, especially in scientific studies, data can be manipulated or presented in a misleading way to suggest a personal belief held by the author. In the scientific community —  especially in the light of the monetisation of research paper publication — manipulated data has reached an all-time-high as researchers are getting payed to publish misleading data for companies. Once this data is published, not only does it become public and thus people are vulnerable to believing a carefully crafted fib, but this data can now be re-published, cited and used to solidify unreasonable arguments, further perpetuating misinformation.

Alright. So there is fake data floating around — not just in family WhatsApp groups or on my Facebook feed, the sources that I once believed to be the most reliable may not be, so what?

The values of society are built upon our beliefs, ideals and science. The decisions we make politically, economically and ethically depend on scientific breakthroughs and simple experimentations, so if these are tampered with, we begin to lead our society towards a path that becomes progressively more detached from reality, as these can be based on falsified evidence. I may be getting ahead of myself in the sense that this misinformation probably will not result in our society’s doom, as my last sentence suggests, but I do believe it is currently happening in a small scale. Not being able to personally understand why something is a way it is and simply pointing at a piece of evidence that is handed to you is unsettling, almost as if you are slowly losing grasp of reality. How can you understand what is happening in the world if false information is all that you have available? How is society supposed to progress when information, the most basic of rights is being denied to us?

There are projects like that of the self-proclaimed “Data Thugs” that are currently underway to get rid of questionable research and false data, but a strong ethical sense from me and you also goes a long way. When reading an absolutely biased report on a matter, make sure to at least acknowledge other possible perspectives when publishing or talking about an issue. Verify, to the extent possible the validity of your information; if you can, make sure a good part of the scientific papers you are citing are peer reviewed. There is nothing wrong about publishing an opinion, the wrong is in referring to that opinion as a truth. Much like movements of social justice, I believe that data reliability should be our next in vogue issue that gains traction and moves people to protest for more reliable information.