Covid-19 Brief
Part of my job is writing about technology. I know how hard it is to restate what you think is obvious when you are an expert.
I am not an expert in biology or immunology, but I am closely connected with scientists and health providers.
So I have an outsider’s ignorance to restate for them a few things I think have not been stated — and may be helpful.
1. Your body develops learned defenses against viruses. This can be done by contracting the actual disease or getting a vaccine. But because this virus is new to us, our relevant immune memory is empty.
2. Older people’s learned defenses are usually an advantage over kids who have less immune memory developed. In cases of new viruses like this we are all on even footing. Kids then have the advantage of their bodies/metabolism recovering faster. Perhaps so fast they hardly notice in this case.
3. However, babies (whose bodies are still in critical development phases) should be vulnerable — so it is odd we are not seeing problems there. Odd is always a great opportunity to learn something.
4. So let’s turn the table — what do the old people have the young do not? Immune memory. It is possible this virus is triggering an exaggerated immune response from a confused body. This is why we see the deaths coming from respiratory and cardiovascular failures. For example, some of those successfully treated for lung problems subsequently die from heart failure.
5. We’ve probably all seen the flattening-curve chart. Yes this is crucial — most simply, it says a critical factor (primarily for health services but even economically) is spreading out the most intensive care cases so we do not surpass the capacity of the health facilities and workers. This is what will cause the most severe consequences — inability by sheer numbers to get needed ventilators, ICU beds, nurses, practitioners, etc. This is why China built that mega-hospital so quickly. This is also why limiting social gathering and personal hygiene are key.
If any of this is misleading, I’ll fix and post.
I wish the best for you and your families and friends.
See also: https://www.fast.ai/2020/03/09/coronavirus/
and: https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca from Tomas Pueyo
