Coronavirus Flatten The Curve

Transcript

AS ALL OF US TRY TO UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE CORONAVIRUS, A SIMPLE CHART GRAPH IS HELPING EXPLAIN THE SCALE AND SPREAD OF THE OUTBREAK. THIS COVID-19 "FLATTENING THE CURVE" CHART ILLUSTRATES THE WAVE OF NEW CASES EXPECTED TO HIT. A HIGH CURVE MEANS THE VIRUS IS SPREADING QUICKLY; SOME PEOPLE WON'T GET THE MEDICAL CARE THEY NEED, AND THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IS LIKELY TO INCREASE. A flatter CURVE MEANS the VIRUS IS SPREADING SLOWLY, WHICH GIVES DOCTORS THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO TREAT MORE PEOPLE (AND HOPEFULLY SAVE MORE LIVES). WHILE FLATTENING THE CURVE MAY NOT REDUCE THE total NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO BECOME INFECTED, IT ENSURES THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DEALING WITH IT AT ANY ONE TIME IS LIMITED. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE DISEASE IS ALLOWED TO PROGRESS AT ITS NATURAL PACE, THE CURVE ON THE GRAPH WOULD TURN INTO A SPIKE, CAUSING MASSIVE ISSUES FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ALREADY STRETCHED TO THEIR LIMITS. YOU CAN HELP BY BEING VIGILANT ABOUT TAKING PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, LIKE PROPER HANDWASHING AND SOCIAL ISOLATION. If you follow THE CDC's ADVICE: WASH YOUR HANDS (FREQUENTLY AND PROPERLY), CATCH COUGHS AND SNEEZES IN TISSUES, AND STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK, YOU CAN HELP FLATTEN THE CURVE. CRARY BUCHANAN WANTS YOU TO STAY SAFE. BE PREPARED, DON'T PANIC AND WE WILL ALL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.