Flatten The Curve
There's a fascinating little bit of public health science going around the past few days, cleverly fashioned as a brightly colored animation. It's called FLATTEN THE CURVE.
If you only learn one thing about #COVID19 today make it this: everyone's job is to help FLATTEN THE CURVE. With thanks to @XTOTL & @TheSpinoffTV for the awesome GIF. Please share far & wide. pic.twitter.com/O7xlBGAiZY
- Dr Siouxsie Wiles (@SiouxsieW) March 8, 2020
(Depending on your browser settings you may have to select a "play" button to see the animation above.)
The idea of FLATTEN THE CURVE is threefold:
1) As fast as Coronavirus spreads, our public health system is not able to handle it. We saw this in China last month. The authoritarian government moved heaven and earth to construct new hospitals in 5 days, but even that was not enough. This week, hospitals in Italy are becoming overwhelmed. Overwhelmed hospitals mean desperately sick people are denied care (because finite resources are exhausted) and they die.
2) By practicing simple, prudent behavior such as washing hands frequently, avoiding large gatherings, and social distancing we can at least slow the spread of Coronavirus. Merely slowing the spread has an enormous benefit because it means people don't all get sick at once and overwhelm hospitals and clinics. People with acute illness, whether it's Coronavirus or something else, will be able to get the care they need.
"Pfft, it's just like the flu!" many people say, echoing words that President Trump and his allies in the right-wing media have used over the past few weeks. "Why not just get it over with?"
Well, if that's you, read 1 & 2 again. And then consider #3:
3) Combatting the spread of the virus doesn't just delay when you get it, it reduces the chance that you get it at all. So don't be a self-absorbed idiot and resist changing your habits temporarily. It's for your health, too!
If you only learn one thing about #COVID19 today make it this: everyone's job is to help FLATTEN THE CURVE. With thanks to @XTOTL & @TheSpinoffTV for the awesome GIF. Please share far & wide. pic.twitter.com/O7xlBGAiZY
- Dr Siouxsie Wiles (@SiouxsieW) March 8, 2020
(Depending on your browser settings you may have to select a "play" button to see the animation above.)
The idea of FLATTEN THE CURVE is threefold:
1) As fast as Coronavirus spreads, our public health system is not able to handle it. We saw this in China last month. The authoritarian government moved heaven and earth to construct new hospitals in 5 days, but even that was not enough. This week, hospitals in Italy are becoming overwhelmed. Overwhelmed hospitals mean desperately sick people are denied care (because finite resources are exhausted) and they die.
2) By practicing simple, prudent behavior such as washing hands frequently, avoiding large gatherings, and social distancing we can at least slow the spread of Coronavirus. Merely slowing the spread has an enormous benefit because it means people don't all get sick at once and overwhelm hospitals and clinics. People with acute illness, whether it's Coronavirus or something else, will be able to get the care they need.
"Pfft, it's just like the flu!" many people say, echoing words that President Trump and his allies in the right-wing media have used over the past few weeks. "Why not just get it over with?"
Well, if that's you, read 1 & 2 again. And then consider #3:
3) Combatting the spread of the virus doesn't just delay when you get it, it reduces the chance that you get it at all. So don't be a self-absorbed idiot and resist changing your habits temporarily. It's for your health, too!