The whole world is facing a new threat in the form of corona or COVID-19 virus, which has spread over several continents in less than 60 days and has already disrupted almost every aspect of our lives, including our upcoming relocations.
But today, we’re dealing not only with the lightning transmission of the disease but another, almost as harmful a threat – the pandemic of fear and the constant circulation of fake news and popular myths. Although coronavirus shapes our daily routine and forces us to adapt to a situation that few have experienced so far, we’d like to show why it’s more important than ever not to spread panic and to separate myths from the truth.
Covid - 19
Anxiety and panic are born from fear, man’s evolutionary function with a purpose to help humankind survive in even the most precarious circumstances. But, when you don’t have enough information to predict the future, anxiety enters the picture. If you can’t control this emotion, it turns into panic, defined as a “sudden and uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly, unthinking behavior.”
In such circumstances, you’re probably worried about your move that is planned to take place in the next couple of days or weeks. Know that it is still possible and safe due to the extraordinary safety measures that our company has put in place. When it comes to your part in enabling your move and keeping everybody healthy, let’s find out what measures you should undertake to prevent the spread and continue with your life as normally as possible.
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What Is COVID-19?
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), more commonly known as COVID-19 or coronavirus, is a novel virus that derives its name from crownlike spikes that emerge from its surface when looked under the microscope. It belongs to the SARS family and likely originated from bats. The outbreak first started in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei province, in December 2019, where it has killed hundreds of people.
Coronavirus symptoms include a dry cough, fever, fatigue, difficulty breathing, but some people may pass it on before they develop any of the symptoms.
Some demographic groups are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from this disease, and they are:
- Older adults
- People with heart problems
- Diabetics
- Persons with lung diseases
The virus can cause a range of respiratory difficulties, from the common cold to lung lesions and pneumonia
How to Protect Yourself From the Disease?
The most efficient way to prevent infection is to avoid close contact with others, especially since there is no vaccine yet. It spreads mainly from person to person via respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected individual sneezes or coughs.
These are some of the recommended measures necessary to protect yourself and your loved ones:
- Wash your hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds)
- Use a hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol or more
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
- If you’re sick, stay at home and wear a facemask
- When coughing or sneezing, use the inside of your elbow or a tissue
- Clean and disinfect most frequently used surfaces with alcohol solutions, EPA-registered household disinfectants, or bleach solutions
- Avoid excessive contact with people by imposing self-quarantine and practicing the so-called social distancing.
Handwashing with soap is one of the crucial precautionary measures
Why Is It Important Not to Spread Panic During the Coronavirus Pandemic?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with news about a potentially-threatening virus that the entire world is talking about, you’re more exposed to the risk of anxiety and panic attacks than those who are keeping track of the facts. If you want to be informed accurately and thoroughly, check websites such as:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- UWHealth
- World Health Organization
- The US Department of State
- Texas Health and Human Services (or similar authorities in other states)
You might be thinking that there are a lot of unknowns when it comes to COVID-19, but the truth is that there’s much more that scientists and disease specialists do know, like the following:
- Doctors and specialists have known how to detect the coronavirus since January 13
- 80% of cases are mild or without symptoms
- Most of the infected people are cured – there are 13 times more healed cases than deaths
- Symptoms in children and otherwise healthy individuals might go unnoticed
- The strength of the virus can be reduced with alcohol-based solutions and frequent handwashing
- There are scientist groups worldwide working on vaccine prototypes as we speak
If you want to prevent anxiety and panic, avoid reading posts on social media, rumors, and unverified information.
Debunking Coronavirus Myths Through Frequently Asked Questions
One of the most significant causes of widespread social anxiety and panic is misinformation. It induces mild panic and feeling of discomfort among some but leads to irrational behavior and selfishness among others. We’ve put together a list of several most frequently asked questions in an effort to debunk the most popular coronavirus myths.
Can Spraying Alcohol or Chlorine All Over the Body Kill the Virus?
No. Spraying such substances won’t kill coronavirus, and they even might be harmful to your mouth or eyes.
Do Mosquitoes Transmit Coronavirus?
According to the CDC, at this time, there is no data to suggest that mosquitoes or ticks can spread coronavirus. Scientists say that it would be possible in case the virus had the ability to replicate inside a mosquito or tick.
Will Eating Garlic Protect Me From COVID-19?
Although garlic is undoubtedly a useful ingredient and can do wonders for your immunity and overall health, there is no evidence that it can protect you against the virus. It simply fortifies your immune system.
Do Antibiotics Work Against Coronavirus?
Antibiotics are very effective in fighting bacterial infections, but they do not work against viruses. Only antiviral drugs can fight them.
Will Warmer Weather Stop the Spreading of COVID-19?
At this time, it’s not possible to tell whether the spread of coronavirus will decrease with the upcoming spring or summer months.
Can Coronavirus Be Spread Through Food?
Primary infections are caused by person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets. So far, no evidence supports the transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. One thing is sure – before preparing or eating your meal, you must wash your hands with soap.
Are Pets and Other Animals a Source of Infection?
While coronavirus seems to have emerged from an animal source, it is now spreading from person to person. There is no reason to think that animals, including pets in the US, might be a source of infection.
Additional Myths About COVID-19
As the virus spreads, people are increasingly disseminating inaccurate rumors between themselves and on social networks, usually without ill intentions. These are the main reasons behind the widespread fear and panic. So, let’s take a deeper look at what things to keep an eye on and what to ignore:
- The virus cannot survive on packages, so you shouldn’t be worried about packages from China or any other country disproportionately affected.
- Your breath length testing is not an indication for existing infection or exclusion of it
- The claim that sipping liquids will prevent the virus is also incorrect
- There is no evidence that cold weather and snow can kill the virus
- Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV
- Vaccines against pneumonia will not protect you against the coronavirus
You're safe with your pet
Should You Cancel or Postpone Your Relocation Due to Coronavirus?
Depending on your age, health condition, and the level of urgency, you should make an educated decision about whether to move or not. Take into consideration your present and prospective location, and check if there are plenty of new cases and self-quarantines there, or if there are any mandatory measures currently in place. But keep in mind that we, as a company, are fully prepared to complete your booked relocation and transfer your household belongings to a new home in the safest way possible for everybody involved.
Even if the objective circumstances such as mandatory restrictions of movement are preventing you from relocating at the moment, we offer a cancellation fee waiver to all our clients that are especially affected by the outbreak. Our goal is not to profit from other people’s misfortune, but to keep our present and future clients satisfied with our services, as we always did.
And for those that want or need to move in the following days and weeks for whatever reason, we offer a discount for long-distance moves whenever such relocations are possible.
On the CDC website, you can find all the necessary answers and information about what to do in case you’re planning your move and simply can’t delay it.
If you need to move within US borders, know that there are still no restrictions for the movement of your household belongings. But spending time in crowded environments, like airports, may amplify your fear of moving and risk of exposure to coronavirus. That’s why it is of utmost importance to respect all the measures prescribed by your authorities and keep yourself and others around you safe.
Are Moving Companies Secure and Reliable?
As we’ve mentioned, in case you are relocating your business offices or moving with kids, you can rest assured that, with our professional movers, you will be as safe as possible. Our highly trained and responsible crew takes care of your possessions and your health, too. What does that mean?
- We wear masks, gloves, and disinfectant solutions appropriate for surfaces in our trucks and warehouses
- We take care of our sick movers; they stay at home until getting better
- Our entire equipment is sanitized daily
- We follow guidance from public health authorities and share this information with our clients – our goal is to help them stay self-aware when it comes to illness prevention
With our professional crew, your relocation will be safe and secure
How to Conquer Fear, Anxiety, and Panic?
With several logical steps prescribed by medical experts, you can find your peace again and conquer all the corona chaos that surrounds you. Even more, this kind of behavior can be helpful for others, as your calmness and cool-headedness can rub off onto them. With these steps, you can stop a panic attack and regain your inner peace:
- Recognize when you sense panic or anxiety kicking in
- Find a private, quiet room or corner where you can go to gather yourself
- Maintain deep and regular breathing
- Rationalize your feelings and ask yourself: what is causing you to feel this way?
- Remind yourself of everything you have done to fight the virus or picture a happy place.
