Based in Sydney, Australia, Foundry is a blog by Rebecca Thao. Her posts explore modern architecture through photos and quotes by influential architects, engineers, and artists.

Putting coronavirus in perspective

Putting coronavirus in perspective

To the Editor,

Fears about the seemingly inexorable spread of the coronavirus are sweeping the world, including here in the U.S. Face masks can’t be found anywhere; everyone is talking about the virus; the stock market is in a panic downward rout. Human nature being what it is, any threat to our survival, real or imaginary, however small, if existential, grabs our attention. Sadly and disturbingly, the budding hysteria has even caused sales at Chinese restaurants to fall precipitously. More alarming, some Chinese-American citizens are being shunned and threatened physically.

Data source: Worldometer, retrieved on March 10, 2020

Data source: Worldometer, retrieved on March 10, 2020

Let’s try to put the coronavirus in some perspective. Eminent American physician and health expert Dr. David Katz posted a statistical comparison of the coronavirus versus the influenza virus. It is eye-opening. While the coronavirus virus has infected some 80,000 plus people worldwide, and killed around 2,000, as of now only 647 Americans have been confirmed to be infected and 25 deaths in the U.S. have been reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control. On the other hand, the flu, as it does every year, has infected many millions in this country and is associated with literally thousands of deaths. Yet it generates no hysteria and —  remarkably — over half of the adult U.S. population does not even bother with getting vaccinated to help prevent it. 

It is necessary that the government and every household prepare for the likely oncoming epidemic and take common sense precautions. These are pretty much the exact same precautions that doctors have urged us to take for years to slow down the spread of influenza and to help protect us from getting it. But, this is no time for hysteria (at least not yet).

Ken Derow
Swarthmore

Learning from the French

Learning from the French

Of neighbors and hedges

Of neighbors and hedges