I’ve seen so many articles, blog posts, news updates about this virus, and yet again, I am jumping on the bandwagon of discussing it. It seems like everyday there’s new information about the virus, so I think the news is actually pretty interesting! I’m especially intrigued by the trends, like death rates, of different countries. And so here I am, writing yet another post about COVID-19.
As you probably know, the virus is most fatal for the older population. Therefore, it would make sense that the countries with the biggest proportion of elderlies, like Japan and Italy, would have the highest death rates. In Italy’s case, this is very evident. The number of deaths in Italy surpassed the number of deaths in China when the total number of cases in Italy was only half that of in China. The death rate in Italy is around 10%, which is pretty high, compared to other countries’. Italy’s older population does play a role in this: around 23% of the population is age 65 or older, and many of those who died were in their 80s and 90s. It could also be how the population is arranged: many elderlies live at home with 18-34 year olds, so the younger family members, who may not show many symptoms, can easily pass the virus on to the more vulnerable older family members. Another factor could be that the virus started spreading undetected, when measures, like the country-wide lockdown, were not yet imposed. Italy’s healthcare system is also straining under all of the cases, with a shortage of resources and workers, as nurses and doctors are also becoming infected. This forces doctors to make the tough decision of who to provide resources to, and it can’t be everyone. Other factors to consider: the death rate may actually be lower, considering the amount of people who have the virus but aren’t tested; other countries may just be behind Italy on the trend. Japan, on the other hand, was expected to have a coronavirus explosion, but it didn’t (or has not yet) happen. Some factors that could’ve played into this are Japan’s proximity to China, leading to earlier preparations, overall higher rates of handwashing than in European countries, and a culture of less physical contact, like hugging and handshaking. However, Japan also hasn’t been doing extensive testing, so the numbers may not reflect the true amount of people with the virus. If this is the case, there could be a spike in cases soon. Germany’s trend is interesting: it has one of the highest number of cases, but with a very low death rate. This could be due to a technique opposite of Japan’s: extensive testing in order to detect outbreaks early. Germany’s other policies, like restricting gatherings and closing nonessential businesses, are more or less the same as other countries’. Also, the median age of infected people in Germany is younger, and this could be due to successfully limiting contact with the older population. I think it’s so interesting that so many factors can contribute to how a virus affects a country. I had first thought that population age could be a good indicator of death rate. However, this is not the case: these three countries all have some of the oldest populations, but their death rates vary quite a bit. Nevertheless, I think it’s still beneficial to learn about other countries’ coronavirus situations to understand what works and doesn’t work for containing the virus. For the health of everyone, it is best to stay informed, so we can try to prevent the worst outcome. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! It’s definitely been a long couple of weeks, but I think this situation has helped me appreciate the little things in life, like going to the grocery store or hanging out with friends, even more.
5 Comments
I think we can all agree that this is a strange time, and I’ll just state the obvious reason why: the coronavirus, or COVID-19. Here are some quick facts about the virus, although you’re already probably aware of them, as coronavirus has dominated the news, social media, and dinner conversations.
Hello again! For this post, I decided to explain my experience as a volunteer at a senior living home. As mentioned in the About Me page, I volunteer to play piano for seniors. I truly enjoy doing this for the seniors because it’s a different way to connect with them. Music doesn’t require talking to communicate or convey expressions, simply listening.
I had one experience in the senior living home a couple weeks back that I keep coming back to. I was playing piano for the assisted living area when a senior, Larry*, approached me. He sat next to me for the whole time I played, attentively listening. Once I finished, his eyes were glistening. After talking with him for a little, I learned that he also plays piano. He mentioned how he felt my music deep in his heart and repeatedly praised my playing ability and made me promise to never stop. This made me also tear up a little because I could tell that the music profoundly impacted Larry. I have to admit, I was a little surprised at Larry's words because I never truly realized how much music could connect with someone. After all, my piano playing is far from perfect or professional, but this experience has taught me that it doesn’t have to be because in the senior living home, people aren’t looking for a concert, but rather music that speaks to them in some way, which is different and personal for each person. This is even more evidence of music’s power to connect people with memories, emotions, and each other. Any level of music can stir up these qualities, and for me, this is so much more important than playing the perfect piece. *name has been changed |
Archives
February 2021
Categories
All
|