Panic seems to be sweeping the nation and world as the coronavirus pandemic is starting to strike in most states. The Coronavirus or COVID-19, which is its laboratory designation, does not seem to be going away anytime soon. Some research has estimated the death rate at about 2%, while others say that it is slightly higher. However, in the grand scheme of things, most people if they get it, will end up being ok after a few days of sickness.

Conventions are being cancelled, the Pope has cancelled public appearances, and travel plans have been halted by millions of people. At some point this is going to impact the economy, especially as people have to be quarantined… sometimes for weeks.

The issue with the coronavirus is that it can affect the lower tract of your airways. The virus can damage the cells that line the respiratory tract in the lungs, and when that happens, your immune system launches a response to try to clean up and repair the damage.

But for some people, the immune system response is so overwhelming, that the lungs can be flooded with fluid and cellular debris. Simply put, the lungs start to drown, and that evolves into severe pneumonia. The pneumonia can then progress to sepsis, where you can have a drop of blood pressure and multi-organ failure, which causes death.

Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. People could also have a headache, diarrhea, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, and congestion. An infected person can pass on the virus to others even if they are not showing any symptoms.

Protect Yourself

What can you do to protect yourself from the coronavirus? Well, it turns out that there is a lot you can do. First and foremost, wash your hands frequently with anti-bacterial soap and lather up with plenty of soap for about 20 to 30 seconds. This is especially true if you shake hands with someone or touch door knobs and other surfaces infected persons may have touched. If possible, keep your hands away from your mouth, eyes, and ears - the mucus membranes in these parts of the body are prime areas of entry for the virus.

Next, just like your mother told you: Eat Right! Eating a healthy diet with plenty of green vegetables, like broccoli and other veggies, can help build up your immune system. Additionally, many people take supplements like Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea. However, what many people forget to do is hydrate, and I don't mean hydrate AFTER you get the virus. You need to hydrate properly EVERY DAY BEFORE you get the coronavirus.

Hydration is vitally important to the health and welfare of every living being. So drink at least eight (8) glasses of water a day, and I should add that the fewer the contaminants in the water, the healthier you will be. If you do contract the virus, then it is always a good idea to hydrate even more. Nine or ten glasses of water a day won't hurt you… 15 or 20 might be excessive but when you are sick you need to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

There are other things that can help eliminate the spread of the coronavirus. Air filters or HEPA filters are NOT effective on the Coronavirus, but Ozone and Ultraviolet Light (UV) are. I have several UV lights throughout my house that kill bacteria and virus in the air and on surfaces.

There are also UV Filters for public buildings that fit into a ceiling tile and kill the virus (pictured below). These are especially effective for doctors offices, waiting rooms and showrooms… actually anyplace where groups of people may be gathered.

Additionally, there are UV Room Sanitizers that kill coronavirus and other bacteria in a room of your home and some UV sanitizers can even be installed in your HVAC Duct systems.