Corona Virus – Covid -19 ( nomenclature for 2019, novel corona virus). Which can lead to Sars ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) I’m not trying to be pretentious, enough to think, any of this information is out of your purview – but I felt, it was due diligence to address the global pandemic, with some sort of acknowledgement. Mostly general info ( I am not the expert, but , I did want to share my voice: disagree with it is fine; but I didn’t want to let apathy, or conspicuous non-mention to be my contribution.)
Observations
Everyone is talking about Covid-19. I was pre-occupied, for a week, but finally took some time to research it*.
In just a week, Fed ex drivers wearing masks, and gloves; neighbors keeping their distance – refusing to touch packages: a dramatic taking seriously, in a way previously unexpected. Public coughing is heresy.
* as I would while practicing, and advising patients for several years.
Disclaimer-
I am not giving medical advice, nor in a professional capacity currently licensed to do so – I am someone who studied in a field, where such advice would be part of the service provided, and have ‘opinions’ that are informed by previous experience.
Following, relying on, or anything I state in the following paragraphs – by reading on, you agree I will not be held liable, for any damages, caused, ect – so why say anything?
Because I see so much fear response (some of it less productive), and how the media, the nature of headlines and presentation style, dramatizes events, that escalate anxiety, in a way that I am grateful, I don’t feel bound to, from the perspective, and experience I have.
I wanted to share my viewpoint, only for the reason, to possibly ‘help’ mitigate the alarmed state generated by news media, and perhaps encourage one of actionable prevention, and putting the course of this ‘pandemic’ in historical perspective.
Opinions
I could wish everyone well, and leave it at that. But, my field of study, compels me to offer proactive ‘suggestions’ – commentary that falls under the heading, as ‘my opinion‘. It would be cowardly, and selfish, to omit, this discourse, for sheer concerns of anonymity. The goal with any of the following statements, is to encourage actions that would improve your health, by possibly allaying unnecessary fears and minimize the unhealthy fearful behavior that has been seen*
* where people are hurting themselves, or others, as a reaction to the media emphasis of the threat – but are not educating themselves about it enough to see it from a balanced stand point ( or ignorance about health).
John Hopkins Map
The John Hopkins Corona Virus Map, can give a picture of the recovery/death rate. Numbers are updated, for active cases, deaths, and recovery; by location.
The recovery rate seems high, and duration about 3 months.
Speculation
Possibly July, Aug, Sept, the main after effect will be the experience on the economies; and learning positive measures to be prepared for subsequent pandemics.
Recent tests report that it stays 3 days on plastic and stainless steel, one day on cardboard. The droplets, from people sneezing, or saliva, spread it; moisture from exhalation, talking. People are discouraged from gathering in large public groups. Quarantining people, is for the sake of the larger community impact. It may not effect a young vigorous person with a strong immune system, but they may give it to an immuno compromised elderly person.
Taking covid-19 seriously is for the greater good. Beyond simple hygienic, sanitizing precautions, as factors – you can improve your health, by actively increasing your immune system. Through adequate rest, and proper nutrition. A source of clean water, that doesn’t require regular visits to a store, could be beneficial, depending on how congested the local stores are, and your health level, and the members of your household.
Water Source
I have a water distiller (Megahome) due to arrive – I care for my seventy -one year old parents. My father’s immune system is compromised. Going out to get bottled water every week, increases his probability of coming into contact with it. The distiller, gives one less reason for a trip to the store.
Fortunately, we don’t have to leave the rural property: another member of the immediate family brings us groceries. If that person gets sick, I can go myself. I am not concerned about covid -19, affecting me fatally, but I am concerned about transmitting it to my elderly parents – we have three months worth of frozen and stored food, so we are all doing the same things we normally do, and live in a bubble.
Bolster Immune System
If you have to interact with people, its a good time to talk less, not touch your face, wash your hands. Keep your immune system strong throughout the day – regular water, and fresh fruit. ( sleep well, moderate exertion, whenever possible). If you have a strong immune system and are otherwise healthy, and get covid-19, the probability is low that it will be fatal for you: if you aren’t advanced in age, or have a lot of mileage.
Fear
People are scared of sharks, alligators, and anecdotal cases. The idea that thousands of people are dying, can scare someone. But if you look at the statistics of how many die on local roads, or any other specific instance, you might find the figures remarkable.
Yes there are a sizeble quantity of deaths, that wouldn’t otherwise be happening, if not for the pandemic covid-19. But, on a case by case basis, there are alot of people with compromised immune systems, advanced elderly, among fatalities.
Statistics
Statistics, report only the data inputted – if people who are relatively healthy, get the covid-19, but don’t report it,( ie, if their symptoms don’t seem any worse for them than last years flu), the proportion of reported cases vs. deaths, will tend to appear skewed toward more deaths per active case.
In description of the use of statistics, in general, in professional science, I quote a professor, there are “lies, damn lies, and statistics.” The point being, that with statistics, a presumption of objective analysis is assumed, but the nature of the scientific method, is that there is a case being made to prove something. So statistics are always fallible, and the presumption of scientific authority, ensures that they will be conspicuously prone to misleading info, misinterpretation, and bias.
Proactive Focus
Focusing on doing what you can to keep your immune system as strong as possible, is (in my opinion) the best proactive thing someone can do – in addition to the common sense measures such as: Securing food, water, any resources necessary to maintain comfortable lifestyle – reasonable quarantine, or antiseptic measures.
The fear of getting it, which is nearly impossible to completely prevent, can generate unactionable anxiety, in some, and actually deplete their immune system – instead of helping them. Or viewing detergents, as salvation, and ingesting them fatally, as some have been reported to do. Losing sleep over it, engaging in immune system depleting activities: ie,. excessive sex, masturbation, exercise, substance use, working overtime, without sleep, skipping meals, being on a diet, emotional drama in a household, or workplace; blaming and attacking scapegoating – are things, that this would be a good time, to moderate, or abstain from.
Fortify Nutrition
If the goal is to fortify the immune system, there are two main ways to go about it – a) not deplete it unnecessarily, or b) to actively fortify it, in proportion to the demands it is faced with.
For anyone, whose job requires them to interact with people, the highest recommendation, is to think about ‘cold’, ‘flu’ prevention situations: eat more citrus, as much as possible; chicken, garlic, onions; cinnamon; keep protein adequate, hydration; high antioxidant produce ( kale). Radishes ( daikon, white radish, chinese radish; horse radish). Ginger, to promote the appetite and digestion. Dairy, supplies the blood stream with calcium. Eat potatoes ( high in potassium – better for electrolyte health than gatorade, or vitamin drinks). Beets are the best for keeping the iron rich blood supplied, and increases testosterone, by preventing the formation of estrogen*.
* ( basically, arthritis symptoms go down, and energy/strength goes up: as does quality of sleep). You could make a case, for the positive qualities of almost any naturally occurring fruit or vegetable – I won’t go into all of them.
( abstain from caffeine, if possible, and energy drinks; these cause you to do more, than the nutritive resources you have, and leave you depleted, and more susceptible to hyperactivity, losing sleep and diminish your appetite; thus reducing your overall nourishment).
Being antiseptic, within reason, preventing transmission, ( handwashing) is good. But actively eating things that increase your immune system, takes the locus of the intervention, and makes you more able to weather the symptoms, whether you get it or not.
Key Fortifying Foods
Key foods, recommended: citrus, cinnamon ( known to be anti-viral for thousands of years by occidental culture), raw honey (fortifying the immune system), chicken, and putting raw aloe on the hands and face ( soaks in pores, can serve as a barrier), also aids the kidney; getting adequate fluids, staying hydrated.
If ever there was a time, to eat healthy ( vegetables, fruits), now would be. If you treat it like a serious flu, don’t go out of your way to get it, and are reasonably healthy – a moderate lifestyle, with nourishing diet and rest, should be due diligence.
Pandemic Awareness
I personally, from my fortunate position, ( not being required to leave my property to conduct any business), do appreciate the ‘pandemic’ awareness, and pulling together of families, and friends – and all the assistance from every echelon of society, in this health and economic crisis.
U.S. Grants for Citizens
Some encouraging news, was that in the U.S., the granting of $1,200 direct payments to adult (U.S. citizens – I am aware, most, if not all my subscribers are not located in the U.S.) ( as of 2 days ago, in the news) – as a stimulus: and to prevent businesses, and credit falling down, as people laid off don’t have income, and run out of food/water. Seemingly generous, and much appreciated, but obviously, upon discussion, the alternative is far worse: mass rioting, looting, chaos, and the damages, and cost to rebuild from the aftermath on a national scale.
Prioritize Your Health
As much as every contribution, your subscription makes, enabling me more resources to expand my creative endeavors in Luridmax, I want to encourage you to freely disengage, if it would aid your concerns, regarding your resources to comfortably get through whatever situation you are in during this pandemic: economically.
Focus on Your Needs
For anyone who, for financial reasons, or emotional reasons, needs to tune out, and focus on this crisis for themselves and their family. I will keep the password unchanged for the next three months ( or give every current member an updated one).
My personal Gratitude to You
Everyone who has come this far with Luridmax, is especially appreciated. I intend to work on commissions, for members, that I have at some point inquired what they wanted drawn, sometime in the upcoming months.
This is the first time I have ever maintained a subscriber base, while doing studio work, and branched out into learning software, and other media apps. So I don’t know exactly how long these processes take. I do, sense, that having game pages, clickable, through a story, sequence, with quality background, character art, sound effects, and music, would greatly add to this website, and that a completed comic would be a good stopping point to then take the time to embellish, individual pieces for each member, that stayed subscribed for 8 months consecutively at any point. I still am aware, and planning to honor them.
In order to have the time, required to do my best work, I get as much of the web pages built in advance as possible, then work daily on the drawing. When at the crossroads, choosing between getting some scripts voiced for the first time, versus drawing a fan -art reimagining, the former is the new ground, and I prioritize it because I don’t know how long it will take, and the potential reward would be something unknown, fresh and new.
My attitude toward all of the work, is similar. Though there are a few more things I need to learn, it seems, I am able to figure it out, and then have broadened the possibilities. That’s why I work on concepts, scripts, and try to capture new ideas. In my experiences harvesting abundance of produce, when there is not enough time to do everything ‘perfectly’, the most prudent choice, is to make sure to capture the raw materials. After all the produce is gathered, time can be spent sorting, washing, showcasing.
For anyone who has to go:
I wish you the best, and hope these times are within your ability to comfortably, and favorably see through –
For any losses you suffer, that you see the day, come, when you find unexpected joy as well.
I will be here – for everyone who stays tuned!
Thanks for your interest –
in my artwork/stories and creation journey.
Warmest Regards-
Artist/Creator of Lurid Max.