The recent outbreak of the corona-virus has sent the world in a panic. Originating in the city of Wuhan, China, it seems to have caught everyone by storm, especially those in the affected areas. 

Symptoms of the virus are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms also happen to be the symptoms of the common cold, which is what makes it so hard to spot. But there’s no need to worry too much, as the average person that gets in contact with the virus will recover on their own in a few days to a week.

As predicted, the media has caught onto this story and has made it out to be a disease that’s a threat to our existence itself. Although we should still be careful, it’s not as deadly as the media makes it out to be. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s still not classified as a pandemic. This makes sense, considering the fact that the virus has a mortality rate of 2%, meaning that it only kills 2% of the people infected.

Many outlets have also built ‘shocking conspiracies’ about this epidemic. Sources like The Washington Post have blown the situation way out of proportion, hinting and somehow connecting that the virus could be Beijing’s secret weapon to weaken political rivals.  

The spread of misinformation about the virus has also sparked numerous accounts of xenophobia and racism, specifically towards those of East Asian descent. This mostly applies to the Western media’s portrayal of the virus, making it out to be an alien disease from ‘dirty’ and ‘remote’ land. It perpetuates harmful Asian stereotypes, much like the Ebola virus did a few years ago about people of African descent. 

Western news sources also claim that ‘no one’s safe’ or that ‘we’re all in danger’, but this is false. Additionally, the average person that gets in contact with the virus will recover on their own in a few days to a week. Nevertheless, we should still be careful around those around us and visit the nearest hospital if symptoms occur. There are still some people at risk of being harmed by the virus, such as the young with medical conditions and the elderly. Reports of the virus spreading in our community are also false. According to the cdc.gov, ‘this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States’. Our community in Oakton has nothing to worry about, and should continue our day to day lives as usual.