COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Information
COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENT
Dear Youth FX Family and Community,
As of today, we've decided that in the interest of maintaining the CDC’s recommended social distancing, we will be closing our space and canceling all upcoming public events and public programs until further notice. This means that our upcoming Friday Night Flicks (3/13), 5-Hour Program at Albany Medical School on 3/14 are CANCELED. Additionally, all recurring programming such as Open Lab, and Youth FX at AIC are POSTPONED.
We see these cancellations and postponements as ESSENTIAL and NECESSARY steps to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our community. In a further effort to help educate and provide actionable information, we will be posting important information about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on our social media platforms. Additionally visiting CDC.gov is a helpful way of getting more resources.
We plan to reevaluate the postponement of our programs and closure of our space at the beginning of April and will post another update then.
Please be safe. Please wash your hands. Please take care (cover your coughs/sneezes etc.) And please be mindful of those around you!
“COVID-19 As Told By ‘Parasite’”
Informational Video
Helpful Resources
CDC Has released a ton of really helpful info about what to do. Really detailed information. A key piece here is that saying JUST old people are at risk is FALSE. If you have a pre-existing condition (smoking included) you are also at a higher risk of death. Top health officials estimate that Corona is 10x more deadly than the common flu (a jump from 0.1% Death Rate to somewhere between 2-4% Death rate). Death rates are under constant debate so don’t trust any one source, there’s a wide range. About 20% of people who contract will need hospitalization.
Coronavirus True & False
It’s slowing down in China and Korea: TRUE but potentially misleading, China has taken an extremely drastic approach to the virus, shutting everything down. Korea has done the same but not as drastically. In China, the govt infrastructure allows for such an intense shutdown. Their cases are dropping but some people expect them to pick back up as soon as their restrictions are lifted. In Korea there was just a jump in cases due to an outbreak in Seoul. But in general Korea has “Flattened the Curve” (they also have universal healthcare).
Young people CANT get Corona: FALSE, COVID-19 seems to be behaving similar to Hepatitis A which often spreads heavily in daycare communities, all parents and teachers will get sick but kids are always fine, when tested kids have extreme level of Hep A but have no symptoms. This means that it's arguably MORE important to cancel schools because kids may be secretly spreading COVID-19 wherever they go and we have no way to know.
Symptoms are just flu-like: FALSE, Symptoms can range from a dry cough TO severe flu.
It is MOSTLY Spread by physical touch: FALSE, COVID-19 spreads mostly through respiratory pathways, so breathing is the main way you spread it if you have it. Surgical masks are ineffective. If you think you’re contagious or have a weakened immune system you should just stay home. Washing hands HELPS, just like any other precaution but it isn't the primary way this spreads. Staying six-feet from other people is the ideal way to mitigate the spread through breath.
What is “Flattening the Curve?”
What is “flattening the curve?” Essentially it means SLOWING the spread of the virus by taking extreme precaution in the present. What this does is eases the strain on the healthcare system, if the system breaks, we could see a massive and deadly uptick. This means avoiding large gatherings, travel, self-quarantine at the sign of sickness ETC. For context; Most highly infected countries have already flattened the curve. The US has not and neither has the UK. Of all developed countries, we are the most vulnerable to a devastating outbreak due to the incompetence of our government and the nature of our healthcare system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you buy a facemask? Not unless you’re sick. If you are fine there's no point. Prioritize washing your hands constantly, disinfect your phone, don’t touch your face, etc.
How long is the contagious/sick period? From the time you’re exposed to the virus it can take 3-10 days to actually develop symptoms. YOU ARE CONTAGIOUS during this time.
How does Corona end? If the history of other outbreaks that are similar are any indication it will end when about 50% of the world contract it then beat it or die from it. At this point, it will essentially die out. If you beat it you’re immune and therefore not contagious.
