April 8, 2020 – You’re young, healthy and bored. Before you
tempt fate by throwing a
coronavirus party, consider these current numbers from the Georgia Department of Public Health:
- 60% of people who tested positive for coronavirus were between 18-59 years old
- 379 people have died from the virus in Georgia
- Georgia has over 10,566 cases
- 244 cases have been reported in Southeast Georgia
“I can’t stress enough – COVID-19 is not an ‘old-person’s
disease’. In fact, coronavirus can make young people really sick,
and some otherwise healthy young adults who have no comorbidities have
died,” says
Alan Brown, M.D., board-certified internal medicine physician and medical director,
Hospital Medicine, Southeast Georgia Health. “Even when symptoms are mild or unapparent
during what we believe to be the two to 14-day incubation period, the
disease is highly contagious. You can easily pass it to a family member
or friend who could die from the virus.”
Brown urges all Georgians regardless of age to practice common sense. “Stay
at home if at all possible. When you do go out, stay six feet away from
others. Wash your hands and disinfect frequently- used items. Avoid touching
your face. You may also want to wear a mask as the CDC now recommends.
The stay-at-home order won’t last forever. We will be able to begin
socializing again, and when that time comes, you’ll want your loved
ones to be healthy. For now, don’t risk your health or the health
of the ones you love just because you’re bored.”
He adds a final plea. “If you’ve ever crammed for an exam,
imagine doing that day after day, week after week. That’s what life
is like for health care workers right now, with one big difference. People’s
lives depend on us, so we’re depending on you. Please help us slow
the spread of the coronavirus.”
The primary symptoms of coronavirus are fever, dry cough and shortness
of breath. Some people also experience fatigue and muscle pain. More advanced
symptoms include trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion
and bluish lips or face. The risk of symptoms becoming serious goes up
if you have diabetes, a heart or lung condition or if you smoke.
If you experience symptoms or were exposed to someone infected with the
virus, call the Health System’s Screening Hotline at 912-466-7222,
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For COVID-19 updates, visit
www.sghs.org or
www.cdc.gov.