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The coronavirus is now in all 50 states. West Virginia became the last state to officially report a case of the virus. So far, over 6,000 people have been affected nationwide, and over 100 have been killed.
The majority of deaths were people over the age of 60. The youngest to die was in their 50s. Most of the victims had underlying health problems such as diabetes, emphysema, or hearth problems.
The president has asked that people avoid gatherings of 10 or more people to help slow the spread of the virus. States are taking actions such as closing schools, and closing restaurant and bar dining rooms. The federal government is preparing an aid package to help citizens affected by all the closures.
The treasury secretary has warned that the outbreak could lead to 20% unemployment. The stock market has been crushed by a stream of bad news, with the Dow Jones dropping over a thousand points multiple times. Monday saw the biggest single-day drop in Dow history. Even the president is warning that a recession may be inevitable.
The president has also warned that this problem will not go away quickly. The crisis could last until late July or August.
The key takeaways are that the virus is not terribly dangerous to young, healthy adults. However, spreading the virus is dangerous, especially for those most at risk. Everyone should wash their hands religiously and practice social distancing as the government has requested. Avoid large gatherings when possible.
Remember, even though getting the virus isn’t the end of the world for the young and healthy, it could be for an at-risk person they spread it to. All of the measures put in place by state, local, and federal governments are designed to slow the spread of the virus and protect the vulnerable. With the coronavirus in all 50 states, common sense is one of our most precious resources.