Why Everyone Should Be Afraid of COVID-19

I urge everyone to watch this segment from tonight's PBS Newshour on COVID-19 "long-haulers." It tells the story of victims who got sick and have yet to fully recover, even after months. 

Their chronic problems range from shortness of breath, to fatigue, to vision disruption, to brain fog, to teeth falling out, to other maladies. I personally know someone like this.  She was infected in July, was testing free of the virus after a month, but suffered lung damage and still requires supplemental oxygen.

My friend is in her mid sixties, but in this segment there are no old people. Ages range from juveniles to a 40 year old, people in the prime of their lives. The segment doesn't interview people who have died, of course.  But people in this age range die too, as did this 33 year old fitness influencer who told his followers COVID-19 wasn't real.

In the segment they also interview a medical researcher.  He talks about how in some cases COVID-19 destroys networks of blood vessels, and he thinks this process is responsible for the long-term problems. But they don't know why this happens to some people but not others. 

This is why the disease is so scary.  I question whether people realize what a risk they are taking when they go to bars and restaurants, forego masks, etc.

In this segment they also interview the founder of Survivor Corps, an interest and advocacy group for such victims.  I'll be passing the link along to my friend.

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