Coronavirus
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00Ah, nothing like an early morning jog to...
00:11Phew!
00:16What?
00:18Oh, stop it!
00:21Dear Tim and Moby,
00:26I've been hearing lots of scary stuff in the news about the coronavirus.
00:31Can you tell me more about it, please?
00:33Thanks, Khalil.
00:35Sure thing, Khalil.
00:37Viruses are tiny particles that can invade living cells.
00:42There are millions of varieties with different behaviors, shapes, and structures.
00:46Coronaviruses are one group named for their crown-shaped outline.
00:51Four of these commonly infect humans.
00:54A lot of times when you get a cold, it's caused by a coronavirus.
01:00Any virus has one goal, to replicate or make more copies of itself.
01:05But it can't do that on its own, so it invades an organism and turns its cells into virus factories.
01:11This can be unpleasant for the host, the organism that the virus has infected.
01:16The new coronavirus typically causes coughing and fever.
01:20A healthy body can usually fight off this illness, known as COVID-19, on its own.
01:25Symptoms are mild for most people, especially kids.
01:29But in a body with weakened defenses, COVID-19 can become more severe and require medical treatment.
01:36Some people get seriously ill, and that's gotten everyone's attention.
01:41This new coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan, China.
01:46In late 2019, there was an outbreak. That's when a disease starts spreading.
01:51More and more people got sick, first in China and then around the world.
01:56Entire cities have been quarantined or closed off to slow the disease's spread.
02:02Fortunately, viruses can't get around without our help.
02:06And there's a lot we can do to not help them.
02:10Like washing your hands, especially after being outside and before you eat.
02:15That's always a good idea, and you probably already do it.
02:19Scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds to make sure you don't miss any spots.
02:24Whenever you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth to help keep any germs contained.
02:31And if you're sick, avoid other people. You wouldn't want to infect them, even if it's a plain old cold.
02:37When there's an outbreak where you live, experts recommend some added precautions.
02:42Like social distancing, limiting close contact with other people, even if you're not sick.
02:48Hang out at home with your family, and keep up with your friends online.
02:52That gives the virus fewer opportunities to spread around.
02:56And if you have to be near other people, cover your face.
03:00Masks provide an extra layer of protection for these situations.
03:03Lots of outbreaks have been stopped when enough folks just follow these simple rules.
03:09Yeah, it's true. Many people have died after being infected by the 2019 coronavirus.
03:15That's because the virus can infect a person's lungs and make it hard to breathe.
03:20Those are the stories we hear about most online and in the news.
03:24But the vast majority of cases have been mild.
03:27If you feel overwhelmed by the news, consider limiting how much you can share with others.
03:33How much you let in.
03:35Instead of cable news and social media, stick to sources like the World Health Organization.
03:40They'll give you the big picture, not just the scary snapshots that make the headlines.
03:45And they're organizing experts all over the world to get this coronavirus under control.
03:51Still, it's totally normal if the situation's made you a little... anxious.
03:56Talk to a trusted adult. They can help you put your feelings in perspective.
04:00One last thing. Coronavirus doesn't care where you're from or what your background is.
04:06So don't let anyone turn this into an excuse to target someone based on how they look.
04:11Working together is how we'll beat this thing, so let's stand up for our neighbors.
04:17Okay, I'm a sweaty mess. I gotta rinse off.
04:23Oh, don't be so dramatic.
04:27Where are you going?
04:29I really think you're overreacting.