The Latest: Bizarre symptoms and experimental treatments
Dear Reader,
As I shelter in place here in New York City, I’ve been moved by the dispatches from the brave health workers on the front lines, including this ER physician dealing with a lack of equipment and loneliness.
It’s difficult to know how to help (besides staying indoors as much as possible), but here’s a roundup of ideas.
And it’s okay if you feel really anxious right now. The human brain cannot stand uncertainty. But there are ways around it, including reading accurate, expert-backed information, and taking time away from the news to focus on other things that you enjoy.
Speaking of expert-backed information: Follow our Medium Coronavirus Blog for updates.
What’s new:
- Leaders in quarantine: Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar’s husband has Covid-19. Here’s how she’s handling it.
- A bizarre symptom: Doctors around the world are reporting a lost sense of taste and smell as a possible symptom of Covid-19.
To help you better understand the rapidly changing situation, we’ve curated some essential stories below.
Be well,
Alexandra Sifferlin
Editor, Medium Coronavirus Blog
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A Quick Q&A:
Did You Have Coronavirus Without Knowing It?
Health experts say the virus has likely been in some U.S. communities for weeks and some people have surely had it without realizing. “Yes, it’s possible you may have had it and didn’t know it,” says Dr. Lee Riley, MD, chair of the division of infectious disease and vaccinology at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health. The more recently you were sick, he says, the greater the odds that it could have been Covid-19.
Depending on the area of the country a person lives in, it’s likely that some small percentage of the population had Covid-19 several weeks ago — or, in the case of places like Seattle, even a month ago or longer — and didn’t know it. Is there any way to know for sure? If your symptoms are gone, probably not. Thankfully, testing is (slowly) increasing in the U.S. If you think you have Covid-19, reach out to your doctor.
Essential How-Tos and Explainers:
What to Do if You Think You Have Coronavirus
5 Coronavirus Facts to Use on Anyone Who Isn’t Listening
Science-Backed Ways to Exercise and Stay Healthy During Covid-19
What’s the Deal With Chloroquine?
The Life and Times of Coronavirus:
The Long-Haul Trucker Who Keeps the Goods Moving
What It’s Like to Be a Wedding Planner During the Coronavirus Pandemic
What it’s Like to be a Flight Attendant During Coronavirus
Longer Reads:
We’ll Be Different On the Other Side
The Science Behind Covid-19 Testing, and Where the U.S. Went Wrong
Will Airbnb and Other IPO Hopefuls Still Go Public In the Middle of a Pandemic?
