The coronavirus pandemic is sweeping the globe - and life, as we know it is changing rapidly.
Coronavirus is a disease of the respiratory system, causing fever, cough, shortness of breath and possibly pneumonia. As of March 20th, more than 246,000 cases of the disease have been reported in at least 180 countries, resulting in more than 10,000 deaths.
There is no vaccine and humans have no natural immunity. So, efforts to prevent the rapid spread of the virus have been enacted - including quarantines, travel restrictions, cancelled events and closures. Major events around the world have been cancelled and schools and universities have closed.
This pandemic has been referred to as the biggest global event since World War II - and it will continue to affect our lives for quite some time.
Keep reading to learn more about how Partbnb will respond to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as important recommendations for keeping yourself and others safe and healthy.
Partbnb Will Be Slowing Down Operations
Due to flight cancellations and restrictions on public gatherings, we will be laying low and avoiding any travel or events. We will not be attending or hosting any upcoming property visits or meetups.
This means that all upcoming Caribbean visits and meetups will be postponed. Also, our trip to meet up with owners in New York and Toronto will be postponed until further notice.
Please note that all offers are still valid. If you have any questions, please reach out to us via email.
We aren’t sure when we will be able to reschedule these trips, but we will keep you posted. In the meantime, we will be staying in our homes and social distancing - and we hope you are doing the same!
Why Social Distancing is So Important
Due to the fact that COVID-19 is a new virus, the human race has no herd immunity. This means that everyone is susceptible to infection - and the virus is likely to spread very quickly. Even those who are only mildly ill, or those who have little to no symptoms, can be carriers who propel the movement of the virus through the population.
That’s why social distancing is so important to slow down the rate of transmission. Social distancing refers to measures that will reduce the amount of human contact, therefore reducing the transmission rate.
This includes:
Staying at home as much as possible.
Not attending events or group gatherings.
Avoid public transit.
Not traveling.
Working from home.
Avoiding public spaces such as restaurants, bars and sporting arenas.
And of course, it’s also important to wash your hands and avoid touching your face as much as possible. (To see the correct way to wash your hands, check out this video from the World Health Organization.)
If we don’t do this, we will have exponential outbreaks where the number of cases double every three to four days. This rapidly snowballs into a situation where there aren’t enough hospital beds and equipment to treat everyone.
Social distancing is not easy. We are used to being able to meet up with friends, attend concerts and events and go to parties and get-togethers. For most people, community and social interaction are very important elements of life. These measures will very likely leave you feeling bored, restless, isolated and lonely.
But they are essential, and we must comply with them.
Every time you reduce the number of people you are in contact with, it will have a significant impact on the way the virus spreads through the population. By doing this, we can lower the impact on the healthcare system, which will save lives in the long term.
Social Distancing: It Worked in Previous Plagues
These social distancing measures made a difference over 100 years ago when the Spanish Flu plagued the world - and they are just as important now.
For example, let’s look at the contrasting ways that Philadelphia and St. Louis handled the pandemic in 1918.
When St. Louis started to detect its first cases in the community, it closed buildings such as churches, schools, libraries and courtrooms. It enacted social distancing measures and encouraged residents to stay in their homes and not socialize.
In contrast, in an effort to boost morale for the war, the city of Philadelphia threw a parade that drew a crowd of 200,000 people. More days afterwards, the hospitals in the city were filled with people dying of the Spanish flu. Eventually, more than 4,500 people died from the virus.
Meanwhile, the deaths in St.Louis were half the rate of those in Philadelphia. Fewer infected patients meant less stress on the healthcare system and fewer deaths. The social distancing measures worked to slow the spread of the virus and they saved lives.
This is why it’s so crucial to stay at home and avoid contact with others as much as possible. Depending on where you are your neighbourhood may have imposed a curfew, lockdown measures or even a state of emergency.
Even if the authorities in your area haven’t made it an official rule yet, staying in your home and limiting your social interactions is the safest and most important thing you can do right now.
Sending Our Thoughts of Support
Coronavirus has affected the lives of each and every one of us. Many of us have had our jobs and livelihood disrupted. We can’t go to work, our children cannot go to school and it’s not safe to visit our elderly relatives. Every day the situation grows worse and no one knows what the future will bring.
We want to acknowledge how difficult, stressful and frightening this all has been. It’s a scary time in the world right now. We hope you’re doing okay and are practicing social distancing, either on your own or with your household.
It’s likely that things will get more difficult before they get better. Be good to each other and take care of those around you. If you think someone might be lonely - give them a call to check in on them. Take care, and stay healthy!
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