Thread by @AnnaBurnsDC

If you're 1. young, 2. feeling unwell, and 3. continue w/ disease-spreading practices (like not *actually* prioritizing hand-washing, still taking the metro, congregating in crowds)...

You're threatening your future health whether you get #coronavirus or not. Here's why⬇️
(1/9)

Folks my age know the vast majority of people in our age group will survive coronavirus infection with what some have called "mild" symptoms.

Sigh of relief, huh?! We get to be spectators for a global pandemic with little personal health risk!

❌NOPE.❌
(2/9)

At this stage, with community spread already confirmed across the USA, it's too late to take precautions *only* if you're a high-risk individual.

Quarantines/canceled events are warranted in each corner of the country.

Yes, even if they involve people who aren't sick.
(3/9)

Our goal now is not so much to reduce the total number of people getting sick but to slow the rate at which they do.
(4/9)

The biggest challenges we face in overcoming virus will be VOLUME and TIMING. The infrastructure to handle a virus that's spreading at this rate is NOT in place.

If current rates continue, hospitals will NOT have the supplies or capacity necessary to treat everyone.
(5/9)

Okay, you say. "But I won't need to use the hospital for treatment because it'll only be a mild infection!"

Maybe, but:
☣️Your mom and dad might.
☣️Your grandparent(s) might.
☣️Your peer with an underlying health condition might.
(6/9)

If this spread continues as-is, whether you get hospitalized for coronavirus OR NOT, there will be enough seriously ill people to entirely overwhelm ERs. And your high-risk loved ones won't get the care they need.
(7/9)

WHAT CURRENT SPEED OF SPREAD WILL MEAN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IF SUSTAINED:

If you need urgent medical care for...
🔲acute sports injury,
🔲car accident,
🔲appendicitis, or
🔲any other emergency

ERs may NOT 👏 BE 👏 EQUIPPED 👏 to help you.

It matters what we ALL do now.
(8/9)

Collectively, we'll get through this scary time. But for now, it's up to every American -- low-risk populations like young people included -- to protect each other through social distancing/quarantines/canceled gatherings.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. 🙏😅
(/end)