Add COVID-19 post

content/blog/2020-07-09-covid-19-is-still-a-thing/index.md

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+---
+title: Coronavirus is still a thing
+layout: post
+categories:
+- health
+- covid-19
+- coronavirus
+- news
+date: '2020-07-09'
+---
+
+COVID-19 is raging out of control (especially in the US, but don't think you're
+better off in Britain; they are third on the list), but you wouldn't know it by
+listening to the government. New York City is in "phase 3" of re-opening, which
+included limited re-opening of restaurants (although this has since been
+reversed). The reality is that COVID-19 does not give a shit about government
+guidelines and will carry on spreading regardless.
+
+As of the end of June there have been over 500,000 confirmed deaths from this
+disease, and based on the evidence, even if it doesn't kill you it can take
+[months to
+recover](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/health/coronavirus-recovery-survivors.html)
+and even [leave permanent
+damage](https://www.healthline.com/health-news/lifelong-lung-damage-the-serious-covid-19-complication-that-can-hit-people-in-their-20s).
+We're still trying to understand the effects COVID-19 has on the body and
+research is starting to tell us some horrifying facts. If you think this is
+"just like the flu" think again. Some of the more onerous complications that
+appear to be caused by COVID-19 are [abnormal blood
+clotting](https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/05/autopsies-covid-19-patients-reveal-clotting-concerns)
+and [serious and potentially fatal neurological
+disorders](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/08/warning-of-serious-brain-disorders-in-people-with-mild-covid-symptoms).
+Health workers are [struggling to
+cope](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/07/pandemic-experts-are-not-okay/613879/).
+
+All this is to say; you *do not* want to get this disease. So I'm urging you all
+to take the necessary precautions. Wash your hands on a regular basis, for at
+least 20 seconds. Wear a mask when you need to run an errand (such as shopping
+for groceries). If you must socialise, meet people outside (the risks are *much*
+lower) and practice social distancing. And for the love of `$deity` *stay out of
+the pubs!*