COVID-19

Noemi Orozco, Sports Editor & Zunaria Hussaini, Staff Reporter

As talks of COVID-19 continue to fuel the air with an abundance of paranoia at Rancho Cucamonga High School, it’s important to address what this coronavirus disease is and the great impact it holds as it rapidly approaches counties nearby our own.

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. 

The epicenter of this widespread outbreak originates from a well-known wet market located in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and is now spreading throughout a number of countries from both the eastern and western hemispheres.

As many may continue to ignore the depths of this “flu-like” sickness, it’s crucial to understand that although it shares similarities with influenza, COVID-19 is a newly discovered strain that has not been previously found in humans in the past. 

This includes obtaining numerous symptoms such as a high fever, runny nose, difficulty breathing, and much more.  

While this pandemic is causing panic, Mr Griffone, an AP Biology teacher on campus gives students advice on protecting yourself and loved ones, “You want to keep washing the hands, keep covering up your mouth when you’re coughing, and using disposable Kleenex and get plenty of fluids. Eat well and everything you’ve always been told to stay healthy, keep doing that. And if you feel anything coming on, stay away from older folks and people who are immunocompromised because they’re the ones who get hurt the most by this.” 

With reports of Italy in complete lockdown and the suspension of travel from the U.S to Europe, Rancho Cucamonga High School prepares their own precautions in order to maintain a safe environment for its own student and staff. 

In an email sent to students and parents on March 13th to reassure families in the wake of this public health crisis, CJUHSD superintendent Dr. Matt Holton states, “Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, all schools within the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, along with other West End San Bernardino County districts, will be closed until April 6, 2020” 

In addition to the recent closures of global travel, COVID- 19 continues to create great changes to the sports and entertainment world as well. Public figures ranging from American actor Tom Hanks to Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi have contracted the virus and have isolated themselves to protect those around them. 

In the wake of this public health crisis, it’s challenging but absolutely essential to distinguish what is real from what is fake, do not believe everything that is presented to you online. For more information, go to https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus. Stay healthy and safe Rancho!