‘While many are still arrogant, careless, even reckless, most have accepted they are mortal and could be killed by this stealth virus and treat this killer with humility and extreme caution.’
AS of 11:30 a.m. (CST) Tuesday, January 18, 2022, there were 332,280,117 cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with 5,566,715 deaths, and 269,571,029 who have recovered. In the United States, there were 67,633,1409 cases and 874,347 deaths, and in the Philippines 3,270,758 cases and 28,471 deaths. Records show daily hospitalization at 156,515 (5,109 of them children).
Omicron (developed in human – mostly unvaccinated – bodies after 50 mutations), albeit apparently milder but highly transmissible, is causing havoc around the world. First reported in South Africa on November 26, 2021, Omicron could have actually started in Europe, according to an article from the Netherlands. Those with the booster are better protected although not 100 percent, but the vaccines provide a significant degree of protection from Omicron. Vaccination remains to be the best preventive measure together with frequent handwashing, masking, social distancing, and avoiding crowds by limiting our travels to essential chores only.
More than 95 percent of those infected recently were unvaccinated. Almost 9 million children have been infected by COVID-19 since the pandemic started. During the first week of January 2022 alone, there were 580,247 children infected. Omicron is super contagious.
If needed, drug firms are ready to develop (within 100 days) a tailored, custom-made, vaccine specifically for Omicron. The newest variant, Deltacron, is being closely monitored.
Eating in a restaurant, or group eating and conversation, appear to increase the risk of getting infected, as masks are removed to eat and conversation sends the virus flying in the air and inhaled by others in the room. Symptoms from omicron could rapidly manifest within 6 hours from exposure.
Since the pandemic started January 19, 2020 (CDC reported it two days later), handshaking, hugging, and most body contact were abandoned by people, and wisely so.
And being social beings, we all miss such rapport and intimacy. While many are still arrogant, careless, even reckless, most have accepted they are mortal and could be killed by this stealth virus and treat this killer with humility and extreme caution.
Vaccination and wisdom are two effective weapons against this deadly nemesis. May God bless all of us with an abundance of the second to help end this pandemic sooner than later.
Where does oxygen come from?
Oxygen, which makes up about 20% of the air we breathe in, is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas, that is essential for the production of energy and, therefore, to life. Its main source is living green plants. The ambient air we inhale is absorbed by the lungs which “extracts” and filters oxygen, which then combines with hemoglobin (red pigment in blood cells). The resultant oxyhemoglobin is circulated throughout the body by the pumping action of the heart to supply oxygen to the entire body. Some tissues in our body are more sensitive than others to oxygen deprivation. The brain is super-sensitive to lack of oxygen.
It “dies” in about 3-4 minutes after oxygen delivery ceases (as in suffocation, drowning or cardiac arrest).
What is dyslexia?
“Word blindness” is a term commonly used to describe this condition where the person, starting from childhood, has extreme difficulty with reading and writing. About 10% of children are dyslexic, and more common among boys. Dyslexia, which may be inherited, is caused by a localized brain lesion, where there is a certain number of brain cells being “faulty,” or there is delayed or incomplete development of the brain. These children are not brain damaged. Usually, these youngsters are not recognized as dyslexic and may be thought of as lazy, disobedient, bored, problem kids and be relegated to the background as dumb. Early detection is important for those affected to be able to benefit from special schooling and catch up in their learning skills. With early and proper training, many of them can grow up to be very successful individuals.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Health Public Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian and anti-graft foundation in the United States. Visit our websites: philipSchua.com and FUN8888.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
