Coronavirus

Morning of February 27th, 2020.

David was awake, looking strangely at the hospital room ceiling. He and Nina had spent a very sleepless night. They woke up every hour, feeling a fatigue they couldn't explain yet. It was six o'clock in the morning and those feline blue eyes, which had once expressed life, were now looking sleepy, he was feeling weak, feeling dizzy and feeling the symptoms of an extremely bad flu.

He tried to get up when he heard some low moans that seemed far away coming from the bathroom. It was Nina throwing up. Nina had stomach pains, fever, coughing a lot and sore throat. The two woke up very badly. David managed to press the alarm button and in a few seconds the nurses entered the room to help them.

Nina and David were lying next to each other in their respective beds. Nina went from escort to patient throughout the night. The nurses examined them, medicated them, and exchanged suspicious looks with each other, before leaving and returning with the doctors.

Doctors entered the room a few minutes later, wearing special anti-contamination clothing.Wto. They looked like workers at nuclear power plants: aprons, elbow-length gloves, safety glasses and face shields or clear visors, bonnets, and so on. Nina and David stared at them with wide eyes, not understanding anything.

The experts explained the whole situation to them. They explained that the two were suspected of being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which caused the disease popularly known as "coronavirus". A deadly virus that had emerged in China since December 1st and was spreading rapidly around the world until it reached Italy, which had its first cases registered in Lombardy that month.

The number of cases was skyrocketing in the country at the end of February, leading doctors to believe that the disease had been spreading for some time without being confirmed or even noticed, silently contaminating the population, who would soon have no way out when a very large number of infected people needed the public or private health service. — News published by Google, Wikipedia and several online sites about the pandemic around the world.

The two stayed a long time looking at each other. They didn't know what to say at that moment, they were scared and when the doctors left the room, David jumped up to Nina's bed and hugged her tightly for a long time. Nina became even more fragile, and couldn't hold back the tears when she felt that protective embrace, which had been craving inside her for a long time, and burst into a cry so painful that it felt like someone had died at that very moment.

“Despite everything that's happening in the world, all this world calamity, at least you didn't leave. Just like that for you to stay, isn't it? There are evils that come to the good, isn't that what you say?

All the terrible events of the past few days, came to the fore when she felt those strong arms, holding her with passion, all the pain and humiliation, all the insecurity and fear of losing him, all the crying she had held crushing her chest in a painful silence, when she couldn't tell him what they were trying to do to get her out of his life... Everything fell apart in that instant! She collapsed! He cherished her thinking that that moan was just fear of dying, fear of the pandemic that would soon haunt the whole world.

“Chi…I'm here Nina. Calm! Calm! Everything will be fine, I promise. I won't let anything happen to us. He kissed her head, her forehead, kissed her tears. He lay down beside her on her bed, wrapping her in his warmth, putting her head on his chest, and they stayed there for a long time together until night fell again, and Nina fell asleep in his lap like a child. seeking shelter...

"No one knew for sure what was myth or truth about the new virus that was spreading among humanity quickly and violently, leaving traces of disgrace and despair among family members who stayed and lost their loved ones without even the right to see them, say goodbye or bury them",

The reporter reported on one of the channels that David played and replayed on the hospital TV while Nina slept. It was impossible to watch the news and not get carried away by the panic that was slowly collectively setting in.

“Firstly, scientists, scholars and specialist infectious diseases around the world found that the disease did not spread between humans. They soon confirmed that it was, and that the disease was spreading fast, faster than the speed health authorities to develop a prevention plan in the community”.

She was still the TV reporter.

It was also believed that it was only transmitted among those who had symptoms such as fever, cough and breathing difficulties, but they proved that even people without symptoms could transmit the disease. And the most common symptoms don't start or end with cough and fever.

Symptoms range from vomiting, diarrhea, loss of smell, sore throat and/or chest pain...

Those were the symptoms Nina was feeling.

... These were some of the signs that health professionals do not ignore when deciding to test a suspected covid-19 virus infection.

Many people carried the virus, but did not show any symptoms, which made it even more difficult to map and record people who should be tested and isolated so that they would not contaminate a greater number of people, as these people were free to spread the virus without knowing it. "That's why the use of masks indoors is so important, to prevent the spread of the virus by people who don't know they have it, but still proliferate without knowing it."

A doctor who was being interviewed on another channel replied.

The TV turned on a debate channel showing reports on the situation in Italy in relation to the pandemic, and David with his cell phone in his hand reading everything he could find on Google about this disease. He clicked on all the links, and even on Wikipedia, which he didn't think was a completely safe source of information... then he read:

“At the end of February, Italy was hit harder than anywhere else in Europe by the pandemic and is the country with the second highest number of positive cases and deaths in the world. Eleven northern Italian municipalities were identified as the epicenters of the two main Italian groups and placed in quarantine. Most positive cases in other regions lead to these two groups. Italy was one of the first countries in Europe to suspend all direct flights to and from China. After the first two cases reported in January in Rome, Italy introduced thermal scanners and temperature checks on international passengers arriving at its airports. As of February 29, Italy had carried out more than 18,500 tests for the virus.

On February 29, there were 29 deaths, a total of 1,128 positive cases, of which 478 were confirmed by the National Institute of Health (ISS) and 50 recoveries.”

BBC News Brazil: “In Spain, the number of confirmed cases rose to 64,059, an increase of 14% compared to 18% the day before and 20% on Wednesday. In 24 hours, 769 people died, a daily record, bringing the total to 4,858. The Spanish government extended the state of emergency to at least 12 April. The movement of people is severely restricted and most stores and businesses are closed...”

Nina's world had collapsed once again in just a few days' time, in other words, the flurry of rumors and gossip wasn't enough involving the name of one of the most popular movie stars, and the crises by which David and Nina they were facing respectively alone, he for having been going through physical and mental exhaustion for a few weeks now, she for being under pressure from all sides, for daring to get involved with a man who was an object of desire, one of the most powerful people in the world at that moment , still had to face a worldwide pandemic.

She couldn't believe she was infected with covid-19. He kept thinking and asking himself: “Like this, without warning? Nobody suspected, nobody expected! How can the results be positive for SARS-CoV-2? A virus like this doesn't choose color, age, time, or place.” Those were Nina's thoughts. She was confused, scared, and full of doubts about a virus that even the medical and scientific community didn't fully understand. She and the rest of the world were afraid of the unexpected.

The two were isolated in that room. All health professionals who entered or left during the days had to wear special uniforms against the virus. They informed David and Nina that they would have to be separated in a few hours, as the two had tested positive for the virus. They were officially infected with covid-19.

They had to identify all the places they passed, and name any and all people who were nearby during their entire stay in Rome, so the hospital staff could alert local authorities in other countries, as they did with Norway, warning about Lyon and Kara, who were promptly followed up on arrival on Norwegian soil, tested and confirmed as carriers of the virus.

David's agents were also tested positive, as were other actors who were shooting with David before he traveled to Italy on vacation. As many people as possible would be informed, tested and isolated. Nina and David would be hospitalized for two to four weeks depending on the evolution of the virus… And all they did was follow the news and publications on all websites and news outlets about Norway, Brazil, the UK and around. the world.

On March 9, 2020, Italy extended its quarantine status, and took more drastic measures to prevent the outbreak from spreading. Measures included general travel restrictions, banning public events, closing schools and public spaces such as movie theaters, and suspension of religious services, including funerals or weddings.

By March 10, the number of confirmed cases in Norway had risen to 400, and an increasing number of these cases could not be attributed to travel abroad or to any known infected person, indicating that community transmission had started in Norway. On March 12, a national blockade was announced, starting at 18:00 on the same day. For a few weeks, schools, kindergartens, gyms, beauty salons, etc., would be closed. Sporting and cultural events and meetings would be prohibited and restrictions would also apply to restaurants.

On March 18, Italy had its highest number of sick in 24 hours; more than 4,200 were infected. The highest number of deaths in 24 hours was also counted on the same day, with 475 deaths. As of March 19, Italy had become the country with the highest number of confirmed deaths from coronaviruses in the world.

This number would only be surpassed on April 11 by the United States, which, at the time, became the new epicenter of the pandemic on the planet.

As the days went by, the health team at the hospital where Nina and David were hospitalized, several times tried to separate them. One of the reasons the doctors claimed was that Nina was much sicker than he was, and needed other care that he didn't need to witness. David fought as hard as he could to keep Nina from being taken to another room.

The staff at the richest hospital in the region were sympathetic to the two, who were facing several crises together. They made an exception because they were together all the time, and because David was already facing another health condition before. They would be watched and cared for very carefully. They were in serious condition but were allowed to stay in the same room. They were not yet fully aware of what this pandemic was causing in the world, but they would soon know… They would experience up close the chaos that this virus caused by spreading so brutally in Italy.

People were losing their loved ones, their grandparents, their friends, their loves! People were terrified, locked inside so they could survive and still not sure about anything. Not knowing what to expect. People were in mourning, crying in the streets, it felt like the end of the world! Social distancing was accompanied by depression, pain and a lot of suffering. People performed repairs, serenades and “social parties” from the balconies of their buildings. Everything was a reason to go viral on social networks. Never the internet and streaming services like Netflix, HBO were as important as in that probationary period!

This pandemic has taught us many things: That no matter how well-prepared texts are disseminated on social media about awareness and social isolation, there will be countless differences between the social isolation of a rich family and a poor family. All texts describing that this disease does not distinguish race, skin color, age or status, were probably written by people who have not witnessed it up close, which is to be a millionaire in one of the best clinics in a place, or to be in line along with thousands of people waiting for an oxygen device to be released.

Social difference has never been more evident than in this period of pandemic. The needy population evidently and demonstrably suffered the greatest consequences for being the hardest hit. All the articles debating social inequality during the pandemic stressed the same thing: That social inequality has never been so openly exposed!

How to live in a third world country and not go to work when you have children at home who are hungry? No financial help from anywhere? How to be isolated in a house where several family members live, no internet, no telephones, no television in each room? How to force your children not to go to school and stay at home without having to study online? Is all this much less important than saving yourself? And yes. Course is! Life is above all else, but it will try to educate a nation overnight because of a pandemic...

People only believe when it happens before their eyes. People only really care when they hit them. Even with news reports alarming the population day and night, still, many people didn't take it seriously until the last minute. Are they humans without conscience? Are they flawed? Yes they are. During the pandemic there was a lot of solidarity, but there was also a lot of selfishness.

The whole country stopped! The world stopped! While the virus was being spread and trying to be contained in China, people seemed to feel more secure, but when it arrived in Italy, they saw that the virus was on their doorstep. Everyone was panicked when they saw what was happening in Italy! People were prohibited from leaving their homes. There were so many deaths that the authorities were throwing the bodies all together without even the right to a funeral or a dignified burial. There were so many bodies packed in black plastic bags thrown into containers, that even if humanity spends years reading articles and more articles that can describe these cases, they will never know what it was like to see it up close.

The tension, the fear, the pain, the despair of people. Nothing will ever make up for your losses. A fatality of nature that has not been controlled for a long time. Many experts blame Italy for not taking immediate action early, but the virus has arrived at Italy's doorstep like a nuclear bomb dropped from the air.

Italy served as an example for the rest of Europe to take immediate and drastic measures to prevent the same happening in their countries. But the truth is, it could have happened to any country. The virus could be spreading in any region without the authorities detecting it, and by the time they took the necessary precautions it could be too late for anyone.

This is how experts from all over the world describe public articles in “online” information vehicles, which Nina, David and the whole world followed day and night. Here is just a mere example of one of them:

"Italy adopted restrictive measures very late. When they did, there were already many cases. When these measures are taken when the epidemic is near its peak, they have little effect. Countries that had the most positive results adopted these measures early."

As good as the country's health system was, it would not be able to handle the volume of cases, for not having adopted measures early. No system supports a large number of cases in a short period. There is not enough equipment for so many people. Taking measures before the number of cases accumulates tends to be that the health service can handle it. These measures had to have been taken weeks before."

Nina read the article on the BBC News Brazil page:

This is also the opinion of Eduardo Hage Carmo, an epidemiologist at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz).

Nina and David had no illnesses, were not among the at-risk group of people who were most likely not to resist if infected with the virus. As the elderly and people with diseases such as cancer, AIDS and many others that caused low immunity to the individual who carried the disease, even so they were in panic, because each hour was a different discovery about the behavior of this virus. Health authorities constantly changed their recommendations.

At one point Nina read that: the use of masks was recommended only for patients and caregivers, according to the general health department, then it was read that all people after confinement should wear them. DGS already recommended that all people use it. While the World Health Organization held a different view for several months and recommended that only healthy people who were going to care for the sick wear masks.

Every hour they changed the rules and information. Before long, sick children emerged, and young people were also killed. The truth is, no one was quite sure what was true about this disease. Everyone was studying her. The world was on high alert and everyone was declaring a state of emergency. Worldwide, there was a general breakdown among the population. Many people who already suffered from some kind of emotional disorder, had a tendency to get worse due to all these problems related to this global crisis, the number of cases of depression and psychological problems was increasing all over the world.

But even in the dark, the light will always shine, because despite everything, we also had a lot of positive things. We had examples of solidarity, such as when in several different places around the world the armed forces supported the needy population and disinfected homes for the elderly and schools, collaborated in the distribution of food to people at risk, not only because of the disease, but for lack of food and housing, they set up field hospitals and support structures for the homeless and those without private health insurance.

Many private companies served as an example showing that not only selfishness, individuality and social difference were present in this general picture of the planet, and were ready to help. There are many examples of private hospitals that also received patients with covid-19, an important help, thus complementing the demand that public health agencies were receiving without being able to provide care. Many private companies also started to manufacture personal protective equipment and alcohol gel for those who were on the front line of fighting the disease. And there were many people besides doctors and nurses who treated patients at home, at work. From supermarket employees to public transport drivers and machinists,

Source: Google searches.