Coronavirus Covid 19 in the United States

Abstract
In 1918, a Spanish flu pandemic infected more than one-third of the entire global population and claimed the lives of as many as 100 million people. Innovations in health care technologies during the remainder of the 20th century, however, succeeded in limiting the adverse effects of subsequent epidemics until now. The year 2020 will likewise go down in the history books, if there are any historians left to write them, as the beginning of a global pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus which is the source of the Covid-19 disease.  The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the most recent information concerning the “what,” “when,” “where,” “how” and “who” of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, including the most up-to-date statistics and resources. Finally, the paper provides a summary of the research and key findings concerning these issues in the conclusion. 
Keywords: covid, covid-19, coronavirus, corona virus, wuhan china, 
Covid 19 in the United States:  Is Mother Earth Fighting Back?
Covid-19 has brought this nation to its knees. -- Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, June 22, 2020
The epigraph above may seem hyperbolic, but some observers caution that the worst is yet to come and the historical record provides some good reasons for this dismal assessment. Indeed, just over a century ago, the world was roiled by the Spanish flu pandemic that infected more than a half billion people -- representing nearly one-third of the earth’s population at the time, -- and claimed the lives of as many as 100 million victims. Today, the world is likewise confronted with another global pandemic that threatens to eclipse the grim figures racked up by the Spanish flu unless far more aggressive actions are taken by national leaders and the international community while the search for an effective vaccine continues. The purpose of this paper is to review the most recent information concerning the facts about the “what,” “when,” “where,” “how” and “who” of the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, followed by a summary of the research and key findings concerning these issues in the paper’s conclusion. 
What
Although researchers have confirmed that the current coronavirus is “novel” in terms of being unique, there are actually seven other coronaviruses which are capable of infecting humans that have been identified since the 1960s (Human coronavirus types, 2020).  Called “coronaviruses” because of their spiked crown-like surfaces, there are four primary sub-types of coronaviruses termed “alpha,” “beta,” “gamma,” and “delta” (Human coronavirus types, 2020).  The disease that is caused by the current novel coronavirus is called “Covid-19,” with the 19 designating the year (2019) in which it was first identified by epidemiologists. Despite a Manhattan Project-level research initiative into understanding the current coronavirus and its etiology, however, far more questions remains than answers as discussed further below. 
When
Although the coronavirus was not officially detected until December 2019, many scientists believe that the virus had already been circulating among human populations in China for several months by that time. What is known for certain is that the coronavirus has spread relentlessly throughout the United States and the original epicenter of the global pandemic has been traced to a wet market in Wuhan, China as discussed further below. 
Where
A so-called “wet market” (a marketplace that sells fish and animals as opposed to a “dry market” that specializes in dry grains and so forth) in Wuhan, China is frequently cited as the origin of the coronavirus. Because there is a biochemical laboratory located near Wuhan, there have also been theories advanced that the coronavirus either accidentally escaped from the lab or was intentionally released for nefarious purposes. Therefore, some people, including the current occupant of the Oval Office, insist on referring to the virus as the “China virus,” the “Wuhan virus” or even the xenophobic and racist “kung flu.” 
Researchers, though, have concluded that the novel coronavirus actually originated among wild animals and subsequently “superspread” to thousands of humans once it hit the crowded wet market in Wuhan (Coronavirus history, 2020).  In other words, like other highly virulent pathogens, coronavirus quickly migrated from its still-unknown initial point of origin around the globe in a matter of weeks, a process that has been facilitated by the relatively unfettered international travel and transportation industry. With tens of millions of people traveling internationally each year, the United States has recently experienced the humiliation of being banned (potentially as of this writing) from traveling to the European Union – and who is to blame them? As the events in China clearly demonstrated, Covid-19 is an ambitious virus that will seek out every opportunity to infect a human host, preferably one that will allow it to replicate and then transmit the infection to others. All in all, a very good business model for Covid-19, but deadly for tens of thousands of Americans.
An updated coronavirus map which depicts current global, national and state-level infection rates as well as other timely data is available from Johns Hopkins University & Medicine at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html. In addition, a coronavirus map that is maintained by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically for the United States is available at https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html. A coronavirus map of the United States showing the reported number of cases by state at the time of this writing is provided in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1. Reported Covid-19 cases in the United States as of June 24, 2020
Source:  CDC (2020) at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html
As can be readily discerned from the reported number of cases in the U.S. at present shown in Figure 1 above, virtually every state is currently experiencing some level of coronavirus infections, and at least half are suffering from significant surges following the relaxation of shelter in place orders weeks ago. More importantly, the data reflected in Figure 1 above are based on reported cases only, and a growing number of researchers believe that far more Americans, perhaps 10 times as many or even more, are currently or have already been infected by Covid-19 than have been reported. The president’s baffling decision to reduce federal government support for more widespread testing for the Covid-19 disease has also generated increasing criticisms for both sides of the political aisle as the realities of the crisis facing the country become abundantly clear to even the most diehard naysayers. These ugly trends are directly related to the manner in which the Covid=19 disease is spread as discussed further below.
How
Although the precise origins of the disease remain unclear, the operation of the coronavirus has been determined with some accuracy. Researchers have found that the coronavirus is capable of spreading rapidly from person to person, and even one infected individual can infect dozens, hundreds or even thousands of other people without realizing it in what are termed “superspreader” events (Letzter, 2020).  It is therefore little wonder that one of the first epicenters in the United States occurred in New York City with its dense population and the entire Empire State remains at the forefront of the national battle against the insidious Covid-19 disease (How New York City became the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020). 
To their credit, however, public and private sector leadership has succeeded in flattening the curve in New York City at present, but things are different in many other parts of the country. For example, according to Kristof (2020), “In the New York region, memories are fresh, people are scared and the virus is under control. But in much of the rest of the country, the virus initially seemed remote, and people relaxed in ways that are now leading to a crisis” (para. 5). Based on empirical observations, it is apparent that most Americans positively detest being forced to self quarantine, especially if they are unable to work from home. Similarly, no one likes wearing a mask, and even this seemingly straightforward health care precaution has become a political statement in favor of or against the U.S. president. 
Other cultural factors that are having an effect on the “how” about Covid-19 is the confluence of an impending election and a U.S. president that has rejected the advice from his own experts to pursue a “He-Man of the Universe” strategy that is clearly intended to generate enthusiasm from his flagging legions of core supporters. Rather than a compassionate, coherent and evidence-based national strategy for combating this universal foe, Kristof (2020) points out that “Instead, our president refuses to wear a mask and brings people together indoors to cheer his newest proposed strategy, which in his words is slow the testing down’” (as cited at para. 10). Giving new meaning to the term “clueless,” the president also stressed that more testing would simply identify more cases of Covid-19 which would make him look bad right before an election. As the president stated, “With smaller testing, we would show fewer cases!” (as cited in Kristof, 2020, para. 11). 
Given the president’s access to the top health care minds in the nation and authority to deploy the country’s resources where they are needed most, it is downright criminal that American lives are being sacrificed at the Electoral College altar in growing numbers. Dismissing the realities of the coronavirus pandemic will not make it go away, nor will harsh tweets, name calling or addle-brained conspiracy theories, but that does not keep the U.S. president from trying. 
Although countless studies will likely be conducted in the future about these issues, these cultural factors are clearly affecting the manner in which Americans are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. To the extent that Americans buy in to the nonsense that is spewing forth from the Oval Office will undoubtedly be the extent to which the crisis continues to intensify. 
Moreover, because the Covid-19 virus tends to embed itself deeply in victims’ lungs and incubate for a significant period of time before causing symptoms, the human body’s reaction to this invasive pathogen can trigger massive innunodefensive reactions that can actually do more harm than the virus. With more than 120,000 deaths already and expert predictions that there may be at least 200,000 deaths by year-end in the U.S., it is not surprising that many people remain anxious and concerned about their health and welfare as discussed further below. 
Who
In Edgar Allen Poe’s short story, “The Masque of the Red Death,” the point is made that while the ultra-wealthy can try to hide, no one is absolutely safe from the ravages of a virulent plague such as Covid-19. A recent coronavirus update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that as of June 24, 2020, there were more than 2.3 million Covid-19 cases in the United States with a death toll of more than 120 thousand deaths attributable to the disease (Cases in the U.S., 2020). Further, most public health care authorities emphasize that the problem is going to become far worse before it gets any better as the coronavirus intensifies in virulence and lethality. 
Notwithstanding these alarming trends, though, it is also important to note that the majority of people that are infected with the Covid-19 virus will only experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and the overwhelming majority will recover without any additional special treatment (Coronavirus overview, 2020). There are a number of high-risk categories, though, that can exacerbate the adverse effects of the Covid-19 disease. For instance, according to the World Health Organization, “Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness” (Coronavirus overview, 2020, para. 3). 
While the health care consequences of Covid-19 are potentially severe and even deadly fir many Americans, there has also been an enormous corresponding economic impact caused by the pandemic. In fact, with tens of millions of Americans out of work with no real end in sight, the country is experiencing a major recession the likes of which have not been seen since the 1930s. Furthermore, many economists believe that the nation will not recover the economic losses suffered as a result of the coronavirus pandemic for years and perhaps even decades to come. In this regard, Weidinger (2020) emphasizes that, “Initial claims suggest that more than 11 million Americans are now on (or about to be on) state unemployment insurance benefits. That is already more than 50 percent greater than the prior national record of 6.6 million recorded in 2009 during the Great Recession” (p. 136). In other words, the Covid-19 disease affects all Americans to some extent (even if they do not realize it) and these effects are projected to become even more severe in the foreseeable future.
Taken together, the ongoing global pandemic has profound implications for everyone in the United States regardless of their socioeconomic status. Certainly, the rich always seem to manage to get richer no matter what, but this is a unique period in the republic’s history that is redefining what it means to be patriotic and what the American dream really means today. Like the historic statues that are being torn down across the country, the United States is also being forced to shake off the vestiges of its slave-owning past in favor of a more inclusive society that prizes ability and character over pigmentation.  
Conclusion
Today, billions of people around the world are scared – and for good reason. While many well-meaning but uninformed Americans continue to deny the reality of the coronavirus threat, there are clear indications that the disease is essentially out of control in many parts of the country and everyone is at risk. Indeed, there were nearly 40,000 new cases of Covid-19 reported in the United States on the day this paper was written, representing highest single-day increase to date. Consequently, it is even reasonable to conclude that eventually, like herpes and the common cold, virtually everyone will be infected by the Covid-19 disease. Unless and until an effective vaccine is developed, a coherent national strategy is desperately needed to contain and mitigate the devastating effects the Covid-19 disease can have on communities of all sizes irrespective of their geographical location. Indeed, some researchers have cautioned that an effective vaccine against the Covid-19 disease may never be developed. Moreover, the U.S. executive branch has been unwilling or unable to formulate a coherent national strategy, leaving the several states to manage the best they can in responding to the coronavirus threat.  In the final analysis, Covid-19 has in fact brought this nation to its knees during an especially turbulent period in its history and only time will tell if anyone is left to chronicle the event.References
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