Covid-19, the 2020 epidemic

Coronaviruses are a type of virus. There are many different kinds, and some cause disease. A newly identified type has caused a recent outbreak of respiratory illness now called COVID-19.

The director of operations with the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response and director of research with the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit, shares information about COVID-19 and what you need to know.

How does the new coronavirus spread?

As of now, researchers know that the new coronavirus is spread through droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The droplets generally do not travel more than a few feet, and they fall to the ground (or onto surfaces) in a few seconds — this is why social and physical distancing is effective in preventing the spread.

How did this new coronavirus spread to humans?

COVID-19 appeared in Wuhan, a city in China, in December 2019. Although health officials are still tracing the exact source of this new coronavirus, early hypotheses thought it may be linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, China. Some people who visited the market developed viral pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus. A study that came out on Jan. 25, 2020, notes that the individual with the first reported case became ill on Dec. 1, 2019, and had no link to the seafood market. Investigations are ongoing as to how this virus originated and spread. 

What is the incubation period for COVID-19?

It appears that symptoms are showing up in people within 14 days of exposure to the virus.

What are symptoms of COVID-19?

COVID-19 symptoms include:

Cough, Fever, Shortnessof breath,Sore throat U,oss of taste or smellD DiarrheaH Headache

In rare cases, COVID-19 can lead to severe respiratory problems, kidney failure or death.

If you have a fever or any kind of respiratory difficulty such as coughing or shortness of breath, call your doctor or a health care provider and explain your symptoms over the phone before going to the doctor’s office, urgent care facility or emergency room. 

If you have a medical emergency such as severe shortness of breath, call 911 and let them know about your symptoms.

PROTECT YOUR SELFF!!!!!

Clean your hands often

• Wash YOUR hand often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others

  • You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
  • Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
    • Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
  • The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
  • Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
  • Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.

  • Cover coughs and sneezes

  • If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
  • Throw used tissues in the trash.
  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Fuente:cdc.gov
  • Fuente:hopkinsmedecine.org
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South africa's architecture

Small, utilitarian homes, grand structures of colonial dominance, and buildings of a post-apartheid state; all of these attribute to the narrative history of South African architecture. In this lesson we will take a closer look at some examples of South African architecture.

Rhodes Memorial on Devils Peak in Cape Town

A Complex History

If you happened across the Rhodes Memorial on a trip across South Africa, you may think to yourself 'Wow! I never realized the Romans came this far south in Africa!' On closer inspection, you'll note that this monument is different. It's inscribed in English, and it's dedicated to Cecil Rhodes. Why would a memorial for the British Prime Minister of South Africa look like it was a tomb built for an emperor?

A tour of South Africa's architecture reveals the diverse and tumultuous past of indigenous clans, colonization, apartheid, and the reconciliation of a post-apartheid state. From the simple rondevals of the Xhosa, to the modern designs of Mokena Makeka, architecture in South Africa has been built to conquer, divide, connect and heal.

Xhosa and Zulu Architecture

Rondeval

Prior to British colonization, various indigenous clans were spread across all of South Africa. The Xhosa and Zulu inhabited the southeast region of the country in small, village communities. The Xhosa lived and held community meetings in structures called rondavels. These circular huts were usually made of mud, and had conical, thatched grass roofs. After contact with the British and Boer colonizers, the Xhosa began to incorporate set, stone walls, and more 'modern' elements, such as glass windows, into the traditional rondavel. The Zulu lived in iQukwanes, also known as beehive huts. These dome-shaped structures were made of woven grass and reeds, and supported by a wooden frame and central support beam. Imagine making your house from the grass and trees in your yard!

Colonial Architecture: Herbert Baker

Have you ever looked at a big, flashy mansion and felt just a little bit intimidated by its size? South African colonizers wanted to create this feeling, and architecture was one of the ways they went about doing it. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Cecil Rhodes, British colonizers were determined to create a dominant society in South Africa. Rhodes selected architects that would create impressive structures, structures that would in turn create an air of power and superiority. One of the architects chosen by Rhodes was Herbert Baker. Baker went all-out in designing houses of government, culture, and industry in South Africa. He was inspired by the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome, and the Rhodes Memorial is a clear example of this classical influence.

Baker designed structures that suited the South African climate by combining elements of Palladian, (Andrea Palladio, Italian Renaissance) with Neoclassical architecture (the style of ancient Greece and Rome). These combined styles, along with Cape Dutch, created the defining look of South African colonial buildings. The Union Buildings at Pretoria, for example, mix the columns of Neoclassical design with Palladian architecture, projecting the dominance of the British.

Union Buildings at Pretoria

Fuente:Study.com