We all know about the coronavirus. The disease has rampaged through Asia, and continues to spread across the world, killing thousands. Currently, there is no cure for the disease, resulting in a global panic as the numbers of victims continue to increase. While the news continues to blast us with stories about the virus, people grow more fearful each day. 

But just because we fear something, does that mean we have to go into crisis mode?  It’s like when we panic the night before we have a class where there could be a pop quiz. We don’t know if it’s going to happen, so we study as much as we can before class. The same can be said about the coronavirus: We cannot be fully prepared for a virus to come our way, but we take precautions, hoping we don’t get sick. 

Evidenced by hoarding toilet paper and masks, and by struggling businesses and national economies, the precautions people take are actually amping up general anxiety. The news is also adding more fuel to the frenzy. Although most news organizations are presenting accurate information, the coronavirus shouldn’t be the only thing they present. By talking about other news stories, journalists can help calm public panic by allowing people to connect with and think about other current events not centered around the virus. 

We shouldn’t panic over the spread of this disease. Rather, we should try to stay positive. One way is to remember that many scientists are working toward a solution through a variety of drugs and vaccines in development that may cure coronavirus. Remdesivir, the treatment that is furthest along in development, has been created by Gilead Sciences. According to Pulmonology Advisor, a knowledge base for health-care professionals, Remdesivir has been “observed in animal models to have broad-spectrum antiviral activity against multiple emerging viral pathogens including Ebola, Marburg, MERS and SARS.” Testing is underway in the US with infected adults who have lung problems. Although the process of developing and getting approval for a vaccine is certainly a long one, there are medical companies working right now to combat the globe’s powerful new enemy, the coronavirus. Although the outlook seems grim, we should see their work as a sign of hope.