The Start Of It All !

 

Dear Readers,

Hello! My name is Margaret Lokonon. I am student from Moi University in Kenya, taking bachelor’s degree in information science.  I hope you all are doing great and are taking care of yourself against the Corona Virus.

 I want us to have a little understanding about Corona and how the media has contributed to this epidemic. Media is a channel of distribution of information both true and untrue. It requires high skills of understanding of its environs to filter out correct information from the overload available in the internet, social media and other user generated online platforms.

Corona virus commonly known as Covid-19 is a respiratory virus that attacks the respiratory system blocking oxygen from reaching the different parts of the body. Corona virus causes respiratory infection including pneumonia, cold, sneezing and coughing while in animal it causes diarrhea and upper respiratory diseases. It was first discovered in a city in China called Wuhan. The first case was reported in December 2019 hence the name Covid-19. Although there are many stories behind its origin, some people say that it originated from bats, others give opinions that China developed a Bio weapon to attack the world and so many other opinions and rumors around it. How true the information about its origin is? I do not know. but here is  a link that gives more information about the origin of Covid-19 (19 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200423-sitrep-94-covid-19.pdf)

Media has been in the front line in informing the society about measures and precautions to be taken in order to prevent public from contacting this disease. Twitter, Instagram, websites, YouTube and other user generated online platforms has been sensitizing on ways through which people around the world should act on order to prevent contracting this disease. This measures include washing hands with soap or sanitizing, avoid crowded places to reduce ones’ chance of conducting the virus, wearing of face masks and many more preventive measures. Signs and symptoms of Corona virus is almost the same as that of common cold with a minimal difference. Loss of smell, throat itching, high temperatures, shortness of breath etc. This therefore, has been the most common known symptoms of Covid. Although they are almost similar with other respiratory diseases like pneumonia, one should be critical and knowledgeable enough to distinguish the difference between these diseases.

The pandemic brought forward a lot of challenges in the world. It brought fourth challenges in the economy sector leading to rapid closure of companies and countries, challenges of psychological effect among people leading to depression and anxieties and also it brought forward a group of individual who are ignorant of the diseases hence the name Covidiot. This certain group of people tend to assume that the disease is not there and they therefore do not follow any measures to prevent themselves from contacting the disease.

Want to know more about Covid and new media?

Catch up with me every first and second Monday of every month and do not forget to comment.

let's discuss the impacts and effects brought forward by this pandemic in our lives.

STAY TUNED! STAY SAFE ! AND LET'S FIGHT CORONA TOGETHER! 

Thank you.