COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic infectious disease[1] caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
The disease has spread globally since 2019, resulting in the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic. Common symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Muscle pain, sputum production and sore throat are less common symptoms. While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to pneumonia and multi-organ failure. The deaths per number of diagnosed cases is estimated at between 1% and 5% but varies by age and other health conditions.
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Cause and diagnosis
The infection is spread from one person to others via respiratory droplets, often produced during coughing and sneezing. Time from exposure to onset of symptoms is generally between two and fourteen days, with an average of five days. The standard method of diagnosis is by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) from a nasopharyngeal swab or throat swab. The infection can also be diagnosed from a combination of symptoms, risk factors and a chest CT scan showing features of pneumonia.
Prevention and management
Recommended measures to prevent the disease include frequent hand washing, maintaining distance from other people|Social distancing|maintaining distance from other people and not touching one's face. The use of masks is recommended for those who suspect they have the virus and their caregivers but not the general public. As of early 2020, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19; management involves treatment of symptoms, supportive care and experimental measures.
Impact on Furry Events
Multiple furry events have been cancelled or postponed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include:
Conventions
- Biggest Little Fur Con 2020 - Postponed to Halloween weekend [2]
- Fauntastic 2020 - Postponed [3]
- Furnal Equinox 2020 - Cancelled [4]
- Gateway FurMeet 2020 - Cancelled [5]
- Golden State Fur Con 2020 - Postponed [6]
- Motor City Furry Con 2020 - Postponed [7]
- Thaitails 2020 - Postponed [8]
- Blue Ridge Furfare - Events on Sunday were restricted to comply with North Carolina's ban, announced the previous day[9], on gatherings of more than 100 people.[10]
- Woods Flock - Indoor spaces will be limited to comply with the CDC's recommended maximum 50 people[11][12]
- Furry Weekend Atlanta - Pending update following the March 15, 2020 CDC recommendation and Atlanta's 30-day ban on public gatherings.[13]
Furmeets
- DFW Furs furmeets - Cancelled until further notice [14]
- Otterdance - Postponed [15]
- SoCalFurs' FurBQ - On hiatus until July, pending COVID's progress [16]
- Warsaw Monthly Furmeet - Cancelled until further notice [17]
- GeorgiaFurs Events - Paused for the month of March [18]
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