Sounds like covid19 has been spreading undetected and unchecked for quite a while. One article claims there is strong evidence suggesting that it has been spreading for the last 6 weeks in Washington state, before china even locked down their own cities.
Definitely seems like it's impossible to stop and it's just a matter of time before you become infected. I wonder how skewed some of the stats on covid19 are though. Are severe cases/deaths over represented because only hospitalized patients really get tested while others with mild symptoms continue on as normal just thinking they have a cold? Testing is slow and severely limited and it's impossible to test everyone with cold/flu like symptoms.
Not even sure if it's worth taking any extra preventative measures to avoid contracting it. All it takes is one unhygienic asshole not washing his/hers hands, accidentally coughing your way or in your food or playing on their germ-covered phone then going back to their job. I see it all the time, people taking their phones into the bathroom, playing on it, then not even bothering to wash their hands or just running water over them for like 5 seconds. People really can't afford to miss work and are unlikely to let minor cold-like symptoms stop them from showing up. Cash, shopping carts, doorknobs, handles, etc... So many ways to catch stuff
For those that care to read the article
"WASHINGTON — The coronavirus has been circulating undetected and has possibly infected scores of people over the past six weeks in Washington state, according to a genetic analysis of virus samples that has sobering implications for the entire country amid heightening anxiety about the likely spread of the disease."
Essay Pro