00:00 This podcast episode is about COVID-19 and the hosts will be discussing it in a level-headed manner.

05:36 COVID-19 stands for coronavirus disease 2019, and it is a type of coronavirus that typically causes upper respiratory infections in humans.

11:24 The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 likely originated from an animal-to-human transmission, possibly in a live animal food market in Wuhan, China, and has since spread through person-to-person transmission and community spread.

17:06 COVID-19 spreads quickly and has taken hold globally, with symptoms including fever, dry cough, and difficulty breathing.

22:52 Difficulty breathing and chest pain are signs of severe COVID-19 cases, which can lead to a lack of oxygen and the need for a ventilator, while mild cases are similar to a seasonal cold and can be treated at home with rest and fluids.

28:54 The fatality rate of COVID-19 is still unclear, but it is likely not as high as 4%, and countries with widespread testing, like South Korea, have reported a fatality rate of 0.7%.

35:01 The virus can survive for different lengths of time on different surfaces, but there have been no documented cases of infection from touching surfaces, so it's not a major concern.

40:43 The CDC says there is no need to wear a mask unless you are sick or caring for someone who is sick, and the rush on buying masks has put a dent in the medical supply chain.

46:34 Flattening the curve is the idea of spreading out the number of infections over time to prevent overwhelming the medical system, and social distancing is the main mechanism for achieving this.

52:28 The importance of social distancing and quarantining is highlighted by the success of countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Japan in containing the virus through extensive testing, strict social distancing measures, and isolating and treating infected individuals, while the failure to implement these measures in countries like Italy has led to a rapid increase in cases and overwhelming of the healthcare system.

58:28 The lack of specialized hospital beds, particularly ICU beds, in the United States is leading to overcrowding and the need to triple and quadruple up patients with COVID-19, highlighting the importance of social distancing and not taking risks during this time.

01:04:26 The FDA has granted Gilead Sciences exclusivity for seven years on their antiviral drug that shows promise in treating COVID-19, potentially blocking generic versions and making it more expensive.