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The Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire |
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Page posted 29th June 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, was a global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The outbreak was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30th January 2020, and a pandemic on 11th March. As of 17 September 2021, more than 227 million cases and 4.67 million deaths have been confirmed, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history.
The virus was primarily spread between people during
close contact, most often via small droplets produced by coughing,
sneezing, and talking. The droplets usually fell to the ground or onto
surfaces rather than travelling through air over long distances.
However, research as of June 2020 had shown that speech- generated
droplets remained airborne for tens of minutes. Less commonly, people
may have become infected by touching a contaminated surface and then
touching their face. It is most contagious during the first three days
after the onset of symptoms, although spread is possible before symptoms
appear, and from people who do not show symptoms.
Common symptoms included fever, cough, fatigue,
shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell. Complications may have
included pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The time
from exposure to onset of symptoms was typically around five days but
may have ranged from two to fourteen days. There was no known vaccine or
specific antiviral treatment at the time of writing. Primary treatment
was symptomatic and supportive therapy.
Recommended preventive measures included hand
washing, covering one's mouth when coughing, maintaining distance from
other people, wearing a face mask in public settings, and monitoring and
self-isolation for people who suspect they are infected. Authorities
worldwide had responded by implementing travel restrictions, lockdowns,
workplace hazard controls, and facility closures. Many places had also
worked to increase testing capacity and trace contacts of infected
persons.
The pandemic caused global social and economic
disruption, including the largest global recession since the Great
Depression. It led to the postponement or cancellation of sporting,
religious, political, and cultural events, widespread supply shortages
exacerbated by panic buying, and decreased emissions of pollutants and
greenhouse gases. Schools, universities, and colleges were closed either
on a nationwide or local basis in 172 countries, affecting approximately
98.5 percent of the world's student population. Misinformation about the
virus circulated through social media and mass media. There were
incidents of xenophobia and discrimination against Chinese people and
against those perceived as being Chinese or as being from areas with
high infection rates.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic
Brethren, by kind permission of Brother Ramsay McGhee, Most Worshipful Grand Master I have been allowed to publish his communications during this crisis on an on going basis as he issues them. I have composed this page which includes all his communications and those of Provincial Grand Lodge in order that maybe at some future time if the web site is still going Brethren will see and understand what the Fraternity, the Country and the whole world went through at this time in the eyes of Grand Lodge.