"Social Distancing" & Virus Misinformation

I'm practicing a little responsible "social distancing" here at home (as you can see in the video below) and I would advise you do the same:

Look, as we all spend more time at home and likely, more time in front of the computer, we really need to work together to stop some of the misinformation circulating out there about the current global pandemic.

While this outbreak is viral, so is the spread of bad information, and we can work together to stop both.

One thing that specifically caught my eye is a "Navy SEAL test" that's supposed to be a simple self-check for the virus, that involves holding your breath.

Folks, this is just nonsense. Yes, SEALs are required to be able to hold their breath for long periods of time during our training. I can talk more about that at another time.

But holding your breath without discomfort is not a way to test yourself for infection, full stop.

The truth is, many people exhibit no symptoms at all, and others have mild issues, particularly at the outset, when you could still be contagious.

So let's stop spreading this falsehood around.

Also, you may see recommendations for sipping water every few minutes, or gargling with salt water or vinegar or garlic, or even dangerous recommendations that involve bleach. None of this is true.

My advice to you is to practice vigilant personal hygiene. Frequent hand washing. Stay away from crowds as much as you can. If you're older, or have underlying health conditions, you should be even more careful.

Your best bet is to stay home if you can.

There are things you can do to support your health and your immune system. Get adequate rest. Limit alcohol consumption. Stick with your healthy diet. And keep moving – a walk around the neighborhood is still ok, and the fresh air could do you some good and help you relax a bit in the face of cabin fever.

Together we can ride this out, stop the flow of misinformation, and give our heroes in the medical community, law enforcement and other folks who have no option to shelter in place a fighting chance here.

And if you do have to venture out for supplies, do me a favor – thank the people at the grocery store, pharmacy and other vital hubs of our society for being there for all of us.

They are performing a valuable service and showing valor in the face of real uncertainty.

These are unprecedented times. But we will get through this. If we work together, do our part, and help keep each other safe and calm.

Be a survivor... not a statistic,

Cade Courtley
Former Navy SEAL / 4Patriots Contributor

Comments

  • David - March 23, 2020

    Can you comment on “Event 201” and do you see the coronavirus as a pandemic or a PLANdemic?

  • Rick Bright - March 23, 2020

    As always you guys have good advice I appreciate your emails and your products keep it going strong and God bless

  • Darlene Taltoan - March 20, 2020

    I thank 4Patriots for the information. I myself deal with some anxiety. We know that this virus is here and because of anxiety I don’t indulge in everything that comes on tv. I have the basic of what to do and I’m doing all that is says. I can’t afford to OVERWHELM MYSELF EVERY TIME, what I do is when the news come on I see if it’s ANYTHING else beside what they been saying is New if not I tune it off. NOW IS THE TIME WE NEED TO GET CLOSER TO GOD READ YOUR BIBLE BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT WE’RE GOING THROUGH IT HAS BEEN SAID IN THE WORD OF GOD AND HE GIVES US INSTRUCTIONS THROUGH HIS WORD. THAT IS HOW I’M MAKING IT THROUGH, LESS T.V. AND MORE OF THE WORD. WE HAVE A DAILY BREAD CONFERENCE CALL EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT AT 10:00 PM FOR WHOEVER NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT, PRAYER OR JUST WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS WORLD-WIDE COMMUNICATION PLEASE JOIN US ON ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE NIGHTS. HERE’S THE NUMBER AND THE CODE 425.436.6391/389078# WE ALSO HAVE BIBLE STUDY ON WEDNESDAY AT 7PM THE NUMBER FOR THAT IS 480.297.0773/8195907. HOPE THIS HELPED SOMEONE AND PRAY TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY. WE NEED TO LIFT EVERYBODY UP NO MATTER WHAT CITY, STATE YOU’RE IN, THIS IS A NATION WIDE THING SO LET’S COME TOGETHER AS A NATION. HOPE YOU JOIN US ON ONE OF THOSE DAYS THAT IS CONVENIENT FOR YOU. BE ENCOURAGED.

  • RIta Randall - March 20, 2020

    This is a scary time. I realize watching the news all day is not mentally healthy but Ai am obsessed with the statistics of what has happened with this horrible virus. It feels like a bad sci-FI movie, which despise. I have anxiety and panic anyway and this is really getting to me. I have an 11 year old who Con-stantly is bringing germs into the house and a husband who is a slob. So I feel responsible for scrubbing and doing laundry all day. I feel terrible and exhausted. Any uplifting ideas and prayers are greatly appreciated.!! Stay well.!❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏😘🇺🇸✝️

  • Ella McCullough - March 20, 2020

    I am 86 and staying in with no company since Monday. Be safe.

  • Rebecca Adams - March 20, 2020

    May God Bless you and keep you! We are so grateful to ALL of the 4Patriots staff and family members for hearing and answering the call of preparation and supporting our human family!

  • Deborah Watson - March 20, 2020

    Thank you for giving us some much needed good advice. I will stop holding my breath…

  • Ronald Segada - March 20, 2020

    My question is, if you come in contact with a person that has covid-19 and you get infected, how long does it take before you start getting symptoms????

  • Esie - March 20, 2020

    I’m scared & depressed

  • Sheila - March 20, 2020

    Thank you so much for offering good information to the public. Common sense is needed at this time.

  • Rob Bohun - March 20, 2020

    Feeling confused as to why Coronavirus is a bigger deal than Seasonal flu? Here it is in a nutshell. I hope this helps. Feel free to share this to others who don’t understand…

    It has to do with RNA sequencing…. I.e. genetics.

    Seasonal flu is an “all human virus”. The DNA/RNA chains that make up the virus are recognized by the human immune system. This means that your body has some immunity to it before it comes around each year… you get immunity two ways…through exposure to a virus, or by getting a flu shot.

    Novel viruses, come from animals…. the WHO tracks novel viruses in animals, (sometimes for years watching for mutations). Usually these viruses only transfer from animal to animal (pigs in the case of H1N1) (birds in the case of the Spanish flu). But once, one of these animal viruses mutates, and starts to transfer from animals to humans… then it’s a problem, Why? Because we have no natural or acquired immunity.. the RNA sequencing of the genes inside the virus isn’t human, and the human immune system doesn’t recognize it so, we can’t fight it off.

    Now…. sometimes, the mutation only allows transfer from animal to human, for years it’s only transmission is from an infected animal to a human before it finally mutates so that it can now transfer human to human… once that happens..we have a new contagion phase. And depending on the fashion of this new mutation, thats what decides how contagious, or how deadly it’s gonna be..

    H1N1 was deadly….but it did not mutate in a way that was as deadly as the Spanish flu. It’s RNA was slower to mutate and it attacked its host differently, too.

    Fast forward.

    Now, here comes this Coronavirus… it existed in animals only, for nobody knows how long…but one day, at an animal market, in Wuhan China, in December 2019, it mutated and made the jump from animal to people. At first, only animals could give it to a person… But here is the scary part…. in just TWO WEEKS it mutated again and gained the ability to jump from human to human. Scientists call this quick ability, “slippery”

    This Coronavirus, not being in any form a “human” virus (whereas we would all have some natural or acquired immunity). Took off like a rocket. And this was because, Humans have no known immunity…doctors have no known medicines for it.

    And it just so happens that this particular mutated animal virus, changed itself in such a way the way that it causes great damage to human lungs..

    That’s why Coronavirus is different from seasonal flu, or H1N1 or any other type of influenza…. this one is slippery AF. And it’s a lung eater…And, it’s already mutated AGAIN, so that we now have two strains to deal with, strain s, and strain L….which makes it twice as hard to develop a vaccine.

    We really have no tools in our shed, with this. History has shown that fast and immediate closings of public places has helped in the past pandemics. Philadelphia and Baltimore were reluctant to close events in 1918 and they were the hardest hit in the US during the Spanish Flu.

    Factoid: Henry VIII stayed in his room and allowed no one near him, till the Black Plague passed…(honestly…I understand him so much better now). Just like us, he had no tools in his shed, except social isolation…

    And let me end by saying….right now it’s hitting older folks harder… but this genome is so slippery…if it mutates again (and it will). Who is to say, what it will do next.

    Stay home folks… and share this to those that just are not catching on. 🤓

    If you hear the term flattening the curve, beware. Let me explain. Let’s use a simple easy number. 1,000,000. The business as usual shows a spike. That’s the virus hitting everyone at once putting immense overload on hospitals causing massive deaths. So to avoid this they tell you to self isolate to slow the spead. What they are hoping is to slow it enough for the vaccine. So it spreads that million out over time. Here is the kicker. If people don’t even know they have it how do you stop it? That’s the thing. You don’t. You have to get it and survive it. Even if you get a vaccine, you are still getting it. Here is the big problem. You can get this virus more than once!!! So how long do you self isolate? Until a vaccine? That’s a year away. No one can do that. That’s the problem. It’s just going to have to run its course. You are right in everything you say, but 7 billion people can’t just disappear for a year. The sooner you come to grips that this will take its toll whether in a spike or over time the more you will understand what we are truly dealing with. Continue your self isolation, I choose to be as you said, clean clean clean.

  • Lamar - March 20, 2020

    Good but the “limit alcohol consumption” part. If the consumption keeps you from flipping out it is perfectly ok all the rest is good.

  • Carol Crisler - March 20, 2020

    Thank you for the encouraging words. We must stay calm and keep the faith

  • Eddie Padilla - March 20, 2020

    THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO AND THANKS FOR YOUR PAST SERVICE FOR THIS COUNTRY.

    YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

    GOD BLESS!

    EDDIE

  • Michael Gray - March 20, 2020

    the nose is an engine for the production of virus’ and bacteria. when one breathes it’s snot is seeded with micro quantities of coronavirus. now the nose is a virtual petri dish so now it’s off to the races as the virus sets up shop, colonzes and eventually delivers trillions of coronavirus virons to the lungs. solution: saline irrigate the nose at least 2 tmes a day and anytime once has been in public. nasal rinse irrigate with a device like the NeliMed. https://www.amazon.com/SinuFlo-Ready-Rinse-ounces-Bottle/dp/B0030HMR7E/ref=sr_1_54?crid=3LFG2Q8ZXKOQ2&dchild=1&keywords=neilmed+sinus+rinse+bottle&qid=1584662787&sprefix=nelimed%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-54
    i’ve irrigated since 1994 and had almost no flu or colds.

  • David Brodeur - March 20, 2020

    Cade’s message mirrors what I have been sharing with my family and friends. I want all of us to look at our grocery and other retail friends much like our first responders. They are performing a major service and they need to hear it. When this is over and it will be over, I want to treat my local Trader Joe’s staff to something nice. So as Cade points out be kind and considerate to these heroes. Just as important be kind to others and to yourself. To my family and yours, be well and WASH YOUR HANDS! Love to all.

  • Jette Wadsworth - March 20, 2020

    Thanks I heartely agree. did a little research and found more than 20.000 have died from the common this year alone. No outrage about that. The statistics for the 10 years don’t look good. I work in health care so wrote this to post in my office. Feel free to share if you like it.
    Be of good cheer, all will be well soon!

    This year alone more than 20.000 died of the Common Flu! No outrage, Why not?
    In 2009 we had the Swine Flu! Only after 6 months and over 1000 deaths here in the USA did Obama declare an emergency, and travel band. At the time, the NEWS told us to remain clam.
    In comparison; the President made a travel band from China very early, literally saving thousands of lives!
    Now The NEWS creates panic and fear.
    So be a peace maker where ever you go! Please see Fox News for information!

    At the same time, as we serve the most vulnerable in the society, let us be vigilant. Follow the guidelines and wash hands extra carefully and often.
    It has come to Pass! So be of good cheer!

    Much love Jette

  • Jackie K. - March 20, 2020

    Thanks so much for your post about misinformation and the virus….good info. As an RN it is nice to see. God bless!

  • Marilyn Stefano - March 20, 2020

    Thanks for your wise, calm advice – what we need in this hysterical time.

  • JAn - March 20, 2020

    Thanks, keep up the good work. People get a little crazy , just keep them grounded!

  • Dolores K Mason - March 20, 2020

    I find it absolutely amazing the amount of panic that people are allowing themselves, especially Millenials. From what I’m seeing at the grocery stores near me, it appears to be the least at-risk groups who are doing the panic buying. At the age of 70, it seems I, and other seniors are taking this pandemic more in stride. Maybe because we’ve been through it before and have the sense to sort out good information from bad.
    Several years ago I had the good sense to stock up on the prep food offerings from 4 Patriots, so I’m not worried about keeping my husband and I fed for several months, if it comes down to that. I also follow the survival tips that your website offers, and we’ve been collecting rain water to use in case of emergency, along with a stockpile of firewood for our outdoor grills and fireplace. So I’d like to say “thank you” to the folks at 4 Patriots for helping to keep me informed and calm in the face of the current chaos.

  • Diana - March 20, 2020

    Very well said. All the untruth going on is just getting everyone in a panic. Just relax and be safe. Help your elderly family members and neighbors if they cannot get out.

  • Timothy N Flanagan - March 20, 2020

    Hi, thank you for your service to our Country. See the covid-19 virus as a wake up call, from the Good Lord above. Yes originated in China, that’s a fact and we need to hold China accountable for their misinformation. But we are all the Children of God, no matter our race, skin color, religious origin etc. Feel truly Blessed every day that I wake up, give thanks for what I have. Have my Health Food and a roof over my head. Am going to start to Fast tomorrow for 2 meals, if we all do this if your health allows donate the Cash for those 2 meals to your local Food Banks. That way you can help your Brothers and Sisters in Christ feed those that are less fortunate. As we all Came together as a Nation during 9/11, we can also come together as a Nation and get thru this together. My prayers to anyone who has lost a Family member during this time. Namaste to All, Means I see the Light of Christ within you. Sincerely, Timothy Flanagan

  • Rebecca A. - March 20, 2020

    Thank you for that very informative article. It was well written and appreciated.

  • Joe Tomei - March 20, 2020

    You are right about misinformation
    I did see the announcement live from the Dept FBI. Homeland Security

    We have had a I intelligence FAILURE in the
    USA!

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