Nine of every 10 students worldwide shut out of their schools at one point. More than 7 million flights grounded. Countless moments of celebration and sorrow — weddings and graduations, baby showers and funerals — put off, reconfigured or abandoned because of worries about safety.
In short, the coronavirus has rescripted nearly every moment of daily life. And fighting it — whether by searching for a vaccine or seeking to protect family — takes knowing the enemy. It’s the essential first step in what could be an extended quest for some version of normalcy.
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Scientists are getting a handle on the many ways the disease affects the body, but it’s a scramble.
The lungs are, indeed, ground zero. Many patients find themselves gasping for breath, unable to say more than a word or two.
Kidneys and livers fail in some patients and blood clots put limbs at risk of amputation. Some patients hallucinate or have trouble maintaining balance. Some get a treatable paralysis in arms or legs.
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With states and countries reopening in the face of an ongoing pandemic, it’s even more crucial to find solutions.