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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ar ch 26 ,2 02 0 | 18 COVID-19 and TRAVEL At this time, we hope your employees and loved ones are home, safe and well. As borders around the globe continue to close and few commercial flights remain, we'd like to provide you with the following links that may aid in these uncertain times. IF YOU HAVE LOVED ONES ABROAD: Please register them with Registration of Canadians Abroad. https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration IF YOU HAVE LOVED ONES ABROADWITHOUT FINANCIAL MEANS TO RETURN HOME: Canada has announced the creation of the COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad who are directly impacted by COVID0-19. https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/emergency-info/financial-assistance/covid-19-financial-help Many airlines, hotels and resorts have suspended service or closed during this global crisis.ended service or closed during this global crisis. Please contact us if you have questions about upcoming travel plans, and cancellation options. Stay Safe, Stay Well Best TravelBest Travel AgencyAgency Suite 300, South Oakville Centre • 1515 Rebecca Street, Oakville 905.827.1100 travel@mctavish.comwww.mctavishtravel.com CORPORATE • GROUP • LEISURE O nt Re g N o 14 37 98 5 471972-41972-41972- 201920192019 As the world started hearing more and more about COVID-19, many peo- ple started grumbling that it was nowhere near as bad as the flu. So, why all the fuss? Why should we wor- ry? Is COVID-19 really worse than the flu? While the estimated number of flu cases annu- ally is far greater than the number of COVID-19 cases so far, the death rate of CO- VID-19 is about 3 per cent*, whereas the death rate of the flu is about 0.1 per cent, which means that CO- VID-19 seems to be about 30 times* deadlier than the flu. Let's crunch some numbers so that we can re- ally see what the fuss is about. As an example, let's take a look at our neighbours to the south (the numbers work out nicely). The Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there were approximately 35,000,000 cases of influen- za during the 2018/2019 sea- son in the United States. Of that total amount, they es- timate about 491,000 hospi- talizations and approxi- mately 35,000 deaths. 35,000/35,000,000 = .001 x 100 = 0.1 per cent. There's that 0.1 per cent death rate. For comparison, if we use the same number of to- tal flu cases for the CO- VID-19 calculation, let's take a look at what the numbers would be. So, 35 million cases**. What is 3 per cent of 35,000,000? 3/100 = .03 x 35,000,000 = 1,050,000 If exactly the same num- ber people who typically get the flu every year get COVID-19, that would mean that there could be more than one million deaths due to COVID-19, compare to 35,000 due to the flu, in the U.S. alone. So, yes, COVID-19 is worse than the flu. That's what all the fuss is about. Extreme measures are be- ing taken for a reason. * These numbers are based on preliminary re- search and are subject to change as more people re- cover and less new cases de- velop, but it is the generally accepted estimate right now. ** Due to interventions that are being taken throughout the world, the number of coronavirus cases is significantly lower than estimated flu cases. Nadya Dominique is a family doctor. She can be reached at DearDoctorD@gmail.com. CORONAVIRUS VS. THE FLU OPINION WHY SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT COVID-19? DR. NADYA DOMINIQUE SPELLS IT OUT NADYA DOMINIQUE Column We Deliver... you Pick-Up!or Call Nancy 289-681-2041 ngibson@starmetrolandmedia.com 8-2273 Dundas St W, Mississauga, ON L5K 2L8 Order Now - Take Out 905-766-0200 Let the public know you are... OPEN FOR BUSINESS! You too can be a part of this special section!