First detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in the Hubei province, CORVID-19, commonly known as the Coronavirus has been making headlines since the start of the new year. Currently, more than 3,000 people have died due to the outbreak and many more have been infected. Coronavirus has now made its way to the United States, and six people have died in Washington as a result. While all the U.S. deaths have been in Washington, 11 other states have reported cases including California, Oregon, Illinois, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, and New York.

To better understand what Coronavirus is and how you can protect yourself, let’s look deeper into the details.

What is Coronavirus?

CORVID-19 is a member of the coronavirus family, though it is a strain that has never been seen before. Like other viruses in this family, it stems from animals and many of the original infected most likely contracted the virus from either working at or shopping at the Huanan seafood wholesale market in the center of Wuhan.

Since being transferred to humans, it has been noted that the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission, meaning it no longer has to come from an infected animal host. This type of transmission has made it easier for the virus to spread and has helped fuel the high death toll that has resulted from the outbreak. The human-to-human transmission also makes it more difficult to contain, as infected individuals may not be immediately showing signs when they venture out into public. This spreads the virus unintentionally, leading to more unknowingly infected individuals and a greater spread.

Common Signs and Symptoms

The most common signs of infection include:

  • Respiratory symptoms, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Cough

Severe symptoms can include:

  • Pneumonia
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome
  • Kidney Failure
  • Death

Outbreak in New York

Though all continental U.S. deaths have been in Washington, there are confirmed cases in the New York City area. Officials in the city have warned that the virus is likely to spread after confirming that a woman from Manhattan had been infected after traveling to Iran. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a press conference, “Community spread is going to be real. That is inevitable.”

Governor Cuomo, in the same press conference, also urged residents to remain calm despite the alarm that is being raised by many press outlets. While the death toll does seem high, overall most people who are infected only display mild symptoms. Early estimates of the coronavirus death rate place around 2%. For comparison, the seasonal flu has a death rate of around 0.1%. Facts like this can help lessen the fear surrounding the virus, and inform people that infection is more likely to be serious if a person is already struggling with underlying conditions.

Concerns Around an American Outbreak

In the United States, two out of every three adults are obese or overweight. If these individuals are also struggling with health problems stemming from obesity such as heart disease, breathing problems, high blood pressure, or diabetes, an infection of CORVID-19 could potentially be life-threatening. This risk also concerns anyone with an underlying problem that weakens them or their immune system.

Coupling this the healthcare system that already suffers from a loss of $1,185,990 due to fraud, and it may seem as if we as a nation are underprepared to face an outbreak on the same scale as the one in Wuhan. In 2005, it was estimated that the United States would need 740,000 ventilators to combat a severe respiratory-related epidemic. Today there are only around 62,000 ventilators in hospitals across the country, with 10,000 more stored in a federal stockpile for use in emergencies. While this number falls strikingly short in a worst-case scenario, the U.S. is still noted to be one of the best-prepared counties.

Across the country officials are working to devise strategic plans to ensure that outbreaks are contained and a full pandemic doesn’t break out. In New York, Gov. Cuomo has stated that new cleaning protocols would be put in place for public spaces. This strategy is aimed at mitigating the risk of a widespread infection throughout the crowded city.

Similarly, many residents have taken to the stores to stock up on surgical masks, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies. However, due to this influx, many stores have run out of supplies, and those that haven’t have marked up prices. For example, a box of surgical masks, typically costing $20 were found to be going for $75 at a Chinatown store. The surgeon general, in a Tweet posted on Feb. 29th, urged Americans to stop buying surgical masks as they are ineffective against the virus and healthcare providers are now having a harder time getting them due to the increased public demand.

Working and Schooling from Home?

Schools in Washington have closed due to concerns about the Coronavirus and schools in Arizona and San Deigo are considering following suit. While some children may be able to work on homework projects during this time, some adults are wondering about working from home until the cases die down. Already 60% of workers said that they would consider leaving their current positions for full-time remote options with the same pay rate. Provided work could be completed from home, in some cities this could become a temporary norm to help prevent workplace contamination. While this depends on the type of job, working from home could be effective for mitigating the spread of illness, especially if cases continue to grow in the United States.

Preventing The Spread Of CORVID-19

As with any outbreak, the main thing is to stay calm and focus on maintaining good hygiene practices. Frequent hand washing, not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with dirty hands, and covering your mouth when sneezing and coughing all go a long way towards keeping yourself and others healthy.

Make sure to wash your hands when you come home from a public place and remove your shoes at the door, as they can track in germs. You may also consider cleaning clothes with hot water and a disinfectant if possible. Steps like this are also good for combating the common cold and seasonal flu.

Steps like this are the first and best defense against contracting any illness and they can help mitigate your chances of contracting this any other virus.

What Should You Do if You Think You’ve Been Infected?

If you believe you have been exposed to or have contracted CORVID-19, the CDC recommends isolating at home unless you need to get medical care. Avoid any outside activities and don’t use public transit, ride-sharing, or taxis to get around. When at home it is advised to stay away from other household members and use a separate bathroom if possible. All surfaces that are frequently touched should be wiped down every day with antibacterial wipes. You should also stay away from pets, taking care to wash your hands and wear a mask when you need to care for them.

If you do need medical attention, call ahead to your doctor or the facility you’ll be going to. This will help them to prepare the office in case you do have the virus, and prevent others from being exposed.

The Future Of The Outbreak

While 11 states have confirmed cases of CORVID-19 it is still uncertain how widespread this virus will become in the United States. While there are definite concerns, particularly for at-risk and elderly citizens, it is important to note that most infected parties only experience mild symptoms. That said, caution should still be taken to ensure you don’t increase your risk for infection or transmission. Handwashing and cleaning are important to prevent infection while staying away from public areas if you are sick is essential.

At the end of the day we can all do out part to help prevent the spread of illness and mitigate the risk of contracting a virus such as CORVID-19. The key is to stay aware and stay calm until the spread has been thoroughly contained.