Coronavirus COVID-19 has been on the minds of people around the world for the past few months, and for good reason. While COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, it has quickly spread throughout Asia toward the Middle East and into parts of Europe. Now, with over 600 cases confirmed in the United States, and 26 deaths nationwide, we should be more vigilant than ever in case of lasting effects on community health and the economy.
We have seen a lot of misinformation about coronavirus disease COVID-19 floating around the internet as panic sets in, but we’re here to offer some hopefully comforting advice to surviving this potential pandemic. While we can’t say these methods will certainly prevent you from contracting the disease, following these steps may assist in keeping you healthy and safe. But first, a few straightforward facts from the World Health Organization:
What is coronavirus COVID-19?
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a coronavirus strain spread across the globe. Coronavirus can bring about a range of illnesses in animals and humans, primarily causing respiratory infections like the common cold, but also more serious cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
What are the symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19?
Symptoms take anywhere from 2 – 14 days to manifest. A mild fever, fatigue, and a dry cough are the first symptoms to occur, and are sometimes followed by aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and/or diarrhea. As these symptoms gradually increase, those infected with COVID-19 may have trouble breathing and need to be hospitalized. Older individuals are at a higher risk if they have underlying medical issues like high blood pressure, heart problems, or diabetes. Right now, about 1 in every 6 people infected with COVID-19 reach this level of serious illness. Around 80-percent of the infected recover without special treatment.
How can you contract coronavirus COVID-19?
If you have been in contact with someone who has the coronavirus, you are at risk for contracting the disease. COVID-19 is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth, when someone coughs, sneezes, or even exhales, for example, and nearby healthy people breathe in those particles. These droplets will naturally land on surrounding objects and surfaces, so if you touch these and then touch your mouth, eyes, or nose, you can contract the virus. If you know of someone who is sick with COVID-19, make sure to stay at least 3 feet away from them, or farther, if possible. COVID-19 is not currently airborne, but this may change as the disease spreads worldwide.
Listen, guys, we know this is starting to get a little scary. We don’t want to tell you the reaction you’re supposed to have to the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, because everyone will deal with this differently, especially if you have any kind of anxiety disorder. What we will say is that you should continue to stay informed by trusted news sources and avoid reading articles that don’t seem legitimate. It might be hard to tell, so we recommend sticking to the World Health Organization, which is working around the clock to ensure all information is as up-to-date as possible. On a final note: the coronavirus COVID-19 does not give you or anyone a reason to be xenophobic or racist when in contact with other human beings. We are all in this together.
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