What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus

So the whole family of coronaviruses is named coronavirus because corona means a crown, and so this refers to the way that the virus looks under the microscope like there’s a crown on the top of the virus. Some of them, four or five different kinds, cause common diseases among humans, everything from the common cold to mild or moderate respiratory illnesses. Other kinds of coronaviruses affect animals, and sometimes, on rare occasions we see coronaviruses jump from animal species into the human population.

Why is this on getting so much attention?

The 2019 novel coronavirus is getting a lot of attention now because it is a new kind of coronavirus we haven’t seen among humans before. The theory is that it may have jumped from an animal species into the human population, and the begun spreading. We have seen some people that have died of this disease, and we know that there are already thousands of cases. So people are concerned because we don’t yet know exactly how severe the disease will be or how far it will spread.

How does this virus spread?

When a new virus emerges, we often have to learn much more about it, and one of the things that we question is how it does transmit from person to person? We know that most respiratory viruses are spread by large droplets that come out when people cough and sneeze, and stay aloft usually for about six feet in front of them. They land on surfaces, and then can also be transmitted between person to person by touching those surfaces, such as doorknobs or other surfaces. Other viruses can spread in the air and stay aloft for a longer [period of time in small droplet nuclei. For this current 2019 coronavirus, we’re not yet sure whether it is droplet or airborne transmission, so we’re erring on the side of caution and taking protection as if it was spread by the airborne route.

Is the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Dangerous? Should I worry about my family and me?

We are still learning a lot about this 2019 novel coronavirus, to understand how dangerous it might be. Right now, the majority of the case is in china. We know that some travelers have brought the virus to other countries including the United States. I things one of the main things to keep in mind is that this is respiratory virus season, and we have other respiratory viruses like influenza that we need to take precautions because we know we have thousands of deaths in this country every year from influenza.

Is it safe to travel while this coronavirus disease (COVID-18) is spreading?

Given the ongoing transmission of the virus in China, we have a travel alert was issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So at this time, until we know more, avoid non-essential to travel.

How can I avoid getting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?

The best way to protect yourself from 2013-Novel Coronavirus is to avoid being exposed to the virus additionally, there are preventative actions that you can take to protect yourself and your family from the spread of respiratory viruses that can make you sick.

These include: Stay home if you are sick, cover your cough and wash your hands.