Coronavirus is not a hoax. It is a public health crisis. We will prevent it from being a public health emergency only to the extent public health and government officials share accurate facts and craft a coordinated response thereto. Here's what you should do / know for now:
1/ Wash your hands with soap & water regularly. The virus is transmitted by air (coughing, spittle, etc) and can live on surfaces. If you touch something that someone may have coughed on, wash up!
2/ Federal and local public health officials are working hard to get accurate information out. Here's the CDC site to stay current. Also keep in touch with your city / county public health offices. cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
3/ If you have any questions or concerns, the CDC is also maintaining a 24 hour help line: 1-800-CDC-INFO
4/ Now some facts about the virus:
5/ The good news/bad news about the virus is that it is significantly less fatal than other recent threats (SARS, Ebola) Only ~20% of the people who contract COVID-19 develop severe symptoms For the balance, this feels like a bad cold (fever, cough, etc)
6/ That's good news because it means that if you test positive, you'll probably recover. It's bad news because it's harder to contain than more lethal diseases that more naturally flame out as they lose a base of infected people who are still healthy enough to infect others.
7/ To be clear, this is based on the disease as it is currently manifesting in the population. It is possible for diseases like this to mutate and evolve into more lethal strains, and global public health officials are watching this closely.
8/ The coronavirus is a "zoonotic" virus, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. The evidence suggests it came to humans from pangolins (an endangered animal used in China for food & medicine) but may have migrated to pangolins from bats.
9/ This is relevant only as we think about how to localize and contain the virus itself and any pockets in non-human species that could reinfect us. But a good reason for those who don't already have one not to eat or traffic endangered species from foreign game markets.
10/ Since the virus tends to be transmitted from coughs / phlegm, it is helpful for folks who are infected to wear face masks and catch the phlegm at the source. But masks are less effective at protecting healthy people. (Again, washing hands is #1!)
11/ If you do want the added protection of a mask that's fine, but taking off your mask to eat, rubbing your mouth under the mask while you wear one, etc. defeats the purpose. Have I mentioned to keep your hands & surfaces clean?
12/ So what to do if you feel sick? Go to your doctor, get tested for COVID-19. Take comfort in the fact that all but one of the confirmed US cases were caught by local public health officials (vs ramped up border screening). That's where the expertise is.
13/ Some people have had multiple tests and recieved positive and negative results. The tests that exist (provided they have been through proper QA/QC testing) are more likely to generate false negatives than false positives. Take appropriate precautions.
13/ While there is an international effort underway to develop a vaccine, the (necessary) protocols we use to test such vaccines means that any safe, effective and widely available vaccine is 1 - 2 years away. Be wary of anyone who suggests otherwise.
14/ The CDC, NIH and FDA are working with drug manufacturers and medical equipment providers to ensure there are no supply chain disruptions or shortfalls. If you are a health provider, make sure to keep in touch with them as you plan for your operations.
15/ If you are immuno-compromised for any reason and you have the ability to do so, it's not a bad idea to secure more of your prescription meds than usual so that if you need to self-quarantine from COVID-19 you have all the other protection you need.
16/ Finally, there have been some initial rumors of price gouging by companies in the health supply chain. To any of you who might have the opportunity to do so: don't. Putting public health at risk for for the sake of short-term profit is evil.
17/ And if anyone has evidence of such price-gouging, please contact our office: casten.house.gov/contact
18/ To review:
a) Not a hoax
b) This is a dangerous time to spread false information. Don't.
c) Wash your hands regularly with soap & water.
d) Remain vigilant, and keep in touch with public health authorities if you have any concerns.
/fin
a) Not a hoax
b) This is a dangerous time to spread false information. Don't.
c) Wash your hands regularly with soap & water.
d) Remain vigilant, and keep in touch with public health authorities if you have any concerns.
/fin
