5 important things to know as coronavirus is declared a pandemic
Fears surrounding coronavirus continue to grow as it spreads across the country, but many questions and unknowns remain.
More than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 and 32 deaths have been reported in the United States as of March 11, McClatchy News reports.
The World Health Organization on Wednesday characterized the outbreak as a pandemic.
Here are five important things to know about the virus.
Wash your hands (a lot)
Coronavirus spreads mostly through the “respiratory droplets” produced when someone coughs, sneezes, talks or blows their nose, health officials say, but it may be possible to catch it by touching an infected surface or object, then touching your face.
So it’s important to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating and after using the bathroom, coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
Although it’s easier said than done, you should avoid touching your face.
It’s also important to stay home if you’re not feeling well, avoid sick people and regularly clean and disinfect the surfaces you touch a lot.
But don’t wear a face mask unless you have COVID-19 or another virus.
Stop panic buying toilet paper
No, you don’t need to run to the store and buy all the cleaning products and toilet paper you can find, but it’s probably a good idea to have a few essentials on hand.
Health officials have emphasized the importance of washing your hands and cleaning regularly, so you might want to stock up on the supplies necessary to do that.
It’s also a good idea to have “food staples,” extra prescription and over-the-counter medications and household supplies such as toilet paper ready in case there’s an outbreak in your community and you need to stay home for a “prolonged period of time,” McClatchy News previously reported.
But it may be difficult to get the supplies needed, as a buying frenzy has left some store shelves empty.
Know the symptoms
The flu, the common cold and even seasonal allergies can have similar symptoms to coronavirus — but there are some key differences.
A dry cough and a fever are coronavirus symptoms to watch for the most, The News & Observer reports. Some patients may also have fatigue, aches, a sore throat or shortness of breath.
The flu has similar signs but the key difference is shortness of breath, which shouldn’t accompany the flu.
If you have a cold, you’ll probably have aches and a sore throat, but it’s rare to have a fever and you should never be short of breath. A sore throat and cough sometimes come with seasonal allergies. But if you have a fever or aches, it’s probably something else.
If you think you might have coronavirus, call your doctor before going in to discuss the next steps.
Know your risk
Most people infected with coronavirus have mild symptoms, McClatchy News reports, but older adults and people with some medical conditions are at a higher risk of getting “very sick.”
Conditions that may put you at a higher risk include diabetes and heart and lung disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines this week on what precautions those at a higher risk should take. They include staying home as much as possible and stocking up on medicines and other supplies.
Additionally, health experts are urging nursing homes, which are especially vulnerable, to limit visitors.
How this all started
Coronavirus originated in the Wuhan region of China, where the first cases were reported in December.
The virus likely passed from animal to human, McClatchy News reports, and health officials believe the spread may have started at a live animal market in Wuhan.
It has since infected more than 121,000 people worldwide, with more than 4,300 deaths reported as of March 11.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 1:11 PM.
