DEFINITION AND BACKGROUND

The outbreak of this respiratory disease has been spreading rapidly around the globe, including Indiana. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the illness it causes, has been called “coronavirus disease 2019” (COVID-19). In January 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”. 

PROPAGATION

The first cases reported were of people who had some contact with live animal markets in Wuhan, China, implying an animal-to-person spread. Other incidents reported later didn’t have exposure to animal markets, indicating a person-to-person transmission. Afterward, cases of person-to-person spread have been reported in many other countries, including in the United States. 

WHAT TO DO?

EASY TO FOLLOW RULES

-Avoid getting in contact with people who may be sick.
-Restrain from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth if you haven’t just washed your hands.
-Stay home when you are sick, even if you suspect it is not a case of COVID-19.
-Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and trash it immediately after.
-Disinfect touched objects and surfaces by using a household cleaning product.
-Utilize a mask if you have symptoms or suspect of being contaminated with COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the virus.
-For the healthy population is not recommended the use of masks as an attempt to protect themselves from the virus.
Wash your hands often and properly.

THE BEST APPROACH

The best thing anyone could do is to remain calm, stay informed, practice proper hygiene, and use precaution. The web is flooded with “yellow journalism “. Avoid trying to gather information from illegitimate sources. Whenever you read a headline that catches your attention, verify the information at CDC.gov

PEOPLE AT HIGHER RISK

Elders and individuals with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for a more severe COVID-19 illness. Some data indicates that older people are twice as likely to suffer serious COVID-19 illness.
The reasons could be:
-The immune system changes as people age, making it more challenging to fight newer diseases.
-A good number of elders also have underlying health conditions, making it tougher to deal with the virus and recover from the illness.

If a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your area, it could last for a long time. Depending on the intensity of the epidemic, public health officials may recommend community actions to reduce the propagation of the virus. 

If you belong to a population with a higher risk, you must take action to reduce the chance of exposure.