March 19, 2020 | Coronaviruses are a group of common viruses named for the crown-like spikes on the surface of the virus. Some coronaviruses only affect animals while others can also affect humans. Most people are infected with human coronaviruses at some time in their life. They usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory infections, like the common cold, but they can also cause more severe illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia. COVID-19, which is short for coronavirus disease 2019, was first reported in Wuhan City in the Hubei Province of China in early December 2019. Since then, it has quickly spread within China and to other locations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America, including people in the United States. COVID-19 is thought to spread to people within six feet or closer. When someone with the illness coughs or sneezes, infected droplets spray into the air. You can catch the illness if you breathe in or touch these particles.

March 19, 2020 | COVID-19, the coronavirus currently dominating today’s headlines, has caused a great deal of confusion in this country, particularly concerning travel. As far as air travel, it depends on why you are traveling and more importantly, your health. It is important to know where your airplane has been and where it will be going. Some airlines are cleaning their planes six to seven hours every night, equipping planes with high efficiency particulate matter filters and using hospital-grade disinfectant throughout the aircraft. Check to see if your airline has changed or added new cleaning activities. When traveling, avoid close contact with people who are sick. And if a layover involves a high-risk environment, it’s best to not leave the airport. If you have underlying medical problems, a chronic disease, were recently hospitalized, or have undergone surgery, you should not travel. If you becomes sick while traveling, inform the crew and seek medical care early.

March 19, 2020 | One of the best ways to protect yourself from the coronavirus labeled COVID-19 is simply washing your hands. Regular and thorough hand washings with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or just good old soap and water is one of the best ways to avoid illness. Washing hands with soap and water kills viruses that may be on your hands. Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 to 90 percent alcohol to ensure the germs are being killed rather than just reducing the growth on hands. For people who do not scrub their hands on a regular basis, 20 seconds will feel like a very long time. To help you perform good hand washing, try singing “Happy Birthday” twice. Or find a personal favorite that you can sing while washing. Before finishing, scrub your fingers on the palms of each hand. This will get soap under year fingernails. And be sure to wash your hands before you go to bed. Most people are likely to touch their faces in their sleep, including their mouth and eyes.

March 19, 2020 | Because there is no vaccine as of yet to prevent coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, the best way to protect yourself against the virus is avoid exposure to it. This includes avoiding contact with people who are sick and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Social distancing is a term you may have heard lately. This means maintaining a distance of at least three feet between yourself and someone who is coughing or sneezing. If you are sick, stay home and clean and disinfect any objects, like a phone, or surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. And wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds every time you eat, go to the bathroom or blow your nose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t recommend wearing a facemask to protect yourself from respiratory illnesses like COVID-19. Facemasks should only be worn by those displaying the symptoms of the virus to prevent its spread or by workers in a hospital or clinic.

March 19, 2020 | Much of the public’s fear associated with the coronavirus COVID-19 is due to lack of knowledge about the disease, which has only been in existence for about three months. It is absolutely normal to feel stressed, confused, anxious, scared or even angry during a crisis. Talking to people you trust can help. It is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including proper diet, sleep and exercise. If you’re totally overwhelmed, talk to a health care provider or counselor. Gather reliable information that will help you to determine your risks so you can take reasonable precautions. Continue to follow accurate public health advice, particularly from local health authorities. Avoid rumors by checking the source from which you are getting your information and do not spread rumors. Respond to any questions your children may have in a loving, supportive way. And whatever you do, be careful, alert and kind to others. Remember, we’re all in this together.