Category: Corona Virus

"We have the same number of cases that Italy had two weeks ago. We have a choice to make," US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said. "Do we want to really lean into social distancing and mitigation strategies and flatten the curve or do we just want to keep going on with business as usual and end up being Italy?"

This week has already brought a sharp increase in both US cases and deaths.

On Sunday evening, there were 3,349 cases of coronavirus in the US. That number jumped by more than 1,000 in about 24 hours. The number of deaths climbed by more than 20 in that time frame.

Throughout the day on Monday, orders for an altered American reality poured in as cases across the US reached 4,466 and 87 people had died.

Closed restaurants, bars, theaters, gyms

"You have to think of this in a wartime world view," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday. "You have to think of this as something where you're going to see a massive mobilization to save lives, to help people through their suffering with this disease."

Residents across the country received similar guidance.

Public health officials in Colorado ordered restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters and casinos to close their doors for 30 days. Facilities will still be allowed to sell food and beverages through options like drive-through and delivery services.

"Based on the experience of other countries, the state of Washington, and modeling data, the sooner we begin social distancing measures on a large enough scale, the more quickly we can slow transmission of the virus," Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Executive Director Jill Hunsaker Ryan said.

Similar orders were issued in states including Maryland, Kentucky, Louisiana and Indiana.

Meanwhile, states such as New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan and Wisconsin put a ban this week on gatherings of 50 people or more.

In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed issued "shelter in place" guidance, requiring the city's residents to stay inside and leave only for essential needs -- things like grocery shopping, and going to the police, bank, gas stations and pharmacies.

"We know these measures will significantly disrupt people's day to day lives, but they are absolutely necessary," the mayor said in a Monday statement. "This is going to be a defining moment for our city and we all have a responsibility to do our part to protect our neighbors and slow the spread of this virus by staying at home unless it is absolutely essential to go outside."

'No more than 10 people,' government says

The orders came the same day the federal government released a new set of guidelines for the next 15 days to fight the spread of the virus. One part of those guidelines: steering clear of groups with more than 10 people.

As President Donald Trump announced the recommendations from the White House, the Dow saw its worst point drop in history. Trump said the country "may" be headed toward a recession but said he was instead focused on fighting off the coronavirus.

The guidelines also urged Americans to avoid eating and drinking at bars and restaurants and to instead opt for drive-through, pickup or delivery options.

"We'd much rather be ahead of the curve than behind it, and that's what we are," Trump said Monday evening.

The guidelines came largely after governors across the country signed new orders and directives in response to the virus -- and called on the federal government to step up its efforts.

"Every state doing their own thing, different cities doing their own thing, it's confusing, it's chaos," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday night. "The federal government should come up, step in, and say this is what we're going to do. This is what we do in schools, this is what we do in businesses, here are the rules and then the states can adjust the rules to their particular circumstances."

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan told CNN Monday that while state senators are on the "front lines" of the response to the virus, a clear set of guidelines from the federal government would be helpful.

"We're all taking actions that we believe are necessary in our state," he said.

'We are woefully short' on medical equipment

Shortly after New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced bans on mass public gatherings, the governors of the three states said in a conference call they were also worried about shortages of medical equipment.

"We need hospital beds over the next couple of weeks," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said. "We are woefully short as a region, as a country, in terms of being able to take care of folks -- especially if this surge comes in the way we expect it."

"We are badly outgunned in that front and that's where we do need the (federal government) to help step up," he said.

One Georgia hospital ripped through months' worth of supplies while tending to coronavirus patients, its president told CNN.

Scott Steiner, president and CEO of Phoebe Putney Health Systems, told CNN that despite being well-prepared in terms of protective gear -- with six months' worth of inventory stockpiled -- the system has gone through five months five months' worth of that inventory in six days.

But Department of Health and Human Services officials said in a call with medical professionals Monday there isn't enough stockpiled medical equipment like masks, gowns and gloves in the national stockpile to fill in the gaps that states and local communities may see, a source on the call told CNN.

HHS officials said the government didn't yet have a solution for possible shortfalls but was working on one.

"We have been transparent that more supplies are needed -- hence the request to Congress for additional funding so we could procure more and scale up production," an HHS spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. "The role at the Federal level is to appropriately implement regulatory relief, provide alternative sources and support manufacturing, and adjust allocation to appropriately target areas in need."

How long will it last?

In the government news conference Monday, Trump said the country's new normal may last until July or August.

Guidance from health officials gives some insight on how long the outbreaks may substantially affect the country.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sunday recommended no gatherings with 50 people or more take place for the next eight weeks.

Meanwhile, a novel coronavirus vaccine trial in the US gave a dose to its first participant, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said Monday.

The study aims to enroll a total of 45 healthy adults over a six-week time frame. Each participant will receive two injections about a month apart in varying doses.

It's meant to establish that the vaccine is safe and induces a desired response from participants' immune systems. Proving that the vaccine is effective in preventing infection from the coronavirus, however, will require follow-up studies involving many more participants, which will take many more months, experts say.

CNN's Kristen Holmes, Rob Frehse, Michael Nedelman, Ben Tinker and Angela Barajas contributed to this report.

Read the original here:

Sweeping restrictions take effect in coronavirus response as health officials warn US is at a tipping point - CNN

But in early March, after about two months of aggressive containment measures, things started to change. The number of cases started decreasing; Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, paid a visit to Wuhan, the city at the epicenter of the outbreak; and life has started to slowly return to normal.

Yaneer Bar-Yam, a physicist and the founding president of the New England Complex Systems Institute, a research institution that studies systems and networks, based his assessment partially off Chinas response. It will take a month and a half, plus a logarithmic correction, once we start doing whats needed, he said.

But most experts, Dr. Bar-Yam included, do not consider the United States to have started the appropriate clock. Although cities are shutting down school systems and restaurants, social distancing is still a recommendation, rather than an enforced policy, as it is in Italy.

Its like a wrecking ball thats going to hit the building, but it hasnt hit yet, Dr. Bar-Yam said. Every day that we dont do something, its getting worse, and by a lot.

There is also a question as to how the coronavirus will behave in the long term. It might be seasonal, abating with warmer weather.

It might act like the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne illness that causes birth defects. For much of 2016, it devastated communities in South America and Southeast Asia. But for the past three years, there have been few cases.

It might act like the 2009 swine flu pandemic, which infected millions and caused more than 10,000 deaths. But now that virus is just part of our annual flu cycle, according to Andrew Pekosz, a professor of microbiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Go here to read the rest:

How Long Will the Coronavirus Outbreak and Shutdown Last? - The New York Times

When news of the coronavirus broke at the end of last year, and as the stories from the outbreak became more alarming over time, I found myself wondering how health anxiety sufferers were coping.

You see, I used to be one. In late 2015, I suffered a post-traumatic stress disorder relapse which led to debilitating anxiety, much of which was health-related. During that period, I was paralyzed by the thought of becoming ill and dying. I was constantly checking for symptoms and signs of disease online and I was fixated on the health of my loved ones.

After treatment, including trauma-focused CBT, I almost completely recovered. But I remember vividly how it felt to be in an all-consuming state of panic. For many months, it ruled my entire existence. Approximately 40 million American adults roughly 18% of the population have an anxiety disorder, while in the UK there were 8.2 million cases of anxiety in 2013. There are few statistics about health anxiety, but it can affect those who have an existing anxiety disorder or those who have experienced a life event such as bereavement, birth trauma or an accident. In times like these, where a global pandemic is taking up most of the media conversation, it can be even more difficult to stay calm.

Here is some advice that may give some comfort to those of you who are struggling.

We all want to keep up to date, but when you have health anxiety the need to check and read the latest updates can become compulsive, feeding the anxiety. Try having a news detox, or allocating yourself a time limit for reading or watching news. If youre really worried about missing something crucial, you can always tell friends and family to contact you in the event of an emergency situation in order to keep you informed.

Seeking reassurance can make you feel calmer for a little while, but in my experience, it is always temporary. Your brain creates a feedback cycle where you become increasingly reliant on reassurance, which only serves to reinforce the anxiety. Its natural to want your loved ones to tell you things will be OK, but when you start needing that reassurance several times a day its time to take a step back.

Dr Google is not, and never will be, your friend, especially not when you are a sufferer of health anxiety. Nor will message-boards and forums. Try to remember that people visit these places when they have reason to be concerned. Once you start understanding its a skewed lens, youll be better able to put things in perspective

This is a CBT exercise which involves giving a persistent thought the courtroom treatment, by confronting it with a rational counter-statement. For example, if your persistent thought is something like Everyone I love will die from this virus you can counter it with factual statements such as Actually, most people who get Covid-19 are likely to make a full recovery, and thats assuming mum, dad and my little sister will even catch it at all. As my mother always says: Just because you think something, doesnt make it true.

Even if its just star jumps in your bedroom, or shaking your body parts like youre in the warm-up section of a hippie acting class, exercise will help get the adrenaline out of your system and channel the panic elsewhere.

From guided yogic breathing to using a strong smell (I favored lavender oil), grounding exercises can help bring you back to reality. I also found bending over to touch my toes and then very slowly standing up starting at the base of my spine to be beneficial, as it centers me. You can look for examples online, but sometimes, something as simple as sitting on the floor can help.

Give yourself half an hour to worry about this to your hearts content, and then you have to go and do something else.

Anything that will give you a little boost can help. It doesnt need to involve spending money: you can also cook yourself something nice, have a hot bath, or listen to a song you love.

When you are in it, anxiety always feels as though it will never end, but it will. Its hard to remember this, but do try. I genuinely thought that I would never recover, and now even though we are in a public health crisis, I feel calm and have things in perspective. Its a worrying time, and many of us, myself included, will have loved ones who might be showing symptoms, but the tendency to jump to the worst-case scenario very rarely reflects reality. Be kind to yourself. It may be a bit cheesy, but this too shall pass.

Read this article:

If coronavirus scares you, read this to take control over your health anxiety - The Guardian

Six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area about 6.7 million people are under a shelter in place order to try to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The order will go into effect at 12:01AM PT on Tuesday, March 17th, and it will include San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Marin, Contra Costa, and Alameda counties, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The order, which will affect most businesses in the Bay Area, will stay in effect through April 7th.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed tweeted that the directive will require people to stay home except for essential needs and that necessary government functions & essential stores will remain open.

The order bans nonessential gatherings of any size as well as nonessential travel on foot, bicycle, scooter, automobile or public transit, the Chronicle reports.

Travel for medical care, to shop for necessary supplies, and to help family and friends who need assistance will be allowed. Airports, public transit, and taxis will continue to operate for essential travel. People are encouraged to practice social distancing and keep six feet apart from others when possible. Delivery services that bring food, goods or services directly to residences can continue to operate as well.

We are in a rough place, and we are going to have difficult times ahead of us, San Mateo County Health Officer Scott Morrow told the Mercury News. The measures were putting in place are temporary, but they will last longer than any of us want. This is the time to unite as a community, come to each others aid and dig really deep to find your best inner self and pull out all the compassion, gratitude and kindness you can.

This is the biggest metro area in the US to implement such a lockdown in response to the outbreak. As of Monday morning, California had 335 confirmed cases of the virus, with 114 in the Bay Area and 37 in in San Francisco proper. In-person classes at Stanford University were canceled beginning March 9th after a faculty member tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

On March 11th, Breed ordered all gatherings of more than 1,000 people banned in the city for two weeks, but a few days later, the order was revised to ban gatherings of just 100 people or more. Nearby counties, like San Mateo, also recently began implementing social gathering bans of 50 or more people, which is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends.

Update March 16th, 5PM ET: Adds information that food delivery can continue and comment from San Mateo Health officer.

More:

San Francisco and Bay Area will shelter in place to slow coronavirus spread - The Verge

Coronavirus is spreading faster in London than any other part of the country. What do we know about the spread, why it is faster, and what is the governments advice?

According to the Public Health England website, London has recorded 407 cases, almost half the total number of cases in England, 1,099, and dwarfing the figures in large cities such as Manchester, which has nine cases, and Birmingham, which has eight.

In his first daily press conference on the crisis, the prime minister said the capital was racing up the epidemiological curve and that everyone in London needed to start working from home, avoid pubs and restaurants, and keep physical distance from each other.

It is now clear that the peak of the epidemic is coming faster in some parts of the country than in others. It looks as though London is now a few weeks ahead, said Johnson.

So to relieve the pressure on the London health system and to slow the spread in London, it is important that Londoners now pay special attention to what we are saying about avoiding non-essential contact and to take particularly seriously the advice about working from home and avoiding confined spaces such as pubs and restaurants.

The highest number of cases have been recorded in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which has seen 43 cases, while Hackney/City of London has seen 20, and Tower Hamlets, home to Canary Wharf but also to one of the most deprived communities in Britain, has recorded just nine.

From tomorrow, expect the streets to be deserted. Many offices have already introduced an element of remote working, and although the governments announcement is not legally binding, it will carry a lot of weight with responsible employers.

Yes and no. The concentration of cases in Italy, which has seen the most reported cases in Europe, remains in the north of the country. In the US, Washington has the highest number of cases, followed closely by New York. In Japan the only cluster with more than 50 cases is in Osaka, where infections spread from events in a live music venue. A map released by the ministry of health on Monday showed that one of the biggest clusters in Tokyo (10 to 49 people) followed a New Years Eve party.

No. Some have suggested that frequent flying of people in a richer borough in London or recent ski holidays to Italy may have increased the incidence in Kensington and Chelsea, but this is speculation.

The UK has stopped testing people who do not need hospitalisation. This has been very controversial as it prevents the behaviour mapping that we have seen in Japan.

Anthony Costello, a UK paediatrician and former director of the World Health Organization (WHO), has criticised this approach and said he had personally written to the chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, asking for testing to continue in the community.

You test the population like crazy, find out where the cases are, immediately quarantine them and do contact tracing and get them out of the community. This deals with family clusters. Thats the key bedrock of getting this under control, Costello told the Guardian.

The rest is here:

Coronavirus spreading fastest in UK in London - The Guardian

Everyone is just trying to get by day to day at the moment, said Krista Schwarz, an assistant professor of finance at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton business school. Right now is not the time to grow the company its the time to stay solvent.

Investors who buy company bonds are asking for higher interest rates as compensation for the additional risk, which could put more stress on companies with already strained finances. For instance, companies are struggling to issue commercial paper a popular form of short-term promissory note typically used to cover payroll, rent and other immediate payments because the few skittish investors who arent steering entirely clear are demanding the highest premium in more than a decade.

Whats more, the debt that is already circulating in the financial markets, including corporate bonds and packages of corporate loans, is looking less safe for investors to hold. Some big money managers like pension funds are obligated to keep risky products off their books but many are big buyers of company bonds, which in better times were considered safe and prudent investments. But with the changing environment, the credit ratings on such bonds are going down.

On Monday, S&P Global Ratings downgraded Exxon Mobil, the biggest American oil company, to AA from AA+ citing lower oil and natural gas prices, weak demand for chemicals and low refining margins. A downgrade could make it harder for Exxon to borrow.

But its the smaller companies which underpin the American economy and tend to lean more heavily on debt that could be especially hurt by a run on credit.

On Monday morning, after Ohios governor had shuttered schools, restaurants and bars across the state, Mr. Albrecht, the hotel owner, met with his 125 employees and vowed to keep them as busy as possible, even if traffic dwindles.

Everythings going to be O.K., he said. Were just going to have to ride it out.

Jeanna Smialek contributed reporting from Washington, Michael de la Merced from London and Clifford Krauss from Houston.

Visit link:

Businesses Face a New Coronavirus Threat: Shrinking Access to Credit - The New York Times

My husband, a far bigger information sponge than I am, is more measured. He knows when to stop reading headlines, go make dinner, and fix himself a drink. (Actually, on the cocktail front, were pretty similarly aligned. So thats good.) Hes not wearing his stress. Hes a thermos bottle you cant discern the temperature of the contents inside whereas Im more of a mood ring.

This dynamic is a familiar one in our relationship. When Donald Trump was elected, my husband and I had a running argument.

Me: You are underreacting.

Him: No, Im not. You are overreacting.

So now, here we are again, with each of us assuming our familiar positions on the tennis court. I asked Perel what she made of it. Her reply was one of the wisest Im sure to hear in this time of upheaval.

If you polarize and you think that theres only one way to do things, she said, its fake certainty. The whole point is that youre discovering it along the way.

Which means that when couples clash over strategies and coping styles, its important to remember that both parties within reason, of course are right. Or potentially right. Each person deserves a hearing. Theres really no way to know.

This one drop of insight, to me, was everything akin to the moment in high school chemistry class when youre titrating a solution and the stuff in the beaker goes from pink to clear.

In most times of crisis, we can turn to others for succor and comfort. In this particular crisis, were strongly encouraged if not forced to self-isolate. That puts an enormous burden on our partners. Even under the best of circumstances, we can tire them out with a familiar soundtrack of stories, observations, and anxieties.

Read the original here:

Welcome to Marriage During the Coronavirus - The New York Times

As coronavirus continues to spread across the country and the globe, here is some important informationyou should know about the potentially deadly disease, and what you can do to mitigate its impact.

Coronavirus: The basics

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses named after their appearance, a crown, said Dr. Mark Rupp, an infectious disease expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

How dangerous is coronavirus?

Most coronaviruses cause mild symptomsthat patients easily recover from.

What is COVID-19 and how is it different from other coronaviruses?

COVID-19 is not the same as other coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold. Some cause illness in people, and others, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, only infect animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses that infect animals have emerged to infect people and can spread between people, which is suspected to have occurred for the virus that causes COVID-19.

MERS and SARS are two other examples of coronaviruses that originated from animals and then spread to people.

When did the outbreak start?

The World Health Organization's China office says it began receiving reports in late December of a mysterious virus behind a number of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in eastern China with a population of roughly 11 million people.

How does coronavirus compare to other outbreaks?

SARS and MERS came from animals, and this newest virus almost certainly did, too.

Is coronavirus Disease X?

The novel coronavirus has led one expert to say that it fits the criteria for Disease X,a designated placeholder on theWorld Health Organizations (WHO)list of illnesses that have potential to reach international epidemic levels.

Is coronavirus here to stay?

Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of theCDC, said the virus is probably with us beyond this season, beyond this year.

(Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

Coronavirus: Symptoms and transmission

What are the symptoms?

Many symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza overlap, here's how to spot the differences.

How is coronavirus transmitted?

According to the CDC, coronaviruses are common in camels, cattle, catsand bats. Person-to-person transmissions are thought to occur when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread.

How often are people hospitalized for it?

The risk of contracting coronavirus remains low for most Americans, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said.

What if someone on my plane is sick?

No one likes to be seated near a sick passenger and thats especially true duringapandemic.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Coronavirus: Protecting yourself and others

How can you protect against getting it?

You can protect yourself from coronaviruses by following basic wellness practices.

How do I sanitize surfaces?

Keeping your home and surfaces clean using the correct disinfectants is crucial in preventing its spread.

How long can it survive on surfaces?

The novel coronavirus may be able to live on surfaces, namely metal, glass or plastic,for up to nine days if it resembles some of its other human coronavirus-causing cousins, that is.

Am Iwashing myhands correctly?

There are a few general rules to follow when it comes to washing your hands thoroughly, including for how long you should keep them under runningwater.

How do I make my own hand sanitizer?

If soap and water arent available, hand sanitizer is the next best option namely if it contains at least 60 percent alcohol, the CDCsays.

Do face masks help?

Surgical masks will not prevent your acquiring diseases, said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, and the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

How to stop touching your face

Keeping your hands off your face is easier said than done: One study found that people touch their faces some23 times an hour on average.

Can you get it through packages?

Surgeon GeneralJerome Adams said, There is no evidence right now that the coronavirus can be spread through mail.

How do you travel during the outbreak?

As the coronavirus risk grows globally, being smart about planning travel will help you stay safe.

(AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Coronavirus: Who is at risk?

Who is most at risk?

Young people, senior citizensand those with immune deficiencies could have an acute reaction if exposed to the virus.

Is it a threat to children?

One pediatrician said childrens'frequent exposure toseasonal illnesses couldactually be protecting them from COVID-19.

Does it affect pregnant women?

The CDC said that while risk to the American public remains low at this time, pregnant women should continue to engage in usual preventative actions to avoid infection, such as washing hands often and avoiding contact with people who are sick.

Coronavirus: Treatment and care

How do you test for it?

Before being tested for thedeadly virus, patients must first answer a series of questions.

How do you treat it?

Fox News received an in-depth look at the new disease fromDr. Debra Chew, a former epidemic intelligence officer for the CDC and an assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Is there a cure?

Health agencies recommend patients receive supportive care to relieve coronavirus symptoms.

How do you care for a relative who has it?

Even if the patient does test positive, it can be considered safe to continue supporting them with some extra precautions.

What happens after you recover from it?

A negative test doesn't always mean the patient is free of the virus

Tips on how to talk to your kids about coronavirus

Its important to remember that children take cues from the adults that surround them, so how you address the virus at home may reflect in their behavior.

Coronavirus: Coping with isolation and social distancing

How do I avoid going stir crazy at home?

With the outbreak of the novelcoronavirus(COVID-19), many people have been forced to work from homeand are choosing to keep their social interactions to a minimum.Here are some tips on how to stay sane in the time of coronavirus.

How do I get food delivered?

As more and more people across the U.S. arepreparing to stay infor the time being, some may be asking if it's safe to get fooddeliveredto their house.

Coronavirus: What to know about the mysterious illness

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses named after their appearance, a crown, said Dr. Mark Rupp, an infectious disease expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

There are many types and a few are known to infect humans. Some cause colds and respiratory illnesses, while others have evolved into illnesses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) andMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

SARS began in China and infected some 8,000 people during a 2002-2003 outbreak. Approximately 770 people died after it spread to other cities and countries.

"This is the third kind of novel coronavirus that we're having experience with that can cause lower respiratory tract disease," Rupp said Tuesday.

In some rare cases, the virus can be transmitted from animals to humans but are typically transferred during contact between humans, according to the CDC.

How dangerous is coronavirus?

The coronavirus, or what is now known as COVID-19, was first traced to an animal and seafood market in the city of Wuhan and has since spread to dozens of other countries, including the U.S. The illness is now said to be transferable between humans.

As news of the virus spread and death tolls began to spike, many have begun to questionhow dangerousthe new outbreak is. Coronaviruses, which get their name from their crown-like appearance, come in many types that cause illnesses in people and animals.

In an effort to curb the spread of the disease (human coronaviruses are passed through coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, touching objects with the virus on it and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands, according to the CDC, the city of Wuhan shut down all air and train traffic. On March 11, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic.

How coronavirus differs from flu: Symptoms to watch for

Officials are urging anyone who develops possible symptoms of the novel coronavirus to contact health care providers to inquire about next steps and possible testing, but with millions infected by the influenza virus in the U.S., many are wondering how to tell the difference between the two.

There is so much overlap in symptoms between flu and COVID-19 but a couple of hallmark differences do exist, Dr. Caesar Djavaherian, co-founder of Carbon Health, told Fox News. Influenza tends to cause much more body pain and the COVID-19 virus tends to feel much more like the common cold with fever, cough, runny nose and diarrhea. However, in a small portion of the population with either COVID-19 or influenza, symptoms progress to kidney failure and respiratory failure.

By the end of February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that at least 32 million cases of the flu were reported in the U.S., resulting in 310,000 hospitalizations and 18,000 deaths. For the coronavirus, by March 12 the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. had reached over 1,000, with at least 30 deaths. .

But several health officials, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, have cautioned that healthy Americans who contract COVID-19 may not even know that they have it, and will heal without any treatment. Others say their experience will be similar to that of a common cold, but for those with underlying health conditions, the virus can be severe.

The differences arise in the very small portion of the population who are at risk because of their lung or heart conditions whose lungs can fill with fluid or go into kidney failure and unfortunately, eventually die, with COVID-19, Djavaherian said.

One of the most imperative ways to stop the spread, experts say, is to avoid contact with a sick person, and to practice your own good hygiene. Part of that includes staying home when youre sick and thoroughly washing hands.

If you are sick, monitor your symptoms daily, and when your common cold turns into a deep unrelenting cough and then shortness of breath, those are the signs that we worry about and the signs that require patients to get medical attention right away, Djavaherian said. They may be from pneumonia but in a very, very small group of patients, maybe a COVID-19 infection that has gone into the lungs.

Djavaherian said its imperative to call your health care provider ahead of time to share your symptoms and concerns so that they can prepare the appropriate tests and protect others from potential exposure.

I also recommend using telemedicine, where you can see a doctor via phone or video, to get your questions answered from the comfort and safety of your own home without putting others or yourself at risk, he said.

How did the coronavirus outbreak start?

WHO's China office says it began receiving reports in late December of a mysterious virus behind a number of pneumonia cases in Wuhan.

Researchers suspect the virus originated at a seafood market in Wuhan, where wild animals, including birds, rabbits, bats, and snakes are traded.

It was initially believed the virus came from snakes. But a research paper by a team of virologists at the Wuhan Institute for Virology suggests that the coronavirus more likely came from bats, which was also the source of the SARS outbreak.

Bats are known to carry multiple viruses without getting sick, according to the New York Times, which said they have caused human diseases in Africa, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Australia, and are thought to be the reservoir for Ebola.

Authorities shut down the market on January 1. But by then, the virus had spread beyond the market and was being transmitted between people.

On January 12, Chinese health officials shared a genetic sequence of the virus with other countries to better diagnose the strain in patients.

Visit link:

Coronavirus: What you need to know - Fox News

The Foreign Office (FCO) is advising against all but essential travel to an increasing number of countries because of coronavirus. Some destinations have travel restrictions, quarantine measures, border closures and health screenings in place due to the outbreak. If travellers have recently been on another trip abroad to affected countries, entry to other destinations could be denied or travellers quarantined.

This article is being updated daily. It was last updated at 11pm, 16 March

The FCO is advising against all but essential travel to:

Europe: Albania, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Madeira and Porto Santo (Portugal), Romania, Serbia

Asia: Myanmar, China, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, North Korea, Daegu, Cheongdo and Gyeongsan (South Korea), Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam

North America: US

Central America and the Caribbean: Belize, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago

South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay

Africa: Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Sierra Leone, South Africa

Cruise shipsThe FCO is advising against all travel on cruise ships for passengers aged 70 years and over or those with high-risk conditions. Some destinations are placing bans on cruise ships docking or passengers disembarking, including Australia, Chile, Colombia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro and Portugal.

The following countries have other restrictions and measures in place that may affect UK nationals (but the FCO is not advising against travelling there currently):

* EU proposes suspension of non-essential travel

The EU is proposing that all non-essential travel should be suspended to European Union for 30 days, the president of the EU commission has announced. This would affect travel from outside the EU, but the UK would be exempt.

AustriaThere are no direct flights between Austria and the UK, or direct air or rail connections from Austria to Italy, France, Spain or Switzerland. Any travellers coming from Italy by road will be stopped at the border and must present a health certificate stating that they are not affected by coronavirus. Ski resorts closed on 15 March in Tirol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. Restaurants and shops open at limited hours.

Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Romania and SwitzerlandCultural and sporting activities are prohibited; large gatherings restricted; restaurants and bars are closed; shops likely to be open at limited hours; public transport limited; and health screenings on arrival likely.

Croatia and Bosnia and HerzegovinaSelf-quarantine for 14 days. Some borders are closed and flights schedules limited.

Cyprus and UkraineBan on entry for UK travellers.

GermanySelf-quarantine for 14 days for anyone who has been in Italy, Switzerland or Austria in the 14 days before arrival. Land border restrictions with Austria, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland (ie cross-border commuters and deliveries only).

GeorgiaBan on all travellers for two weeks from 18 March.

HungarySelf-quarantine for 14 days for travellers who have recently been in China, Italy, Iran, Israel or South Korea. Cultural and sporting activities are prohibited; restaurants and bars are closed; shops likely to be open at limited hours; health screenings on arrival likely.

Isle of ManSelf-quarantine for 14 days.

PortugalLand border restrictions with Spain (ie cross-border commuters and deliveries only).

RussiaSelf-quarantine of 14 days for travellers who have recently been in China, Italy, Iran, France, Germany, South Korea or Spain. All borders closed except with Azerbaijan and Finland.

TurkeySome flights to Europe suspended. Ban on entry to travellers who have been in or transited through China, Iran, Italy or South Korea in the 14 days before arrival.

No specific warningsFor UK nationals, there are currently no travel warnings or restrictions (relating to coronavirus) in place to the following countries. However, some have confirmed cases of coronavirus, with health screenings likely on arrival and quarantine possible: Armenia, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Liechtenstein, Sweden.

BahrainSuspension of visas on arrival scheme. Self-quarantine for 14 days.

BangladeshSuspension of visa on arrival scheme. Ban on entry to travellers who have recently been in Europe (not including UK).

Bhutan, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Turkmenistan Ban on entry to UK travellers.

BruneiSelf-monitor for 14 days.

Hong Kong, Israel, Macao, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan and Uzbekistan Self-quarantine for 14 days.

IndiaBan on entry to all travellers from the UK, EU, and Turkey from 18 March. All visas and e-visas invalid until 15 April. Quarantine of 14 days for anyone who has recently visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain or Germany.

JapanBan on entry to travellers who have been in China, Iran or Italy in the 14 days before arrival.

Lebanon Direct flights suspended from affected countries on 17 March. Airlines flying into Beirut Rafic Hariri airport are being asked to refuse passengers who have been in the UK, France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Germany or Spain. UK nationals are strongly advised to review travel plans here.

MaldivesBan on entry to travellers who have been in Bangladesh, China, Iran, Italy or South Korea (Gyeongsang) in the 14 days before arrival.

PakistanInternational flights are limited to Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore airports, and some borders closed.

TajikistanBan on entry to travellers who have been in or transited through, China, Iran, Italy or South Korea in the 14 days before arrival.

ThailandTravellers who have recently been in affected countries require a health certificate stating that they are not affected by coronavirus. Self-monitor for 14 days. Songkran celebrations postponed and other large gatherings likely to be cancelled or postponed.

No specific warningsFor UK nationals, there are currently no travel warnings or restrictions (relating to coronavirus) in place to the following countries. However, some have confirmed cases of coronavirus, with health screenings likely on arrival, and quarantined possible: Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Nepal and UAE.

ArubaBan on entry to UK travellers.

Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas and MontserratBan on entry to travellers who have recently been in China, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea or Singapore.

BarbadosQuarantine 14 days for any travellers recently been in Italy in the 14 days before arrival.

Bermuda and Canada Self-quarantine for 14 days.

Saint LuciaBan on entry to travellers who have been in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, South Korea or Singapore in the 14 days before arrival.

Saint Vincent & the GrenadinesBan on entry to travellers who have been in China, Italy or Iran in the 14 days before arrival.

GrenadaBan on entry to travellers who have been in China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea or Spain in the 14 days before arrival.

GuyanaSelf-quarantine for 14 days for travellers who have recently been in Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, Malaysia, Panama, Thailand, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Singapore, South Korea or US

Turks & CaicosBan on entry to travellers who have been in China, Iran, Italy, Japan, Macao, South Korea or Singapore in the 21 days before arrival.

No specific warningsFor UK nationals, there are currently no travel warnings or restrictions (relating to coronavirus) in place to the following countries. However, some have confirmed cases of coronavirus, with health screenings likely on arrival, and quarantined possible: Brazil, Cayman Islands, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Saint Maarten.

Australia, New Zealand and Solomon IslandsSelf-quarantine for 14 days.

FijiBan on entry to anyone who has been in China, Iran, Italy or South Korea.

French PolynesiaAll travellers require a health certificate stating that they do not have coronavirus.

Kiribati, Micronesia and TongaMust have been spent 14 days in a country without any cases prior to arrival.

NauruBan on entry to travellers who have been in or transited through China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Macao or South Korea in the 21 days before arrival.

PalauBan on entry to travellers who have been in China, Hong Kong or Macao in the 14 days before arrival.

VanuatuBan on entry to travellers who have been in China, Hong Kong Japan, Macao, South Korea, Singapore or Taiwan in the 14 days before arrival.

No specific warnings For UK nationals, there are currently no travel warnings or restrictions (relating to coronavirus) in place to the following countries. However, some have confirmed cases of coronavirus, with health screenings likely on arrival, and quarantine possible: Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

AlgeriaSuspension of all air and sea travel to and from Europe from 19 March.

Angola, Congo, Mauritius and SeychellesBan on entry to travellers who have recently been in China, Iran, Italy or South Korea.

Benin, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tunisia and UgandaSelf-quarantine for 14 days for travellers who have recently been in affected countries.

ComorosMust have been spent 14 days in a country without any cases prior to arrival.

EritreaQuarantine of 14 days for travellers who have recently been in China, South Korea, Italy, Germany or US.

GuineaVisitors must submit their passports for a 14-day monitoring period.

MadagascarNo commercial passenger flights with Europe for 30 days from 20 March. Self-quarantine for 14 days for travellers who have recently been in affected countries.

No specific warningsFor UK nationals, there are currently no travel warnings or restrictions (relating to coronavirus) in place to the following countries. However, some have confirmed cases of coronavirus, with health screenings likely on arrival, and quarantine possible: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cte dIvoire, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tom & Prncipe, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Read the original here:

Travel updates: which countries have coronavirus restrictions and FCO warnings in place? - The Guardian

An engineer from Charter, one of the largest phone and internet providers in the U.S., sent an email blast to a senior vice president and hundreds of engineers on Friday.

In the email, Nick Wheeler, a video operations engineer based in Denver,criticized his employer for not allowing its staff to work from home despite ongoing efforts to lock down vast swathes of the U.S. to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The email was short. I do not understand why we are still coming into the office as the COVID-19 pandemic surges around us, he wrote.

The CDC guidelines are clear. The CDPHE guidelines are clear. The WHO guidelines are clear. The science of social distancing is real. We have the complete ability to do our jobs entirely from home, he wrote, reeling off the advice from several state and federal government departments and international health organizations. Coming into the office now is pointlessly reckless. Its also socially irresponsible. Charter, like the rest of us, should do what is necessary to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. Social distancing has a real slowing effect on the virus that means lives can be saved.

A hazard condition isnt acceptable for the infrastructure beyond the short-term. Why is it acceptable for our health? wrote Wheeler.

Hours later, he was no longer an employee.

Just a few minutes after Wheeler sent the email, he was summoned to a vice presidents office to a conference call with human resources. In a call with TechCrunch, Wheeler said his email was described as irresponsible and inciting fear. He said it was hard to understand why Charter had not implemented a work-from-home policy after the coronavirus outbreak was upgraded to a pandemic.

Wheeler said he was given an ultimatum. Either he could work from the office or take sick leave. Staff are not allowed to work from home, he was told. Wheeler offered his resignation, but was sent home instead and asked to think about his decision until Monday.

Later in the day, he received a call from work. Charter accepted his resignation, effective immediately.

I do not understand why we are still coming into the office as the COVID-19 pandemic surges around us.Nick Wheeler, former Charter employee

Although Charter and others have pledged not to charge late fees or terminate its services to customers during the pandemic, employees are internally expressing frustration that their health and safety appear not to be a priority.

Wheeler is going on the record because he said it was unacceptable that Charter is, unlike other companies, not employing a work-from-home strategy in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Just on Monday, the San Francisco Bay Area was put on lockdown, and both New York and Denver where Wheeler lives announced the closure of bars and restaurants and the banning of public gatherings of more than 50 people to limit the viruss spread. Shortly after, the White House said it is advising against gatherings of 10 people or more, and that Americans should continue to practice social distancing.

If I can understand and do this at a human level, Charter should be able to do it at a larger level, he said.

Cameron Blanchard, a spokesperson for Charter, said the company does not discuss individual employee circumstances. In a broader statement, Charter said its continuing our normal operations but that its reviewing our business continuity plans daily as conditions are changing rapidly.

Charter finds itself largely alone in mandating employees to work from its offices as its rivals push ahead with advising staff to work from home where possible.

AT&T said in its guidance that its asking employees who are in jobs that can be done from home should do so until further notice. Verizon, which owns TechCrunch, also said its encouraging employees to work remotely. Comcast is reportedly testing a number of work-from-home scenarios.

TechCrunch spoke to several Charter employees, whom we are not naming as they fear retribution from the company. The employees said they had seen Wheelers email. One described the email as speaking what was already a bubbling of concern among employees.

The employees said that Charters leadership has long disallowed working from home, and that management decides on a case-by-case basis and only when theyve seen a doctors note. The employees said that in absence of a work-from-home policy, employees are expected to burn through their sick leave.

Staff are given a week of sick leave a year, which accrues over time, but current government guidance is to self-quarantine for two weeks after symptoms subside, meaning some staff would have to take a portion of unpaid sick leave.

But Charter has shown little sign of backing down. In an all-staff email sent Saturday and seen by TechCrunch, Charters chief executive Tom Rutledge doubled down on the policy.

You may have heard that some companies are instituting broad remote working policies for some of their employees. While we are preparing for that possibility by geography, Charter is not doing the same today, said Rutledge. We provide critical communications services and we believe our approach to supporting front line employees is the right way for us to operate at this time to continue to deliver those important services to our customers.

The email said that the 15% of its employees who perform back-office work and management are expected to continue coming into the offices.

Stay home if you are sick, or caring for someone who is sick, but continue to report to your usual work location if you are not, the email said. While some back office and management functions can be performed remotely, they are more effective from the office, said Rutledge.

One of the employees we spoke to described the email as tone-deaf.

The employees said two or three staff had been tested for coronavirus, according to internal emails from Charters human resources, but that their test results had not been disclosed, compounding their fears about having to continue to go into the office.

Wheeler is not alone in his concerns. At least two other emails allegedly sent by employees, which were posted anonymously to Reddit but TechCrunch is unable to verify their authenticity, criticized Charter for putting its employees under harm and risk.

One of the employees we spoke to agreed. Theres no reason why the back-end staff cant be working from home, they said.

Continued here:

Staff angered as Charter prohibits working from home despite spread of coronavirus - TechCrunch