As the global spread of “Novel Coronavirus 2019” continues, we are adding to our original blog about the virus as there have been a number of changes.
In February, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, charged with naming new viruses, named the novel coronavirus (first identified in Wuhan, China, 2019), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, shortened to SARS-CoV-2. It is similar to the virus that caused the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2003, but it is not the same.
On the same day, the World Health Organization labelled the illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 as COVID-19 (commonly named Coronavirus). People in nearly 100 countries have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The disease is being transmitted from person to person, and transmission seems to be fairly rapid and sustained.
However, it is very important at this time to remember, that despite the increasing number of people experiencing COVID-19 in the United States, the incidence within the general population is still very low. When researching the disease, it is important to only look to reputable sources for information. We would recommend that you use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
We have included some credible links if you would like more information about the disease, and about the incidence of COVID-19 in the United States.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html
Here you can get information on the spread of the disease, how to recognise symptoms, preventative measures, and how stigma and anxiety around COVID-19 can affect people
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html
Daily update on the incidence of COVID-19 in the US
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf
PDF factsheet about COVID-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf
PDF of what you should do if your suspect you may have, or do have, COVID-19
ABOUT COVID-19
Taking PPE On and Off