by Mac England Meteor News
Feb 29, 7:45 PM MST
The CDC (Center for Disease Control in Atlanta) says there are a total of 15 confirmed cases not associated with foreign travel and 7 presumptive positive cases in the United States (as of 9 am this morning). There have been 2 deaths reported so far in the US according to the CDC.
Fact 1:
Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity.
People of Asian descent, including Chinese Americans, are not more likely to get COVID-19 than any other American. Help stop fear by letting people know that being of Asian descent does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19.
Fact 2:
The risk of getting COVID-19 in the U.S. is currently low.
Some people who have traveled to places where many people have gotten sick with COVID-19 may be monitored by health officials to protect their health and the health of other people in the community.
Fact 3:
Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people.
For up-to-date information, visit CDC’s coronavirus disease situation summary page.
Fact 4:
You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Seek medical advice if you have traveled to China in the past 14 days and feel sick. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
Fact 5:
There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
The Meteor is putting a team of researchers and writers into motion to cover this story as it progresses. If you work in the health care field here in Flagstaff or the Colorado Plateau region we would like to hear of your experiences so far. How prepared is your facility to take on an influx of cases? How transparent is management with you and your patients with respect to the facilities preparation plan and are they taking the lead or not in broader public health awareness and practice in the Flagstaff and Colorado Plateau communities? Do you work in healthcare in an indigenous community somewhere in the region and are those populations going to receive adequate healthcare?
Lots of questions and again we seek your input. You can contact us at meteornewstips@meteor.news.
