Coronavirus Outbreak
January 31, 2020
After weeks of spreading throughout China and into several countries around the globe, the novel coronavirus (COVID-2019) has now been designated "a public health emergency of international concern." This announcement from the World Health Organization means that there is a greater probability for a much larger outbreak.
COVID-2019 is a potentially deadly and highly contagious virus that can be transmitted through human-to-human contact. It is called the novel coronavirus, because it is a new (novel) coronavirus that is still being examined. While researchers work to uncover the background of this outbreak and the impact of the resulting illness, it's important to remember that even though there are confirmed cases of COVID-2019 within the United States, the risk to the general American public is still considered low by the Centers for Disease Control. Staying aware of the current situation and actively working to maintain your overall health and wellbeing are the best steps to take right now.
In this special resource section, you'll learn about coronaviruses, find resources related to the current outbreak, and discover the steps you should take to prepare your family should a viral outbreak happen in your community.
As always, follow the guidelines and information provided by the agencies responsible for monitoring and responding to concerns of this nature. Trusting your family's health and wellbeing to untrusted sources of information may unnecessarily aggravate concerns or worry younger family members who do not have a full understanding of the situation.
Here are some useful links:
1. CDC Coronavirus Background and Updates
2. CDC Live Updates & News
3. CNN Coronavirus News & Updates
4. WHO Coronavirus International Concern Announcement
5. WHO Coronavirus News & Information
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