Coronavirus in the U.S.

The novel coronavirus originating in China has traveled into the United States. Last week, there were up to 12 cases of the virus reported in the U.S.
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Have you been following the news about the novel coronavirus? Do you know what it is and how it started? In December 2019, the novel coronavirus began to take effect and spread amongst the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

©Miguel Candela

Although this is the first time scientists have ever seen this form of coronavirus, the coronaviruses are said to have been around since the 1960’s. The novel coronavirus is one of many coronaviruses. According to a MedicalNewsToday report by Maria Cohut, “Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that target and affect mammals’ respiratory systems. According to their specific characteristics, there are four main “ranks” (genera) of coronaviruses, which are called alpha, bet, delta, and gamma.” Before the novel coronavirus only the alpha and beta genres could be transmitted to humans from animals. In previous years there has been two global outbreaks from the coronaviruses. Although, between December 2019 and now, the novel coronavirus has spread widely causing at least 910 global deaths. Just last week there were at least 12 cases of the novel coronavirus reported in the U.S. The virus has been reported at least once in each of the following states: Washington, Illinois, Arizona, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, California, and Texas. In almost every single one of these cases the patients were all people who had either recently traveled to or from Wuhan, or people who had been in contact with someone who had recently traveled to or from Wuhan. In attempts to protect Americans from the coronavirus threat the CDC, Centers for Disease Control Prevention, has put up restrictions for any US citizen that spent time in China’s Hubei province around the time of the novel coronavirus outbreak. According to a CNN report by Scottie Andrew, “Upon their return [to the United States], those citizens will be subject to a mandatory quarantine of up to 14 days, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said January 31.”

©BBC

The CDC has been urging citizens to be knowledgeable of the symptoms of this novel coronavirus, while they have also been urging citizens to “follow the flu season protocol” for prevention. In other words, wash your hands regularly, avoid other sick people, and avoid too many public situations if possible. It is also encouraged for US citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to China.