Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now arrived in the U.S., and it seems the situation is changing every minute.
For the latest information on the disease in the US, visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). For updated information on the what’s happening around the world, visit the website of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Please remember that these websites address the situations across the US and around the world. For information about COVID-19 in your own community, search for online information available through your local media outlets or your local governments.
According to the CDC, the good news for families is that there is no evidence that children are more susceptible to COVID-19. However, based on information from other countries, older adults with underlying medical conditions generally have a higher risk of contracting the disease.
CDC provides lots of practical information on how to avoid getting sick, how to recognize the symptoms of the COVID-19 disease, and what to do if you feel sick. If you need or want to travel, you’ll also find updated travel information.
Common-sense preventive actions are among the best ways to help your family stay healthy. The CDC recommends the following:
- Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds (approximately how long it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice!)
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that you touch frequently.
And if you start to feel sick:
- Isolate yourself at home and avoid going outside your home, except to get medical care
- Call ahead before visiting your doctor, to help the medical staff protect other people from getting infected
