Turn your TV on to almost any channel and you will likely be blasted with headlines about the global COVID-19 disease outbreak. Even if you try to avoid the news and switch to Netflix, you’ll see a giant graphic enticing you to watch Netflix’s new hit series, Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak.

There’s no avoiding it wherever you go, so let’s talk coronavirus.

Information about COVID-19 spread and casualties changes by the minute and will absolutely be outdated by the time you read this, so instead of describing where it is now, let’s talk about some basic facts and what you can do about it.

This coronavirus outbreak actually started in late 2019 which is why this particular outbreak has been named COVID-19, which stands for Coronavirus Disease 2019. The virus strain itself is named SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). Other coronaviruses include MERS-CoV which caused in outbreak in 2012 and SARS-CoV, the virus that caused the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003.

Coronaviruses are among the viruses that cause the common cold (the most common being rhinoviruses) so the symptoms of COVID-19 are somewhat similar to cold symptoms. The most frequent symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If infected, most healthy children and adults will show very minor cold-like symptoms or possibly no symptoms at all. The most vulnerable people are those more advanced in age (70+) as well as those with severe underlying health conditions. This is why the disease was so devastating at a nursing home in Washington state in late February/early March 2020.

COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplet transmission such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes nearby. However, there is also evidence that it can be possibly transmitted via gastrointestinal or body fluid routes.

But like other coronaviruses and cold prevention, the CDC recommends some simple things you can do to stop it in its tracks, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
• 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.

These are good personal practices for both at home and at work. However, it is also a good idea to take a look at general emergency preparedness at both places so you can be ready for potentials disruptions like heightened absenteeism, school closures, or supply chain disruptions. In the workplace, this is called Business Continuity or Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP). Planning for potential disruptions now will make it much easier to make decisions when the time comes, especially if you are able to have redundant or backup plans in place.

The unknown is what often drives fear and anxiety, but armed with this knowledge, it is hoped that you can combat that fear and use this information to make the best choices to safeguard your health and well-being.

For more information about Continuity Planning, please see https://www.fema.gov/continuity-resource-toolkit

For more information about COVID-19 preparedness, please see https://www.cdc.gov/covid19.