Government leaders and health officials have recommended that the public remain calm and stay informed about the novel coronavirus outbreak. Government agencies and community health providers are offering the public information about prevention, symptoms and what to do if people are sick with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or suspect they may have been infected with the virus. The U.S. government’s coronavirus.gov website links to latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Higher risk populations
The coronavirus.gov website includes a special section on populations that, according to early information out of China where COVID-19 started, appear to be at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness, including older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes or lung disease.
That web page notes, “If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease.”
The CDC recommends that people at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 should:
- Stock up on supplies
- Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
- When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
- Avoid crowds as much as possible.
- Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
- During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.
The CDC recommends that people at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications to have on hand in case there is an outbreak in their community, to be sure to have over-the-counter medicines and supplies like tissues on hand to treat fever and other symptoms, and to have enough household items and groceries on hand in case you need to say home for a period of time.
The Maryland Department of Health’s special coronavirus website notes that people at risk of contracting COVID-19 include those who “recently traveled to geographic areas of concern; have close, personal contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19; or care for people with COVID-19.”
Everyday preventive actions
The Maryland Department of Health’s coronavirus website also points out that COVID-19 is thought to be able to spread like the cold or flu, through “coughing and sneezing, which creates respiratory droplets; close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; or touching an object or surface with the virus on it.”
The coronavirus.gov site includes a special page offering tips to prevent the illness, including:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
- Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
- Throw used tissues in the trash, and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, counter tops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
The CDC website notes that people “do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick and they are not able to wear a facemask. Facemasks may be in short supply, and they should be saved for caregivers.”
Symptoms
The coronavirus.gov website notes that “reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases,” and that the following symptoms may appear two-14 days after exposure:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
What to do when sick
The coronavirus.gov site also includes a special web page offering people advice on what to do when they are sick, including:
- Call your doctor: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately.
- Call ahead before visiting your doctor: If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed. The Maryland Department of Health adds that people who think they are sick with COVID-19 should call their doctor or emergency room before they go, tell them about recent travel and close contacts, and wear a mask if one is available.
- Wear a facemask if you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.
- If you are caring for others: If the person who is sick is not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with the person who is sick should not stay in the same room with them, or they should wear a facemask if they enter a room with the person who is sick.
- Stay home except to get medical care, and avoid public areas and public transportation. The web page notes that people who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness and should restrict activities outside the home, except for getting medical care. They should not go to work, school or public areas.
- Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home. The CDC recommends that as much as possible, people infected with COVID-19 should stay in a specific room and away from other people in their home, and use a separate bathroom if available. They should also limit contact with pets and animals.
- That web page also recommends that people with COVID-19 follow the everyday precautions related to stopping the spread of the disease, like cover your coughs and sneezes, clean your hands often, clean all ‘high touch’ surfaces every day, and avoid sharing personal household items like dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels or bedding.
That web page also notes that “patients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low.” It also states that “the decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.”
The Maryland Department of Health’s coronavirus website notes that “the vast majority of people recover from this infection. Most people will have mild or moderate symptoms. Older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions have a greater risk for serious illness.”
Preparing your household
And the CDC also has a website offering interim guidance on how people can get their household ready for coronavirus disease 2019 before an outbreak occurs, which includes the following bullet points:
- Create a household plan of action
- Practice good personal health habits and plan for home-based action
- Be prepared if your child’s school or childcare facility is temporarily dismissed
- Plan for potential changes at your workplace
That website includes further details for each of those recommendations, along with advice on what people should do if there is an outbreak in their community, and what to do when the outbreak has ended.
The Maryland Department of Health’s coronavirus website also recommends the following preparedness measures:
- Have a thermometer, tissues and hand sanitizer in case you become ill and must stay at home to recover
- Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick and what will be needed to care for them at home
- Have a two-week supply of water and food at home.
Keeping homes, schools, workplaces and commercial establishments safe
The Center for Disease Control’s coronavirus website also includes a link offering advice on keeping homes, schools, workplaces and commercial establishments safe. Those recommendations are summarized below, but the website offers more detailed information.
- Household safety tips include cleaning hands at the door and at regular intervals, creating habits and reminders to avoid touching your face and to cover coughs and sneezes, and disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables and handrails regularly
- School safety tips include encouraging faculty, staff and students to stop shaking hands; clean hands at the door and regular intervals; create habits and reminders to avoid touching your face and to cover coughs and sneezes; disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks and handrails regularly; increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning; consider adjusting after-school arrangements; hold classes outdoors or in open, well-ventilated spaces when possible; limit food sharing; ensure cafeteria staff and their close contacts practice strict hygiene; and encourage people to stay home if they are sick or if they have a sick family member at home
- Workplace safety tips include stop shaking hands; clean hands at the door and encourage regular washing of hands; offer reminders for people not to touch their faces and to cover coughs and sneezes; disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks and handrails regularly; increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning; be careful with meetings and travel -- use videoconferencing for meetings when possible, consider adjusting or postponing large meetings or gatherings; ensure cafeteria staff and their close contacts practice strict hygiene; and stay home if you are feeling sick or if you have a sick family member at home
- Safety tips for commercial establishments include stop shaking hands; clean hands at the door and provide regular reminders about hand washing; promote tap and pay to limit handling of cash; disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks and handrails regularly; increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning; avoid crowding by using booking and scheduling to stagger customer flow, use online transactions when possible and consider limiting attendance at larger gatherings; and for transportation businesses, keep windows open when possible, increase ventilation and regularly disinfect surfaces
The Maryland Department of Health website emphasizes that people should “stay informed and seek information from reliable, official sources.”
The federal and local government websites with corona virus information include:
