The new coronavirus virus, officially named COVID-19, emerged in late December as a cluster of pneumonia-like cases linked to a live animal and seafood market in Wuhan, located in China’s Hubei province. Since then, the numbers have been growing dramatically every day. A global public health emergency was declared last month.
The vast majority of cases are in China, where the number of confirmed cases has surpassed 80,000 with over 2,650 deaths. It continues to spread globally in 33 countries. As of Feb. 25, there were 2,459 cases outside of China.
»THE LATEST: Complete coverage of coronavirus in Georgia
The U.S. now has 60 coronavirus cases, most of them passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
Are there any cases in Georgia?
Yes, as of Tuesday, March 3, there are two confirmed cases in Georgia. The two individuals live in Fulton County. One of them had recently traveled to northern Italy and spread the virus to another person living in the same household.
However, there are nearly 200 Georgia residents being quarantined in their homes after returning from recent trips to China. Each day or so, some of those in quarantine complete the 14 days, which is considered the incubation period for the virus, while new residents who recently traveled to China get added to the list. Those in quarantine at home are being asked to monitor themselves for illness and report to local officials any symptoms of the coronavirus, such as coughing. An electronic registry keeps track of the quarantines.
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What are U.S. and Georgia authorities doing to contain coronavirus?
On Feb. 2, the U.S. began quarantining Americans who had recently visited China’s Hubei province, where the disease originated. The federal government is also requiring screening and self-quarantines for all other Americans who recently visited any other parts of China. There are no recent travelers to Hubei province being quarantined in Georgia.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection started reviewing airline passengers’ itineraries and passports after the travel restrictions were instituted earlier this month. All commercial passenger flights between Atlanta and China have been temporarily suspended. But the federal agency is providing the Georgia Department of Public Health with the names of state residents who have recently traveled to China, but flew back to the U.S. from other countries.
Georgia health officials have been calling each traveler who recently visited China to discuss the required 14-day period of staying home and stressed the importance of notifying authorities of any potential symptoms of the virus. Those under quarantine were all given an online tool that tracks their time in isolation and notifies them when the required confinement time is over.
Local health officials and hospitals are on high alert. Hospitals are asking sick patients about travel histories and have quarantine areas in place. Local experts say Georgia’s screening, training and preparations to treat emerging diseases are better than ever, driven by concerns about other infections, such as Ebola and SARS, another coronavirus. Curtis Harris, the director of the University of Georgia’s Institute for Disaster Management, said Georgia hospitals and other health care facilities have developed plans to accommodate sudden increases in the number of patients seeking care.
» RELATED: Atlanta’s Chinese community has especially deep worry about coronavirus
» MORE: The flu more of a threat in Georgia than new coronavirus
How worried should I be?
A coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. is not a question of “if” but “when,” officials with the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
“The coronavirus outbreak is rapidly evolving and spreading,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “Cases are appearing worldwide without a known source of exposure, and successful containment at U.S. borders is becoming problematic.
Public health officials said they no idea whether the spread of the disease to the United States would be mild or severe, but they said Americans should be prepared for a major disruption to their daily lives.
MORE: Coronavirus outbreak in US. Not ‘if’ but ‘when,’ CDC says
How do I keep myself and others safe?
The most effective way to protect against coronavirus is the same as the flu — wash your hands with soap and water, avoid touching your nose and mouth and stay away from sick people.
Face masks are critical for health care workers but otherwise only recommended for people who have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms to prevent the spread. Those cheap disposable masks, which cover the nose and mouth, often don’t fit properly and are far from fool-proof.
How does the coronavirus compare to other illnesses?
There are still many unknowns about COVID-19 but preliminary figures suggest the fatality rate is about 3%, much less than its cousin, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, which killed about 10% of infected patients during the 2003 outbreak.
The SARS epidemic, which also began in China, killed 774 people worldwide. There was a total of eight cases in the U.S. and none in Georgia.
Local experts say the flu remains a greater health threat in Georgia. Close to 2,000 people in metro Atlanta have been hospitalized for flu-related illnesses this season. Some 57 people in the state have died.
What else should I do?
Dr. José Cordero, the department head of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department at UGA, added it’s a good idea to get a flu shot — if you haven’t already — to avoid illness and using up medical resources. He recommended families and friends discuss emergency contingency plans for helping each other with everything from child care to meal sharing. And, he added, it may be sensible to have a couple weeks to a month’s worth of food supplies.
Experts also say most people who get the virus would not need to go to a doctor. They also urge people identify reliable sources of information, such as the CDC and state departments of public health.
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