Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious respiratory illness first identified in Wuhan, China, and first reported in the United States on January 21st, 2020. Since then, the reported number of cases in the United States have risen exponentially, posing an immense threat to the U.S. healthcare system.
Respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 can be transmitted through direct contact, via droplets of different sizes. These droplets are referred to as respiratory droplets (when the droplets are >5-10 𝛍m in diameter) or as droplet nuclei (when the droplets are <5 𝛍m in diameter). COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplet or particle contact, likely of size >5-10 𝛍m in diameter (droplets of <5 𝛍m in diameter are usually harmful in cases of airborne diseases).
The COVID-19 disease is more easily transmitted through respiratory droplets when person A is in close contact with person B (within about 6 feet), where person B has respiratory symptoms (e.g. coughing, sneezing, etc.), and person A is at high risk of being exposed to potentially infective respiratory droplets.
COVID-19 can also be transmitted through indirect contact, via contaminated objects or surfaces, as well as animal to person contact. This is how the disease was first contracted by a human host in Wuhan, China.
We all have a high degree of social responsibility during a national crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we can take steps to prevent contracting the disease and, in turn, can prevent spreading the disease to other individuals who may be at high risk for complications. The steps we take to avoid spreading the disease will greatly help to reduce the strain of the disease on the U.S. healthcare system.
Refer to the following list of preventative measures:
Social Distancing (maintaining about 6 feet distance between others)
Wash your hands often (with soap and water) for about 20 seconds
Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes without washing your hands first
Stay home as much as you can, even when you are not sick
Avoid close contact with infected individuals
Clean and disinfect surfaces often
Wear a cloth covering (or mask) when around others
For a full and detailed list of recommended guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19, visit
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/index.html.