Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The current strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans (World Health Organization).
The complete clinical picture with regard to the coronavirus is not fully known. Reported illnesses have ranged from very mild (including some with no reported symptoms) to severe, including illness resulting in death. Older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, seem to be at higher risk of developing serious illness (Center for Disease Control).
Health professionals across the country are urging the public to avoid crowded events, avoid traveling to areas with high confirmed cases of the virus, and to frequently wash your hands when encountering the public. This is an ongoing issue with new information being provided daily. Please look through the rest of this guide for more information and tips on prevention.
This is a screenshot of the interactive map of Global Cases of COVID-19 by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. Click on the image to see the live map.
