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Know The COVID-19 Facts

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According to the CDC, illnesses have ranged from very mild (including some with no reported symptoms) to severe, including illnesses resulting in death. The CDC says information so far suggests that most COVID-19 cases are mild, while China suggests serious illness in 16% of the cases.

Watch for symptoms:
• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

Treatment:
There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 according to the CDC. People who things they are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider.

Prevention:
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure. CDC recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay at home when sick.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then toss it in the trash.
• Wash hands!
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

To stay up to date about the COVID-19 virus, visit cdc.gov.

Are Facemasks Effective?

Facemasks or surgical masks might help protect against cold and flu season – or in times of an outbreak, like the coronavirus. But how much protection do the masks provide?

Surgical masks are loose-fitting and disposable masks approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as medical devices. Doctors, dentists, and nurses often wear them while treating patients. These masks prevent drops of body fluids that may contain viruses from escaping via the nose and mouth. The masks also protect against splashes or sprays from others, such as sneezes and coughs. The downside is that these masks don’t prevent the inhalation of small, airborne contaminants.

With everyone on edge about the current outbreak of 2019 coronavirus (2019-nCoV), how effective are the facemasks? Wearing a facemask might help prevent influenza as the virus spreads droplets in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. A mask could protect a person from inhaling these droplets if it were worn consistently and fully covering the mouth and nose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the facemasks are for people who are sick with a virus or believed to be infected, and for those who live with or care for them. There is no recommendation for the general public to start wearing facemasks for coronavirus. CDC advises washing hands frequently to prevent the spread of illness such as the flu.