Everything You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Coronavirus

How can we put the coronavirus outbreak into context with other high-profile outbreaks in the last decade, like Zika or H1N1?

Zika isnt a good comparison, because Zika is spread by mosquito bites, and COVID-19 is spread person-to-person, having first been introduced to humans through an animal (COVID-19 is very closely related to a bat coronavirus , but whether it went through another animal first is not known).

The infectivity of an infection is described by a number called the basic reproductive number, R0, (we say R nought). The best estimate for COVID-19 is that the R0 is about 2.2, meaning it is roughly as infectious as influenza or SARS . However, the R0 doesnt tell you all there is to know about how alarming the infection will be: SARS infected 8,000 people or so, while there have been 30 to 40 million cases of influenza in the U.S. this season. It seems to be similar to H1N1 influenza, but unlike influenza, nobody is likely to have partial immunity, such as might have been built up by previous infection or immunization to flu. COVID-19 is just too new.

There is just no way to know yet how prevalent COVID-19 will be in the U.S.

How does the mortality rate compare to the flu?

The best data comes from China from just this week : of over 44,000 confirmed cases, 2.3% of people died. The case fatality rate is strongly linked to age, with older people being at a much higher risk of death.

In a typical flu season , the case fatality rate is about 0.1%. In 1918, where the H1N1 influenza killed 50 million people, the case-fatality rate was 2.5%. The possibility of a worst-case scenario of coronavirus not being contained, and being as infectious and deadly as the 1918 influenza virus, is what keeps public health officials up at night worrying.

What precautions should we be taking when riding any public transportation services? How long does the virus linger on porous/non-porous surfaces?

Although there are not data for COVID-19, other coronaviruses have been shown to persist as long as 9 days on glass, metal, or plastic in the worst case, with a very large amount of virus inoculated. Packaged goods from China are very unlikely to have infectious particles due to long shipping times and reduced virus infectivity on paper. COVID-19 can be spread from infected surfaces , so keeping hands washed (or frequently using alcohol-based sanitizer) and being careful not to put your hands to your face will help reduce infection. However, the major risk is person-to-person through droplets from a cough or sneeze.

What's your advice for wearing a mask? Should masks be worn if traveling on a plane?

The CDC doesnt recommend masks for walking around outside. Masks are appropriate for clinicians taking care of known cases. The correct mask for clinical care is an N-95 respirator , which needs to be fitted properly to the face. If the mask doesnt fit well, it can lead you to think you are protected when you are not, and might actually increase your risk of getting infected. They are also quite unpleasant to wear for any length of time at all, if they fit correctly. Finally, you can contaminate yourself taking it off if you arent trained to do that properly.

Fabric masks probably do very little except protect you from splashes, but even so the holes in the fabric allow the viruses to pass right through. Surgical face masks are designed mostly to protect the patient from the wearer. It keeps your coughing and sneezing droplets from getting out.

In terms of air travel , a study found people sitting in window seats are the least likely to be exposed to viruses.

Were the isolation efforts that China made necessary to the coronavirus' containment?

Absolutely. In an infectious epidemic, the public health officials have only a few really effective tools. One is an effective vaccine, which there is not yet available for COVID-19. Another is medication, if there were effective antiviral medicines, which there arent any proven (trials are ongoing). The final, and oldest, is keeping people away from each other, especially quarantine and isolation. In China, the methods used were intensive: important gatherings were cancelled, and travel was highly restricted. A city of 11 million people was entirely quarantined.

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In Japan, all schools have been closed for a month throughout the country.

It remains to be seen what the U.S. response will be once coronavirus transmission begins in the US, which is exceedingly likely. How strict the public health measures might be is a political question as well as one of public health.

Since the number of cases in China has plateaued, are we perhaps on the downward curve of the spread?

That seems to be the case in China, but the news from Italy is disturbing, and many European countries are reporting coronavirus. A woman in California is currently intubated in the ICU with no clear idea of how she was infected. Because 80-90% of cases have no or minimal symptoms, many public health officials fear that the opportunity to contain the virus is lost and a pandemic is inevitable. In the United States, much depends on a coordinated and effective response. That hasnt really happened yet.

If I recently traveled to Milan and have children at home, should I be worried about exposing them?

In absence of symptoms, it is possible but unlikely you are capable of transmitting the virus. There has been documented person-to-person transmission in Milan, but only a handful of cases.

People who are sick are much more likely to transmit the disease than people who are asymptomatic or have minimal symptoms. If you had fever or cough, that should be evaluated, and you should call your doctor for guidance. Hospitals are getting protocols in place to evaluate people with respiratory illnesses coming from countries with coronavirus transmission, although the lack of testing kits has been a problem, which apparently will be solved within the next few days.

Is the government giving doctors any guidelines on what they're doing to prepare/how they should be responding to patients?

The CDC is updating almost daily their advice to health care professionals. Hospitals have written protocols based on the advice from CDC.

Is there anything we should be doing to prepare ourselves for the spread to this area of the country?

The most important precaution is to not get sick: wash hands religiously (or maybe obsessively); keep away from people who are sick (literally 6 feet away will eliminate most risk); try not to touch your face; if you are sick, STAY HOME.

Should we stock up on vitamins or are there any medications we should have on hand?

As we have seen from the experience in China, it is possible that there may be interruptions to the supply of food and other goods. However, hoarding and panic buying is a very bad idea . Building up a two week supply of non-perishable foods for your family makes sense. Think also about medications, food for your pets, batteries, etc.

Is there a prediction for a higher propensity in NYC and other major cities and should we have a plan in place for potential evacuation?

NYC is densely populated, has many world visitors, and is therefore a likely place for coronavirus to spread. However, its also among the highest priority places in the U.S. for the government to keep running smoothly, so in the event of a public health catastrophe, NYC is still probably a pretty good place to be. An evacuation is vanishingly likely. The same remains true for other major cities.

Are there any differentiating signs of contraction we can watch out for early on?

No, coronavirus can start exactly like a cold. Symptoms typically begin about 5 days after exposure, but the incubation period could be as long as 14 days. As noted before, many cases have no symptoms.

Symptoms of severe disease are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. This could indicate pneumonia, the most dangerous form of the disease, and the one most likely to lead to requiring hospitalization. Critical illness with COVID-19, especially in the elderly, is very dangerous.

If we feel a cold coming on, is it recommended to immediately go to the emergency room?

No! Call your doctor (this is why its important to have a relationship with a primary care doctor). The CDC has given us guidance on how to evaluate people WITH KNOWN RISK of COVID-19 and symptoms at home. The same is true if you have no symptoms but are exposed to a known contact. We dont want potentially infectious people coming into the medical system and potentially infecting people there, who may be at very high risk due to age or medical condition.

If you have what seems like a cold and no known risk, you probably dont need to see the doctor anyway. Of course, if you are really sick, you need to get an evaluation. This advice is likely to change in the event of a major pandemic.

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I'm pregnant. Should I be taking any special precautions or preventative measures at home or at work?

No, pregnant women should take the same precautions as anyone else. There are case reports of 18 pregnant women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19: none of the babies developed any symptoms of the virus. However, similar viruses can be more severe in pregnancy so your doctor will take extra care of you in the unlikely case you get sick.

Does the virus stay active forever or do we need a vaccine in order to be "cured"?

People only stay in the hospital if there are treatments we can do there we cant do at home, or if they are so sick they need intensive monitoring. Thats true in any situation. Hospitals have efficient isolation rooms to keep other patients safe and trained personnel to keep themselves safe.

Once a person recovers from coronavirus (98% do), they are likely to have lifelong immunity, if COVID-19 behaves the way other coronaviruses do. Even people with minimal or no symptoms will likely develop immunity. An effective vaccine would provide protection without getting ill.

Whats happening with a coronavirus vaccine?

Normally, a vaccine takes a minimum of 3 to 5 years to develop and test. In theory, a vaccine could be developed for COVID-19 in 18 months, which would have to be some kind of record.

Is there a possibility of a vaccine being developed in time to help the current situation?

No chance. None. Sorry.

Vaccine safety is so important. Back in 1976, they rushed out a swine flu vaccineand it was a bad vaccine. There are still patients who refuse flu vaccines because of episodes like that.

What classifies as someone who had coronavirus as "recovered"? Are they still contagious?

This isnt really known. Right now, the CDC is recommending keeping people in isolation until their testing becomes negative two days in a row. Most likely, people will be sent home for some period of time after that to be extra-safe.

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How should people be thinking about upcoming travel out of the country?

Many doctors who are risk-averse would recommend that you probably should cancel your travel plans. The immediate future even over the next few days is unknown: what things will be like in two weeks is anyones guess. Areas that arent affected now may report being affected while you're reading this article. There is a good chance that tourist destinations in affected areas will be closed, and that quarantine may be required upon return, especially if the CDC upgrades the severity of the affected area. You may have the time of your life and be able to see things with nobody there. But it might also be the disaster vacation from hell.

What would be your general advice for how we should be feeling at this point?

Between slightly and moderately anxious. We have prepared for disaster before and it hasn't really shown up. Prepare for the worst: hope for the best.

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