Coronavirus – Here’s What You Need to Know

Here’s everything you need to know about the disease and how to keep yourself safe from the spread of the coronavirus.

A new disease outbreak is making headlines. Here’s everything you need to know about the disease and how to keep yourself safe from the spread of the coronavirus.

What is Coronavirus?

According to the CDC, the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) got its start in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Many of the ill patients had contact with a seafood and animal market at the time so there is belief that an animal to human transmission may have begun the virus. However, it has since spread through infected patients on a human-to-human basis and is now causing an outbreak crisis around the world. Those infected notice fever, cough and shortness of breath as a sign of possible infection.

Who Can Get it?

There have been confirmed infections in the U.S., Thailand, Japan and South Korea. It is believed that the disease is being spread through an infected person’s respiratory secretions including when they cough or sneeze and someone is very physically close to an ill person.

Those most at risk of contracting the illness include caretakers for those who are infected, airline crews, healthcare workers, border protection agents and business travelers who may have come into contact with someone who was ill during their travels.

How to Protect Yourself

While investigations are still underway on the impact and severity of the disease and since there is currently no vaccine to prevent contracting the infection, here are things you can do to protect yourself from possible transmission:

• Keep Your Hands Clean – Wash your hands often with water and soap and use hand sanitizer.
• Keep Your Hands out of Your Eyes Nose and Mouth – In case germs are on your hands, it is best to keep them out of these areas where it can enter your body.
• Keep a Distance from Those Who Are Sick –  Since there’s no telling what sickness someone else may have, it’s best to stay away from those who are displaying signs that they are sick.

Stay up to date on medical and hazardous waste regulations and other news by subscribing to the Red Bags blog.

You Might Also Like:

• Avoid Medical Waste Risks in the Workplace
• Healthcare Risk Management: Raising Awareness & Safety In the Healthcare Industry
• Telemedicine & HIPAA Responsibilities

Service Areas: Long Island Medical Waste; New York City Medical Waste; Westchester Medical Waste and more!