When reports of the coronavirus began to surface in late December 2019, the only thing that has spread faster than the mysterious illness is the paranoia, anxiety, and confusion that has come with it. Since first popping up in ground zero, Wuhan, China, new cases have been found in South Korea, Italy, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, the United States, and more. With over 87,000 people and counting infected and nearly 3,000 deaths to date, the paranoia is most certainly justified.
The impact of the coronavirus has led to international travel advisories, flights and cruises canceling their routes, companies banning travel for employees and the disruption or closing of major tourist attractions and events. But what does all of this mean? Does it mean that those with travel plans need to cancel them? Can you cancel travel plans without a penalty? And for those still choosing to catch flights, how can they ensure that the adventure will be a healthy one?
Though the status of traveling with the coronavirus is ever-changing, ESSENCE wants to make sure that you’re armed with as much knowledge as possible so that you can make informed and safe decisions about your upcoming travel plans. Here’s everything you need to know so far about the coronavirus and how it currently affects your jet-set life.
What is the Coronavirus anyway?
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website, “Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause illness in people, and others, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, only infect animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses that infect animals have emerged to infect people and can spread between people. This is suspected to have occurred for the virus that causes COVID-19.”
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms have ranged from mild to severe illness and may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Current symptoms reported for patients have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Since the symptoms can mimic those of the flu, the CDC is urging people to see a healthcare professional if they feel sick and have been in close contact with a person known to have the virus, or if they live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing issues. Your doctor will then be able to determine if further testing for the coronavirus should occur.
How does it spread?
The coronavirus is a new disease, so much is still unknown about how it spreads exactly, but what the CDC does know currently is that the virus mainly spreads person to person through close contact with an infected person, or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. As for who is most susceptible to the illness, there are no reports proving that children are at higher risk (cases are mainly in adults), and although men and women have been infected in relatively equal numbers, a recent report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found that the death rate is higher among men.
Will facemasks help you stay safe?
At the moment, the CDC does not recommend that people who are not ill wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including the coronavirus. While there is currently no vaccine to prevent the disease, a few tips to stay safe are cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces (maybe
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