Given that the coronavirus seems to be a major topic of conversation these days, we thought it would make for the perfect topic for our first edition of Pursuing Health Pearls. These are short, ideally 10-15 minute podcast episodes (although this one was a bit longer!) meant to offer succinct, high-yield info on common health concerns. You can listen to the episode in audio format, or you can read a more detailed write-up in the blog post below.

In this article, well first shed some light on what coronavirus is, how it is transmitted, who is at highest risk, how we can decrease our risk, and what to do if you think you are infected. Then well talk some numbers about the scope of the outbreak and try to put it into context with other major public health concerns.

Its important to note that our understanding of the coronavirus is evolving day by day. The information in this blog post and accompanying podcast are accurate as of this writing but will likely change with time. The information presented here has been gathered primarily from the CDC and WHO, and we recommend you use these as well as your state or local health department for the most up-to-date information as the outbreak continues to evolve.

In this episode we discuss:

• What is COVID-19?


• What are the symptoms of COVID-19?


• How is it transmitted?


• How do I decrease my risk of infection?


• Who is at highest risk?


• Should I be worried about traveling?


• What should I do if I think I am infected?


• How big is this problem?


• Approaching chronic disease with the same concern as coronavirus

What is COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in humans and in different species of animals including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. In rare cases, animal coronaviruses can infect humans and then spread through person-to-person transmission. Some previous examples of this include SARS-CoV (discovered in 2002 in China, which causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS-CoV (discovered in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), both known to cause severe respiratory disease. Both of these viruses have been contained and to date, sustained global spread has been avoided.

By now you likely have heard of the novel coronavirus which has been named SARS-CoV-2. The disease it causes has been named Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19 for short. The origin of the virus was likely animal-to-human transmission in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China at a large seafood and live animal market. Subsequently, person-to-person transmission has been confirmed and now cases have been identified in over 100 countries around the world. On January 30th, the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to disease caused by other respiratory viruses. The most common symptoms include:

• Fever


• Cough


• Shortness of breath

Other symptoms may include headache, muscle soreness, fatigue, sore throat, headache, and diarrhea. Also similar to other respiratory virus diseases, COVID-19 may range from mild disease such as a cold to severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, or septic shock resulting in death.

How is it transmitted?

The coronavirus spreads from person-to-person contact, with respiratory droplets being the main mode of transmission. Contact with droplets from the mouth or nose can lead to infection. The virus may also spread through surfaces – its thought that touching an object that the virus is on and then touching ones mouth, nose, or possibly eyes can also result in transmission. The highest risk for spread occurs when a person is symptomatic, and symptoms may develop anywhere from 2-14 days after exposure.

How do I decrease my risk of infection?

Following prevention measures recommended for other similar respiratory viruses such as colds and the flu is the best way to decrease your risk of infection with the coronavirus. These measures include:

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick (stay at least 6 feet away)


• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then then throwing it away


• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth


• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces


• Staying home when you are sick except to get medical care


• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after touching your face. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is recommended.


• The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19


• There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19

Who is at highest risk?

Currently, those at greatest risk of infection include:

• Those who have had prolonged, unprotected close contact with an individual with symptomatic, confirmed COVID-19


• Those who live in or have recently been to areas with sustained transmission including China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan

Those at greatest risk for developing severe symptoms from a coronavirus infection include the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes. Individuals with these risk factors are advised to stay at home as much as possible and avoid crowds, and make sure they have access to several weeks of medications and supplies in case they need to stay home for prolonged periods of time.

Not a lot is known about the impact of the coronavirus on pregnant women, but extrapolating from what we know about other similar viruses (SARS and MERS), pregnant women may be at higher risk of developing severe symptoms if infected than the general population. There has also been increased risk of pregnancy loss with these viruses and increased risk of birth defects is seen with high fevers in the first trimester of pregnancy. Pregnant women should avoid others who are symptomatic and engage in the usual protective actions discussed above.

Should I be worried about traveling?

The CDC and US Department of State have issued travel warnings to certain countries, which are updated regularly on their websites.

Currently, the CDC is recommending avoiding all nonessential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy, and entry of foreign nationals from China and Iran has been suspended for the time being. Elderly adults and those with chronic medical conditions are advised to consider postponing travel to Japan as well. In other countries where the risk of transmission is more limited, usual travel precautions are in place.

Several companies such as the Cleveland Clinic and Google have issued travel bans for their employees in attempt to do their part to control the outbreak.

What should I do if I think I am infected?

If you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 OR you have recently traveled to an area with ongoing community spread (China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, or Japan) AND you develop the symptoms listed above, call your doctor or notify your state or local health department right away.

If your symptoms are mild, you may be advised to stay home and be monitored virtually to avoid spreading the virus. If you have more severe symptoms, you may need to be evaluated in a healthcare facility, but you should still call your doctor first so they can be prepared to prevent the spread of infection to other patients and health care workers. The CDC recommends that those who may be infected do not leave home except for medical appointments, and a face mask should be worn before entering the medical facility.

How big is the problem?

As of March 9th, there have been 109,577 reported cases of COVID-19 globally, and 3809 deaths. This means that there is a 3.5% case fatality rate, or 3.5% of people that we know to be infected with the disease, have died. However, as it is early in our understanding of the outbreak, it is <a href="https://jamanetw