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The COVID-19 Pandemic Challenge What you need to know

You can visit and/or subscribe to the CDC's YouTube channel for more videos and tips on staying safe and healthy.

Coronavirus 2019 (aka, COVID-19, 2019nCov, or SARS-CoV-2)

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person.

Although coronaviruses were first discovered in the 1960’s, COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

COVID-19 arose from the coronavirus mutating - a normal, frequent event in the life of a virus.

What's the difference? For starters, the disease influenza (aka "the flu") is caused by a different virus than COVID-19.

During the 2019-2020 flu season, the CDC estimates: Up to 51 million will have the flu illness Up to 24 million flu medical visits About 700,000 flu hospitalizations Between 22,000 - 55,000 deaths from the flu

COVID-19 is more contagious (more easily spread) than the flu.

Global Numbers As of 21 September 2020 the global number of confirmed cases is 31,163,450. And the total number of COVID-19 deaths is 962,008.

COVID-19 Hot Spots (Current as of 21 September, 2020) Source: Johns Hopkins

Hand Hygiene Learn about when and how to wash your hands effectively and when it is appropriate to use hand sanitizers.

When to Wash Your Hands... Before, during, and after preparing food Before eating food Before and after caring for someone who is sick Before and after treating a cut or wound After using the bathroom, changing diapers, or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing After touching an animal, animal food or treats, animal cages, or animal waste After touching garbage If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy

How to Wash Your Hands... Use soap and water Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap Scrub all surfaces of your hands, including the palms, backs, fingers, between your fingers, and under your nails Keep scrubbing for 20 seconds Rinse your hands under clean, running water Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them

Use Hand Sanitizers If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.

When to Use Hand Sanitizers... Before and after visiting a friend or a loved one in a hospital or nursing home, unless the person is sick with Clostridium difficile (if so, use soap and water to wash hands). If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and wash with soap and water as soon as you can. Do NOT use hand sanitizer if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy. For example, after gardening, playing outdoors, or after fishing or camping (unless a hand washing station is not available). Wash your hands with soap and water instead.

How to Use Hand Sanitizer... Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol, especially in schools and childcare facilities. Apply. Put enough product on hands to cover all surfaces. Rub hands together until they feel dry. This should take around 20 seconds. Note: Do not rinse or wipe off hand sanitizer before it’s dry; it may not work as well against germs.

Respiratory Etiquette

Respiratory Etiquette The following is a little refresher on how to cough and sneeze properly and why it is vital you do it.

In COVID-19, a dry cough is a common symptom and sneezes sometimes occur. And they’re more powerful than we thought.

An MIT study showed that droplets - carrying germs like COVID-19 and influenza - from a cough can travel up to 20 feet and a sneeze can reach up to 26 feet.

When to Wear A Face Mask

Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.

Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

Let's Recap: How to Wear A Face Mask Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask. Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks. To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

~~Social~~ Physical Distancing It's not about being aloof - it's about distance, the physical space between us. So let's call it what is Is - Physical Distancing.

Physical Distancing This graphic illustrates the extent of contact an infected individual - the rectangle - can have with people around them. From cdc.gov

Decreasing the frequency and duration of social contact among persons of all ages helps slow or prevent the spread of diseases, and slow the exponential growth of a pandemic.

The optimal strategy is to implement these measures simultaneously in places where people gather.

Personal Actions Wear a mask Avoiding crowds Maintaining 6-8 foot distance when in line shopping, at the bank, post office, etc.

Community Actions Canceling or postponing public events like sports, concerts and celebrations Temporarily closing community centers, malls and theaters Temporarily closing or restricting buses, trains and airlines Traveling only when essential

Why is social distancing effective and... why is it so important? There are a finite number of resources, like hospital beds, ventilators and physicians. Consider a single hospital, and ask: How many patients - especially really sick patients - can it handle all at once? That’s its capacity. So, a sudden rush of sick COVID-19 patients can overwhelm the capacity. But, if we reduce the number of COVID-19 cases early in the pandemic, there’s never a rush on the hospital.

Remember! You may be young and healthy, but ignoring common sense physical distancing practices could put others at higher risk to exposure. You can transmit the virus through touch, cough or sneeze.

Flattening the Curve What is it, why is it important, and how does physical distancing affect it?

The next video shows the effect of physical distancing on the number of infected people - each is a potential patient that needs to be seen at a hospital.

There are four scenarios in the video, from no restrictions to an aggressive physical distancing strategy. With no physical distancing - free, unrestricted movement - notice the number of infected. These are patients who are sick and can overwhelm a hospital or health system.

What Does a COVID-19 Infection Look Like?

I feel sick, what should I do?

Stay home People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Do not leave, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.

Stay in touch with your doctor Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you feel worse or you think it is an emergency.

Stay away from others As much as possible, you should stay in a specific “sick room” and away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom, if available.

Wear a face mask You should wear a face mask when you're around other people and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.

Hospitalized patients who have signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19.

Symptomatic individuals such as older adults and those with chronic conditions* or an immunocompromised state that may put them at higher risk for poor outcomes. *e.g., diabetes, heart disease, receiving immunosuppressive medications, lung disease, kidney disease

Anybody, including healthcare personnel, who: within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact with a suspected or lab-confirmed COVID-19 patient, or have traveled from an affected area within 14 days of their symptom onset.

But I've Heard That... Facts and Fictions about COVID-19

You can’t get COVID-19 in hot and humid area.

Thermal scanners are effective at detecting all COVID-19 infections.

For most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low.

Pets are a source of COVID-19 infection.

Those most at risk of COVID-19 infections

People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

Pregnant women (Source for all: CDC)

Strategies and Planning to Address COVID-19

The fancy term is mitigation When a new virus with pandemic potential emerges, community mitigation strategies (non-pharmaceutical interventions) often are the most readily available means to help slow transmission of the virus in communities. Community mitigation is a set of actions... that persons and communities can take to help slow the spread of respiratory virus infections.

Workplace Guidance

Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do if staff become symptomatic at the worksite.

Encourage employees to stay home and notify workplace administrators when sick (and provide non-punitive sick leave options to allow staff to stay home when ill).

Encourage personal protective measures among staff (e.g., stay home when sick, hand washing, respiratory etiquette).

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. A 23 March 2020 report from the CDC reported that SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) " ... was identified on a variety of surfaces in cabins of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected passengers up to 17 days after cabins were vacated on the Diamond Princess but before disinfection procedures had been conducted ."

Ensure hand hygiene supplies are readily available in the building.

Encourage staff to telework (when feasible), particularly individuals at increased risk of severe illness.

Implement physical distancing measures... Increase physical space between workers at the worksite Stagger work schedules Decrease social contacts in the workplace (e.g., limit in-person meetings, meeting for lunch in a break room) Limit large work-related gatherings (e.g., staff meetings, after-work functions) Limit non-essential work travel Consider regular health checks (e.g., temperature and respiratory symptom screening) of staff and visitors entering buildings (if feasible)

Protecting Your Family

Know where to find local information on COVID-19 and local trends of COVID-19 cases.

Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do if symptomatic: Stay home when you are sick Call your healthcare provider’s office in advance of a visit Limit movement in the community Limit visitors to your home Wear a face mask

Practice personal protective measures (e.g., stay home when sick, wash your hands, use respiratory etiquette, clean frequently touched surfaces daily). A 23 March 2020 report from the CDC reported that SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) " ... was identified on a variety of surfaces in cabins of both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected passengers up to 17 days after cabins were vacated on the Diamond Princess but before disinfection procedures had been conducted ."

Create a household plan of action in case of illness in the household or disruption of daily activities due to COVID-19 in the community.

Consider a 2-week supply of prescription and over-the-counter medications, food and other essentials. Know how to get food delivered if possible.

Establish ways to communicate with others (e.g., family, friends, co-workers).

Establish plans to telework, what to do about childcare needs, and how to adapt to cancellation of events.

Know about emergency operations plans for schools/workplaces of household members.

We Got This!

Why This Matters As of 21 September 2020, the COVID-19 virus has killed more than 962,266 people worldwide.