NEED TO KNOW
From the symptoms to whether you should wear a mask, key things to know about the coronavirus.
COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus, is here. But don’t panic.
So far, 185 Harris County residents tested positive for COVID-19. Another 54 tested positive in Fort Bend County, 33 in Brazoria County, 31 in Montgomery County and 27 in Galveston County.
As of Friday, 1,694 had been diagnosed in Texas, and 24 people had died from the virus.
Here’s what you need to know about the respiratory illness that has Houston on stay-at-home status and shoppers buying canned goods and sanitation supplies in bulk.
What are the symptoms of coronavirus? What does coronavirus look like for an average person?
Novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a pneumonia-like respiratory illness that was first reported in Wuhan, China. Experts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe the illness is spread person-to-person when an infected person coughs or sneezes within six feet of another, and in some cases, by touching contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure, health officials said. They include:
• Fever;
• Cough;
• Difficulty breathing.
Loss of sense of smell and taste could also signal COVID-19. And some cases, Baylor College of Medicine experts said, have shown gastrointestinal symptoms.
Most people will have mild to severe flu-like symptoms. Elderly people and people with preexisting medical conditions and compromised immune systems are at risk of seeing more serious symptoms, according to the World Health Organization.
Other types of coronaviruses include South Asian Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
But what’s the difference between coronavirus and the flu?
The flu and coronavirus have similar symptoms. With the flu, you might feel lethargic, or have soreness in your muscles. But most people who contract the strain of coronavirus won’t feel that level of achiness and fatigue, said Porfirio Villarreal, a Houston Health Department spokesperson.
CDC guidance advises people who are experiencing coronavirus symptoms or who have been in close contact with one of those people, to call their doctors. In the United States, the CDC is the primary agency that can test for symptoms of coronavirus.
How do I avoid contracting the virus?
Officials emphasize that people should practice good hygiene and avoid people who show symptoms of illness. They should:
• Avoid touching their faces; • Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
• Stay home when sick; • Frequently wash hands; • Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces with household cleaning supplies;
• Wear a face mask only if they show symptoms of coronavirus.
Do I need face masks? Hand sanitizer? Clorox wipes?
Face masks are in short supply, and should be reserved for those who have symptoms. Health care professionals taking care of sick patients are most in need of masks, said Angela Shippy, Memorial Hermann’s chief medical officer.
Hand sanitizer may remove certain types of germs, but the CDC reports that it won’t kill every microbe on your hand.
It’s better to just wash your hands and regularly disinfect surfaces and commonly used objects, such as cellphones and keyboards. Clorox wipes and disinfectant sprays are fine for doing that.
Is any one group more susceptible to the virus?
Certain races or ethnicities are not more likely to be infected by the coronavirus. Diseases don’t discriminate.
People of all ages can contract the virus; Houston Health Department officials say that older people and people with chronic illnesses are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms.