What is coronavirus?

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As the year 2020 began, people started talking about something called the coronavirus. Coronavirus was a newly discovered virus that made people sick. It started making people sick in China, but as people traveled, the virus traveled around the world as well.

Corona means crown. When you look at the coronavirus under a microscope, part of it looks like a crown.

Fast Traveler

The coronavirus is very contagious. That means it can spread from person to person very easily. It travels through the air when people sneeze or cough. It also spreads when people touch something the virus has been on, like other peoples’ hands or door handles.

What if I get coronavirus?

Coronavirus often causes a fever, tiredness, a cough or difficulty breathing. Most people, especially kids, only feel a little sick and get better quickly. It feels a lot like a cold or the flu.

How to Stop the Coronavirus

Wash your hands. When you wash your hands with soap and water, you kill viruses like the coronavirus. Keep your hands away from your mouth, eyes, nose and face. This is important just in case your hands touched a virus somewhere like a door handle or countertop. To keep others safe, sneeze or cough into a tissue or your elbow. Wearing a mask helps as well.

Keeping the Community Healthy

Some things you like to do have probably been cancelled. When people stay apart, the virus can’t move from person to person. As people return to their activities, it is recommended to stay at least six feet apart from other people because the virus rarely travels that far before sinking to the ground.

I’m Worried

It is normal to worry about getting sick or about your loved ones getting sick. A way to help yourself is to talk to others about your feelings and to ask for help. If you read about or hear something that worries you, don’t keep your feelings to yourself.