Initially reports were that
the virus was probably as contagious as the flu
and initially there were also reports
that the virus can also be transmitted even in the absence of symptoms.
And some of these theories have been debunked.
So I would say that is contagious enough to the point where
there's person to person transmission in multiple parts of the world currently.
But I would say that it's not settled yet.
Because until you see the whole outbreak and the progression,
you won't be able to assess this accurately.
Respiratory virus
infections cause a syndrome and a syndrome.
Typically involves many signs and symptoms,
including fever, including
coughing, including head congestion
and to be honest, it's very difficult to really distinguish
flu versus RSV versus
prior influenza versus coronavirus.
Obviously, you don't want to test everybody in the world
with cold like symptoms of flu like symptoms.
But this is where the epidemiology that is the demographics of the
where the patient comes from, where the patient has been is really important.
And also about the timing of the return for that person
folks who who
who have concerns about having have the infection,
that the first question that they need to ask is whether they
they've really been to an area
where we know there's been virus transmission.
But if you haven't really been to any of those destinations
or you haven't been in contact with anybody with a known
coronavirus infection, then what I would say
is that your risk here will be very, very low.
Currently in the United States,
the key
intervention in infection prevention is hand hygiene.
And and one can perform hand hygiene by different methods.
And the goal method would be to grab
a sanitizer like alcohol gel.
I would say that
it's always important to have also the the opposite side
of the prevention equation, which is if you're sick, you want to be
you want to avoid contact with folks, you want to avoid sneezing
and you want to wash your hands also because
the way you acquire a respiratory virus typically is by droplets and also
by by surfaces, by having, you know, by touching surfaces that may have the virus.
And sometimes viruses can linger quite a while, especially the surfaces wet.
If you think you are you are ill
and you may have a contagious infection, like a respiratory illness,
it's always
important to give the the clinic or the E.R.
or the hospital a heads up saying, these are my symptoms.
There are mechanisms through which we can actually send a team
to test you at home, for instance.
Or it could be a clinic.
But the main the main intervention here is that give us a heads up
and then we can help you assess your risk and then see what
the next steps are
Usually what you see on the street is that folks
use a mask, then pull it out and then use the same one.
Then it's kind of hanging out.
So the mask is not really functioning effectively.
A mask is not good if you're not washing your hands,
and mask is not good if it's not fitted correctly, and is to be tested.
So I would say that for the general population,
masks is not where we should focus our prevention efforts.
It's really going back to hand hygiene in
one part of
the decision has to do with really checking with CDC.
CDC has a website where you have the travel advisory.
And for instance, going to China
is not recommended today, for instance.
And I, I think that that list will continue to evolve.
So it's really good to go to that website and get that information.
But also I think there's going to be a component of this
that's going to be a personal choice.
Are you the medicine?
We've been very lucky to have strong partnerships with Seattle,
King County Public Health, Department of Health and CDC this
has been vital to our preparedness and overall efforts.
I would say
there is more information every day.
So we shouldn't be in panic,
but should be very we should be very informed and prepared.
And I think are you that medicine?
We've been doing that
and we're
constantly adjusting to the new information.
One other piece of advice is to not let fear paralyze you.
I think your best friend, almost in anything, is really information
and really having the right source of information.
We know that there's a lot of misinformation and we also know
that there's a lot of unnecessary stigma around certain populations.
And I would caution folks
and remind them that, you know, infections don't don't have a predilection.
They can affect all of us and we're all equally at risk.
So let's not judge and let's all unite and be healthy and safe.