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>> So the whole family of coronaviruses are named Coronavirus
>> So the whole family of coronaviruses are named Coronavirus

because corona means crown, and so this refers
because corona means crown, and so this refers

to the way that the virus looks under the microscope,
to the way that the virus looks under the microscope,

like there's a crown on the top of the virus.
like there's a crown on the top of the virus.

Some of them, four or five different kinds,
Some of them, four or five different kinds,

cause common diseases among humans,
cause common diseases among humans,

everything from the common cold
everything from the common cold

to mild or moderate respiratory illnesses.
to mild or moderate respiratory illnesses.

Other kinds of coronaviruses affect animals,
Other kinds of coronaviruses affect animals,

and sometimes, on rare occasions, we see coronaviruses jump
and sometimes, on rare occasions, we see coronaviruses jump

from animal species into the human population.
from animal species into the human population.

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The 2019 novel coronavirus is getting a lot of attention now
The 2019 novel coronavirus is getting a lot of attention now

because it is a new kind of coronavirus
because it is a new kind of coronavirus

we haven't seen among humans before.
we haven't seen among humans before.

The theory is that it may have jumped from an animal species
The theory is that it may have jumped from an animal species

into the human population, and then begun spreading.
into the human population, and then begun spreading.

We have seen some people that have died of this disease,
We have seen some people that have died of this disease,

and we know that there are already thousands of cases.
and we know that there are already thousands of cases.

So people are concerned, because we don't yet know exactly
So people are concerned, because we don't yet know exactly

how severe the disease will be or how far it will spread.
how severe the disease will be or how far it will spread.

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When a new virus emerges, we often have to learn much more
When a new virus emerges, we often have to learn much more

about it, and one of the things that we question
about it, and one of the things that we question

is how does it transmit from person to person?
is how does it transmit from person to person?

We know that most respiratory viruses are spread
We know that most respiratory viruses are spread

by large droplets that come out when people cough
by large droplets that come out when people cough

and sneeze, and stay aloft usually
and sneeze, and stay aloft usually

for about six feet in front of them.
for about six feet in front of them.

They land on surfaces, and then can also be transmitted
They land on surfaces, and then can also be transmitted

between person to person by touching those surfaces,
between person to person by touching those surfaces,

such as door knobs or other surfaces.
such as door knobs or other surfaces.

Other viruses can spread in the air and stay aloft
Other viruses can spread in the air and stay aloft

for a longer period of time in small droplet nuclei.
for a longer period of time in small droplet nuclei.

For this current 2019 coronavirus, we're not yet sure
For this current 2019 coronavirus, we're not yet sure

whether it is droplet or airborne transmission,
whether it is droplet or airborne transmission,

so we're erring on the side of caution and taking protection
so we're erring on the side of caution and taking protection

as if it was spread by the airborne route.
as if it was spread by the airborne route.

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We're still learning a lot about
We're still learning a lot about

this 2019 novel coronavirus, to understand
this 2019 novel coronavirus, to understand

how dangerous it might be.
how dangerous it might be.

Right now, the majority of the cases are in China.
Right now, the majority of the cases are in China.

We know that some travelers have brought the virus
We know that some travelers have brought the virus

to other countries, including the United States.
to other countries, including the United States.

I think one of the main things to keep in mind
I think one of the main things to keep in mind

is that this is respiratory virus season,
is that this is respiratory virus season,

and we have other respiratory viruses like influenza
and we have other respiratory viruses like influenza

that we need to take precautions because we know
that we need to take precautions because we know

we have thousands of cases and thousands of deaths
we have thousands of cases and thousands of deaths

in this country every year from influenza.
in this country every year from influenza.

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Given the ongoing transmission of the virus in China,
Given the ongoing transmission of the virus in China,

we have a travel alert that was issued
we have a travel alert that was issued

by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So at this time, until we know more,
So at this time, until we know more,

avoid non-essential travel to China.
avoid non-essential travel to China.

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Johns Hopkins Health System and health systems
Johns Hopkins Health System and health systems

across the nation are busy right now preparing
across the nation are busy right now preparing

to safely identify, isolate, evaluate, and care
to safely identify, isolate, evaluate, and care

for patients with the 2019 novel coronavirus.
for patients with the 2019 novel coronavirus.

We have the capability of doing this safely
We have the capability of doing this safely

by utilizing personal protective equipment,
by utilizing personal protective equipment,

by implementing travel screenings so that
by implementing travel screenings so that

we can quickly identify patients
we can quickly identify patients

who have risk factors for the disease,
who have risk factors for the disease,

and then implementing isolation precautions, the use
and then implementing isolation precautions, the use

of personal protective equipment, and other measures
of personal protective equipment, and other measures

to make sure that we limit the spread of the virus.
to make sure that we limit the spread of the virus.

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At the Johns Hopkins Hospital and throughout
At the Johns Hopkins Hospital and throughout

our health system, we routinely care for patients infected
our health system, we routinely care for patients infected

with diseases that are spread by the airborne route,
with diseases that are spread by the airborne route,

so we have expertise to do this safely.
so we have expertise to do this safely.

When a new virus comes along that has unknown risks,
When a new virus comes along that has unknown risks,

we have extra measures that we can put in place, including
we have extra measures that we can put in place, including

our biocontainment unit that can advise us and put plans
our biocontainment unit that can advise us and put plans

in place to safely care for these patients.
in place to safely care for these patients.

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