According to the World Health Organization, as of press time, there were 20,471 confirmed cases of coronavirus in China, and 425 deaths in the country as a result. But it is not time to panic here. So far, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found only 11 people from five U.S. states (including California) who have tested positive for the virus. Still, there are a few things the American public should know, and the CDC has outlined three do’s and three don’ts:
• Do visit cdc.gov and stay informed.
• Do take regular cold- and flu-season precautions (wash hands, avoid contact with sick people, etc.).
• If you feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing, and have recently been to China or in contact with someone who has, do call before visiting a doctor’s office or an emergency room.
• Don’t travel to China until the outbreak is under control.
• Don’t feel the need to use face masks in public.
• Don’t show prejudice to people of Asian descent.
