Epidemiologist Questions Epidemiologist

What are the risks of contracting coronavirus in the US?

I am a 20 year old female. I want to know what are the risks of contracting coronavirus in the US?

3 Answers

EpidemiologistEpidemiologist
There is some risk one cannot predict. It will not be 100%, but it will not zero either. Too many factors to give you for your personal risk.

G. Dickinson
Thank you for your question. To the best of my knowledge the current coronavirus that is causing the pandemic is likely now present in most if not all communities in the US. So precautions against exposure as released by your local health department, the CDC, and US government should be followed everywhere. Including but not all listed here include wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds- and don't touch your mouth nose, or eyes after you have touched surfaces that may be contaminated. Stick to social distancing and avoid gatherings with more than a few people. Avoid handshakes- see more advice from your local health department, cdc or recent announcements from the federal government.
Like influenza, the coronavirus is transmitted through the air via droplets of excretions from people who are infected and coughing and sneezing. It also can survive for few days on several surfaces depending on the amount of virus and environmental condition- so you could acquire it by touching such stained surface and then touching your mouth eyes or nose. There is also evidence that coronavirus is shed via the stool and thus could be transmitted from soiled toilets, bathrooms and persons with poor hand hygiene.
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As the coronavirus outbreak rages on in China, at least 110 people in the United States are undergoing testing for the new respiratory illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday.

Five people in the U.S. have been hospitalized with confirmed cases of the coronavirus: one in Washington, one in Illinois, one in Arizona and two in California.

All of those patients had traveled to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Cases in China have now surpassed 2,700, and at least 80 deaths have been reported. People most severely affected have generally been older adults with underlying health conditions.