David Heymann·Currently What we do (and don't) know about the coronavirus

David Heymann·Currently
What we do (and don’t ) know about the coronavirus
Summary
This seems to be the latest findings about COVID-19. (COronaVIrus Disease from 2019)

1, What happens if you get infected with the coronavirus?
For the majority of people, infection would be less serious and it looks like a very mild disease. For health workers, the elderly and people with comorbidities have to be careful but it’s a very serious infection and there is no immune system now.

2, Who are the people who should be most concerned about this?
In developing countries, epidemic is dangerous because many people don’t have access to good medical care thus it’ll spread more rapidly.
In industrialized countries, the elderly and people with comorbidities will be at risk.

3, What pre-existing medical conditions put people at higher risk?
Especially the elderly with pulmonary is at higher risk.

4, Where can we find up-to-date information?
From the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta and the World Health Organization in Geneva, we can find it and we have to understand and contribute in our own way to prevention of major spread.

5, You led the global response to the SARS outbreak in 2003.
How does this outbreak compare?
It seems to be a much less virulent virus than SARS.

6, Have we responded adequately at border crossings, such as airports?
It’s not easy to judge people in the incubation period. We have to be more careful.

7, What's the timeline for a vaccine?
It's probably soon, though, the speaker said that it’s at least a year...
In Japan, a kit that can test easily and simply whether you have or not seemed to be discovered already.

8, What questions about the outbreak are still unanswered?
In the enclosed area of a cruise ship, it spreads very easily.

9, What about the global response could be improved?
It’s important for every country to be able to do its best to stop its own outbreaks.

10, Will we see more emerging disease outbreaks in the future?
The speaker tells us that this is just a warning of what will happen in the future because the animal-human interface is becoming closer and closer together.

11, Is the worst behind us?
It’s difficult to predict, though, we must all be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

We don’t have time to fight to get masks and to say that the strategy of policy is not good. We have to learn how we can protect ourselves and protect others correctly from COVID-19.

Words in this story
co·mor·bid·i·ty /kōmôrˈbidədē/noun/
the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient
susceptible /sus·cep·ti·ble /adj/ vulnerable, emotionally sensitive, impressionable