Coronavirus Outbreak: Updates

• The outbreak initially identified in China, is continuing to grow.
• The disease is called COVID-19. It’s caused by an infection with the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which is one of the multiple coronaviruses that can be transmitted to humans.
• Other examples of coronaviruses include SARS, MERS, and even the common cold.

COVID-19 cases

• Globally, there have been more than 5.9 million confirmed cases and more than 357,000 associated deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.
• The United States currently has the highest reported number of confirmed cases, with more than 1.7 million. However, due to a lack of testing, the number of actual cases may be far higher.
• More than 100,000 people in the United States have died from the disease.
• Live Healthy Life will update this page every weekday.

CDC releases guidelines for going back to the office safely

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new guidelinesTrusted Source on how to safely reopen offices amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among their recommendations, the CDC advises companies to assess the building itself to make sure it has enough ventilation to prevent the virus from recirculating. Additionally, they advise separating workspaces and desks so people can maintain 6 feet of separation at all times.

They point out that staggered start times, temperature checks, and disinfecting common space areas can also cut down on the risk of transmission.

Even with all these safeguards, the CDC recommends all workers wear face masks to protect themselves and others from aerosolized viral particles.

New research finds officials had weeks to stop COVID-19 from becoming widespread in the US

A new report finds that COVID-19 was not being sustainably transmitted in the United States until weeks after the first case was detected. This means that cases weren’t spreading widely until mid-February.

The report was released in a pre-print article and hasn’t been peer-reviewed. But it shows how delayed action by government officials may have worsened the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States.

The first known U.S. case of COVID-19 was found to have occurred on Jan. 15. But that person was quarantined and their contacts also asked to quarantine.

The study authors found that the start of sustained transmission of COVID-19 started in Washington state in mid-February after President Donald Trump had issued the travel ban for China.

Over 100,000 Americans have died from COVID-19

In less than 4 months, COVID-19-related deaths went from the single digits in the United States to over 100,000.

The first known COVID-19-related death occurred on February 6 in northern California. By mid-April daily deaths peaked at over 2,300.

While deaths have slowly been decreasing, there are over 1,000 deaths a day from COVID-19, according to a model from the University of Washington.

The United States stands out globally for having the most number of reported cases and deaths related to the virus. U.S. fatalities account for nearly a third of global deaths from COVID-19.

While infections and deaths from COVID-19 have been trending downward, experts worry that there could be a second peak of infections and deaths as states reopen.

The news of over 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 comes as virtually all states are loosening restrictions around shelter-in-place orders.