This is not telling older people and those with chronic illness to stay home now, but get prepared to.
"CDC tells people over 60 or who have chronic illnesses like diabetes to stock up on goods and buckle down for a lengthy stay at home":
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/09/many-americans-will-be-exposed-to-coronavirus-through-2021-cdc-says.html
"Many Americans will be exposed to COVID-19 over the next year or so with many people in the U.S. getting sick, a top CDC official said Monday, recommending that people over 60 and anyone with chronic medical conditions buckle down for a lengthy stay home."
"'This virus is capable of spreading easily and sustainably from person to person ... and theres essentially no immunity against this virus in the population,' Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters on a conference call, citing World Health Organization data that studied more than 70,000 cases in China."
"'Its fair to say that, as the trajectory of the outbreak continues, many people in the United States will at some point in time, either this year or next, be exposed to this virus and theres a good chance many will become sick,' she said. Most people wont develop serious symptoms, she said, adding that 15% to 20% of the people who are exposed to the virus get severely sick."
"The CDC is recommending people with underlying conditions or who are over 60 to stock up on medications, household items and groceries to stay at home 'for a period of time,' she said. The U.S. government recommended travelers with underlying health conditions avoid taking any cruises anywhere in the world. 'We also recommend people at higher risk avoid non-essential travel, such as long plane trips,' she said."
Here is the audio briefing that is based on:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/a0309-covid-19-update.html
More information from CDC about people at higher risk:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html
Who that is and what to do.
"Coronavirus symptoms usually take 5 days to appear, study says":
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/09/health/coronavirus-symptoms-5-days-study/index.html
"People infected by the novel coronavirus tend to develop symptoms about five days after exposure, and almost always within two weeks, according to a study released Monday."
"That incubation period is consistent with previous estimates from public health officials, and the findings suggest that 14 days of quarantine are appropriate for people potentially exposed to the coronavirus."
"By comparing travel to Wuhan with the emergence of symptoms, researchers could then estimate an incubation period for the virus: usually about 5 days, and rarely more than 12."
I really recommend CNN's coverage:
https://www.cnn.com/coronavirus
On the front page of CNN.com, or on this page, you can find a daily live blog with lives updates. They have one each day. Scroll down to the "Live stories" section on that page above.
Today's link,March 10th, is:
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-10-20-intl-hnk/
Some other news organization have live blogs too.
"'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Jeopardy' to nix studio audiences over coronavirus concerns":
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/09/entertainment/wheel-of-fortune-jeopardy-coronavirus/index.html
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jeopardy-wheel-fortune-film-live-audience-coronavirus-fears-1283458
I know this doesn't seem like a big deal, but for older people this might get them to take it more seriously. The production company didn't confirm it, but they didn't deny it. It's being widely reported. Because they record in advance, it might be awhile before you notice the difference. (Just like when Pat Sajak earlier in the year had emergency surgery and Vanna White hosted for awhile)
My 97 year old grandmother watches that in Tennessee. I haven't told her that yet, but I think for the first time yesterday she started to understand that this is something she needs to take more seriously. She is pretty much deaf and we have to talk to her with a phone that has text captions and I think yesterday we finally got her to understand the seriousness. She called back when she heard there was a case in middle Tennessee. |