Worried about coronavirus in Florida? This is what you can do to prepare for it
Here’s an analogy most Floridians can relate to: think of preparing for potential cases of novel coronavirus the same way you would prepare for a hurricane.
Officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say they are expecting domestic cases of person-to-person spread of the respiratory illness, especially given recent outbreaks outside of Asia, and they warn that the disease could cause massive disruptions. With a global spread of the virus, more travelers from countries that have confirmed cases will be flying to Miami, an international travel hub. So what can people here do to prepare?
Just as you would for a hurricane, follow official sources of information — in this case, federal and state health agencies — and stock up on many of the same supplies, said Eric McNulty, associate director of the the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, a Harvard University program that works with health officials to manage infectious diseases. That way you’re prepared for a large-scale coronavirus outbreak that would require you to stay inside for a few days.
“Make sure you have food, meds, water in the house in case you do need to be quarantined,” McNulty said. “A couple good books, and make sure the Netflix is paid up, because you may have some time on your hands.”
What can I do to reduce my risk of getting novel coronavirus?
First of all, wash your hands. A lot. Alcohol-based sanitizers are convenient, but the best and most effective method is the old-fashioned way: warm water and soap, and for at least 20 seconds, said Brittany Kmush, an assistant professor of public health at Syracuse University who specializes in the risks associated with infectious diseases.
There’s an easy way to tell if you’re washing for the full 20 seconds, she said, by using the happy birthday song as a guide.“You should be washing your hands while singing happy birthday,” Kmush said. “Make sure you get underneath the nails, between all your fingers, and if you wear rings, make sure you clean around them.”
Face masks that can be purchased at retail stores can be useful in the case of an outbreak, Kmush said, but not how you might think. Those types of masks are good to wear if you’re already sick, because it will reduce your likelihood of infecting others, but they’re not advanced enough to prevent particles of the virus from entering your respiratory system.
“There’s very little evidence that wearing them will protect you, but it would prevent much of your secretions from getting out and infecting other people, as that’s where most of the virus particles are,” Kmush said.
Health officials stress that you should avoid close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and frequently disinfect household surfaces and objects.
I feel sick with the flu. Should I stay at home? What if it’s coronavirus?
Symptoms of coronavirus, or covid-19, are very similar to influenza. They can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. But you can only get coronavirus from traveling to areas that have cases or being in contact with people who have the virus.
The CDC recommends that, unless you fit those parameters, you stay at home as if you have the flu. But if you do suspect you might have novel coronavirus, you should contact a medical professional and disclose that. Symptoms could appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure.
On top of following all the other precautions, people who suspect they might have coronavirus should stay at home except to seek medical care, call ahead before seeing a doctor and keep themselves separate from other people and even pets in their home.
What happens if there’s a coronavirus outbreak in Florida?
The possibility of outbreaks of coronavirus in major U.S. cities is becoming less remote, federal health officials have warned. Miami doesn’t have direct flights from China, where the vast majority of cases are concentrated.
But at least one case has been confirmed in Brazil, and the spread of the virus through Latin America could pose a greater threat to Miami, said McNulty, the preparedness expert.
On top of stocking up on supplies, McNulty said it’s important to have contingency plans in place if your child’s school or your workplace is forced to close. Kmush, too, said that the outbreak of H1N1, or swine flu, forced school closures in 2009, and parents should prepare for that.
“As they close schools, that’s a lot of people needing childcare. And if their kids aren’t in school, how are they going to work? A lot of people won’t get paid,” Kmush said. “That could be a very significant problem.”
In the case of an outbreak, South Florida hospitals have said they are prepared and well stocked with respirator masks and other supplies for their workers.
Jackson Health System said it is closely monitoring developments around coronavirus and that its infection control teams are working to ensure that all of its hospitals have adequate supplies of N95 respirator masks and personal protective equipment.
“We have implemented a conservation plan, which will reduce waste by ensuring that the masks are only used by staff who are exposed to patients under airborne precautions,” a spokesperson said. “While the majority of medical supplies may be made in China, Jackson has a standard practice of contracting with vendors that have manufacturing plants in North America in the event that there is a disruption in production and shipment overseas.”
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Worried about coronavirus in Florida? This is what you can do to prepare for it."
