The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has arrived in Virginia.
State health officials reported Saturday evening that a U.S. Marine at Fort Belvoir has tested positive with the coronavirus that started in China last year and has been spreading worldwide. He had been overseas.
Sunday morning, state officials announced a second "presumptive positive" -- a woman in her 80s who had also been traveling overseas.
More than 30 people in Virginia have been tested for the illness.
The brief statement from the Virginia Dept. of Health released Saturday evening said:
"A U.S. Marine at Fort Belvoir has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, Virginia health officials confirmed today.
Governor Northam and Cabinet officials have been briefed. Officials at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and the Virginia Department of Health are working cooperatively, according to longstanding public health protocols. The teams are in regular and close communication with federal, state, local, and private sector partners.
Public health officials caution that evidence has not been seen of COVID-19 spreading in Virginia and said the risk is low."
Fairfax County, Alexandria Precautions
Earlier this month, City of Alexandria and Fairfax County officials confirmed they are following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health. In addition, local school systems are working with health officials and local governments to keep students healthy and safe.
The City, the Alexandria Health Department, Inova Health System, and the Alexandria City Public Schools will hold an online virtual information session on Thursday, March 12 at 8 p.m. to provide information and answer questions about the COVID-19 coronavirus. The session will be accessible at alexandriava.gov/Health.
The primary symptoms of this coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
What is the novel coronavirus (or COVID-19)?
According to the World Health Organization, "Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans."
Right now, doctors can only treat the symptoms of this coronavirus, which may range from mild to fatal. There is also no vaccine yet, and it may be a year or more until one is actually developed and manufactured for use on humans.
Prevention
While masks can help you remember to avoid touching your face, they will only be effective if they are used properly, which itself includes a significant amount of proper hand washing.
However, officials are discouraging people from using masks, as they are in limited supply and the only people who truly need masks are those working in close contact with infected people, including nurses and doctors.
Recommendations from the CDC for any sickness, including COVID-19, as are follows:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Clorox Wipes
While disinfecting wipes (like those made by Clorox or Lysol) can help keep surfaces free of germs, there is no scientific evidence that disinfecting wipes can kill this specific strain of coronavirus on contact, even though they do kill similar viruses on hard, non-porous surfaces.
Washing Your Hands
By some estimates, more than half of the population washes their hands incorrectly. Here's how to do it correctly -- using clean running water, plenty of soap and washing the fronts and back of hands (and under the nails) for at least 20 seconds. In addition, drying your hands with a clean towel or blown air is important, as germs can stick to wet hands better than dry ones.
If you don't have access to soap and running water, use a hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol content.
