COVID-19 / Coronavirus update in progress
TL;DR: Things are getting far more serious, mostly outside of China.
The US CDC yesterday stated that community transmission -- cases with no determinable source emerging in the US -- is a practical certainty, a matter of when and not if.
Response is "nonpharmaceutical interventions" (NPI), boiling down to:
- Wash your hands.
- Cover your cough.
- Stay home if infected, or outbreak occurs locally.
There are presently no vaccine or medications approved for treatment.
If you're below age 50, risk is fairly minor. Infants and children are particularly not at risk based on China data. For the decades of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80+, mortality increases about 2-3x for each ten-year jump, to about 14% for 80+.
There's a bunch more. China is looking relatively good, its interventions have worked. Don't panic. Do pick up a few bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizer and keep them on you (purse, jacket pocket, backpack, etc.) at all times. Masks really are not effective to prevent getting infected, though if you're infected, it's a very good idea to wear them to help prevent spread to others when you must travel.
Expect more disruptions through travel restrictions, quarantine, event cancellations (Olympics and multiple conferences are discussing this), work and school closings, etc.
Wikipedia's 2019-20 Coronavirus Outbreak article is an excellent source generally. I'll be adding others in my update.
Terminology is also changing, as will be my hashtags.
