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"*Update: March 16, 2020*\nSince this post was published, the situation with the new coronavirus in the U.S. has changed. As of right now, the main recommendation is to practice social distancing, as much as possible and as soon as you can, to [flatten the curve](https://www.self.com/story/flatten-the-curve). You can find our latest [coverage on COVID-19 here](https://www.self.com/health-conditions/covid-19-coronavirus).\n\n*Original report:*\nGiven the latest updates about the [novel coronavirus](https://www.self.com/story/coronavirus-vs-flu), you might be feeling more worried than ever about coronavirus in the U.S. As an epidemiologist, I can’t blame you. “We expect we will see community spread [of the virus] in this country,” [Nancy Messonnier](https://www.cdc.gov/about/leadership/leaders/ncird.html), M.D., the director of the [National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases](https://www.cdc.gov/about/leadership/leaders/ncird.html) within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a press conference on February 25. “It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore but rather more a question of exactly when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illness.”\n\nThis coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2 when talking about the virus and COVID-19 when discussing the disease it causes) was first identified in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, when an unusual cluster of pneumonia cases sparked the outbreak investigation. At press time, there have been more than 81,100 reported cases of the infection in 38 countries and almost 2,800 deaths, according to the [World Health Organization](https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200226-sitrep-37-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=6126c0a4_2) (WHO). (The grand majority of cases and deaths have occurred in China.)\n\nIn the U.S., we’ve had 15 confirmed cases, according to the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html) (primarily in people who had traveled to China), in addition to 45 confirmed cases in people who were exposed elsewhere and evacuated back to the U.S. The majority of those cases are from the [Diamond Princess](https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s0215-Diamond-Princess-Repatriation.html), a cruise ship that was docked in Japan where individuals were quarantined for two weeks.\n\nThough we don’t have many novel coronavirus cases in the U.S. to date, this number is unlikely to remain low for long. And if you’ve heard rumors that the coming heat of spring and summer will reduce the risk, unfortunately, two virologists I chatted with said otherwise. “I am highly skeptical of the ‘viruses don't do well in heat’ thing,” [Angela Rasmussen](https://www.mailman.columbia.edu/research/center-infection-and-immunity/angela-rasmussen-phd), Ph.D., a virologist at Columbia University who has published research on coronaviruses, tells SELF, adding that MERS-CoV (a coronavirus that caused an epidemic, or increase in disease in one area) emerged in the Middle East between April and September 2012. [Jason Kindrachuk](http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/health_sciences/medicine/units/medical_microbiology/faculty/11351.html), Ph.D., a virologist at the University of Manitoba in Canada, made a similar point, telling SELF, “If we think about the various highly pathogenic avian influenza strains that have emerged out of China and Southeast Asia…it’s hard to argue that the change in weather will have a dramatic effect on transmission patterns and virus viability.”\n\nInstead, most scientists are coming to the reluctant conclusion that, globally, we need to start preparing for the possibility of a pandemic, or large-scale transmission of the virus that will occur in many areas of the world. While much of that preparation is up to our government and various political and medical leaders, there are a number of things that you can do to be proactive and prepared for coronavirus in the U.S.\n\n## **1\\. Get coronavirus updates only from reputable sources.**\nIt’s really important to use trustworthy sources to get your information. There are already a lot of unscientific and unproven myths swirling, along with people trying to sell things that won’t actually protect you from this coronavirus, like vitamin supplements, hazard gear, and fake treatments.\n\nThe [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) and [WHO](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019) are currently providing daily updates on the outbreak to report new cases, new countries affected, and new safety precautions to take when recommended. In the event that we see a big increase in cases of coronavirus in the U.S., these sources will have information about which areas are affected and what to do if you are at risk of being exposed. If social media is your preference over a website, they also have Twitter presences ([CDC](https://twitter.com/CDCgov) and [WHO](https://twitter.com/WHO), respectively). You can also seek out publications and journalists with a good track record of covering infectious disease news accurately. I like [Helen Branswell](https://twitter.com/HelenBranswell), a journalist who covered the 2003 SARS epidemic in Canada and knows her coronaviruses.\n\nAlso, be careful of what you share, and try to steer clear of conspiracy theories. We’ve already seen some far-out—and inaccurate—stories about the coronavirus take hold and spread like wildfire. My favorite to date involves a [space meteor](https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/no-coronavirus-didnt-come-from-space/) as a source of the virus—this is not true. As silly as that sounds, sometimes incorrect information about this coronavirus can do real harm. These stories can encourage [racism](https://www.cjr.org/analysis/covid-19-racism-china.php), [harm efforts to understand the virus](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-conspiracy/china-lab-says-conspiracy-theories-hurting-efforts-to-curb-virus-idUSKBN20E0UB), and stoke fear and knee-jerk reactions in place of logic and rational thinking.\n\n## **2\\. Create an emergency kit.**\nIt’s always a good idea to have an emergency kit on hand for your family for any type of potential disaster. The CDC has a robust [checklist](https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/checklists/kids-and-families.html) you can examine to make sure you’ve thought of all the needs for yourself, your family, and your pets.\n\nIdeally, your emergency kit would prepare you to manage for days to weeks if regular life and services are interrupted. The goal is to be able to make it through in the event that supplies run low or you need to shelter in place (during a quarantine, for example). In the case of a coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., supply chains may be disrupted based on international or domestic travel and trade restrictions, so it’s best to stock up on supplies now before any major shortages occur. That way, your local stores can reorder while there’s not a run on basic goods.\n\nConsider collecting essentials that will keep for an extended period of time and are easy to prepare, like rice, beans, pasta, and peanut butter. (The [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/checklists/kids-and-families.html) recommends at least a three-day supply.) Don’t forget extra water for cooking and drinking. (The [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/checklists/kids-and-families.html) suggests storing at least a gallon of water per person per day, and making sure you have at least three days’ worth for all of you.)\n\nIn addition to food and water, do you have a good flashlight? Essential medications? Food for your pets? Extra chargers for cell phones? A battery-operated radio in case of a power outage? Hard copies of reading material in case the internet is down and your devices are low on power? (While not technically a survival tool, if we have any kind of lockdown like they’re experiencing in Wuhan, you’ll want plenty of entertainment on hand.) You may also want to keep some cash ready to go in case ATMs are unavailable and you can’t access your bank.\n\nYou might be wondering if any type of face mask needs to be part of your emergency kit. The [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html) and [WHO](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks) both don’t suggest that healthy people wear face masks to try to prevent getting the new coronavirus. The current recommendation is to use a mask only if you are caring for someone who either has or is suspected to have the new coronavirus or if you have the virus yourself. Even N95 masks, which can block much smaller particles than regular face masks, aren’t recommended for healthy people who aren’t in these situations.\n\nN95 masks are more properly called [respirators](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirator-use-faq.html) to distinguish them from the looser, less protective surgical masks, and they are often used by health care workers. The average person doesn’t need them to protect against this coronavirus, Saskia Popescu, Ph.D., MPH, senior infection prevention epidemiologist at a Phoenix-based health care system, tells SELF. N95 masks aren’t great for use by the general public because they “require fit-testing to form a good seal,” she explains. Most individuals buying and using N95 masks at home will not have a proper fit, decreasing the effectiveness of the respirators. Health care workers, on the other hand, do receive this testing, and they’re much more likely to engage in procedures that create aerosolized respiratory particles that can transmit infections, like intubating someone, Popescu says. As there is a looming [N95 shortage](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/shortages-confusion-and-poor-communication-complicate-coronavirus-preparations/2020/02/25/d9e56396-575d-11ea-9b35-def5a027d470_story.html), it’s best to keep them available for the people who need them most so that they’re able to stay well and care for patients.\n\n## **3\\. Make (or brush up on) your emergency plans.**\nContact your local leaders and see what your community’s pandemic plan is—and whether they have one at all. Also consider discussing this with your employer. Do you have a job where you could [telecommute](https://www.self.com/story/remote-work-productivity-tips) if coronavirus in the U.S. becomes a real threat? If you can’t, how does your employer plan to keep you safe? If they don’t have this worked out yet, encourage them to get directions written down and provided to employees to prepare for the apparent inevitability of coronavirus in the U.S.\n\nYou should also think through your plans for any loved ones you care for. If you have [children](https://www.self.com/story/what-you-need-to-know-about-pneumonia-in-kids), do you know the plan if your local schools or other community centers close? Do you have young or elderly relatives who might need assistance in the event of an epidemic? What about relatives in a nursing home or other type of care center that may close or be understaffed if employees call in sick?\n\nThough we all hope to get through this with minimal disruption to our daily lives, it’s better to know what plans are already in place before anything strikes and which ones still need to be crafted in your community, place of employment, or in your home in preparation for an outbreak.\n\n## **4\\. Follow hygiene best practices.**\nAs I [previously wrote](https://www.self.com/story/coronavirus-vs-flu), actions that help protect you against seasonal [influenza](https://www.self.com/story/adult-vaccines) can also help protect against the novel coronavirus (and from spreading it or other illnesses). Per the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fguidance-prevent-spread.html), you should:\n\n- Wash your hands regularly. ([Here’s how to wash your hands properly](https://www.self.com/story/how-long-to-wash-hands), because there *is* a right way and a wrong way.)\n- Try not to touch your face and eyes.\n- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze. (Then wash your hands.)\n- Avoid close contact with people who are sick if possible.\n- Stay home from work or school if you’re sick.\n\nStock up on disinfectants as well. Although various disinfectants’ efficacy against this coronavirus hasn’t been proven experimentally, the [Environmental Protection Agency](https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/coronavirus-cases-trigger-epa-rapid-response) (EPA) has guidelines for when disinfectant companies can suggest that their products might be effective against emerging viral pathogens. Based on those guidelines (like demonstrated effectiveness against similar viruses), items you probably have in your home already, such as [Lysol](https://www.lysol.com/healthy-home/understanding-coronavirus/) and [Clorox bleach](https://www.clorox.com/how-to/disinfecting-sanitizing/cold-flu-other-diseases/help-prevent-the-spread-of-the-human-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/), might help kill this coronavirus on hard, non-porous surfaces.\n\n## **5\\. Try to keep it in perspective.**\nWe still don’t know exactly what will happen with the novel coronavirus in the coming weeks and months, but advance preparation is one way to channel anxiety about the unknown into action that may keep you and your family well if the virus spreads as anticipated. I’ll be hoping for the best but refilling my water jugs just in case.\n\n**_The situation with coronavirus is evolving rapidly. The advice and information in this story is accurate as of press time, but it's possible that some data points and recommendations have changed since publication. We encourage readers to stay up to date on news and recommendations for their community by checking with their local public health department._**\n\n**Related:**\n\n- [How Much Should You Actually Worry About This New Coronavirus?](https://www.self.com/story/coronavirus-vs-flu)\n- [Here Are All the Places You Can Get a Free Flu Vaccine Because It Is Time, Y’all](https://www.self.com/story/where-to-get-free-flu-vaccine)\n- [What Every Parent Needs to Know About Tamiflu](https://www.self.com/story/tamiflu-for-kids)\n\n"
<https://www.self.com/story/coronavirus-in-us>