Background:

• First detected in China. Has now been detected in almost 70 countries, including in Canada.

• The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

• The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern

Origin and spread:

• According to the WHO, Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats.

• The CDC says: “Early on, many of the patients at the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread.”

• Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread. 

• Symptoms vary from mild illness with fever, cough, shortness of breath and sometimes diarrhea, to severe pneumonia, multiple organ failure and death, about seven to 10 days after symptoms start.

Differentiating the Coronavirus from the flu: While seasonal influenza cannot be stopped, the window is still open for governments all around the world to limit cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel virus.

“This virus is not SARS, it’s not MERS, and it’s not influenza,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a briefing on Tuesday, March 3, referencing other coronaviruses that have caused smaller outbreaks. “It is a unique virus with unique characteristics.”

“We don’t even talk about containment for seasonal flu — it’s just not possible,” Tedros said. “But it is possible for Covid-19. We don’t do contact-tracing for seasonal flu — but countries should do it for Covid-19, because it will prevent infections and save lives. Containment is possible.”

“We believe this decline is real,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO coronavirus expert. And with such interventions, she said, “we believe that this is possible in other countries,” including in Canada where cases are increasing, though gradually.

Situation in Canada:

• Imported cases of COVID-19 in travelers have been detected in Canada.

• As of March 7, 2020, 49 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Canada (including Ontario 28; British Columbia 19; Québéc 2).

• Many corporations have banned international travel.

Current risk assessment: According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the risk to Canadians remains relatively low, as of March 7, 2020. Additionally, PHAC has said, “risk to Canadian travelers abroad is generally low but will vary depending on the destination.” None of that is doing much to abate public fear, panic or paranoia.

The big picture: Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus globally has passed the 100,000 mark, as it continues spreading to new countries. Health organizations from around the world are primarily attempting to contain the outbreak to China and are seeing a slowdown of reported infection cases. To date, more than 3400 people have died globally from the virus. Yet, importantly, of the more than 102,000 cases to date, nearly 60,000 of those infected have recovered. There are currently 41,000 active cases.

As things stand, we do not need to start panicking about coronavirus, at least not yet.

• The best ways to avoid getting the coronavirus are the same things you’d do to avoid getting the flu: Wash your hands with soap and water for roughly the length of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice, and stay away from work, school or other crowded places if you’re sick. We must all stay vigilant and responsible.

• Keep your emotions in check. Covid-19 appears to be deadlier than seasonal influenza, but far less deadly than SARS, MERS or Ebola.

• If a pandemic does begin in Canada, even more businesses may begin to embrace telecommunications as a way to conduct meetings, schools may ultimately need to cancel classes, and local governments may want to reschedule large events.

• Start thinking about your own contingency plans for your home and social life.

An excellent video whiteboard by the WHO explains what they know here. This second video is of how we can protect ourselves.

Lastly, unmasked: On Saturday March 9 (via The NY Times), Jerome M. Adams, the United States surgeon general urged the public to stop buying masks, warning that it won’t help against the spread of the coronavirus but will take away important resources from health care professionals. He used Twitter to express: “Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS!”

In another tweet, Dr. Adams advised that the best way to protect against the virus is to wash hands regularly, and for those who are feeling ill to stay home.