Deadly Chinese coronavirus spreads easier than thought. Here’s how to protect yourself

Every day there seems to be a new development with the deadly 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

On Sunday, China’s health commission minister Ma Xiaowei said the virus can spread before an infected person ever shows symptoms, CNN reported.

“It means the infection is much more contagious than we originally thought,” Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told the outlet. “This is worse than we anticipated.”

Xiaowei also announced the virus’s ability to spread is getting stronger, adding that infections could continue to climb, Reuters reported.

With five confirmed cases in the U.S., — two in California and one in Washington, Illinois and Arizona — thousands infected globally, according to Reuters, and at least 56 killed in China, many are wondering what they can do to avoid catching the virus if it becomes more prominent stateside.

Here’s how to help prevent yourself from catching 2019 Novel Coronavirus:

How coronavirus spreads

Officials believe the coronavirus was initially transmitted from an animal to a human, the Centers for Disease Control says. Officials say they still aren’t sure how easily the virus spreads person-to-person.

Other respiratory viruses, like SARS or MERS, spread primarily when an infected person coughs or sneezes, much like the flu, according to the CDC.

Coronaviruses typically spread through close contact — a range of about 3 to 6 feet, NBC News reported.

Symptoms of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus include fever, cough and shortness of breath which manifest between two and 14 days after exposure, the CDC says.

How to protect yourself

The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer if the former isn’t available.

You should also steer clear of people who are sick and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, the CDC says. Also disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.

If you’re traveling, especially to China, the CDC advises staying away from animals, animal markets and products that come from animals.

While photos of people in China wearing surgical masks permeate the news, experts say these masks typically only keep infected persons from spreading the virus, not uninfected persons from getting it, EuroNews reported.

Only biological grade masks can help prevent people from getting the virus, according to the outlet. Dr. Nathalie MacDermott told EuroNews that other cheaper masks “become damp as we breathe, and if someone were to cough on them, it could make matters worse.”

If you are infected

If you’ve traveled to China in the last 14 days and have experienced fever, cough or difficulty breathing, the CDC says to avoid contact with others and to call your doctor’s office or emergency room immediately to let them know about your condition before you go in.

Wearing a mask can also help prevent respiratory droplets from spreading, EuroNews reported.

“If you’re unwell and you wear a mask yes it can be effective because obviously you’re not coughing into your hand, so you’re not going to shake someone else’s hand... you interrupt that method of transmission,” MacDermott told the outlet

There’s no treatment and no vaccine for the virus, according to the CDC, but infected persons can still receive care that will help alleviate symptoms.

This story was originally published January 26, 2020 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Deadly Chinese coronavirus spreads easier than thought. Here’s how to protect yourself."