STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – New cases of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, continue to be diagnosed each day in the United States -- and the numbers in New York continue to rise -- but who is most at risk?
Though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has continued to stress that the virus is currently not spreading wildly in the United States and risk for most people at this time is low, certain circumstances will increase your risk of becoming ill, the agency warns.
The CDC also warns that “current global circumstances suggest it is likely that this virus will cause a pandemic. It is a rapidly evolving situation and risk management will need to be updated accordingly."
The World Health Organization says that you can best protect yourself from the coronavirus and all other respiratory viruses by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face and staying away from people who are coughing and sneezing.
Coronavirus: Full coverage on SILive.com
The virus has caused illness resulting in death and sustained person-to-person spread – two of the three criteria of a pandemic. As community spread is detected in more and more countries, the world moves closer toward meeting the third criteria -- worldwide spread of the new virus, the CDC says.
At this time, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no medications approved to treat it.
Though risk is low for most people in the United States, those at higher risk for contracting the virus include:
-- People in communities where ongoing community spread with the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported are at elevated, though still relatively low risk of exposure.
-- Healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at elevated risk of exposure.
-- Close contact with people who have COVID-19 also are at elevated risk of exposure.
Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring also are at elevated risk of exposure.
Those at greater risk of complications, or even death, from the coronavirus include:
-- Senior citizens.
-- Those with existing medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or breathing problems.
What could happen?
More cases of coronavirus are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States, according to the CDC.
It’s also likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur, including in communities in the United States. It’s likely that at some point, widespread transmission of the illness in the United States will occur.
Should widespread transmission occur, large numbers of people will need medical care at the same time, and public health and healthcare systems may become overloaded, with elevated rates of hospitalizations and deaths.
Schools, childcare centers and workplaces and other places for mass gatherings may experience more absenteeism. Other critical infrastructure, such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and the transportation industry may also be affected, the CDC predicts.
CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
- Health Department tracking down possible contacts of second confirmed coronavirus case
- Coronavirus risk ‘remains low’ in NYC; same-day testing now available, officials say
- Coronavirus: New cleaning protocols set for schools across New York
- Staten Island hospitals preparing for coronavirus; testing could be done on S.I.
- MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus
- 2nd confirmed N.Y. coronavirus case; Cuomo to amend sick paid leave bill
- Cuomo orders insurance companies to waive cost sharing for coronavirus testing
- Coronavirus preparation on Staten Island: What you can do
- Student safety: Here’s how NYC schools are working to combat coronavirus