Coronavirus Update - WHO Situation Report - February 7, 2020

The number of cases of Coronavirus continues to rise.

In China, the doctor who first called attention to the virus has died, reportedly from the virus.  His death has sparked a backlash against China's censorship of him and others who were punished after providing early warning.

Update from World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200207-sitrep-18-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=fa644293_2
Novel Coronavirus(2019-nCoV) Situation Report – 18  - February 7, 2020

SITUATION IN NUMBERS total and new cases in last 24 hours
 Globally
              31 481 confirmed (3205 new) 
China
             31 211 confirmed (3151 new) 
              4821 severe (962 new)   
               637 deaths (73 new)
Outside of China     
                270 confirmed (54 new)       
                  24 countries         
                    1 death  .
      United States - 12 confirmed
      Canada - 7 confirmed



HIGHLIGHTS

• No new countries reported cases of 2019-nCoV in the past 24 hours.
• To date, a total of 72 States Parties were identified to be implementing travel restrictions through official reports, official statements and the media. Of these 72 States Parties, WHO received 23 (32%) official reports from States Parties about their travel restrictions.
• The Pandemic Supply Chain Network (PSCN)” has commissioned a market assessment of the personal protective equipment market which will be distributed shortly to stakeholders of the PSCN as it continues to monitor the market. Additionally, senior management of WHO spoke with the stakeholders of the PSCN to ensure the private sector’s continued engagement to distribute supplies to those countries in most need. The PSCN will encourage manufacturers to increase production, commit supplies to frontline health emergency responders, and expand the number of stakeholders who are involved in the PSCN to gain a critical mass of suppliers to mitigate the operational risks within the market. WHO will continue to provide the technical guidance and coordination of supplies to those countries in most need.

Q and A - https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses found in both animals and humans. Some infect people and are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

A novel coronavirus (CoV) is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. The new, or “novel” coronavirus, now called 2019-nCoV, had not previously detected before the outbreak was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

How dangerous is it?

As with other respiratory illnesses, infection with 2019-nCoV can cause mild symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. It can be more severe for some persons and can lead to pneumonia or breathing difficulties. More rarely, the disease can be fatal. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as, diabetes and heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

 The new coronavirus is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily through contact with an infected person through respiratory droplets generated when a person, for example, coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. It is important that everyone practice good respiratory hygiene. For example, sneeze or cough into a flexed elbow, or use a tissue and discard it immediately into a closed bin.  It is also very important for people to wash their hands regularly with either alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.