There are still no confirmed cases in New York State and little evidence the disease is spreading anywhere in the United States.
The rate of new, confirmed infections globally is making the likelihood of disease containment within the United States increasingly remote, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
"This is a rapidly changing picture," said Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein. "We are working on this every day, constantly, internally and with our partners, with health care providers and with the state."
While the vast majority of people who contract the new coronavirus recover – rough mortality rate estimates currently hover around 3% or less – health officials remain deeply concerned because a small percentage can still translate into a large number of deaths as the disease becomes more widespread. While nearly 3,000 individuals have died from the virus, most of those deaths have occurred in China.
Containing and tracking the virus is difficult because many infected individuals can show relatively mild symptoms commonly associated with the flu – or in children, no symptoms at all – and can unknowingly spread the disease. Many health experts predict the "coronavirus disease 2019," commonly called COVID-19, will eventually be labeled a global pandemic.
"Realistically, it’s going to be impossible to keep out," Burstein said. "It’s not just China anymore."
Symptoms of the illness include fever, coughing and shortness of breath. The virus can lead to more serious respiratory issues for high-risk populations such as the elderly and those who have pre-existing chronic health conditions.
Congress is expected to allocate billions toward fighting the disease's spread, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo has allocated $40 million in emergency funds to help mitigate the disease's impact in New York State. Cuomo also proposed legislation to give state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker more authority to ensure local health departments and public and private hospitals statewide take proper measures to respond to an outbreak.
Meanwhile, Burstein said the county Health Department is working to knock down online rumors and lies and facilitate information sharing.
Health officials are also beginning worst-case scenario planning that would include sharply scaling back community gatherings, including in schools and workplaces, since no vaccine will be ready for roughly a year. There is no medication to treat this virus post-infection so curbing social interaction to prevent the spread of the disease is the primary alternative, she said.
"Enhanced social distancing" measures range from discouraging large business meetings, large school gatherings and public celebrations to encouraging businesses to have their employees telecommute, having school districts close their buildings and offer virtual classes instead, and having health care providers perform more patient diagnoses by phone or video.
"Right now, the biggest risk is close contact," Burstein said. "Until we know more, that’s where we’re starting off."
Public health officials are also hammering home the necessity of personal responsibility for disease containment. They have been repeating the same message over and over: Stay home and isolate yourself if you feel sick. Wash your hands often and stay away from people who are sick or appear sick.
———
©2020 The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Visit The Buffalo News (Buffalo, N.Y.) at www.buffalonews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
