Grand County officials report they are working with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Centers of Disease Control to monitor the novel coronavirus.
According to Grand County Public Health, coronaviruses are actually a large family of viruses associated with respiratory illness that result in fever, cough and shortness of breath. These viruses spread by coughing or sneezing, much like the flu. Some coronaviruses are common in the U.S., and there are many types circulating in Colorado right now.
None of those are the virus that’s been making headlines in recent weeks, however. Rather, the one health experts are worried about is the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, first detected in China.
Experts have found symptoms appear within 2-14 days after exposure. The biggest fear right now is they do not know how severe the virus will be compared to other coronaviruses or how easily it can spread between humans.
So far, there has been limited person to person transmission in the United States, and people who have had close contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis are at the greatest risk of infection.
Currently, there are no cases of COVID-19 in Colorado, and the risk for Coloradans remains low.
As with other respiratory viruses, it is recommended that people protect themselves and others by practicing a few simple, everyday actions, including washing their hands, covering their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and avoiding close contact with anyone experiencing symptoms of illness.
Like other viruses, people are also advised to stay home if they feel sick and avoid touching their face.
For more, go to the CDC or World Health Organization websites.