b'| INFECTIOUS DISEASE GUIDECoronavirusAs instances of the deadly respiratory illness continue to mount globally, how safe are the public and healthcare providers? By Joe DarrahA lthough the general risk of contracting the 2019 novel coronavirus remains relatively low for most people, each confirmed case continues to raise considerable concern and with it an increased risk. As of March 24, more than 410,000 cases had been confirmed globally, with reports of more than 18,000 deaths occurring. In the United States alone, just over 50,000 cases were confirmed, with 622 deaths attributed to COVID-19 1First identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, the 2019 virus is the newest known form of all the coronavirusesa large family of viruses that can infect humans or animals with moderate-to-severe respiratory infectionsand is believed to be most commonly spread through respiratory droplets produced during a cough or sneeze, close personal contact, or touching an object or surface contaminated with the virus and then touching ones mouth or eyes ISTOCK before appropriate hand washing.www.elitecme.com |2020| INFECTIOUS DISEASE GUIDE 7'