COVID-19: Update | RxWiki

(RxWiki News) The spread of coronavirus continues to make headlines.

Cases of COVID-19, first detected in China, have now been reported in 35 states in the US. As of Tuesday morning, states that were not reporting cases included Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Alaska, Michigan, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Ohio, Louisiana, West Virginia and Maine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at publication time, 423 coronavirus cases and 19 related deaths had been reported in the United States. The two most recent deaths were in Florida. The other deaths occurred in California (one) and Washington state (16).

Symptoms of COVID-19 include the following:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. Call your doctor if you notice any of the listed symptoms and you have:

• Been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or
• Recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19

Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself:

• Avoid large crowds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash your hands frequently. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Speak with your health care provider if you have any questions.