Coronavirus is not a new virus; however, the current strain is new, called the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Coronavirus was originally thought to be an animal-to-animal transmitted virus, but it is now transmitted between humans via infected secretions, such as respiratory and nasal.
Symptoms of coronavirus may present similar to the flu, with the biggest differentiator in diagnosis being a person’s travel history or exposure to someone with the virus.
The incubation period for coronavirus may be up to 14 days, which is much longer than the several day-incubation period of typical viruses.
There is currently no treatment and no vaccine for coronavirus. Patients are treated with fluids and rest. As with any serious illness, you should stay at home if you’re sick, and wash your hands frequently.
If you suspect you may have the coronavirus, call your doctor immediately for instructions on where to go to be evaluated. You should not go to crowded places such as the emergency department, unless you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing or dehydration.