The Coronavirus Outbreak in China: What We Know So Far
TLDR The coronavirus outbreak in China has led to strict measures to contain the virus, with cases reported in other countries. The virus is similar to a bat virus, likely emerged recently, and is mainly spread through close contact.
Timestamped Summary
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The coronavirus outbreak in China has led to thousands of confirmed cases and hundreds of deaths, with the country going into crisis mode and implementing strict measures to contain the virus, while cases have also been reported in other countries around the world.
03:40
The coronavirus outbreak in China has led to a doctor being sent to help stop the virus from spreading, with patients experiencing severe symptoms and a fatality rate estimated to be between 2% to 4%.
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Chinese researchers have found that the coronavirus is similar to a virus found in bats, suggesting that bats may be the source of the virus, and it is likely that there was an intermediate host before it jumped to humans.
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The coronavirus is a new virus that emerged recently, likely in November, and spread rapidly, contradicting the idea that it had been simmering for a long time before being discovered.
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Most coronaviruses are spread through droplets, but scientists are still learning about the transmission of this new coronavirus and believe that it is currently spread through close contact rather than being airborne.
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Masks may provide some protection against the virus, but they should not be relied upon as the sole means of prevention, as good hand washing and avoiding contact with sick individuals are also important measures to take.
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The risk of the virus in the United States is currently low, but the worst-case scenario would be if the virus starts spreading to people who haven't been in China, which could lead to an international outbreak. Contact tracing is being done to identify and isolate infected individuals and their contacts, and China's extreme measures to control the outbreak may or may not be effective. It will take at least a year to develop a vaccine.
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It is still too early to determine the severity and trajectory of the outbreak, but we do know that the virus is currently killing 2-4% of infected individuals and is mainly spreading through coughing and touching.