The Latest: Case counts, symptom spotters, and what’s next
Dear Reader,
As expected, the coronavirus is now spreading widely in the U.S. Like many people around the world, I’m working from home for the foreseeable future. I’m fortunate that my pantry is stocked with non-perishables. What’s next?
Medium has you covered with science-backed reporting and advice to keep you healthy and safe. We launched The Medium Coronavirus Blog, a resource of essential Covid-19 information and analysis updated in real time, from across Medium and the web. All these stories bypass our paywall, so please feel free to forward this with anyone who might benefit. They can read for free, too.
What we know today:
- Case count: As of 10 a.m. EST on March 21 are 15,219 confirmed cases in the U.S. and 234,073 confirmed cases worldwide. There are surely more.
- Travel restrictions: The State Department has issued a severe travel advisory — level 4, which is rarely invoked — and is advising Americans to refrain from traveling abroad.
- Scam alert: The FDA warned the public on Friday about fraudulent Covid-19 test kits marketed for at-home testing. There are currently no authorized at-home tests.
To answer your pressing questions and help you understand the rapidly changing situation, we’ve curated some essential stories below.
The bottom line is, we are here for you. Take a deep breath, do a little prep, and of course, keep washing your hands.
Be well,
Alexandra Sifferlin
Editor, Medium Coronavirus Blog
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A Quick Q&A:
When will the coronavirus pandemic end?
There’s some speculation that the spread of coronavirus will subside with summer’s warmer weather, as happens with the flu and the common cold. But since the virus is brand new, health officials don’t know yet if that will also be the case for COVID-19. “At this time, we do not know whether the spread of COVID-19 will decrease when the weather warms up,” according to Harvard Medical School’s coronavirus resource center.
Currently, virus rates are dropping in China, where the outbreak first started spreading.
Read more answers to common Covid-19 questions here
Essential How-Tos:
Your Coronavirus Work-From-Home Wellness Plan
How to Tell If You Have the Flu, Coronavirus, or Something Else
What to Buy (and What to Skip) to Prepare for Coronavirus
Personal Dispatches From Around the World:
I Am Quarantined in Northern Italy. Here’s What It’s Like.
What It’s Like to Live in China During the Coronavirus Outbreak
What It’s Like to Be In Prison During the Covid-19 Epidemic
The Coronavirus Plague Seen from a Medieval Italian Monastery (daily updates)
I Am An ER Physician and I Have Covid-19
Panic Turns to Patience: Day 4 of Quarantine in Spain
Longer Reads:
The Coronavirus Called America’s Bluff
The World’s Most Powerful Supercomputer Has Entered the Fight Against Coronavirus
