The coronavirus (COVID-19) is at the forefront of most people’s minds. Both the healthcare community and the community at large are looking for answers. The Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians (JACEP) has published two papers about COVID-19. The first, “Novel Coronavirus 2019: Emergence and Implications for Emergency Care” is about the risk factors for transmitting the virus. The second, “Coronavirus Disease 2019: International Public Health Considerations” covers the public health concerns.
The lead study author of the first paper and assistant professor and director of global health for the Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of Utah, Dr. Matthew J. Fuller explains, “The impact of coronavirus is significant but pales in comparison to global influenza. Lessons learned from past outbreaks are instructive while risk factors for transmission of coronavirus are still being assessed.”
COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital in Wuhan, China presented with fever, cough, and shortness of breath. About 33% of these patients required intensive care, primarily for oxygen support. The people at the highest risk of getting the virus are those who have flu-like symptoms who were recently in China or near someone who was in China.
Transmission is thought to occur person-to-person via droplets from coughing or sneezing as well as from people touching infected surfaces and then touching their face.
The second paper covers the economic and social risks caused by COVID-19. Lead study author and assistant professor of global health and international emergency medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dr. Christopher J. Greene, says “Misinformation can spread just like a virus, obscuring communication from the international health community to medical professionals and the public. Everyone would like to avoid a scenario where anxiety drives public behavior change.”
Dr. Greene continues, “Effective public communication helps ensure compliance with quarantine directives or other instructions. It's important for health professionals to break through the noise to encourage people, especially those potentially at risk, to take appropriate precautionary measures and heed the recommendations of health professionals.”
The paper also discusses the indirect costs of an outbreak, like businesses closing and declines in tourism.