1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:05,120 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Katie Curic, and welcome to Next Question Today. 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: Now to growing concerns about the deadly coronavirus officially hitting 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 1: the US. Los Angeles County, where ten million people live, 4 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: has declared a public health emergency. In Washington State, they 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: are confirming now the first US death. There is a 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: confirmed case here in New York City. Coronavirus is now 7 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: in the nation's capital, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts. What 8 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,639 Speaker 1: began as a distant and mysterious illness in China at 9 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: the end of twenty nineteen has made its way around 10 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: the world and is now spreading across the US. As 11 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: of this recording, the majority of states have confirmed cases 12 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 1: of coronavirus that range from a few to hundreds. Here 13 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: in New York City, where I live, there at least 14 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: thirty six confirmed cases, and Mayor Bill de Blasio says 15 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: they're coming in intensely. Just this week, I had my 16 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: own brush with the virus, which is now officially called 17 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen. On Saturday, March seven, I ran into an 18 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: old friend, Rick Cotton, who's the head of the New 19 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,320 Speaker 1: York and New Jersey Port Authority. Two days later news 20 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: broke that he had tested positive for COVID nineteen. We 21 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: only had seen each other on the street very briefly 22 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: and didn't have any physical contact, but still, in this climate, 23 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: you can never be too careful. After I heard the news, 24 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: I immediately went home and called the c d C. 25 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: I also called the New York State Department of Health 26 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: and spoke to my own doctor as well. In addition 27 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: to them, I spoke to the first guest on this podcast. 28 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: They all assured me I was at very low risk 29 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: for contracting COVID nineteen and there was no need to 30 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: self quarantine. So I'll continue to take the same precautions 31 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: as you are, hopefully washing my hands, staying away from 32 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: large crowds, and monitoring my symptoms. But all of this 33 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 1: leads me to my next question, what is coronavirus and 34 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: how can we protect ourselves and our loved ones. To 35 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: understand more about COVID nineteen, I called up someone who's 36 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: working on the front lines of this outbreak. Hi Maria, Hi, 37 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: how are you to be there? So nice to hear 38 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: your voice, you too. Dr Maria van Kirkhove is ahead 39 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: of the Outbreak Investigation Task Force for the World Health Organization. 40 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: She lives in Switzerland, but she traveled to China just 41 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: a few weeks ago to study the virus. How would 42 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: you assess the current situation with an understanding that it 43 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:43,839 Speaker 1: seems to change almost by the hour. Yes, so this 44 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: is an evolving situation, you know. So this is this 45 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: is an outbreak that began in December UM with a 46 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: cluster of patients with pneumonia UM in Wuhan, China, and 47 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: then it has spread to other parts of China. UM 48 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: over the course of the month. In January, there were 49 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: case says that were being detected in other parts of 50 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: the world, mainly in Asia to begin with, but also 51 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: in other countries. And this started with a travel link. UM. 52 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 1: And this is we we we found cases that were 53 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: identified in a number of countries, and the outbreak has 54 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: grown since then. UM. What is interesting is that this 55 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: is a new virus. UM. Very early on, the first 56 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:26,679 Speaker 1: cases were alerted to US in late December early January, 57 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: but within a week, within one week, the Chinese authorities 58 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: were able to identify that this was a new pathogen. 59 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: This was a novel coronavirus. That's where that word comes from. UM. 60 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: And that and that's very important. So they were able 61 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: to identify that within a week using full genome sequencing, 62 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: was looking at the parts of the virus itself UM, 63 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: and in finding that new virus, they were able to 64 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: share that with the world and say, this is a 65 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: novel pathogen. Here's the sequence, which they made publicly available, 66 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: and that allowed countries all over the world to develop 67 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: PCR tests for laboratory detection tests so that they could 68 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: start looking for that virus. What exactly is a pathogen? Ah, 69 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: so the pathogen that we we normally call these pathogenes 70 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: either viruses or bacteria. This new pathogen happens to be 71 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: a virus. I lead a group on emerging diseases and zoonoses, 72 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: and most of the new viruses that we find come 73 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: from animals and they they spill over from an animal 74 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: to human, and we were constantly on the lookout for 75 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 1: new pathogens, new viruses that are infecting humans. Let's talk 76 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 1: about this one. What animal was responsible for the coronavirus? 77 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: As of today, we don't know, UM, but there's a 78 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: lot of investigations right now that are looking for what 79 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: was the animal source of this outbreak? UM. This is 80 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: a coronavirus, and we know that coronaviruses have a link 81 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: back to bats um. Most viruses, most viruses come from baths, 82 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 1: but coronaviruses come from baths initially. But what we think 83 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: happened here is that there was another animal, or what 84 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: we call an intermediary host, that animal was infected, and 85 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: that animal was responsible for infecting humans. There's a lot 86 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 1: of investigations underway in animal markets because some of the 87 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: initial cases in December UM had reported a link to 88 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: one particular market, and so that gave us a clue 89 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: that there could be an animal force. Tell us about 90 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: how contagious this is compared to other pathogens you've just 91 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: you've studied. So this is this This virus causes a 92 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: respiratory disease, and so people who get sick have respiratory symptoms. 93 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: And the way that it's transmitted between people is through 94 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: droplets um, which means if you cough or if you 95 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: sneeze on somebody, you are releasing some of these droplets 96 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: from your mouth, these little droplets of fluid, and those 97 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: droplets can go into the eye, his nose, and mouth 98 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: of someone else if they're in close distance to you. 99 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: Not in the air, but in they're actually in there 100 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: within three feet of you or so UM and so 101 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: if you're common contact with an infected person UM, you 102 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: could potentially be infected by them. And what we know 103 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: about this virus is that for every person who's infected, 104 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: on average, they infect two to two and a half 105 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: more people, and that means that you have the possibility 106 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: for this outpret to take off. What's important to know 107 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: here is that um it's a new virus, which means 108 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: everyone is susceptible UM and so what we're trying to 109 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: do with all of the information that we put out 110 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,239 Speaker 1: is to try to tell individuals what they can do 111 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: to protect themselves from being infected. So everyone is susceptible 112 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: because nobody has built up the immunities to prevent them 113 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: from getting this virus. Having said that, um it doesn't 114 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: seem as dangerous for young children as far as everything 115 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: I've read, um and it's much more dangerous for either 116 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: older people or those who have compromised immune systems. Is 117 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: that accurate? Yes, that's right. What we know from initial 118 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: data is yes, indeed, young children seem to not be 119 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: infected as much UM or develop severe disease. So most 120 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: of the children that we are learning about that are 121 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: infected UM have a mild disease. We do know that 122 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: people of older ages over sixty seventy eight years old UH, 123 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: and people who have underlying conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, 124 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: chronic respiratory diseases have a higher risk of severe disease 125 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: and death. You mentioned how it can be transferred from 126 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: human to human. A lot of people are also concerned, 127 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: Marie about how long it stays on surfaces. UM, what 128 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: are you learning about that? So we are learning that 129 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: this virus can stay on surfaces. So one of the 130 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: ways that it gets on surfaces is if you cough 131 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: or if you sneeze, These droplets come out of your 132 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: mouth and they move some distance from you and then 133 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: they settle down on surfaces UM, you know, like a tabletop, 134 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: UM or a door knob for example. But they can 135 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: be killed by disinfectants. So it's very important that surfaces 136 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: are clean regularly with the chlorine bleach for example, UM, 137 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: and then you can remove the virus from those surfaces. 138 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: And what are you learning about the lifespan? Because I've 139 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: heard everything from a few hours to several weeks in general, 140 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: it's a few hours. I mean, well, it could be 141 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: a few hours. I should qualify what that means. It 142 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: doesn't mean one or two hours. It could be up 143 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 1: to a day or two. That's still hours. But that 144 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 1: sounds like a really long time, doesn't it. I think, Katie, 145 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: what's important is for people to know that they have 146 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: some control over this. You know that they can um 147 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: protect themselves, they can protect their families in a simple way. 148 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: Is is regularly disinfecting your word space. You know, if 149 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,559 Speaker 1: you look at your keyboard and you look at your 150 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: phone surface, making sure that that's clean, making sure your 151 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: handlebars are are cleaned a few times per day, making 152 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: sure you wash your hands. I mean, I know what 153 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: people must be so tired of us saying this, but 154 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: washing your hands with soap and water is a lifesaver, 155 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: not just for COVID nineteen but for many things. And 156 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: if you can't wash your hands, making sure you use 157 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: an alcohol rub well. You know you mentioned and I 158 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: noticed that things that are are cleansers are Purel. Sorry 159 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: to use a brand name, but they're antibacterial. And if 160 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: this is a virus, how does Purel protect you from 161 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: from it? If it's in fact antibacterial. Well there are 162 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: with the alcohol that's in these alcohol rubs, Um, you 163 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: are removing that virus from from your hands. I mean, 164 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: the best thing for you to do is wash your 165 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: hands with soap and water and make sure you follow 166 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: the steps and you get all of the surfaces of 167 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: your hands and you can remove those viruses from your hands. 168 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: But the alcohol rubbed alcohol has to be six or 169 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: above alcohol and that will remove that virus from the 170 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: from your hands. You were very kind to talk to 171 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: me after I realized I had a sixty to ninety 172 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 1: second conversation with someone who was later diagnosed with coronavirus 173 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: and was probably about three feet away, didn't touch and 174 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: basically just had a casual conversation. Can you please direct 175 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: some of what you would say to people who are 176 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:38,079 Speaker 1: panicked that I actually, you know, was talking to somebody 177 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: who was later diagnosed with coronavirus who at the time 178 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: was it was asymptomatic. Yeah. So, so, first of all, 179 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: it's it's important to acknowledge that people are scared. You know, 180 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: there's a lot of information that's out there, UM, some 181 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: of it is accurate, much of it is inaccurate, UM, 182 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: And people are scared. It's a new dis ease, it's 183 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: a new virus UM, it's spreading around the world, and 184 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: people people can be quite fearful of that. What's important 185 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,560 Speaker 1: for us to understand is, you know, why are people scared? 186 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: What is it that makes them scared? To try to 187 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: address some of those UM. The thing that you you've 188 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: mentioned is you you've indicated the type of exposure that 189 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,199 Speaker 1: you may have had or you did have with this individual. 190 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: Knowing what the risk is UM is really important. So 191 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,959 Speaker 1: you've indicated you know, the person was asymptomatic, you were 192 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: more than three feet away. It was a very it 193 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: was a very short encounter. You know. Putting all that 194 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: into context, what's important for everyone to do is to 195 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 1: assess their own risks. You know, look at what their 196 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: exposure was, UM, what their potential exposure was, because most 197 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: of the times it's even potential exposure is not actually 198 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: real exposure to the virus. And then there's certain things 199 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,960 Speaker 1: you need to take into consideration. What is your age, 200 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: what are your underlying conditions? UM? And then what do 201 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: I do? So if you are concerned, what should I do? UM? 202 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 1: And I think it's important that people know that they 203 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: can contact their local health authorities UM Departments of Health. UM. 204 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 1: You know within the US you have the U s C, 205 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: d C. There are hotlines that you can call. You 206 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: can call your own GP and ask the questions that 207 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 1: here's here's my concern, here's my potential risk. What should 208 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: I do? We need people to know what they can do. 209 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: And what is different about this virus compared to flu 210 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: is that containment is not possible with influenza, but containment 211 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 1: is possible with this coronavirus. And the reason we can 212 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: say that is because we've seen such incredible efforts by 213 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: a number of countries, including China UM that have really 214 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: showed us that transmission can be reduced, case numbers can 215 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: go down, and in many parts of China they have 216 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: their zero reporting cases. So what are they doing right? 217 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:01,559 Speaker 1: They have their entire population mobilized to against this. Every 218 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: single person in the population knows what they can do 219 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 1: in terms of these three things I mentioned, handwashing, respiratory etiquette, 220 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:12,559 Speaker 1: social distancing. UM. They're Chinese authorities and other countries. Is 221 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: not just China that has shown us. Singapore is another 222 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: good example. UM. They've shown that if you identify all 223 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: of your cases and all of your contacts UM, and 224 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 1: that they're isolated so that that you remove them from 225 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: transmitting to other people, UM care for them, making sure 226 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: they get appropriate clinical care, making sure that they're communicated 227 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: with and so that they know what their risk is, 228 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: and and and by keeping them either in quarantine or isolation, 229 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: that they're they're performing a public health good. There's been 230 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: a lot of suspension of public gatherings UM, and there's 231 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: been some movement restrictions in several temporary movement restrictions in 232 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: many cities across China, and so all of those that 233 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: combination of of UM efforts has has driven down transmission UM. 234 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 1: In some situations has been quite dream and we've seen 235 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: that in Wuhan where we've seen a total lockdown of 236 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: some cities, and you're hearing about some of this happening 237 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: in Italy as well. But that restriction of movements of 238 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:14,199 Speaker 1: individuals prevents the spread UM of the viruses. So what 239 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: we're doing for all countries, Katie, is we're talking to 240 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: all of governments UM and saying the more aggressive action 241 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: you have early on, the better chances you have to 242 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,760 Speaker 1: stop the outbreaks of starting UM. And we have evidence 243 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: that this works in several countries and we want to 244 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: see that happen in the rest of the world. So 245 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: you mentioned UH self quarantine or quarantining populations. When should 246 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,800 Speaker 1: self quarantine or any kind of quarantine be put into effect? 247 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: Who makes recommendations on this? But it's up to national 248 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: governments to implements, and different governments have implemented different measures 249 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: in this respect, so it's important to follow the national 250 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: guidance of what each country recommends. UM. What you did 251 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: in a perfect example of this is that you had 252 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: an exposure and you went home and you self isolated 253 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: or you self quarantine. You went home and that was 254 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: a good measure before you and then you made those 255 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 1: phone calls to say, okay, what is my risk UM? 256 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: What we recommend It depends on the type of exposure 257 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: you have. If you're a contact of a known case UM, 258 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: then we recommend a quarantining of that individual so that 259 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 1: there's no chance of them passing it on to another individual. 260 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: They're monitored for fourteen days, which is the incubation period, 261 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: which is the time from UM infection to the development 262 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: of symptoms UM, so that for over those fourteen days, 263 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: people are monitored and they're checked for symptoms to make 264 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: sure if they have any fever or if they have 265 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: any respiratory symptoms, and then tested. If we do that, 266 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: if we actually find all of the cases, find all 267 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: of the context, and we we can by doing that, 268 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: we can actually stop transmission from from happening. We can 269 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: stop human to human transmission from happening. So, not to 270 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: make it all about me, but I did have contact 271 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: with a known case, was it Maria because it was 272 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: before the diagnosis was confirmed, or because I had very 273 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: limited exposure that I would not have to be quarantined 274 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: because everyone said that wasn't necessary. So it's it's both. 275 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: I mean, it's like, like you explain, it's the nature 276 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: of the exposure that you would have with someone, and 277 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: if they had symptoms themselves, um, what type of contact 278 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: you had with them, if you had physical contact with them. Um. 279 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: You know, one of the things we most worry about 280 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: our health care workers. You know, health care workers who 281 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: are our frontline workers. They have a different type of 282 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: contact with patients right there, touching them, They're very close 283 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: to them, they're spending a longer period of time with them, etcetera. 284 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: That's right, that's right, And so it's important that you 285 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 1: assess the risk based on that level of exposure that 286 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: you had. I know that a person can be infected, 287 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: but asymptomatic can the can the virus spread when someone 288 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:04,160 Speaker 1: is asymptomatic before a diagnosis has taken place? And how 289 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: difficult has that been that the incubation period is so long. 290 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 1: So this is a very good question, and this is 291 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 1: a very important one. UM. We are working with all 292 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: of our member states to better understand three things. One, 293 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: when cases are reported, UM, are any of them reported 294 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 1: as being asymptomatic And what I mean by asymptomatic is 295 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: having no symptoms at all UM. And what we're finding 296 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: in some countries a small number of individuals are being 297 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: reported as asymptomatic UM. Most of those people are contexts 298 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: of known cases UM, and so the good the good 299 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:46,119 Speaker 1: news there is that they've they've already been identified. Many 300 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 1: of them have either self isolated at home or are 301 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 1: in quarantine, and so they're already UM restricting their their 302 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: their contact with other people. Many of those asymptomatic people 303 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 1: do go on to develop symptoms. So having one that's 304 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 1: truly asymptomatic UM. Among the reported cases that we know 305 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 1: about is rare. UM. What we know from virus shedding studies, 306 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 1: and these are studies of looking at people where you 307 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: test them regularly, you take a sample from their nasal 308 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 1: swab or their throats. UM. We're looking at those individuals 309 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 1: before they develop symptoms, if there's any virus there, and 310 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: then after they develop symptoms. And what we know is 311 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: from some people, UM, they can shed virus, which means 312 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 1: they can they are shedding virus before they develop symptoms. UM. 313 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 1: So there is a theoretical risk. There's a possibility that 314 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,199 Speaker 1: someone who is asymptomatic and transmit, but right now we 315 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: don't believe that that's a major driver of transmission because 316 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: we do not have many documented instances where someone who 317 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: is asymptomatic transmitted to other people. Do you think that 318 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: this will diminish as the weather gets warmer, Um, that's 319 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: a good question. I get that question quite a lot. UM. 320 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: The true answer is we don't know. UM. We have 321 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: no reason to believe that this virus will act differently 322 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,480 Speaker 1: UM in different climates. You know, we're seeing cases being 323 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: popping up in different types of climates. UM. We have 324 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 1: a couple of cases in Africa. We've seen cases in Singapore. 325 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,919 Speaker 1: We've seen some cases in Brazil, UM, and so we 326 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 1: want everyone to be ready and to be aggressive and 327 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: to assume that it will behave the same way. The 328 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: difference with with with not the virus, but there are 329 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,919 Speaker 1: differences in the way people behave When the weather is nicer, 330 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,360 Speaker 1: they spend more time outdoors as opposed to being indoors. 331 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: So we will have to see how this virus behaves 332 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:40,919 Speaker 1: once the northern hemisphere winter ends. But remember the southern 333 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: hemisphere winter will begin. So UM, we want to make 334 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: sure everyone is acting as aggressively as possible to contain 335 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: this virus and to stop transmission. And I know you 336 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 1: have to go, you have such important work to do, Maria. 337 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: But could this surpass the flu in terms of the 338 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: mortality rate Because everyone keeps comparing the number of deaths 339 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 1: due to of flu versus this UM is it just 340 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: still early early stages. So mortality of of COVID nineteen 341 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: is higher than flu UM. From all of the information 342 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,919 Speaker 1: that we have from across the country's um more people, 343 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: the mortality rate is higher than flu UM. What is 344 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: really important that from all the cases that we know 345 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 1: UM to date, eighty percent of them have experienced what 346 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: is more of a mild moderate disease which is not 347 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: require hospitalization, but about individuals will develop severe disease or 348 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 1: critical disease which will require some respiratory support UM and hospitalization, 349 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:44,359 Speaker 1: perhaps ventilation, UM, and then a small proportion will have 350 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: died so far, UM. What we need people to understand 351 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 1: is that this is a serious disease. UM, that it 352 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: can cause severe disease and it can kill UM. And 353 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: so we hear a lot I hear a lot of Oh, 354 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: it's maybe just the flu, or it's just the add flu. 355 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 1: It's not that we need everybody to understand that maybe 356 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: even their own individual risk. Maybe you are young, maybe 357 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: you are healthier, in your family is healthy, and that's wonderful. 358 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 1: But if you prevent prevent yourself from getting infected, you 359 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 1: also prevent yourself from transmitting into somebody else who may 360 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 1: be part of a vulnerable population, somebody who may be older, 361 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: somebody who may have an underlying condition. And so that's 362 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: really important. Again, we all have a role to play here. 363 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: If we can minimize our own risk of infection, then 364 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: we can minimize that spread to vulnerable populations, and those 365 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: individuals have a higher chance of death. How do you 366 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:41,440 Speaker 1: make people cautious but not so paralyzed with fear? And 367 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: I know you want people to take it seriously, but 368 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: you don't want mass panic and hysteria either. Absolutely not, 369 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,640 Speaker 1: we don't. We just want people to be ready. UM. 370 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,399 Speaker 1: We want people to be safe. We want people to 371 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: be smart. We want people to inform themselves with the 372 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: latest information. This situation is moving very rapidly. It's evolving quickly. 373 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,640 Speaker 1: Every day we're learning something new. Keep up with us, 374 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: be patient with us, um as we learn information and 375 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: we share that with you. And and be kind to 376 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: one another, help each other out. Um. You know, there's 377 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: a lot of stigma, and there's a lot of negative 378 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: things that are happening. But on the other side, we 379 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: can see the best in people. You can help them out. UM. 380 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: If you have neighbors that can't get out themselves, help 381 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: them with the groceries, you know, offer offer some social support. Um. 382 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: Just be kind to one another. Um. Those are the 383 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: things we need people to do. Be ready, be safe, 384 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: be smart, and be kind. Well those are words to 385 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: live by. Corona or no corona, right, Dr Maria. Really, 386 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: I've loved being able to talk to you. Thank you 387 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: so much. That was Dr Maria van Kirkov, infectious disease 388 00:22:55,040 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: epidemiologist with the World Health Organization coming up. One Chinese 389 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: American man tells us what it was like to be 390 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: smack in the middle of the epidemic. You Len Yin 391 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: lives in Minnesota with his wife Anne, and their two daughters. 392 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,159 Speaker 1: In January of this year, he was scheduled to travel 393 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 1: to Wuhan province in China, where he was born, for 394 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: New Year's celebrations with his family and friends. But as 395 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: he was getting ready, rumors began to emerge that there 396 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,679 Speaker 1: was a mysterious illness in the region. You Lynn and 397 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 1: his family tried to find out more and I looked online. 398 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: That's really not a lot of information and my family 399 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: in Wohan did not mentioned at all about that. But 400 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: I was the nervous, so actually went to check with 401 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: uh knem Nick. I usually go to you just asked 402 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: them you've there any bacination for me? And then my 403 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 1: wife actually check to your just acts that there's something 404 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: called travel klinic, if there's anything that I should be 405 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:14,880 Speaker 1: worried or is there anything we can do to be safe, 406 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 1: And at that time, there's really nothing so I said, okay, 407 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: I just need to be careful. So you land, said 408 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 1: goodbye to his family in Minneapolis, and boarded a plane 409 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: for Wuhan. He landed on January. I remember I was 410 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 1: at the luggage pickup. I've felt nervous definitely at that 411 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: time because everybody around me were wearing masks at that time, 412 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: and actually I it was the first time I saw 413 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 1: in twenty and nine masks. I kind of feel, oh, 414 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,640 Speaker 1: that's a strange mask. I remember I saw it in myself. 415 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:59,200 Speaker 1: So you has the needle evolved involve seeing in the front, 416 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 1: so actually like a breath, like a breathing thing. That's right, 417 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 1: that's my first time I saw it. I said, well, 418 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 1: that's really serious, serious equipment for people to wear. Maybe 419 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: the pneumonia is more serious than I thought. By January, 420 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: the Chinese government started to limit travel around Wuhan. No 421 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: one was allowed to leave, and public transit was also 422 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:27,440 Speaker 1: shut down. For the first few days. I actually went 423 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: out with my family to go to different restaurants and 424 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 1: so that that that was the third day. I remember 425 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:39,440 Speaker 1: I because I say, having jet legs. I woke up 426 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: at two o'clock in the morning and I got a 427 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:46,919 Speaker 1: message from a friend in the United States. Actually he 428 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: he sent me attack saying, oh I heard wah is lockdown? 429 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: Is that true? So I said what? I was thinking, 430 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,400 Speaker 1: what what? What do you mean lockdown? And then I 431 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:04,199 Speaker 1: looking have your search on the social media to verify 432 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: the news, and then I found out there is a 433 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: notice somewhere business said or the traffic coming out of 434 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:17,120 Speaker 1: Wahan locked down did not say anything coming in, so 435 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: you can stay, are coming in, but you cannot leave. Actually, 436 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: I remember it was not very clear at that time. 437 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 1: I was thinking, wow, so that there's no trend going out, 438 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: that there's no um, there's no flights. Can I still 439 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 1: go by car? Actually? I was thinking, should I wake 440 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 1: up my brother, you know, ask him to drive me 441 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:43,360 Speaker 1: to Shanahai somewhere so I can go home. Just nearly confused. 442 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: At that time, it was not very clear, so it 443 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: didn't seem like the government was communicating what was going 444 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:51,640 Speaker 1: on very well, and you were getting most of your 445 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 1: information from social media. You didn't know if you could 446 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: leave or if people could come in. You were kind 447 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:02,360 Speaker 1: of in limpo. It's I was like that that is correct. 448 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:06,159 Speaker 1: Just a lot of confusion. Were you worried at that point, 449 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: how you were gonna get the heck out of Dodge 450 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 1: and back to your family in Minnesota. Yeah, I was worried, 451 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: but at that time I was hopeful. I was thinking, 452 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:22,160 Speaker 1: whi is the city of eleven million people. In my mind, 453 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 1: there's no way that the lockdown can last more than 454 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: say one or two weeks. So I was actually very hopeful. 455 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 1: My trip was three weeks. I was okay, just to 456 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,640 Speaker 1: see how how you go. It may be the lockdown 457 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: may be lifted in a couple of weeks. That that 458 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:45,200 Speaker 1: was my sinking at that time. Actually on January, when 459 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 1: you looked out the window, what did it look like outside? Yeah, 460 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 1: it was just quiet, very quiet, which is very unusual 461 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 1: for the place where I stay and my mom my 462 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,159 Speaker 1: Mom's Countle. It's very is close to your street. That 463 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 1: street actually is one of the most congestive street in 464 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: when usually people tried to avoid it, so it's always 465 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 1: always a lot of traffic. But yeah, that day, or 466 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 1: even cover this before, it's just not many cars is empty. 467 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:22,680 Speaker 1: It's very strange. I was almost felt like it's a 468 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:26,679 Speaker 1: sci fi film, you know. The Actually I remember that 469 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: there's a film title code on the day when the 470 00:28:29,119 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 1: earth is still still I was thinking about that. By January, 471 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: just five days after you land landed in Wuhan, the 472 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: US government mandated evacuations of US personnel and citizens from 473 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: the region. At that time, I was surprised. Actually when 474 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: the first evacuation happened, Actually that's the time I started 475 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: to get really really over it. I said, I was thinking, 476 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 1: what what I did not know? Because the beginning as 477 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 1: a gonna just wait out for the lockdown to lift, 478 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 1: to be lifted. When when United States evacuated or the 479 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: or the councilor employees and the staff and the family member, 480 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 1: I got really verried. One heard the news um it 481 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 1: was it was said there's the only very limited seas 482 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: available for private citizens. So I tried to contact them, 483 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 1: but at that time was already full the flight so 484 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: had to wait, and there was not really worth about 485 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: a new evacuation plan at all. So I asked my 486 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 1: wife to start contacting people here in the United States. 487 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: So my wife contacted UM, the state the congressional representatives 488 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: from Minnesota, and they were very helpful. They talked to 489 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 1: your state department and they found out and there are 490 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: there were a new evacuation flights planned, but there's not 491 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 1: nothing in the news. But that's how I heard about it. 492 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: Then I got ragious on the State Department website and 493 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,479 Speaker 1: there's there's there's some confusion confusion there to you. So 494 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 1: I registered in their website. I send an email to 495 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 1: one email address, and then the representatives they helped to 496 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: talk communicated with the State Department too. So that's how 497 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: I got on the list to be evacuated. See sometimes 498 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 1: the government works, right, I mean, thank goodness. And did 499 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: you feel guilty leaving your family in China? I understand 500 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 1: your parents lived, their cousins lived there. Did you feel bad, uh, 501 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 1: saying goodbye to them? That you have felt really bad? 502 00:30:56,280 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 1: When how did you leave? Um? Yeah, I it was 503 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:08,760 Speaker 1: pretty tough, especially my parents are older and um but 504 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 1: there's a really not much I could do there to 505 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 1: even help them do worry about my job in the 506 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 1: United States to myself because it might have a family 507 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 1: here to rely on me. So but it was very 508 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 1: difficulty decision. Actually, I'm sure you were torn. Are your 509 00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 1: parents doing okay? They are doing fine in terms of coronavirus, 510 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:38,320 Speaker 1: they're okay. But my dad is older, so she actually 511 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 1: she he felt twice already since I left, and he 512 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 1: just couldn't get the care he needed for now. So 513 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 1: I'm very nervous about that. Still. Oh he couldn't get 514 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 1: Is that because all the doctors and the medical personnel 515 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: were focused STU people who were getting the coronavirus so 516 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 1: other things. Uh, we're not being prioritized that that is correct, 517 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:13,120 Speaker 1: and also frankly, we don't want to go to hospital 518 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:16,880 Speaker 1: at this time too. Right. I'm sure that was a concern, 519 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: particularly for older people. And if he has any underlying 520 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: health issues, well, good luck with him. I hope he's 521 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:28,680 Speaker 1: doing Okay. Let me ask about you. Uh, on the 522 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 1: final leg of your journey, you're flying home on this massive, 523 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 1: unmarked cargo plane. Were people on the plane sick? Were 524 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 1: you nervous about being in such close proximity to people 525 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 1: who were heading out of the country that they might 526 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:50,640 Speaker 1: be contagious? Yes, we're very nervous, and that that's the time. Actually, 527 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 1: I will mask the whole time, and the people are 528 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: really not talking to each other. There's not much socializing 529 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 1: at all. Pretty much everybody have to themselves. On February five, 530 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,520 Speaker 1: you land landed in San Diego with the rest of 531 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:10,360 Speaker 1: the evacuees contention upon getting the flight out of China 532 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 1: was a fourteen day quarantine on a US military base 533 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:18,240 Speaker 1: where you land tried to settle into a new strange reality. 534 00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: This was the the largest un quarantined since fifties. So 535 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:33,560 Speaker 1: I don't think anybody was actually prepared. So um, even 536 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: I remember at the beginning the food was not enough, right, 537 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 1: like really, yeah, we didn't have enough food to eat. 538 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: That was the biggest complaint. And how we do laundry, 539 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 1: that was a big question. We felt like a kind 540 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: of like a refugees in a way because nobody really 541 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:59,680 Speaker 1: packed a lot of stuff. So first of all, god, 542 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: there's oh, how do we do laundry? So they were 543 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:07,960 Speaker 1: not prepared for that. It's so little things like that 544 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 1: and Ilso the protocol who should be who should be tested? 545 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:20,360 Speaker 1: How you know how much restriction everybody should be getting 546 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:28,800 Speaker 1: wasn't wasn't. What was clear was everyone tested. No, only 547 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:34,320 Speaker 1: people with a fever got tested. I believe the whole 548 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 1: time we have uh nine people got tested I think, 549 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:45,879 Speaker 1: and you never exhibited any symptoms. You never got sick. 550 00:34:46,680 --> 00:34:50,560 Speaker 1: I had need to be a cough. Um, So I 551 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:54,759 Speaker 1: actually went to the medical tent two. I told him 552 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 1: I have need to be a cough. They checked me 553 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:00,319 Speaker 1: and then they say they told me nothing to wor Bob. 554 00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: But they did come back to me asked me to 555 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:09,359 Speaker 1: stay home when we had one confirmed the case. So 556 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:12,439 Speaker 1: they asked me to stay inside the room. Oh, one 557 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 1: confirmed case at the military base before that. So how 558 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:20,560 Speaker 1: were you able to interact with the other people there? 559 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:23,239 Speaker 1: Did they bring food to your room? Can you just 560 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:26,120 Speaker 1: give us a little feel for your day to day 561 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:29,560 Speaker 1: activities while you were at the base. We can move 562 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:34,360 Speaker 1: quite freely on the CDC. They suggested not to wear masks. 563 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: They were saying, anybody who wants to wear a mask, 564 00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:41,560 Speaker 1: they can, but they do not recommend that. And we 565 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,439 Speaker 1: we we were told just keep a social distance, which 566 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: is six ft away from each other. So the food 567 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:52,840 Speaker 1: were delivered in a like in a hole in a 568 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:56,720 Speaker 1: big lounge area. We we would pick up the food 569 00:35:56,880 --> 00:35:59,880 Speaker 1: and at beginning I would pick up the food and 570 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:03,000 Speaker 1: go back to my room to eat it. And later 571 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:05,160 Speaker 1: I found out a few people that are you're hanging 572 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:09,359 Speaker 1: out around the area, so I would actually eat with them. 573 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:12,720 Speaker 1: Just again keep social descent. That's when we can chat 574 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:17,960 Speaker 1: Nibia with each other. We talk um. So every day 575 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 1: we have a daily meeting at the two o'clock just 576 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:25,840 Speaker 1: to keep us updated and everything, the current virus itself 577 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:32,400 Speaker 1: and also if anybody got sick in in our in 578 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:39,560 Speaker 1: the current in site, and we do two times morning 579 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 1: and evening. We have to check our temperature. So that's 580 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:49,400 Speaker 1: that's mandatory. And I was said that we really you know, 581 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:53,160 Speaker 1: we can do pretty much anything we want, and we can. 582 00:36:53,239 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 1: We can go outside of the room and start jogging 583 00:36:56,160 --> 00:36:59,920 Speaker 1: in the yard. Um, you know, there's a great science. 584 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:03,200 Speaker 1: So I have a lot more movement than when I 585 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:05,880 Speaker 1: was in China. What was it like getting home to 586 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,840 Speaker 1: your wife and two kids. You must have been so happy. 587 00:37:11,320 --> 00:37:13,920 Speaker 1: I was really Yes, I was really happy, and it 588 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 1: was very grateful. There are so many scenes I took 589 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 1: for granted in life that very a lot of small 590 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:25,240 Speaker 1: things like driving my daughter to your school, even shoveling snow, 591 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:29,000 Speaker 1: all those things just you know, it seems so far 592 00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:32,840 Speaker 1: away when I was quarantined. So actually what I feel like, 593 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:37,160 Speaker 1: I finally can do normal things again. That was so great, 594 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:41,360 Speaker 1: And I was really grateful for my wife. She worked 595 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:44,120 Speaker 1: really hard to get me on the flight, and she 596 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:47,680 Speaker 1: worked very hard to just to you know, make sure 597 00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:53,800 Speaker 1: my daughter feels nothing strange, you know, for the last 598 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:58,160 Speaker 1: the whole months. So really grateful for that. And just 599 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,120 Speaker 1: you know another thing too, I can find it huck 600 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:07,399 Speaker 1: someone that's not a strange. There's no human touch during 601 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:11,600 Speaker 1: the whole ordeal. So when I come home and actually 602 00:38:11,719 --> 00:38:14,480 Speaker 1: can't hug my wife, kiss my daughter, that was fel great. 603 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:19,879 Speaker 1: Are you back at work? Has life returned to normal now? Well, 604 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:25,480 Speaker 1: I'm back to work. I wouldn't say back to normal 605 00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:32,600 Speaker 1: because I really did not expect. And it became so 606 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:36,919 Speaker 1: serious here now because I when I one him once, 607 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:41,520 Speaker 1: I really said, when I was in quarantine, after quarantine, 608 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:46,239 Speaker 1: everything what be normal? There's no you know, nobody even 609 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:50,800 Speaker 1: talk about coronavirus anymore. I you really did not expect. 610 00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 1: Many weeks after that we are talking about, you know, 611 00:38:56,719 --> 00:39:01,399 Speaker 1: lockdown in Italy or those very serious scene Right now, 612 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:05,160 Speaker 1: there does seem to be um a lot of panic, 613 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:09,960 Speaker 1: I think all across the country. And um, how is 614 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:13,319 Speaker 1: it different from what you can tell the reaction here 615 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:17,600 Speaker 1: in this country versus the reaction in China. I think 616 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:25,200 Speaker 1: once in common is there's a mistrust in government. I 617 00:39:25,239 --> 00:39:30,839 Speaker 1: think that's truly, that's the same Chinese uh and American here. 618 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:34,920 Speaker 1: I don't be id think they believe um the even 619 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:39,960 Speaker 1: the official news they see. I think that's very the same. 620 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:46,840 Speaker 1: The difference is um Chinese people, I really believe they 621 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:51,960 Speaker 1: they will follow whatever the government tells them to do. 622 00:39:52,320 --> 00:39:55,360 Speaker 1: The even the magic is very drastic, like say do 623 00:39:55,480 --> 00:39:57,520 Speaker 1: not go outside, you have to wear a mask all 624 00:39:57,560 --> 00:40:01,520 Speaker 1: the time. Even they don't believe that, but they followed 625 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:06,120 Speaker 1: that and they are hopeful that what turned out the 626 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:09,839 Speaker 1: resulting out to be good. In the United States, I 627 00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:13,960 Speaker 1: believe from what I see on the Twitter or talking difference, 628 00:40:14,239 --> 00:40:18,359 Speaker 1: people already have a picture that how coronavirus should be 629 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:22,279 Speaker 1: dealt with, how how what was the responsible should be like. 630 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:27,640 Speaker 1: So if the garment or the media's does not respond 631 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 1: the way they wanted, they're just not ready to accept that. 632 00:40:32,520 --> 00:40:35,520 Speaker 1: Other than realizing you shouldn't take for granted certain things 633 00:40:35,600 --> 00:40:38,280 Speaker 1: like a shower, hugging your wife, or taking your daughter 634 00:40:38,360 --> 00:40:41,000 Speaker 1: to school. What have you learned from this whole experience? 635 00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:46,120 Speaker 1: What I learned is that the information, trusting information is 636 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:51,240 Speaker 1: so important. There are so much misinformation flying flying around 637 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:55,719 Speaker 1: on Twitter and even in the news. You have to 638 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:59,520 Speaker 1: we have to be very, very careful to check the source. 639 00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:02,560 Speaker 1: And I thing I learned is listened to the experts. 640 00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:07,719 Speaker 1: I'm not experting embarrassed, so I try to find experts 641 00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:12,960 Speaker 1: I can trust, so I try to listen to them. Ellen, 642 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:16,600 Speaker 1: thank you so much for talking with us about your experience. 643 00:41:16,840 --> 00:41:21,120 Speaker 1: We really really appreciate it. And stay safe, stay healthy, 644 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:26,040 Speaker 1: and and many many thanks. Thank you for me. Thank 645 00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:35,120 Speaker 1: you so much. When we come back trying to find 646 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:38,720 Speaker 1: answers to some of your burning questions about the COVID 647 00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:58,359 Speaker 1: nineteen outbreak. I understand a lot of you out there 648 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:01,680 Speaker 1: are worried about COVID Night Team, and I understand why. 649 00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:05,040 Speaker 1: It's a lot of information to take in. We want 650 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:07,160 Speaker 1: to answer some of the questions you sent to me 651 00:42:07,440 --> 00:42:11,280 Speaker 1: via social media. So the good news is the doctor 652 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:18,080 Speaker 1: is in. Dr Shaffner. Hey, it's Katie Kuric. Thank you. 653 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:22,400 Speaker 1: Dr Schaffner. Dr Bill Shaffner is the medical director of 654 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:28,320 Speaker 1: the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and a professor at Vanderbilt. Okay, 655 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:31,240 Speaker 1: let me go ahead and go through these questions, Dr Shaffner, 656 00:42:31,239 --> 00:42:34,480 Speaker 1: because you've been so nice. K Jersey Kids asked, when 657 00:42:34,520 --> 00:42:37,960 Speaker 1: do you predict or when do the authorities predict the 658 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:42,840 Speaker 1: virus will peak in the US. Wait a minute, you 659 00:42:42,840 --> 00:42:45,799 Speaker 1: didn't tell me I had to have my crystal ball here. Uh. 660 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:52,279 Speaker 1: We hope, we hope that since it's a respiratory virus, 661 00:42:52,320 --> 00:42:57,000 Speaker 1: and respiratory viruses like influenza, as we all know, they 662 00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:02,480 Speaker 1: abate come March and April into a maybe this coronavirus 663 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:06,360 Speaker 1: will have read the textbook and does the same thing. 664 00:43:07,640 --> 00:43:10,040 Speaker 1: But we don't think that will mean even if it 665 00:43:10,080 --> 00:43:13,319 Speaker 1: does that, that it will go away completely. One of 666 00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:16,160 Speaker 1: the things that could do is go south of the 667 00:43:16,239 --> 00:43:21,280 Speaker 1: equator because as we start having summer, they start having winter, 668 00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:24,720 Speaker 1: and so could it be that in Australia, New Zealand, 669 00:43:25,440 --> 00:43:29,759 Speaker 1: Southern Africa, and in South America they're due for this 670 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:35,600 Speaker 1: coronavirus and then could its cycle back our next winter. 671 00:43:36,160 --> 00:43:40,520 Speaker 1: Maybe all the more reason to keep research going on 672 00:43:40,560 --> 00:43:44,360 Speaker 1: that vaccine, because if it does persist or come back, 673 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:47,719 Speaker 1: we'll need that vaccine down the road. We're hearing, by 674 00:43:47,719 --> 00:43:49,799 Speaker 1: the way, speaking of that, that the vaccine is going 675 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:51,840 Speaker 1: to take a year, year two, a year and a 676 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:56,399 Speaker 1: half to be developed. Is that what you're hearing as well? Yep, yep, yep, 677 00:43:57,000 --> 00:43:59,840 Speaker 1: And let's all take a deep breath about that. You 678 00:44:00,719 --> 00:44:04,720 Speaker 1: you want people to hurry up, but not rush. Nobody 679 00:44:04,760 --> 00:44:11,480 Speaker 1: wants to start delivering an unsafe or an ineffective vaccine 680 00:44:11,520 --> 00:44:14,640 Speaker 1: to our population. We want to be sure we're doing 681 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:18,560 Speaker 1: it right. Let's give them a little time. Science can't 682 00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:25,799 Speaker 1: be rushed. Jen Scoville asked, should we be pausing personal travel? Well, Jen, 683 00:44:26,480 --> 00:44:29,600 Speaker 1: I would ask, if I may ask a personal question, 684 00:44:29,719 --> 00:44:32,080 Speaker 1: are you older than sixty? Do you have one of 685 00:44:32,120 --> 00:44:36,200 Speaker 1: those underlying illnesses? Because if you do, I would ask 686 00:44:36,239 --> 00:44:39,520 Speaker 1: you to think twice about how essential that trip is 687 00:44:39,960 --> 00:44:43,719 Speaker 1: right now, and if it's not all that essential, postpone it. 688 00:44:44,560 --> 00:44:47,040 Speaker 1: And as Dr Tony Facci has said from the n 689 00:44:47,080 --> 00:44:50,280 Speaker 1: I h don't even think about going on a cruise. 690 00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:55,279 Speaker 1: I know, really, squid six, these are funny handles. Am 691 00:44:55,320 --> 00:44:58,200 Speaker 1: I crazy to want to continue going to work out classes? 692 00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:04,600 Speaker 1: I don't think you are. I think at any age 693 00:45:04,680 --> 00:45:07,400 Speaker 1: you can go to a workout class that's not really 694 00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:11,680 Speaker 1: a close, intense environment where you get face to face 695 00:45:11,800 --> 00:45:16,280 Speaker 1: with people, take some wipes along perhaps your gym probably 696 00:45:16,280 --> 00:45:19,839 Speaker 1: has them, and wipe off the seats and your bar 697 00:45:19,920 --> 00:45:23,040 Speaker 1: bells and things like that before you use them. And 698 00:45:23,400 --> 00:45:25,680 Speaker 1: after you use them, because that will make them more 699 00:45:25,760 --> 00:45:31,120 Speaker 1: friendly to others. Uh, gentle, good exercise, good for the body. 700 00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:33,680 Speaker 1: Alison wants to know how could a person tell the 701 00:45:33,719 --> 00:45:41,600 Speaker 1: difference between corona symptoms and cold symptoms. That's pretty easy. 702 00:45:41,640 --> 00:45:43,680 Speaker 1: I thought you was going to ask me the harder question, 703 00:45:43,719 --> 00:45:47,320 Speaker 1: how you how can you distinguish it from flu? We'll 704 00:45:47,360 --> 00:45:52,560 Speaker 1: do that as a follow up. Yea so cold, think 705 00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:56,880 Speaker 1: of from the neck up, sore throat, stuffy knows, feeling 706 00:45:56,960 --> 00:45:59,759 Speaker 1: kind of punk. Maybe your eyes get a little bit red, 707 00:46:00,200 --> 00:46:04,440 Speaker 1: maybe a little bit of fever. Not so bad. Coronavirus 708 00:46:04,560 --> 00:46:09,200 Speaker 1: and flu, who are they're indistinguishable, will get down into 709 00:46:09,280 --> 00:46:13,400 Speaker 1: your chest pretty quickly, cause irritation of your bronchial tubes 710 00:46:13,480 --> 00:46:17,520 Speaker 1: and a cough, a kind of a dry cough. And 711 00:46:17,560 --> 00:46:21,160 Speaker 1: then both of those viruses can make you more sick 712 00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:25,279 Speaker 1: by having you feel really punk, losing your appetite. Some 713 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:28,840 Speaker 1: people get abdominal pain and diarrhea. And then, of course, 714 00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:32,040 Speaker 1: as we move along the more serious part of the 715 00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:36,880 Speaker 1: spectrum of illness, if that virus gets out into your lungs, 716 00:46:36,920 --> 00:46:41,399 Speaker 1: the coronavirus, it can cause pneumonia, and if that's bad enough, 717 00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:44,759 Speaker 1: you'll have difficulty breathing. By that time, you will have 718 00:46:44,920 --> 00:46:48,560 Speaker 1: called your healthcare provider or shown up in the emergency room. 719 00:46:48,640 --> 00:46:52,480 Speaker 1: When someone has a mild case and doesn't need hospitalization. 720 00:46:53,719 --> 00:46:57,879 Speaker 1: What kind of medicines are most effective for dealing with this? 721 00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:02,080 Speaker 1: Is it sort of common sense? Like syrup and plenty 722 00:47:02,080 --> 00:47:06,920 Speaker 1: of fluids, chicken soup, that kind of thing, Adville thailand All. 723 00:47:07,080 --> 00:47:09,480 Speaker 1: I mean, what are you recommending when people actually do 724 00:47:09,560 --> 00:47:15,040 Speaker 1: test positively for this? That's perfect, You've just written the prescription. 725 00:47:15,360 --> 00:47:21,280 Speaker 1: I could be a doctor, why not? So stay away 726 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:25,360 Speaker 1: from folks, and if your home, keep up your fluids. 727 00:47:25,840 --> 00:47:31,520 Speaker 1: Chicken soup is wonderful. Uh. Coffee and alcoholic beverages don't 728 00:47:31,560 --> 00:47:34,840 Speaker 1: count because they tend to be diuretics. They tend to 729 00:47:34,920 --> 00:47:38,839 Speaker 1: draw you out, actually right, they they're very dehydrating. Yes, 730 00:47:39,280 --> 00:47:43,360 Speaker 1: so they don't count. Uh. Plain water works just fine 731 00:47:44,040 --> 00:47:50,120 Speaker 1: and sure for relief of symptoms. Uh, an aspirin or 732 00:47:50,600 --> 00:47:54,520 Speaker 1: anything like that, A thailand All will certainly help. Should 733 00:47:54,560 --> 00:48:01,520 Speaker 1: pregnant women worry, that's one question we got at the moment. 734 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:07,160 Speaker 1: I haven't seen any data to suggest that coronavirus infection 735 00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:10,040 Speaker 1: in a woman can affect her baby, but it has 736 00:48:10,200 --> 00:48:14,200 Speaker 1: not been well studied, and I'm sure there are physicians 737 00:48:14,200 --> 00:48:16,680 Speaker 1: in China who have had experience with this who are 738 00:48:16,680 --> 00:48:19,920 Speaker 1: going to tell us of their experience. So I'm going 739 00:48:19,960 --> 00:48:22,040 Speaker 1: to put that one off on the side. But in 740 00:48:22,160 --> 00:48:26,360 Speaker 1: terms of worry, I think you're like a normal person, 741 00:48:26,440 --> 00:48:30,920 Speaker 1: except you're a bit immuno suppressed. Uh. That's a natural 742 00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:35,880 Speaker 1: condition in pregnancy, and so take special care to avoid 743 00:48:35,920 --> 00:48:38,759 Speaker 1: people who are coughing and sneezing. Wash those hands. And 744 00:48:39,360 --> 00:48:43,040 Speaker 1: it's not a good time to travel when if you 745 00:48:43,320 --> 00:48:46,640 Speaker 1: do believe you have coronavirus, either you've been diagnosed or 746 00:48:46,760 --> 00:48:49,279 Speaker 1: you just feel like you have a Hopefully you you'll 747 00:48:49,320 --> 00:48:52,000 Speaker 1: call your doctor if you feel like you you have it. 748 00:48:52,560 --> 00:48:54,839 Speaker 1: Um At what point is it safe to go out 749 00:48:54,840 --> 00:48:58,920 Speaker 1: in the world again. It's safe to go out in 750 00:48:59,000 --> 00:49:02,360 Speaker 1: the world again when you're feeling better and your fever 751 00:49:02,600 --> 00:49:07,200 Speaker 1: is all gone. And that's the general recommendation we make 752 00:49:07,280 --> 00:49:12,000 Speaker 1: for influenza, and it would apply to the coronavirus also. Well, 753 00:49:12,120 --> 00:49:14,799 Speaker 1: I know you have other patients you need to talk to. 754 00:49:14,920 --> 00:49:17,920 Speaker 1: Dr Bill Shaffner. Thank you so much for spending some 755 00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:22,160 Speaker 1: time answering these questions. What a pleasure, Katie. Good to 756 00:49:22,200 --> 00:49:26,239 Speaker 1: be with you and call any time with more of 757 00:49:26,280 --> 00:49:29,400 Speaker 1: those very interesting questions, and I'll take another one of 758 00:49:29,440 --> 00:49:34,799 Speaker 1: your pop quizes. Okay, Dr Shaffner, thank you so much. Sure, bye, 759 00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:38,840 Speaker 1: bye bye. That was Dr Bill Shaffner of the National 760 00:49:38,880 --> 00:49:44,279 Speaker 1: Foundation for Infectious Diseases. And before we go, I want 761 00:49:44,320 --> 00:49:48,279 Speaker 1: to return to Dr Maria van Kirkov for some tips 762 00:49:48,320 --> 00:49:52,440 Speaker 1: and words of advice. Pay attention to what CDC is 763 00:49:52,480 --> 00:49:55,640 Speaker 1: saying and what government websites are saying. You can always 764 00:49:55,680 --> 00:49:57,719 Speaker 1: come to W H O, DOT, I N T and 765 00:49:57,800 --> 00:50:01,120 Speaker 1: see you know the information that we have. But the basics, 766 00:50:01,120 --> 00:50:05,880 Speaker 1: these fundamentals of hand washing, of respiratory etiquette. What we 767 00:50:05,920 --> 00:50:08,120 Speaker 1: mean by that is making sure you sneeze into your 768 00:50:08,160 --> 00:50:11,719 Speaker 1: elbow or sneeze into a tissue, UM, and put it 769 00:50:11,760 --> 00:50:14,480 Speaker 1: in a closed bin, and then wash your hands. Practice 770 00:50:14,480 --> 00:50:17,520 Speaker 1: social distancing, keep three feet away from people, especially people 771 00:50:17,520 --> 00:50:21,399 Speaker 1: who are are are sick. Um. These things are very 772 00:50:21,440 --> 00:50:23,839 Speaker 1: simple to do and everyone can do them, from your 773 00:50:23,840 --> 00:50:26,960 Speaker 1: grandmother to your children, UM. And these are things that 774 00:50:27,000 --> 00:50:33,200 Speaker 1: we want everybody to know and practice inner daily life. 775 00:50:34,080 --> 00:50:37,280 Speaker 1: That's it for this episode of Next Question. We really 776 00:50:37,320 --> 00:50:40,400 Speaker 1: hope it's given you some important information and put you 777 00:50:40,560 --> 00:50:43,560 Speaker 1: at ease at least a little bit as the story 778 00:50:43,560 --> 00:50:46,960 Speaker 1: of the outbreak continue to evolve. You can find the 779 00:50:47,000 --> 00:50:52,120 Speaker 1: most updated information and recommendations at CDC dot gov and 780 00:50:52,280 --> 00:50:56,279 Speaker 1: the World Health Organization at w h OH dot I 781 00:50:56,760 --> 00:51:00,000 Speaker 1: n T will also be updating my newsletter Wake Up 782 00:51:00,080 --> 00:51:03,480 Speaker 1: Call with the latest articles and information, and by the way, 783 00:51:03,520 --> 00:51:07,160 Speaker 1: you can subscribe to that at Katie Currek dot com. 784 00:51:07,320 --> 00:51:10,560 Speaker 1: Stay healthy out there, Everyone, wash your hands for twenty 785 00:51:10,600 --> 00:51:15,040 Speaker 1: seconds or just sing Happy Birthday twice. Until next time 786 00:51:15,120 --> 00:51:18,719 Speaker 1: and my Next Question, I'm Katie Couric. Thanks so much 787 00:51:18,760 --> 00:51:24,280 Speaker 1: for listening. Next Question with Katie Couric is a production 788 00:51:24,280 --> 00:51:27,520 Speaker 1: of I Heart Radio and Katie Currik Media. The executive 789 00:51:27,520 --> 00:51:30,799 Speaker 1: producers are Katie Currik, Courtney Litz, and Tyler Klang. The 790 00:51:30,840 --> 00:51:35,680 Speaker 1: supervising producer is Lauren Hansen. Our show producer is Bethan Macaluso. 791 00:51:36,440 --> 00:51:40,560 Speaker 1: The associate producers are Emily Pinto and Derek Clements. Editing 792 00:51:40,600 --> 00:51:45,040 Speaker 1: by Derrek Clements, Dylan Fagan and Lowell Berlante, Mixing by 793 00:51:45,120 --> 00:51:50,040 Speaker 1: Dylan Fagan. Our researcher is Gabriel Loser. For more information 794 00:51:50,040 --> 00:51:52,960 Speaker 1: on today's episode, go to Katie Currek dot com and 795 00:51:53,000 --> 00:52:00,640 Speaker 1: follow us on Twitter and Instagram at Katie Kurik. For 796 00:52:00,719 --> 00:52:04,799 Speaker 1: more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 797 00:52:04,880 --> 00:52:06,920 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.