Coronavirus is a pandemic: What that means for you
The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has sparked major news outlets to call it a pandemic, and scientists are saying so, too. Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) is saying that COVID-19 is a pandemic.
The effects of coronavirus across the world are unprecedented. It has entire countries on lockdown, cruise ships quarantining passengers and crew members, and major tech companies calling off events and instructing employees to work from home.
But what does it really mean if coronavirus is labelled as a pandemic, and how does that actually affect you? Here, learn the stance of the WHO on coronavirus as a potential pandemic, and what it means for you now that COVID-19 has been declared one.
What is a pandemic?
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According to the WHO, a pandemic is "an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people."
The WHO also has a defined set of phases that describe different levels of a pandemic, from one to six, which the agency previously used for the 2009-2010 H1N1 swine flu:
Phase 1: No animal viruses circulating have been reported to cause infection in humans.
Phase 2: An animal virus in domestic or wild animals has been reported to cause infection in humans.
Phase 3: An animal or human-animal virus has caused "sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people." Limited human-to-human transmission may occur in certain circumstances.
Phase 4: sustained human-to-human spread and community outbreaks.
Phase 5: human-to-human transmission in at least two countries within a single WHO region.
Phase 6: The actual pandemic phase, wherein there is human-to-human spread in at least one country outside of the two in the initial infected WHO region.
Pandemic vs. Epidemic
"An epidemic is uncontrollable transmission of a disease, and a pandemic is when this occurs throughout the world," There are actually two stages of disease that come before an epidemic:
An endemic occurs when a relatively stable number of people become infected with a disease in a particular locale (example: malaria in Africa).
An outbreak occurs when an infection shows up in an unexpected location or there is an unexpected increase in the infected population of a disease (example: Ebola, at various points in time).
What does it mean that this coronavirus a pandemic?
Just using the word "pandemic" in place of "outbreak" or "epidemic" shouldn't add extra, unnecessary fear to the existing public panic. It doesn't mean the disease has become more dangerous than it already is, and it doesn't mean that your personal risk of contracting coronavirus has increased.
Can I travel during a pandemic?
One of the best ways to slow down the spread of the virus is to avoid travel and large gatherings of people. If there is a threat of widespread transmission, it is likely that events will be cancelled and employers will ask employees to restrict travel.
It is recommended that people in high risk groups, such as the elderly or those with certain medical conditions, stay home as much as possible to avoid exposure to the virus.
What can I do to protect myself?
Pandemic or not, it's not a bad idea to take simple precautions, it is a good idea to prepare so that you will be able to stay home if you get sick, for example by making sure you have some extra food at home and an extra supply of any medications you take regularly.
However, you don't need to clear your local store shelves of soap and hand sanitizer, and you don't need to stock up on face masks either, unless you are already sick (face masks can help prevent sick people from further spreading diseases, but they won't necessarily prevent healthy people from contracting them).
For more details on the state of coronavirus, travel advice, how to prepare and how to protect yourself, Please visit the WHO website, which is continually updated with guidance for how to slow the spread of coronavirus, and take care of yourself and your loved ones.