What you need to know about the coronavirus on Monday, September 21

09/21/2020 Health, Science

He now says that the virus can be spread commonly “through respiratory droplets or small particles, such as aerosols,” which are produced even when a person breathes. Previously, the CDC said that Covid-19 was thought to spread primarily between people in close contact (around 6 feet) and “through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.”

The CDC also added measures based on protecting yourself and others. He now says that people should “stay at least 6 feet away from others whenever possible,” and continues to instruct people to wear a mask and routinely clean and disinfect. However, it now also says that people should stay home and isolate themselves when sick, and “use air purifiers to help reduce airborne germs indoors.”

The new guidance comes as the United States is fast approaching 200,000 deaths and most of the country is heading in the wrong direction in terms of case numbers. In 31 states, the number of new Covid-19 cases has risen by at least 10% in the past week compared to the previous week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University Sunday.

YOU ASKED. WE RESPOND

Q: How do I know if I have the coronavirus or the flu (or both)?

A: Both the flu and Covid-19 can cause fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, sore throat, body aches, and a runny or stuffy nose, the CDC said.

“Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, although this is more common in children than adults,” he added.

But unlike the flu, Covid-19 can cause loss of taste or smell.

And about half of coronavirus transmissions occur before symptoms appear. (Many people who spread the virus silently are presymptomatic and are most contagious before they start showing symptoms.)

So the best way to know if you have the new coronavirus or the flu (or both) is to get tested. The CDC has created a test that will look for both viruses, to be used in CDC-backed public health laboratories.

Submit your questions here. Are you a healthcare worker fighting Covid-19? Send us a message on WhatsApp about the challenges you face: +1 347-322-0415.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TODAY

Police detain and question drivers at a checkpoint in Albury, Australia, on July 8.

Could the Australian blockade be a model for the United States?

The Australian state of Victoria recorded just 11 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, up from 670 daily infections last month. Victoria’s experience demonstrates once again that selective closures are effective in containing the virus – reducing infections, easing pressure on health systems, and creating a space for contact tracing and mass testing. Elsewhere, however, strategies have been less successful, with partial shutdowns bringing with them the misery of a full shutdown without actually containing infections. Reports by James Griffiths.

Boris Johnson can’t wake up from his Covid-19 nightmare

The number of coronavirus cases in the UK is doubling roughly every seven days, according to the country’s top scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance. If that rate continues to grow unabated, “by mid-October it would end up with something like 50,000 a day,” which “could lead to 200 deaths a day” in November, Vallance warned at a news conference Monday.

The comments have fueled speculation that the government is preparing the ground for a second national shutdown, or other tough measures, to bring the cases back to a sustainable level.

Welcome to a week of high-level “digital diplomacy”

This week is the United Nations General Assembly, usually the Super Bowl of international diplomacy. But the pandemic means that the UN’s 75th anniversary assembly will be a very different spectacle. Instead of mingling in the corridors of the UN headquarters in New York, the faces of the leaders will be illuminated in the room from thousands of miles away through hundreds of prerecorded comments. “The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis that is unlike any of our lives, so this year’s General Assembly session will also be different from any other,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres , at a press conference.

ON OUR RADAR

Bill Gates says it is “outrageous” that Americans cannot get coronavirus test results in 24 hours.
More than 30 people were arrested at an anti-vaccine protest in London after police officers “encountered outbreaks of violence.”
“Biology is independent of politics,” the White House virus testing czar said when pressed about President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies.
Laughter, raids and many jokes about the pandemic marked the 72nd edition of the Emmys.
“I have taken all possible precautions and still contracted coronavirus,” said Representative Jahana Hayes, a Connecticut Democrat, announcing that she tested positive for Covid-19.
A history of scams and fraud in the Miami-Dade County area is haunting contact tracing efforts, according to local officials.

TODAY’S BEST ADVICE

Do you have a stress headache? This routine brings relief

As Covid-19 intensified, so did levels of stress and depression, according to a new study published in the journal Science Advances. If stress gives you a headache, try this quick exercise to ease the pain.

TODAY’S PODCAST

“Before you rush out to the movies or your favorite restaurant, you need to think carefully about balancing the risks and benefits, and what precautions you can take to try to stay safe.” – Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent

As some states move forward with reopening, many people are still unsure about the safest way to eat at a restaurant, go to the movies or hit the gym. CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers your questions and offers guidance on how public health measures can help us stay safe. Listen now.

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