Wash. Your. Hands.
Much of the public outreach cities are doing now is focused on preventing the spread of the disease. Chicago is screening travelers at O’Hare International Airport for signs of illness, and tracking suspected cases in the community, according to a statement. In the two confirmed cases, both people have already recovered and infected no one else, the city said.
Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said the city is advising area residents on basic precautions they can take: wash their hands, cover their coughs or sneezes and avoid touching their faces.
While there are no confirmed cases in Georgia, “we are following CDC as well as state recommendations and guidelines,” Bottoms said in a statement. That includes telling families to be sure to have a supply of essential medications and to make child-care plans in case anyone in the household gets sick. “We are also encouraging private employers to review and update, if necessary, work continuity plans,” the mayor said.
Economic Impact
In a country on tenterhooks awaiting what’s been called the inevitable spread of a potentially deadly virus, some people are taking on a personal mission to increase awareness.
Christopher Muller, a professor at the Boston University School of Hospitality, is teaching his students about the devastating financial impact of the coronavirus on the cruise ship, airline and hotel industries. And he’s also imparting some pointed advice:
“I tell students, if they don’t feel well, don’t come to class. Send me an email, and I will thank them for not coming to class,” Muller said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio. “Second is, make sure you don’t sneeze in public, try to stay three to five feet away from people if you can. Wash your hands often and, if you can’t wash with hot soapy water, use a 60-percent alcohol base.”
--With assistance from Keshia Clukey, Tom Moroney, Matt Day, Kristen V Brown, Shruti Singh, Elise Young, Henry Goldman, Michelle Cortez and Christopher Palmeri.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.