The Story The US reported its first deaths from COVID-19. Who were they? A man in his 50s and another in his 70s. Both were from Washington state and had underlying health conditions. But the virus isn't limited to the West Coast. Go on... More than 80 cases have been reported nationwide, including the first confirmed case in New York City. And this morning, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader has reportedly died after contracting the virus – making him the first gov official to die from COVID-19. There are now more than 88,000 cases and at least 3,000 deaths worldwide. How is it transmitted? From person to person, it looks like – through tiny droplets (like from sneezes or coughs). How can I protect myself? Wash your hands. For at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer between washes. Avoid handshakes. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Should I buy a face mask? Not unless you are sick or caring for someone who is sick. Most don't effectively block droplets that carry viruses. For the ones that do, there's a shortage and public health workers need them. What are the symptoms? They're not very specific. But at first they can seem similar to a cold or the flu (think: fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing). Call your doctor if you're experiencing symptoms and have been around an infected person or traveled to an affected area like China, South Korea, Italy or Iran. Is there a vaccine? That's in the works. But with trials, testing, approval, and scaling up production, a vaccine may not be widely available for at least a year. How does it compare to other viruses? It's killed more people than the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak and MERS combined. But we still can't be sure of the fatality rate. It's estimated at over 2% in China, but that could change as the outbreak continues. Already, the virus seems significantly more contagious and deadly than the flu. Am I at risk? Most cases seem to be mild. But the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions (like heart and lung diseases or diabetes) are especially vulnerable. What is the government doing about it? President Trump has been urging calm. He put VP Mike Pence in charge of the response, who later added a public health official. Trump has also suggested that warm weather could lessen the outbreak. Will it? We don't know yet. Some viruses – like the flu – have peak seasons during winter, though it is possible to contract them year-round. Is it still ok to travel? There are travel advisories for certain countries. Read up on the government's guidelines before going abroad. theSkimm The number of COVID-19 cases has grown, rattling markets. But governments and health officials are urging people to stay calm and are taking steps to contain the outbreak.
Psst...You might have heard that the Dow and S&P 500 had their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. Here's why the coronavirus has investors worried – and what its spread could mean for your wallet. | 
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