COVID-19 update

This item appears on page 4 of the May 2020 issue.

At press time, COVID-19 infections had been confirmed in 212 countries or territories, with more than 3.2 million confirmed cases and, of those, more than 230,000 deaths.

On March 26, the US became the country with the highest number of confirmed cases, which at press time was more than 1 million. The US also had the highest death toll, more than 61,000, followed by Italy, the UK, Spain and France. At least a third of the world’s total population was under stay-at-home orders issued by local governments.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry coughing and shortness of breath. Most cases are mild, with people recovering at home, but anyone with a high fever, difficulty breathing or chest pains should seek medical attention.

If you are planning to visit your medical provider because you have COVID-19 symptoms, it’s important to let them know ahead of time so that they can prepare to receive you safely.