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U.S. Surgeon General meets with Louisiana officials on COVID-19

U.S. Surgeon General meets with Louisiana officials on COVID-19
Posted at 5:03 PM, Mar 12, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-12 22:35:57-04

The general message from both federal and local officials is that we should be prepared and not panicked as the novel coronavirus continues to spread.

"Panic and fear have the potential to harm more people than the coronavirus actually will at the end of the day," says U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams.

For about 80% of us, the surgeon general says COVID-19 is less deadly than the flu, requiring no medical attention. There is one age group who is at high risk if they become infected.

"Over 60 with chronic illness are the people who are going to disproportionately die from this illness," says Adams.

Governor Edwards has a plan in place for those most at risk.

"For the next thirty days there will be restrictions on visitations to nursing homes, to prisons and jails. We have older inmates there but all of the inmates live in close proximity to each other," says Governor John Bel Edwards.

There are a few ways we can help too. First, do not get tested unless you're negative for the flu and experiencing symptoms. Tests are limited.

"Hand washing, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, staying away from people who are sick, frequently cleaning surfaces. community things you can do - social distancing, avoiding large gatherings," says Adams.

If you think you might be infected, reach out to your doctor immediately.