The coronavirus outbreak this winter is one of the most urgent healthcare concerns globally. The recent Tweet of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides an update and draws people’s attention to the serious issue. The Chinese government is taking any precautions to control the spread of the virus. However, these attempts’ effectiveness seems rather moderate because the number of infected people is increasing at an unprecedented pace. Every country develops a number of measures as well since the cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported in the USA, France, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, and Republic Korea (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). The American government has also developed a set of initiatives to address the problem.
Some of the most effective incentives introduced in the United States are educational. CDC is one of the central agents that aim at informing people about the hazard and prevention strategies. The information and instructions provided to healthcare departments and facilities are one of the efficient measures as healthcare professionals should be updated and prepared to address any situations (CDC, 2020). One of the outcomes of such measures is the absence of human-to-human infection in the USA as all patients diagnosed with coronavirus were infected in China. The spread of the virus in the United States is properly controlled so far.
Nevertheless, it is far too early to assume that the outbreak is coming to its end. Healthcare professionals should review reputable sources to estimate the existing risks and inform patients. It is essential to make sure that people clearly understand existing threats and prevention methods.
Social networks, such as Twitter, can contribute to raising people’s awareness on the matter. Knowledgeable people can express their views, and people can share statistics, as well as evidence-based data, from reputable sources. The political climate in the USA has always been favorable for the dissemination of information regarding public health issues and educating people on diverse aspects. The government shows its commitment to addressing the problem and minimizing the risks of the spread of the virus. The measures undertaken by CDC, one of the central elements of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, illustrate the involvement of the government in the process.
CDC provides guides for American travelers, which contributes to the proper management of the situation. People informed about prevention measures will have a higher chance of avoiding infection. At the same time, it can be necessary to develop an initiative aimed at developing a responsible behavior of people during such outbreaks. The government can develop a policy that will involve an educational campaign, including the data concerning the most effective prevention measures, as well as the behavior of infected people or people with certain symptoms.
On balance, it is necessary to stress that informing the public is one of the critical strategies to implement to control the spread of the virus. The development of medications will take time, but helping people to minimize the risk of being infected is one of the initial steps to undertake. Healthcare professionals, especially nursing practitioners, need continuous training and updates regarding the spread of the disease and developed medications.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2020). 2019 novel coronavirus, Wuhan, China. Web.
World Health Organization [WHO]. (2020). Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Situation Report – 7. Web.