Video: One physician’s view of the coronavirus

Dr. Katherine Dallow, vice president of clinical programs and strategy at the not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, offers her perspective on the coronavirus as it spreads across the globe.

“We understand there’s a lot of uncertainty around this virus. It’s getting a lot of attention, as it should, and it may even be creating anxiety,”Dallow said. “There’s no one community to blame for it to being here. What’s important is we all work together to care for those who have or may fall ill, monitor the progression, and prevent further spread.”

The virus causes a sore throat, headache, dry cough, or fever in some, but can lead to severe respiratory illness and, in some cases, can be fatal.

The spread of respiratory viruses can be contained with a few simple steps, Dallow said.

• Wash your hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Stay home when you’re sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or the crook of your elbow – never your hand.
• Clean frequently used surfaces, particularly desks and tables that are shared
• Get a flu shot. It won’t protect against coronavirus, but currently, there is far more risk of contracting seasonal influenza, which kills tens of thousands in the U.S. every year, Dallow notes.

Watch the full video here. Video transcript here.

Read more about the coronavirus here.

^{PHOTO & VIDEO BY MICHAEL GRIMMETT}