This is very alarming to every American, especially seniors.

Until a vaccine is available, which is at least 18 months away, sanitation is

the only way to avoid contracting this virus.

My wife and I talked to our folks in Korea and found out

all the super seniors are basically confined to their homes.

And our health officials here are saying today that the same situation is coming here,

not if but when a matter of time.

The whole scenario seems to be unfolding slowly but surely around the globe

very similar to the book I read about the 1918 flu pandemic.

The difference, when compared to 1918 flu pandemic, is that we know what causes this one

and we are a lot smarter in preventing the spread of the disease so that we all hope and pray

we will be able to abort the terrible pandemic like the 1918 pandemic.

So far, unfortunately, we humans are losing the war against this virus.

The 1918 influenza pandemic (January 1918 – December 1920; colloquially known as Spanish flu) was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic, the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus, with the second being the swine flu in 2009.^[1] It infected 500 million people around the world,^[2] or about 27% of the then world population of between 1.8 and 1.9 billion, including people on remote Pacific islands and in the Arctic. The death toll is estimated to have been 40 million to 50 million, and possibly as high as 100 million, making it one of the deadliest epidemics in human history.^[3][4]Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify with certainty the pandemic's geographic origin.^[2]

Infectious diseases already limited life expectancy in the early 20th century, but life expectancy in the United States dropped by about 12 years in the first year of the pandemic.^[5][6][7] Most influenza outbreaks disproportionately kill the very young and the very old, with a higher survival rate for those in-between. However, the Spanish flu pandemic resulted in a higher than expected mortality rate for young adults.^[8]

To maintain morale, wartime censors minimized early reports of illness and mortality in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States.^[9][10] Papers were free to report the epidemic's effects in neutral Spain(such as the grave illness of King Alfonso XIII).^[11] These stories created a false impression of Spain as especially hard hit,^[12] thereby giving rise to the pandemic's nickname, "Spanish flu".^{[13](from the Internet)}

We have a trip plan to visit NYC and then to go to Hawaii with our son's family, which was planned a year ago 

long before corona19 outbreaks. We discussed our caution while we are out of town as follows:

1. Avoid crowded areas

2. Avoid Korean and Chinese restaurants

3. Stay away from Korean and Chinese strangers as much as possible.

4. Anything else, Dr. 이? Please advise me if there are other cautions.

Prevention, from CDC

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to  others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

For information about handwashing, see CDC’s Handwashing website

For information specific to healthcare, see CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses. CDC does have specific guidance for travelers.

• CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.  Why?

https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.medicinenet.com%2Fscript%2Fmain%2Fart.asp%3Farticlekey%3D227723&data=02%7C01%7C%7Caedb1854e0474b9e4ac008d7bad79efc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637183307551157026&sdata=VyVF4JEmE7gCjzpNJwyxDaPkA6NaMsoTMna%2Fmb7kF2Y%3D&reserved=0
 

Schaffner noted that this coronavirus spreads the way flu does, yet the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn't recommend face masks as a way to avoid flu.

"The reason is that CDC requires scientific evidence to show that any intervention they recommend is likely to have value. It turns out that evidence for using masks in the community is scanty at best," he said.

I am afraid that it has been spreading in U.S., but we do not know yet. Because the symptom is mild in most of cases

and a few will go to doctors. I know how hard it is to make a doctors appointment here.The tests are done rarely. 
I was invited to come to the opening ceremony Hilton Garden hotel in Sacramento in March 7th by a local enperpreuner

who are in hotel business for years. I had a phone call from him that he cancelled it. He invited 20 people from LA who are in the 

business. And one of them got sick a few days ago. 

https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2020%2F02%2F26%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Fcoronavirus-news.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cf3bfd75b173349dd29cf08d7baf57a77%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637183435787685568&sdata=CZ1HqFiRa5CHD82XOeoavrtdh6LM86LXv6hkP23QZm4%3D&reserved=0

https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecohealthalliance.org%2F2018%2F05%2Foutbreak-pandemic-strikes%3Fgclid%3DCjwKCAiAy9jyBRA6EiwAeclQhLx5in8h3z0Kw-Cp1yyl9LtbGSRmx9fYCjJatqyOecsxwFTa1AzGJhoCF1UQAvD_BwE&data=02%7C01%7C%7C4921c12059ce419c3ed608d7bafa3f97%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637183456273202751&sdata=PfHNQl5rufkZCXbu1LQVoafQPQkrafFGyDb8K9LWio8%3D&reserved=0
 

The story of 1918 flu pandemic summarized in the above article.

It is noted that the second wave and the third wave of the epidemic were more lethal.

Coronavirus: 28 confirmed cases currently in California, Solano County patient ID'd as woman

KABC – Los AngelesFebruary 27, 2020

A Bay Area woman who possibly contracted coronavirus from "community exposure" is one of 28 cases in the state. However, a state health official says the risk to the public remains low.