Preparing for a pandemic: what should you buy? Are there places you should avoid?

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4 steps to avoid getting Coronavirus 2:55

(CNN) - Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States warned that the new coronavirus will spread in the country's communities and a case announced on Wednesday could be the first instance of this.

Now, health officials say, it is time for people in the United States to prepare for the cancellation of events, school closings and interruptions at work, and also for the potential of a generalized disease.

No one knows what a community spread in the United States might look like: it could be mild or very serious. But in case an outbreak spreads within communities in the United States, what can you do to protect yourself and your family?

Here are 10 questions and answers on how to prepare.

1. What should I buy?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends on its website that before a pandemic occurs, you store a two-week supply of water and food, as well as the over-the-counter medications you tend to take.

"Keep on hand any over-the-counter medications and other health supplies, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medications, electrolyte fluids and vitamins," says the department.

"In general for emergency preparedness, we encourage all households to have an emergency response kit," which could be used during any public health or severe weather emergency, said Jennifer Kertanis, elected president of the National Association of Civil Servants. Health of Counties and Cities.

2. Are there places you should avoid?

The CDC has published travel warnings and alerts regarding coronavirus disease.

Since this week, the CDC recommends that citizens avoid all non-essential trips to mainland China and South Korea. Travel alerts have been issued for seniors and people with chronic medical conditions to consider postponing a non-essential trip to Italy, Iran and Japan.

Regarding if there are places that you should avoid in your community, such as the grocery store or the library, health officials simply recommend taking into account avoiding close contact with people who may be sick.

Also, if you are sick, stay away from others to avoid getting sick too.

3. Should I keep my child out of school?

If your child is sick, it is important to keep him at home to prevent other students from getting sick, but if your child is not sick, keep in mind the closure of local schools.

The widespread transmission of the new coronavirus could lead to schools, child care centers and other places of mass meetings experiencing more absenteeism and even closing if such precaution is needed, according to the CDC.

Closing schools or canceling meetings in response to public health concerns are common actions that school districts have had to do before throughout history.

“Even in my own state of Maine, schools in recent weeks and months had to close for influenza. During the H1N1 crisis many years ago, schools also closed, ”said Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and a member of the Association of state and territorial health officials.

However, for the coronavirus, "one of the scientific questions that will govern or determine how school closures are calculated is to what extent the children themselves carry or transmit this virus," he said. “Scientifically we need to have a better understanding of the extent to which children are carriers or transmitters of the virus; the point is that it is premature at this time, based on science, to make uniform statements about how school closures could be. ”

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, told her family that while they are not at risk at this time, they should plan what to do if their lives were significantly affected, he said during a session informative on Tuesday. He also said he called the school district to ask what could happen if schools were to close.

Messonnier said his agency wants people to understand that their lives could be affected.

"We are asking the American public to work with us to prepare us with the expectation that this could be bad," he said, adding that while CDC officials expect the spread to not be severe in the United States, they are planning as if It was a reality.

4. Should I work from home?

The community spread of the virus could be reasonably mild or very serious, but Americans should still talk to employers about whether working online will be an option if necessary, according to the CDC.

The CDC has even published guides on its website to help companies and employers plan the possibility of including flexible telecommuting policies or sick leave in operations if there is a significant spread of the coronavirus throughout the country.

Sick employees should not return to work until their temperature has remained below 38 degrees Celsius for at least 24 hours, without the help of medications to reduce fever or other medications to alter symptoms, the CDC said.

However, “what community propagation in the United States looks like will vary greatly from one community to another. It can vary according to the weather, it can vary according to the place, ”Shah said.

"Although we believe, according to the CDC, that the spread of the community is likely in the United States, the magnitude of that possibility, as well as the way it develops, will vary greatly between the state of Washington, Florida, Maine and any other." Shah said, adding that because of that, "there won't be a single approach for everyone here."

5. What should I do with my medications?

Before a pandemic, it is recommended to periodically check your regular prescription medications to ensure you have a continuous supply in your home if necessary, according to the United States Department of Homeland Security.

In addition, it may be useful to obtain copies and keep electronic versions of the health records of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other sources and store them for personal reference.

6. What happens if I have to go to the doctor?

Talk to your doctor about your options for telehealth.

Your doctor is likely to offer the option of making an appointment by phone or videoconference, and if not, his or her could recommend a doctor to do so.

7. Do I need a mask?

The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear masks.

On the contrary, the CDC recommends using only a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. People who have the new coronavirus should wear a facial mask and show symptoms, to protect others from the risk of becoming infected.

In general, the use of facial masks remains crucial for health workers and people who care for someone infected with the virus in nearby settings, such as a health care center or home, according to the CDC.

While the CDC does not recommend N95 respiratory masks for the general public, they do recommend them for health workers. But certain types of facial hair can prevent respirators from working effectively. Then, the CDC created an infographic that shows which facial hair styles are more risky than others.

8. If I don't need a mask, how can I avoid getting sick?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease, so the best way to prevent the disease is to avoid exposure to the virus, according to the CDC.

The CDC also points out that there are several things to do to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Cover the cough or sneeze with a tissue. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that you touch frequently and often wash your hands often with soap and water

The correct way to wash your hands is for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the bathroom and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

In general, the public must do “what they do every cold and flu season,” said Dr. John Wiesman, secretary of Health in the state of Washington, where the first case of coronavirus in the United States was confirmed.

Since it is currently the flu season in the United States, the CDC recommends getting a flu shot; it's not too late. Remember to practice other good health habits, such as managing stress and drinking lots of fluids.

"Exercise, eat a good diet, sleep a lot, wash your hands, do your best to stay healthy right now," said Shah of the Maine CDC.

9. What happens if someone in my home has the virus or thinks they have it?

The best way to determine if you have the virus first is to get tested.

If you develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath within 14 days of traveling from China, call your doctor immediately. If you have had close contact with someone who has traveled and shows those symptoms, you should call a doctor in advance, according to the CDC.

Then, your doctor will work with the state public health department and the CDC to determine if you need to get tested for the new coronavirus.

An infected person may not show symptoms until 14 days after exposure. That is especially worrying because this new coronavirus can be transmitted while a person does not show any symptoms. Fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and shortness of breath are some of the most common symptoms of the new coronavirus.

If you are sick or suspect that you are, the CDC recommends staying at home except for medical attention and separating yourself from other people and animals in your home.

Call ahead of time before visiting your doctor's office so that the office can make preparations to prevent other people from becoming infected or exposed to the virus.

In the case of suspected coronavirus, if you are sick, the CDC recommends using a face mask, covering a cough and sneezing, washing your hands frequently and avoiding sharing personal household items with others, such as utensils, dishes or clothes. bed.

10. What happens if I want more information?

If you have more questions about the new coronavirus, contact your local health department or find more information on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.

“One of the things that local health departments and state health departments are really doing is trying to make sure we are getting the best information to calm the fear, but at the same time we go ahead and prepare people while this continues to grow and develop, ”said Kertanis, of the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

"In any kind of situation like this where we are dealing with a new disease, something that is growing and changing rapidly, is almost fear of the unknown," he said.

Experts have said that the most important thing you can do is not panic and stay informed.

"We really want to urge everyone to avoid dubious sources of information and continue with reliable sources such as their state health departments or the US CDC," Shah said. "We are in a situation where fear and misinformation can spread faster than this virus."

- CNN Elliott McLaughlin, Steve Almasy and Holly Yan contributed to this report.

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