There has been a lot of news about the new coronavirus disease COVID-19, which could be confusing and scary for people with cancer and their families. People with cancer are more likely to get seriously sick from an infection because cancer and its treatments often weaken the immune system. To lower their risk of getting COVID-19, patients and the people who care for them need to take care. Even though the news about this outbreak changes every day, or even every hour, it can be very helpful to know what you can and cannot do to stay healthy. Over 90,000 people in 73 countries have been sickened by the coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of the cases (more than 80,000) are in China, which is where the virus first showed up. South Korea, Iran, and Italy are some of the other countries where COVID-19 has spread a lot. About a week ago, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, who is in charge of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that the global situation with the new coronavirus was "rapidly evolving and expanding." She also said that it wasn't so much a question of whether or not people in the US would test positive for coronavirus anymore, but rather when it would happen and how many people in the country would get really sick. After a week, the CDC says that cases are being reported in about 12 states in the US. A number of people have gotten sick without having any contact with people who came back from countries where the disease is known to have been common. What does a coronavirus do? Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause colds and more serious lung diseases like SARS and MERS. In the 1960s, the first coronavirus was found. What does COVID-19 mean? The new coronavirus that has caused a large outbreak in China is known as COVID-19. The first reports of this virus were made in December 2019. This new coronavirus is called "SARS-CoV-2." Lead Deputy Director of the CDC, Dr. Anne Schuchat, says that this new coronavirus "spreads like the flu or the common cold." What is the severity of the COVID-19 illness? "The vast majority of people who contract the novel coronavirus will have mild to moderate symptoms," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health. "Their symptoms should be treated at home in the same way that you would treat a severe cold or the flu." "For some people, a smaller group, especially those who may be medically fragile, they will need medical care, possibly even hospitalization." The WHO says that fever, tiredness, and a dry cough are the most common signs of COVID-19. Some patients may feel aches and pains, have a stuffy or runny nose, a sore throat, or diarrhea. Most of the time, these symptoms are mild and start slowly. Based on what they've seen so far in China, the CDC and WHO say that older people and people with weak immune systems are more likely to have serious problems if they get this new virus. Messonnier from the CDC says that people who are more likely to get seriously sick from seasonal flu are also more likely to get seriously sick from this new coronavirus. People with heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, or other conditions that might make the immune system weak are included. Cancer patients' immune systems are often also weak. How does the virus get around? The CDC says that the virus mostly spreads from person to person: • When a person who is sick coughs or sneezes, respiratory droplets can spread the virus.If two people are close together (within 6 feet), these droplets could get into their mouths or noses and cause an infection. Droplets can also land on things that people can then touch. This could make someone get an infection if they touch their mouth or nose afterward. Studies, including early information on the COVID-19 virus, show that coronaviruses may be able to live on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days, according to the WHO. Clean a surface with a simple disinfectant if you think it might have a virus on it. This will protect you and others. How can I keep from getting COVID-19? According to the CDC and WHO, in order to avoid getting the flu or a cold, you should do the same things that everyone else does: • Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. This is one of the best ways to get rid of germs on your hands and stop them from spreading to other people. Use an alcoholbased hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not nearby. You should not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth because if you do, you could get the virus into your body and infect yourself. • Use a tissue to cover your cough or sneeze and then throw the tissue away. You can also sneeze into your elbow. • Use a regular household cleaning spray or wipe to clean and disinfect surfaces and things that you touch often. • If you're sick, stay home. • Stay away from sick people when you can. Stay at least 3 feet (1 m) away from someone who is coughing or sneezing. Can you get a shot against the new coronavirus? No vaccine is available yet to protect against the COVID-19 virus. A number of drug companies are working on treatments and vaccines. But Fauci of the NIH says it might not be until at least a year or a year and a half that there is a vaccine.