GEE AND URSULA

UW doctor: ‘Not time to panic’ about coronavirus, but still cause for concern

Feb 26, 2020, 1:02 PM

Coronavirus...

The coronavirus has continued to spread across the globe. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

As concerns continue to mount regarding the ongoing spread of the coronavirus, many are wondering just how worried they should be.

Seattle to test for coronavirus in patients with flu-like symptoms

Dr. Peter Rabinowitz works for the University of Washington MetaCenter for Pandemic Preparedness, and he weighed in with his take.

“It’s certainly time to be prepared, and it’s time to have some worry about it,” he told KIRO Radio’s Gee and Ursula Show. “[But] it’s not time to panic. The risk is still low, but it’s definitely a possibility.”

The coronavirus has now spread to at least 37 countries, from South Korea to Italy. As of publishing, its presence has been confirmed on every continent excepting Antarctica. In total, it has infected nearly 82,000 people, and killed 2,770. All but 55 of those deaths have occurred in mainland China.

South Korea has been hit the second hardest after China, followed by Japan and Italy, respectively. Iran has also reported over 100 cases.

In the United States, we’ve seen 59 confirmed cases of the virus. Dr. Rabinowitz notes that the average American is still unlikely to catch it going about their day-to-day lives.

Snohomish County coronavirus patient discharged from hospital

“We don’t have community spread of this virus in this country at this point,” he said. “So when you walk down the street, there’s no reason to expect that people walking by you are going to be infected with the virus and infecting you.”

As for the future of its spread both in the U.S. and abroad, Rabinowitz maintains that his level of concern sits at a “seven or eight.”

“If we don’t take some preparations right now and it gets worse, we’re going to really feel like we missed the boat,” he cautioned. “We need to be concerned, we need to be worried, and we need to be doing some preparation so that if it does get worse, we’re ready.”

Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Gee and Ursula Show

Gee and Ursula

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

11 hours ago

Photo: Yale players, including guard Yassine Gharram, center, celebrate with fans after their 78-76...

Julia Dallas

Gee and Ursula: Idaho band turns ‘Van-Dogs’ as they rep. Yale for March Madness

Yale took down Auburn in a major upset during March Madness. But, they might've not been able to do it without the help of a marching band.

3 days ago

boeing negligence...

Ursula Reutin

Ursula: Boeing has finally taken a step in the right direction

Boeing CEO David Calhoun acknowledged that the mid-air blowout of an Alaska Airlines door panel was a watershed.

3 days ago

Image: Photo of "The Ascent" by Larry Anderson...

Julia Dallas

‘Gee and Ursula’: Bonney Lake mayor search reveals ‘tea’ on candidate

The City of Bonney Lake is searching for a new mayor after the former mayor accepted a job with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.

10 days ago

Both President Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump have locked the nomination for their respectiv...

Bill Kaczaraba

Medved: ‘People didn’t really know (or care) there was a primary’

Medved believes that people are unhappy with their choices during this presidential cycle.

12 days ago

Photo: The homeless encampment outside city hall is being moved around Burien to another home at Do...

Ursula Reutin

Ursula: The Burien homeless crisis highlights an even bigger problem

Because of the lack of alternatives, the King County Sheriff has ordered her deputies to not enforce a camping ban in Burien.

16 days ago

UW doctor: ‘Not time to panic’ about coronavirus, but still cause for concern