Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz came to KREM for the second time since four coronavirus patients were transferred to Sacred Heart to answer your questions about the virus, also known as COVID-19.
Last time, Lutz answered questions ranging from the risk to the public from the patients at Sacred Heart, to if a vaccine currently exists to combat coronavirus.
This time, Lutz answered questions live as they were asked by KREM viewers during UP with KREM.
Worldwide, the total number of cases is much higher, sitting at 82,294 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization’s latest report. However, most of these cases are in China, where there are 78,630 confirmed cases. The virus is believed to have originated in China’s Wuhan Province.
Editor's Note: The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. Questions from KREM Morning Anchor Joshua Robinson are in bold, while answers from Dr. Bob Lutz are in normal type.
KREM's Joshua Robinson: What are sort of the common questions people have about the coronavirus, just in general?
Dr. Bob Lutz: I think it's just that Josh. People are not sure what the virus is like, what the symptoms are like, how would they know if they have coronavirus versus a cold or other symptoms. [They're] concerned about family members, about family members traveling, about trips, should we be traveling within the United States, should we be traveling outside United States with a little bit of the symptoms, and then what should we be doing about them.
KREM: We've asked several times on UP with KREM about whether people who are watching feel like they shouldn't travel with this sort of situation going on. Some people are saying, "I feel like I have a strong immune system, and I'm not worried about it." But, that's not really the big issue is it? It's bringing it back, right?
Lutz: Well, it's both actually. I mean, for example, right now we know that there are five countries where travel advisories are in place: China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, and Italy. And so the CDC is now currently recommending that, not only people coming from those countries but people from the United States should be concerned about going to those countries because it's spreading. So I think, you know, going to foreign countries [is] one thing. If you're going someplace else, and we see it spreading throughout much of Europe. So again, I think people have to be cautious and looking at travel, travel considerations, if they want to go to places where they may be exposed to this, then they may give consideration to not going.
KREM: Are there any questions that kind of stand out that you've been able to answer this morning, that maybe touch on something we haven't addressed so far? Maybe questions about any specific symptoms, what is the process of isolating yourself?
Lutz: I mean, I think there was a couple of questions around for example, should I be concerned about family members, but should I be concerned about, for example, surgery? If I have surgery that's coming up in a couple of weeks or in a couple of months, should I be concerned about that? And I would say no. I think concerns that are about the local issue is, not right now, something that I think people should be concerned about. But again, I think that because of the fact that this virus is spreading worldwide, and the CDC has said that it is inevitable that we will see it in the United States, people should just be cautious and monitoring.
KREM: We learn about new viruses all the time. What's the progress been like in being able to actually learn a little bit more about this virus globally, nationally and whatever level you like to reference?
Lutz: I think it's fascinating, obviously with genetics and being able to understand how this virus, the fact that they were able to actually identify this virus as quickly as I did, has given us, and science a real sort of fast track on being able to know how to treat it. Again, I don't think we're going to see a vaccine in the near future. But I think that we are much further ahead in being able to work with this virus and what we saw for example with the SARS virus.
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For part two of the Q&A, watch the video below. Mobile users, click here.