COVID-19 is a novel Coronavirus (a family of respiratory viruses) that began to spread in mainland China in December 2019. The virus causes flu like symptoms (fever, runny nose, cough, sneezing, body aches, and fatigue). In some cases, just like the influenza virus, it can cause severe breathing issues. As of the writing of this article, there have been about 50 cases in the continental United States with a vast majority acquired when patients were overseas.

Person to person spread in the US is very very rare at this point. Currently, only hospitals and health departments can test for this virus - we cannot test in our office. If your child:

• has flu like symptoms and has visited mainland China in the last month or

• has had contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or that has flu like symptoms that has been to mainland china in the last month

then please call your local health department.