“My mom told me that I have to wear a mask whenever I go to work now,” said Michelle Keung ‘21. The novel coronavirus outbreak, also known as nCoV, has been very serious, while more and more people are being found dead from this virus. “Yeah, I’m scared. Somehow two people have corona in Chicago,” stated Kyle Lee ‘22. Earlier this year in suburban Chicago, a woman of a couple got sick with the coronavirus after returning from Wuhan. Her husband then reported being sick shortly after she had returned from Wuhan. The couple had to be isolated from the community, as they were suspected to have corona, staying at AMITA St. Alexius Medical Center in suburban Hoffman Estates for a week. This couple was the first person-to-person contact that led to the transmission of corona in the United States. 

From January 30th, they have been released from isolation on February 7th! This means it has been a week since they were moved to the medical center in isolation. Thankfully, they both tested negative to having the coronavirus. Dr. Allison, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Health, reported that the couple is able to return to their regular daily activities. She also stated that people that come in contact with them do not have to wear facial masks, or fear that they may transmit coronavirus. 

There are currently no big precautions, as coronavirus is not a spreading virus happening in the United States. But many families are still in worry, especially families whose family members live in China. “Hopefully a cure is found,” exclaimed Erin Lohman ‘20.