Ever since the outbreak in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus has spread to multiple countries, with about six cases being confirmed in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus had been contracted late last year on December 31, after a few people were reported to have contracted the virus from bats in Wuhan’s food market. The market offers a wide variety of wild animals, such as baby crocodiles or ostriches, and could either be still living or dead, according to the Wall Street Journal.

During a news briefing in Washington, the director of the CDC, Dr. Robert Redfield, explains, “The coming days and weeks are likely to bring more cases including the possibility of person-to-person spread. Our goal is to contain the virus and prevent the sustained spread of the virus in our country.”

Coronavirus is common in mammals, but are known to be especially active in bats. When caught by humans, it can spread itself around from person-to-person via coughing or sneezing. Yet none of the symptoms will show up until after a week or two of having the coronavirus. Yet as more people become infected, the virus has been officially declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, according to the BBC, or British Broadcasting Corporation.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO chief, states that “the main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries.”

Two of the confirmed cases of the coronavirus come from California, with one residing in Orange County and the other in LA. Countries such as Germany, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Japan have confirmed their first cases of human-to-human transmission.

“I think people should be taking more precautions with their health, and they should realize that it’s a serious issue,” says Guadalupe Espinoza (12).

On the 29th of January, Americans who were evacuated from Wuhan, China landed in Southern California. The 195 passengers, including diplomats and business people, are expected to reside in March Air Force Base until health authorities give them the all-clear from the coronavirus after 14 days. 

“I have heard a lot about coronavirus and how it is spreading. Even though it is in Orange County, I believe that I should stay positive and hope for the best because being negative or freaking out does not help anyone,” says Kenny Contreras (12).