The Center for Disease Control and state and county health departments are working to control the spread of unfounded panic about the coronavirus as much as the disease itself.

Despite the amount of attention the virus has generated in the news, the risk of actually getting COVID-19, as the disease caused by the coronavirus is named, is actually currently low, according to a CDC fact sheet provided to the Kingfisher Times & Free Press by the Kingfisher County Health Department.

The fact sheet, also shared on the Times & Free Press Facebook page, urges people to “know the facts about COVID-19 and help stop the spread of rumors.”

Here is a synopsis of the important facts identified by the CDC:

Fact 1: Diseases can make anyone sick, regardless of their race or ethnicity. People of Asian descent, including Chinese Americans, are not more likely to get COVID-19 than any other American.

Fact 2: The risk of getting COVID-19 in the U.S. is currently low. People who live in or have recently traveled to places where many people have gotten sick may be monitored by health officials to protect their health and the health of others in the community.

Fact 3: Someone who has been released from isolation or quarantine does not pose a risk to other people.

Fact 4: You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms: Fever, cough, shortness of breath. Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms AND have been in close contact with a person known to have the virus or if you live in or have recently visited an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.

Fact 5: These are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy:

•Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing “Happy Birthday” two times.)

•Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

•Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw it in the trash.

For up-to-date information, visit the CDC’s webpage.