| Fellow Hoosier,
The coronavirus is receiving a lot of media attention, and while it is important to stay up to date, I want to clarify a few things.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control, or the CDC, the current risk of getting the coronavirus is considered low.
You may have heard or read that this is a “novel†virus, that simply means – it is a virus that has not been seen before.
Fortunately, we have the best scientists and health care professionals in the world working to develop diagnostic tests and find a vaccine.
Over the last five years, the CDC and the National Institute of Health, or NIH, have received increases to their funding in order to prepare and protect the American people.
Additionally, Congress passed $8 billion in emergency supplemental funding to bolster our efforts nationwide including
- More than $4 billion to make diagnostic tests more broadly available and invest in vaccine development,
- $2.2 billion for the CDC to support state and local response efforts; and
- $20 million to administer disaster assistance loans for small businesses impacted by the virus.
Until a vaccine is developed, there are steps you can take to protect you and your family;
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The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
I want to reassure you, if you take the proper precautions and stay up to date on guidance from the CDC you can protect yourself and your family.
To continue receiving updates on my work in Washington as well as the coronavirus, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter here. |
