"A time to prepare" - 5 things to know about coronavirus today

Coronavirus continues to spread across the globe. In this new daily update, we’ve assembled some of the latest headlines, resources and stories to help you arm yourself with the best information.

1. COVID-19’s spread could continue into next year - but there's reason to hope

A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) official yesterday said many people could likely contract the virus, but many cases won't likely be severe. As the official explained, 80% of the thousands of cases in China so far, have been mild. Additionally, many efforts have been taken to slow the spread of the virus.

For an interactive graphic of the spread, click here

2. New cases have been reported - but so have recoveries

Data from time of publication. For more stats, refer to Johns Hopkins’ Coronavirus Resource Center

3. It's hard to stop touching our faces - and this graphic shows why
Academics in New South Wales, Australia, trained a camera on students during a lecture, discovered their hands found their way unconsciously to their faces an average of 23 times an hour. Read more here.

4. History alone won't help us fight coronavirus

Past epidemics can't be our only guide for this disease, says one recent piece from the Lancet. Contemporary diseases emerge in new and different ways and experts need to be aware that just looking for how this epidemic is similar to past outbreaks could create blindspots.

5. There's a right way - and a wrong way - to kill the virus.

For more information, visit the World Health Organization coronavirus page.