The second confirmed case of the coronavirus in the United States was reported in Chicago today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.). The announcement came only a day after the C.D.C. issued an official Level 3 Travel Warning urging all Americans to avoid unnecessary travel to Wuhan, China- the location in which the current coronavirus originated.

Global health officials have reported a total of 916 confirmed cases, and 41 fatalities linked to the coronavirus to date. Although little is still known about this rapid-moving virus, similarities between the current coronavirus outbreak and the SARS virus that killed 774 people in 2003 have all countries around the world on high alert.

What We Know

The new coronavirus, also known as the 2019-nCoV, is a respiratory illness presenting similarly to influenza. The C.D.C. reports coronaviruses are a part of a large family of viruses that can range in severity from mild to life-threatening. The two deadliest strains of coronaviruses in recent history include SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), collectively killing 1,056 people worldwide.

Symptoms associated with 2019-nCoV include:

Serious cases of the coronavirus may lead to life-threatening conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia. The most at-risk groups for developing these conditions include infants, adults 65 and older, and individuals with compromised immune systems.

The severity of 2019-nCoV is not yet known. However, global health officials report the current coronavirus is spreading at a faster rate than SARS, killing 26 people in just over 30 days.

Confirmed Locations of Coronavirus

The majority of confirmed coronavirus cases have been located in mainland China, particularly in the city of Wuhan. Chinese officials believe the virus originated from a ’wet market’- a traditional Chinese food market where animals are freshly slaughtered for purchase and the risk for cross-contamination is high.

Two confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been reported in the United States as of the C.D.C. announcement today: one case involves a 60-year-old woman from Chicago, the other a man in his 30’s from Washington. Both individuals had recently returned from traveling to China within days of their diagnosis. Another possible coronavirus scare was reported in New Jersey this morning, but tests later confirmed the patient was not infected.

The United States is currently investigating another 63 patients across 22 states who may be possible carriers of the coronavirus. Other locations with confirmed cases of the coronavirus include Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Macau, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan.

Can The Virus Be Contained?

Chinese officials have taken several extreme steps to reduce further spread of the coronavirus outside of Wuhan and surrounding areas: a travel lockdown issued for central China banning travel for over 35 million residents, the closing of Shanghai Disney until further notice, the construction of quarantine centers for sick patients, and suspension of public transportation to nearby towns.

Global health officials continue to monitor the spread of the virus and fear its rapid expansion could lead to the next pandemic. At this time, health officials are unclear as to how the coronavirus is spreading from person-to-person.

How To Protect Yourself

Citizens who are most at risk of contracting the coronavirus include anyone who has recently visited Wuhan, China, or who has come in contact with an infected traveler. Travelers who frequent international airports and are not traveling to Wuhan may also be at a higher risk of infection from coming in contact with travelers returning from countries with active outbreaks.

The C.D.C. advises all travelers, particularly those who are traveling to Wuhan, to use the following safety precautions to reduce your risk of infection:

Any traveler who arrives from Wuhan may be subject to a health screening. These screenings may include a questionnaire, and a thermometer read. Anyone with active symptoms may be required to undergo additional health assessments to reduce the spread of the virus.

If you believe you are suffering symptoms of the coronavirus or that you might have been exposed to someone with active symptoms, call your healthcare provider immediately to create a plan for treatment.

Stay Informed To Stay Safe

All Connecticut residents can make a difference in reducing the spread of infection by staying alert and up to date. For more information on the coronavirus, visit the informational links below:

Selfies can be a unique and exciting way to share our lives with the world. But certain social media trends are leading some individuals to put their lives at risk for the perfect shot.  

The most recent selfie tragedy resulted in the death of a 21-year-old British tourist who fell from a cliff in Australia last weekend. Madalyn Davis, known for her makeup tutorials online, was taking selfies with a group of friends on top of a cliff in Sydney. Emergency officials believe the fatal fall occurred in a restricted area of the scenic Diamond Bay, where tourists are often caught climbing over the fences to take a picture.  

Selfie deaths across the world are mounting in epidemic proportions. Thankfully, all of these accidents are entirely preventable when keeping safety in mind.  

Why Selfies Are So Dangerous  

Social media celebrities have made it a goal to prove that they can put themselves in danger and survive. Last summer, we covered the Top 7 Fatal Selfie Trends that are unnecessarily killing people worldwide:  

From dangling off cliffs, hanging from buildings, posing in a lion’s den, or setting yourself on fire, there are more and more social media users are buying into the danger factor.  

Despite people who deliberately put themselves in danger, scientific studies have shown that the act of taking a selfie itself puts you at an increased risk for injuries.  

In an article published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science, experts discourage the use of phones in manner while standing, walking, or performing other physical tasks. Some of the reasons include:  

Trying to do anything else while operating your phone is dangerous. Turning the phone around for a photo elevates the risk of injuries. But putting yourself in imminent danger while trying to take a photo is a receipt for disaster and devastation.  

How To Take A Safe Selfie 

No selfie, no matter how spectacular, is worth risking your life. Here are a few tips to remember the next time you turn your camera around:  

Connecticut Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys 

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to negligence, you may be eligible to receive compensation for damages suffered. Contact our expert team of personal injury attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options. 

Uber has completely changed the landscape of commuting in the United States.  

This easy-to-use app service allows riders to request a ride in a matter of seconds. When a ride is selected, available Uber drivers receive a ‘driver alert.’ If the driver accepts, the rider is notified, and the Uber is there to pick them up in no time.  

Uber and other ride sharing companies have become one of the most convenient methods of transportation in the world, but this convenience may come at a cost. Safety advocates are becoming concerned about drivers becoming distracted by the Uber app, and the dangers they could pose to others on the road.  

Uber Apps Create Distracted Drivers 

Distracted driving is one of the deadliest behaviors on the road. In 2017, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reported over 34,000 accidents linked to distracted driving. Among these, 3,166 people were killed.  

Cellphones are often the biggest culprit leading to distractions behind the wheel. The National Safety Council reported nearly 390,000 Americans are injured every year as a result of using cellphones while driving.  

Looking at your phone for even a second puts drivers at risk for missing hazards leading to accidents. Yet, Uber drivers may do this several times throughout a ride.  

Ride alerts, directions, and payments are all processed through the Uber app. Most drivers report receiving ride requests while in the middle of another ride. If they don’t accept quickly, their chance of earning a profit from the request is lost. If they don’t decline quickly, they risk the chance of getting bad reviews and losing future rides. 

The Uber app requires several seconds of driver inattention to respond to alerts, make a plan, accept or decline rides, and figure out where they are supposed to be going. For every second a driver is glancing away from the road, the chance of a fatal road accident increases.  

Three Types of Distractions 

There are three types of distractions known for leading to fatal accidents on the road. Uber drivers who are distracted by the app are often guilty of all three at the same time.  

These distractions include:  

The more activity an Uber driver receives through the app, the more opportunities for distracted driving accidents to occur. There are over 900,000 active Uber drivers across the country. Some drivers work anywhere from 1 to 50+ hours a week, and all possess the goal of picking up as many riders as possible to turn a profit.  

Distracted Driving Is Worse Than Drunk Driving 

Uber rides have become especially popular for people who are looking to get home safely after a night of drinking. In fact, safety advocates have encouraged Americans for years to use Uber to decrease the prevalence of drunk driving accidents.  

But distracted Uber drivers behind the wheel are no safer than the drunken passengers in the backseat. Much like drunk drivers, distracted drivers display reckless driving habits, including:  

All of these aggressive driving behaviors increase the chance of a serious or fatal traffic accident. And with a good chance that an Uber driver has one or several passengers in their vehicle, even more victims are put in harm’s way.  

Uber Drivers Are Not Multitasking  

Uber drivers who believe they are excellent multitaskers in the car are mistaken. According to the American Psychological Association (A.P.A.), multitasking is more of a myth than a skill. 

A.P.A. studies have found that participating in two complex tasks at the same time, such as checking the Uber app and driving, splits your productivity 50/50 between the two tasks. Neither task receives the full attention required to perform correctly.  

Checking a phone while driving can also lead to a phenomenon called inattention blindness. The N.S.C. reports inattention blindness occurs when a person is cognitively distracted and fails to process up to 50 percent of the information in their driving environment. In this case, Uber drivers miss the opportunity to act on road hazards they might have otherwise seen if they were fully paying attention.  

Connecticut Uber Accident Attorneys 

Distracted driving accidents are 100% preventable. The challenges Uber drivers are faced with to earn an income through the app are unfortunate. But there is nothing worth the risk of taking someone’s life that could constitute distracted driving habits. If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle accident due to the negligence of a distracted Uber driver, you could be eligible for compensation for any damages sustained.  

As Connecticut personal injury experts, we always have your best interests and safety in mind. Our aggressive attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace will help you fight back by providing a free case evaluation to explore all your options for seeking justice against reckless distracted drivers. Contact us today for a free consultation and to explore your rights for justice.  

Several noteworthy laws passed in Connecticut in 2019: the smoking age was raised from 18 to 21, taxes were added to digital purchases, prepared meals, and electronic cigarettes, and minimum wage was increased to $11 per hour.  

With the start of a new decade, residents can expect even more legislative changes to arise. According to Patch Connecticut, these are the new laws that took, effect on January 1 that could impact your life significantly in 2020:  

New Taxes 

One of the first and less exciting new laws you may notice in 2020 is the additional sales tax added to previously exempt items. Services such as dry cleaning, parking, and interior design will now come with an added tax.  

Crumbling Foundation Law 

More buildings and building owners will be eligible for assistance programs to help repair any crumbling foundation. These structural issues have become a major safety concern in a number of communities across the state.  

More Police Training 

Connecticut police officers will now be offered more opportunities for training on public safety. This includes an increase in communication training to better serve individuals diagnosed with autism and mental disorders.  

No More Pre-Existing Conditions 

A new act bans short-term health insurance policies from using pre-existing condition provisions. This will help thousands of residents who had unfairly gone without health insurance when they needed it the most. 

Hearing Aid Coverages 

Another new act eliminates the ability previously allowed to insurance companies to place an age restriction on hearing aid coverage. It also requires certain companies to cover the hearing aid costs for any person covered under qualifying plans.  

License and Registration Changes 

Connecticut drivers can now renew their driver license every eight years rather than the six-year deadline required under the previous law. Vehicle registration renewals have also been extended from every two years to every three years.  

Expansion of Mental Health Coverage 

Previous law put limitations on the types of mental health services individuals could receive coverage for. This new law prohibits this discriminatory practice and compares the damages of untreated mental illnesses to the similar adverse effects experienced with untreated physical disorders.  

No Cost Breast Ultrasounds and Mammograms 

A much-needed law went into effect on Jan. 1 eliminating the out of pocket costs for breast ultrasounds and mammograms. These outrageous expenses have resulted in women avoiding vital scans in the past, a dangerous move that can lead to the late diagnosis of serious health conditions such as breast cancer.  

Boat Tax 

Sorry boat enthusiasts. The next time you renew your boat registration, you will be slapped with an additional fee. The new law, aimed to eliminate aquatic invasive species in Connecticut waters, will require a $5 fee for in-state boats and a $20 fee for out-of-state vessels.  

Lax Liquor Laws 

Craft beer manufacturers in the state are thrilled about the new laws allowing individuals to buy nine gallons up from nine liters per day for off-premise consumption. Cider manufacturers will now be able to sell products for on-premise consumption, and local breweries will be allowed to sell Connecticut produced wine! 

For more information on new laws hitting Connecticut in the New Year, click here for the full list. 

Connecticut Accident Attorneys  

If you or a loved has been injured in an accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for any damages suffered. Contact our expert team of accident attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation and to explore your options.  

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