CONCORD, MA — Emerson Hospital, like others across the country, is getting ready to treat patients with symptoms of the new coronavirus and are trying their best to keep hospital staffers safe and healthy during the process. On Friday, hospital staffers shared a photo on Facebook as a message to residents at home.

Each staffer held a sign which altogether read: "We stay at work for you, please stay home for us." In Massachusetts and nationwide, health and government officials are asking everyone - showing symptoms or not - to avoid crowds, stay 6 feet away from others, not shake hands or hug, and call and online chat with friends and loved ones rather than meet face to face.



Working from home has become the new normal for many, but for medical workers who don't have the luxury and work directly with sick people, the importance of other residents' social distancing has become a priority. Don't miss updates about precautions in your area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 it and no antiviral treatment. According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

The first death was announced on Friday in Massachusetts — A Suffolk County man in his 80sdied from the virus. The state's Public Department of Health on Thursday announced 328 cases of COVID-19, an increase of 72 from Wednesday's numbers. Forty-three of those cases so far have required hospitalization. As of Friday morning, 3,132 residents of Massachusetts have been tested for COVID-19 by the State Public Health Laboratory and commercial labs.

