That’s where public health precautions come in.

People have been urged to take steps such as washing their hands and staying home when sick. Over those recommendations are layered public health measures, including isolating those with the virus, quarantining their close contacts, closing schools and canceling large events that allow people — and their unseen germs — to mingle, said Dr. Ali Khan, dean of UNMC’s College of Public Health.

Such precautions are intended to do what epidemiologists call “flattening the curve” — slowing the spread of the virus, reducing the peak number of cases and spreading them out over time to allow hospitals and health care providers to respond without becoming overburdened, Khan said.

Even during a pandemic, patients still need access to hospitals to get treated for heart attacks and to deliver babies. A severe flu outbreak — let alone a pandemic — can stress hospital resources.

Flattening the curve also can buy time to develop treatments and vaccines. UNMC has launched a clinical trial, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, to test one drug. So far, UNMC has enrolled three patients in the trial. Federal health officials have said it will be at least a year to 18 months before a vaccine would be available.