CARBONDALE (WSIL) -- Each day brings new information about the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 60 cases of the illness and nine deaths had in the U.S.
In Illinois, there have been four confirmed cases of COVID-19. The state health department is also monitoring .
But local health experts urge residents not to panic.
Dr. Sarah Altamimi, infectious disease specialist at SIH, has worked on many different medical cases during her career.
"We do see a lot of fungal infections and a lot of diabetic complication where a patient will come in with a diabetic foot infections."
Dr. Altamimi doesn't want to underestimate COVID-19, but she says the flu had a bigger impact in 2019.
"There will be a point where it'll hit the peak and then will start slowing down. We don't know if we have reached a peak yet."
As with the flu, those with major health problems are most at risk for the virus.
"The message is be aware of it. Know it. Know your enemy so you know how to fight it back."
There are simple things you can do to keep you and your family healthy:
- Wash you hands
- Cover your cough
- Use hand sanitizer
- Get a flu shot
