The novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) is a newly identified strain of the coronavirus group. Other viruses in this group include the SARS virus. Coronaviruses are common across the world, with typical symptoms including fever and coughing which can progress to severe pneumonia with associated shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Symptoms can be more severe in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions such as diabetes or cancer. As a respiratory virus, it is spread primarily via infected respiratory droplets from infected people – for example, when they cough or sneeze or from droplets of saliva or nasal discharges.
I have been asked to share my story. My name is Joanne, but most people call me Jo. I have a beautiful daughter, who is seven, and a husband who is a children’s magician. I have recently celebrated my big forty with my sisters, who I share my birthday with as we are triplets.
Each month, Dental Nurse Network will take a look at issues that occur in practice and that affect us as dental nurses and as dental teams. If you have any thoughts on topics you would like us to look at, please email us at 
A career in dentistry was never something that crossed my mind during school or college – in fact, while I was growing up I had no idea what I wanted to do. At the age of eighteen, I found myself desperate for a job and was lucky enough to be offered a position as a trainee dental nurse in a local NHS practice.
