Governments around the world are continuing to take steps to contain the spread of the coronavirus. As of Monday morning, 2,744 people worldwide have become infected with the coronavirus and 80 people have died. There have been five confirmed cases in the United States, with one case in Washington, Arizona, and Illinois, and two cases in California. Internationally, patients with coronavirus have been identified in Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Macao, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, France, Vietnam, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. In response, certain U.S. companies such as Disney, Starbucks, and McDonalds have suspended operations in areas of China and the Dow Jones Industrial Average had its worst day of the year in response to fears about the impact of the coronavirus on the economy. The Chinese government has attempted to quarantine more than 50 million people and is enforcing a travel ban in sixteen cities in the Hubei province.
As of posting, CDC has not elevated precautions for health systems. On Monday January 27, CDC officials provided the public with an update on the coronavirus. (A transcript will be available here). The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory, stating that Americans should “reconsider” travel to China as a result of the coronavirus. The travel advisory provides that:
If you must travel to China, you should:
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Discuss travel to China with your healthcare provider. Older adults and travelers with underlying health issues may be at risk for more severe disease.
- Avoid animals (alive or dead), animal markets, and products that come from animals (such as uncooked meat).
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
If you traveled to China in the last 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, you should:
- Seek medical care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
- Avoid contact with others.
- Not travel while sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
The travel advisory also warns that the Chinese government may prevent U.S. citizens from leaving though “exit bans”, and noting that this could lead to Americans being kept in China “for years”.
The Health Law Pulse will continue to provide updates as more is known about this public health crisis.