To Our Community and Partners:

As you are aware, there is a current Public Health situation with the Novel Corona Virus from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

Please know that the East Shore District Health Department(ESDHD) is closely monitoring this outbreak. The 2019 Corona Virus is a respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (named by the World Health Organization as “2019-nCoV”). It was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and continues to expand.

Health officials have reported eleven cases of infection with 2019-nCoV in the U.S.as of Wednesday February 5, 2020, most of them are associated with travel from Wuhan. To date, there are no cases reported in Connecticut.

ESDHD is actively working with Connecticut State and Federal Health Officials to monitor the situation and prepare for any possible local cases. The definition of a person at risk of this disease includes anyone who has returned from the Hunan Province China in the last two (2) weeks and who is suffering from a fever and respiratory symptoms. There is no significant risk at this time in Connecticut.

In our efforts to keep apprised of the situation, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and local health departments and districts are participating in weekly national conference calls with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and are also holding weekly state conference calls to exchange information impacting the state and local communities. Attached is guidance from the CDC released on Feb. 6, 2020.

Please be advised, flu is widespread through-out Connecticut and ESDHD is recommending that all residents get a flu vaccination and take proper precautions. Vaccinations are available at ESDHD.

More information may be found at www.esdhd.org or DPH: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Public-Health-Preparedness/Main-Page/2019-Nove... CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html . If there are any questions or concerns please feel free to call ESDHD at 203-481-4233 for more information or guidance.

In Good Health,

Michael Pascucilla, Director of Health
East Shore District Health Department

 
2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Q & A
February 6, 2020
1. What are Coronaviruses? Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that commonly circulate throughout the world, including here in Connecticut. They cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses requiring hospitalization.

2. How serious is this virus and what are the range of symptoms? Reported illnesses due to infection with 2019-nCoV have ranged from mild to severe. Symptoms have included fever, cough and shortness of breath. While many patients have had mild illnesses, some patients have been hospitalized and deaths have been reported in other countries.

3. How does this virus spread? Current information suggests that person-to-person spread is occurring, although it is not clear how easily the virus spreads between people. The United States reported the first confirmed instance of person-to-person spread with this virus on January 30, 2020.

4. What is the incubation period for this virus? The CDC believes at this time that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear between 2 and 14 days after exposure. This estimated range is based on the incubation period of previously studied coronaviruses.

5. Should all persons returning from China with cold or flu-like symptoms be tested for 2019-nCoV infection? Laboratory testing for 2019-nCoV infection will only be done when an ill traveler meets ALL of the CDC criteria for of Persons Under Investigation (PUI) for 2019-nCoV: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/clinical-criteria.html.

6. What happens when people who have been in China return to the United States by air travel? All people who spent time in mainland China within 14 days before arriving in the United States land at one of eleven airports in the US (Bradley International Airport is not one of these airports). In the airport they are asked questions about their travel and whether they have been in contact with anyone with 2019-nCoV. They also have their temperature taken and are asked about their health. People who have been in Hubei Province, China, or are sick, are not allowed to continue to their final destinations. If they have not been in Hubei Province and have no symptoms, they are given information about self-monitoring and they are allowed to continue to their final destinations. For those who arrived on or after February 3, 2020, the health department at their destination is notified and will contact them to discuss self-monitoring and other recommendations.

7. What should people who have returned from China do? In the guidance issued on February 3, 2020, people who arrived in the United States on or after February 3, 2020 and spent time in mainland China within the previous 14 days are recommended to:
a. Self-monitor their temperature and symptoms for 14 days after they left China. This means they should take their temperature twice a day and watch for cough or having difficulty breathing.
b. The 14-day self-monitoring period begins the day they left mainland China, even if they spent time in another country between leaving China and arriving in the United States.
c. Practice social isolation. Social isolation is defined as staying home and remaining out of public places. It is recommended they not go to schools or to their workplaces.
d. The local health department will contact these people to provide recommendations, monitor their health, and help them get medical care if they become ill.

8. Who does this guidance apply to? This guidance applies only to people who returned to the United States on or after February 3, 2020 and spent time in mainland China in the previous 14 days.

9. What about people who arrived in the United States before February 3, 2020? Travelers from China who arrived in the United States before February 3, 2020 should be allowed to complete their 14 days of self-monitoring based on the instructions they received when they were screened on arrival by federal public health officials. This included a coronavirus risk assessment before they were allowed to travel to their final destination in Connecticut. For example, today is February 6, so this would apply to travelers who arrived in the United States on or after January 23, 2020 but before February 3, 2020

10. What about families of people who have been in China? There is no public health reason to exclude family members of people with no symptoms who were in China in the previous 14 days. Family members who were not in China should continue to stay in school or go to work if the person who traveled to China has no symptoms.

11. Do people who have been to China get cleared to return to work or school? People with a travel history to China and no symptoms can return to work after the 14-day self- monitoring period is complete. There is no clearance process. People without symptoms are not tested for the virus.

12. What should a someone who was in China during the past 14 days becomes ill?
If a person travelled to China in the last 14 days and becomes sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing they should:
a. Be separated from other students or staff until they can be picked up for transport home or to a medical provider. Consider having the ill person wear a face mask.
b. Seek medical care at an emergency department. Before going to the emergency room, the school or family should call ahead and tell them about recent travel and symptoms.
c. Stay home while they are sick except to seek medical care.
d. Use a tissue or sleeve (not hands) when coughing or sneezing and dispose of tissues in lined trash cans.
e. Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
f. Staff should clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces according to product directions and their facility’s policy.