Fire Chief Rueda Speaks Out About Novel Coronavirus

From the City of San Marino:

A Message from San Marino Fire Chief Mario Rueda

No doubt many of you have heard by now of a respiratory illness – the Novel Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV – that first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since spread. Today I participated in a conference call for medical, governmental and emergency responders that was organized by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in regard to this situation, and I’d like to share with you some background and some information about steps we are taking. Please be assured that the well-being of residents is the top priority for the City of San Marino.

The 2019-nCoV is a coronavirus strain that has not previously been found in humans. This coronavirus can lead to fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Most of those infected have reported exposure at a seafood and live animal market in Wuhan. But there is also evidence of human-to-human transmission, though the ease of human-to-human transmission has not yet been fully clarified. Several hundred cases have been confirmed, mostly in the Wuhan region, but elsewhere too, including among people who have traveled internationally from China. So far there are no known cases of 2019-nCov in Los Angeles County.

Respiratory illnesses are common at this time of year; local medical professionals and emergency responders have well-established protocols for dealing with such illnesses, and there will be a heightened emphasis on determining travel histories and contacts for those presenting with respiratory illnesses. We have been and will continue to be in touch with health authorities. We will continue to update the City’s website as new information or developments emerge. However, if you would like information concerning this virus, it can be obtained from www.publichealth.lacounty.gov or 211.

The steps we have taken so far are consistent with the recommendations of health authorities. We will continue to inform residents and ask them to monitor themselves for the symptoms associated with the Novel Coronavirus. Should medical attention be needed, we ask that residents contact medical professionals if they exhibit any symptoms and have been in contact with anyone traveling from the Wuhan region. It is important to know that only a person with symptoms present a risk. There is no reason to ban any individuals from any public contacts, public events, or school that have traveled from Wuhan City, China and are not exhibiting any symptoms. Any symptomatic patient should be referred to medical treatment.

I know news reporting about emerging communicable illnesses can be upsetting. However, I would like to urge residents to be calm. Health authorities throughout the world are focused on this illness, and city staff is closely following developments, is working closely with health authorities to make well informed decisions, and is committed to protecting the health of the San Marino community.

This press release was produced by the City of San Marino. The views expressed here are the author’s own.