Montgomery Health Shares Coronavirus Info, Risks

MONTGOMERY, NJ — As news about the new worldwide health concern, the coronavirus, continues to spread the Montgomery Township Health Department has issued a letter informing residents about it and what to do about it.

While "coronavirus" is a general term referring to a certain type of respiratory illnesses, a new (or novel) version has proven deadly, having already killed 106 people in China and afflicted 4,500.

"Let’s do a reality check here. There is a lot of flu in our community right now, and there is no nCoV now. If you are sick with flu, or a stomach bug, or a cold, please stay home! If you haven’t had a flu shot yet this season, get one right now to reduce the number of illnesses. Get your information from reliable sources — social media is fast, but can be inaccurate. People who aren’t sick have no restrictions. And finally, this situation is evolving, and the Health Department will continue to give updates as the situation changes," Montgomery Health Officer Stephanie Carey said.

Montgomery Township Health Department — which serves the Boroughs of Hopewell, Pennington and Rocky Hill, in addition to Montgomery Township — said they are working with the NJ Department of Health to monitor the situation closely, and proactively distribute guidance documents for health care professionals to effectively respond to any cases that may be identified in the state.

"While the CDC considers this to be a serious public health concern, based on current information (Jan. 28), the immediate health risk from the 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time," according to the Montgomery Township Health Department.

Recently, there was a possible case of the deadly virus in New Jersey, which turned out to be negative. (See Related: NJ Patient Tests Negative For Coronavirus)

The Montgomery Health Department offered these tips for residents:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue (then properly dispose of the tissue) or sleeve, not your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after touching commonly used surfaces. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home if you are sick and avoid sick people.
• Review and follow CDC travel advisories (cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/novel-coronavirus-china) when planning travel. If you become ill after returning home to the United States, call your healthcare provider before going to a doctor's office or emergency department of a hospital. They may want to place a mask on you before you enter the building to protect other people.

The NJ Department of Health has established a call center for people with questions about coronavirus (in partnership with NJ Poison Center) at 1-800-222-1222.

For more information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “FAQ on Coronavirus” website at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html or call the Montgomery Health Department at 908-359-8211.

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