Westfield Regional Health Sends Letter On Coronavirus Risk, Info

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Westfield Regional Health Department — which provides public health and environmental services to Westfield, Summit, Chatham Borough, Fanwood, Garwood, Mountainside, New Providence, and Roselle Park — has sent around an email informing residents about the new worldwide health concern, the coronavirus, 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.

The Westfield letter says, "While the CDC considers the coronavirus to be a serious public health concern, current information indicates that the immediate health risk from the 2019-nCoV to the general public is considered low at this time. Information from the WRHD is intended to provide information on how they are monitoring the outbreak, and includes health guidelines on prevention of the coronavirus and influenza." (The CDC fact page on it is here.)

Recently, there was a possible case of the deadly virus in New Jersey, two New Yorkers were tested, and reports have arisen of possible carriers in other locations.

The full text of the Health Department letter is here:

<blockquote>A coronavirus is a type of common virus that can infect your respiratory tract, and can spread much like cold viruses. They tend to circulate in the fall and winter. Almost everyone gets a coronavirus infection at least once in their lifetime, most likely as a young child.
Sometimes a novel (new) type of coronavirus emerges and begins infecting humans like in Wuhan, China. Since the coronavirus is new and people have not developed resistance to it, the virus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness.
While the CDC considers this to be a serious public health concern, based on current information, the immediate health risk from the 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time.
The Westfield Regional Health Department is working with the NJ Department of Health to monitor the situation closely and is proactively preparing guidance documents for health care professionals to be able to effectively respond to any cases that may be identified in the state.
The Westfield Regional Health Department is also working with state agencies to establish contacts should ill travelers be identified; is creating guidance documents for investigating and managing suspect cases and their contacts; and is evaluating and modifying current respiratory surveillance to assist in the detection of suspect cases.
It is recommended that individuals follow these public health guidelines, not just for Coronavirus, but also to prevent the spread of influenza:
• Prevent the spread of germs by covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue (then properly disposing of the tissue) or sleeve, not your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers, touching pets, and 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 (https://wwwnc.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.
For more information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention FAQ on Coronavirus website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronaviru... or call the Westfield Regional Health Department at 908-789-4070.</blockquote>