Warren Township Monitors New Coronavirus

WARREN, NJ — As news about the new worldwide health concern, the coronavirus, continues to spread the Warren Township Health Department 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.

Warren Township — who works with the Middle-Brook Regional Health Commission to provide public health services to the communities of Green Brook, South Bound Brook, Warren, and Watchung — is working with the New Jersey Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local hospitals, medical providers, and emergency medical serviceto monitor and prepare for communicable diseases such as this new coronavirus.

"Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. There are several known coronaviruses that infect people and these usually only cause mild respiratory diseases, such as the common cold; however, some can cause more serious illness such as pneumonia. Current symptoms reported for patients with 2019-nCoV have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. If you have any of these symptoms and have traveled to areas of concern in China, please contact your doctor immediately," according to the Warren Township Health Department.

Residents may experience similar symptoms to the coronavirus since it is cold and flu season. However, unless you have traveled to the affected areas in the world, there is little concern for exposure to 2019-nCoV, the health department said.

The Warren Health Department offered these tips for residents to help protect themselves and others:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For more information contact the health department at 732-968-5151 or 908-753-8000. In addition, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.

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