CDC Confirms 7th Case of Coronavirus, U.S. Implements Stricter Travel Controls

Saturday, February 01, 2020
GoLocalPDX News Team

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Friday another infection with 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States that was detected in California. The patient recently returned from Wuhan, China, where an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by this novel coronavirus has been ongoing since December 2019. 

This brings the total number of 2019-nCoV cases in the United States to seven.

In addition, the U.S. government has instituted strict restrictions on those who recently visited China, but want to enter the U.S.

Those who have recently traveled to China will be barred from entering the US, the Trump administration announced on Friday.

The temporary order will apply to all foreign nationals — the exception is for the immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents — who have traveled to China in the prior 14 days.

And, officials have announced that flights from China will be limited to seven airports.

Officials Announce Public Health Emergency

On Friday, US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared the 2019 novel coronavirus a public health emergency and ordered any U.S. citizens returning from the center of the outbreak in China to be quarantined for two weeks.

This followed a declaration Thursday by the World Health Organization that the coronavirus outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Also that day the CDC reported the first case of person-to-person transmission in Illinois. Massachusetts state health officials, in conjunction with Massport and local health departments, have responded to prevent the spread of the virus.

Among the steps taken by the MA Department of Public Health:

*Established an Incident Command Structure to facilitate the dissemination of information from federal and state partners to statewide stakeholders regularly.
*Launched a new website that provides up-to-date information on the status of novel coronavirus for all residents:  https://www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus.
*Developed and disseminated clinical advisories to all Massachusetts health care providers and issued guidance to hospitals, health systems and Emergency Medical Services.
*Scheduled calls with other key health care partners including local boards of health.

“Our priority is protecting public health as we work with our state and federal partners to provide the most up to date information and guidance to our residents,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH. “We understand that this new virus is causing public concern, but I want to reassure people that at this time, the risk to Massachusetts residents remains low.”

As announced earlier this week, the CDC was to begin enhanced screening of passengers who have traveled to Boston Logan International Airport from China. As part of its daily responsibilities, US Customs and Border Patrol conducts a passive screening for signs of illness of all passengers entering the US.

Logan was identified as one of 20 US airports where officials from the CDC will start to screen international passengers for symptoms and signs of novel coronavirus. This is in addition to the 5 airports where enhanced screening is already underway. Logan International Airport has three daily non-stop flights from China: Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Logan Airport does not have any flights originating in Wuhan, China or Hubei Province.