Public Health Notice Update - Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Update regarding the Novel (new) Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on February 28th, 2020.

Ewing Township Mayor, Bert Steinmann, Board of Health, and The Department of Public Health understand at this time that our residents are concerned about the Coronavirus.  We want to assure our residents that we share your concerns. We are diligently working with State and Federal Health Officials to provide you with the most current and accurate information.  We will continue to keep you updated as more information is provided.  For updated information please continue to monitor our website and the state and federal resource links provided.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which has now been detected in 37 locations internationally, including cases in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed yesterday, February 27, 2020, an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 in California in a person who reportedly did not have relevant travel history or exposure to another known patient with COVID-19.

At this time, the patient’s exposure is unknown.  It’s possible this could be an instance of community spread of COVID-19, which would be the first time this has happened in the United States. Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. It’s also possible, however, that the patient may have been exposed to a returned traveler who was infected.  This case was detected through the U.S. public health system — picked up by astute clinicians. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States to 15.

At this time, the CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to China. Updated travel information specific to 2-19-nCoV can be found at

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/china#travel-notices

The federal government has been working closely with state and local partners, as well as public health partners, to respond to this public health threat. Unprecedented, aggressive efforts have been taken to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of this virus.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. CDC will continue to update the public as circumstances warrant.  For more information about COVID-19 visit www.cdc.gov/covid19. 

For handouts and poster to share with your coworkers, family and friends, on the Coronavirus please visit the CDC at:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html 

 

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is working hard to develop additional guidance and educational materials, in the face of evolving information.

NJDOH recommends that schools increase education on respiratory hygiene. Students, faculty and staff should all be asked to follow these steps that prevent the transmission of respiratory infections:

Additional preventive measures include:

As of February 27, 2020 the NJDOH guidance document for Managing Students (travelers) returning from China

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/2019nCoV_k12schools.pdf 

This guidance will change as more information becomes available. Please refer to this site and the NJDOH Communicable Disease Service Coronavirus guidance and resources page

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_resources.shtml