You might have heard about the Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) over the weekend. As your local health department, we are diligently following the guidance and 2019-nCoV updates coming from The Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are currently no known cases of 2019-nCoV in Ohio. What exactly are the signs and symptoms of 2019-nCoV?? Guidelines state the following: If you traveled to affected areas outside the U.S. where 2019-nCoV outbreaks have been identified (e.g. Wuhan, China) and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical care right away. Also, before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms. Considering 2019-nCoV and the commonly known flu are both viruses, they have similar preventative actions you can take: Wash your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds; Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer; Cover coughs and sneezes with your arm (not your hand or a hanky); and stay home if you are feeling under the weather. To get updates about the 2019-nCoV, visit the information page provided by the Ohio Department of Health: https://buff.ly/2tWvdNv #KnoxHealth
