Message to the College on Coronavirus — Outbreak Reported in China
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported an outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus (termed “2019-nCoV”) that was detected first in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and continues to expand.
To date, according to the NC Division of Public Health and the Mecklenburg County Health Department, there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in North Carolina, including Mecklenburg County. In partnership with local health authorities, Central Piedmont leadership is monitoring the status of the coronavirus closely.
Currently in China, there are more than 6,000 confirmed cases and 132 deaths, with 95 additional cases worldwide outside of China. According to the CDC, there are five confirmed cases of the coronavirus reported within the United States.
In terms of comparisons, according to the NC Division of Public Health, during the 2017–18 influenza season, North Carolina had 391 deaths contributed to complications of seasonal influenza and 208 in 2018–19.
Coronavirus symptoms include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. The CDC believes symptoms of the coronavirus may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. The illness can be more serious for individuals with a weakened immune system, the elderly, or those with underlying respiratory problems. It could result in bronchitis and pneumonia.
Central Piedmont employees and students who have returned from China within the past 14 days and are sick with fever and a cough or have difficulty breathing should seek medical care immediately. Be sure to call ahead to the doctor’s office to inform them of recent travel and symptoms.
For further information about the coronavirus and current information on the situation, visit the CDC Novel Coronavirus Website. For updated travel notices related to the outbreak, visit the CDC’s Travelers Health site. To make an appointment at the Mecklenburg County Health Department, please call 704.336.6500.