Coronavirus Risk in Texas is Low

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed multiple cases of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)  in people under federal quarantine located at JBSA-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas. 

According to a Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) website post on February 24, 2020, the initial person was a traveler who returned on a U.S. State Department-chartered flight from Wuhan City, China.

The others returned on a State Department flight for passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, quarantined in Yokohama, Japan. 

These individuals will remain isolated at medical facilities until they test negative for the virus and are no longer at risk of spreading it, says Texas DSHS.

There are no other COVID-19 cases currently in Texas.

Furthermore, these cases do not change the risk of infection for people in San Antonio or other parts of Texas, because the patients have been under federal quarantine since their return and have not interacted with the public in Texas communities. 

The risk for all Texans remains low, says DSHS.

All travelers who have returned from China should stay home and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days after they were last in China.

And, they should consult with a healthcare provider if they develop fever, cough or shortness of breath within that period. 

Local health departments across the state of Texas are in contact daily with returned travelers to verify that they remain COVID-19 symptom-free.

Texas DSHS is urging all healthcare professionals to ask patients with respiratory symptoms about their travel history and contact their local or regional health department if they think a patient may have COVID-19 disease.

There are simple steps everyone can take to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2, which cause COVID-19:

• 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.

DSHS has additional information on the COVID-19 for the public, health care professionals, health departments and labs. 

The CDC has the latest information on the number of people under quarantine who are infected and is updating its national numbers each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

As of February 26, 2020, the CDC reported 12 travel-related COVID-19 cases and just 2 person-to-person spread of this coronavirus disease.  

Separately, the US Food and Drug Administration reports that no preventive vaccine or therapeutic medication has been approved for use in the USA, as of February 26th.

Coronavirus outbreak news is published by Coronavirus Today.com.